Catholic Medical Center has filed plans with the city of Manchester to redevelop land adjacent to the hospital. Plans include a new building to house state-of-the-art facilities for the New England Heart & Vascular Institute, up to 90 private patient rooms enabling the hospital to operate its full existing 330-bed license, six additional operating suites, and a larger, upgraded emergency department.

Catholic Medical Center (CMC), a member of GraniteOne Health, has filed plans with the city of Manchester to redevelop land adjacent to the hospital, transforming a key piece of property on the city's West side. Plans include a new building to house state-of-the-art facilities for the New England Heart & Vascular Institute, up to 90 private patient rooms enabling the hospital to operate its full existing 330-bed license, six additional operating suites and a larger, upgraded emergency department.

"CMC has a history of and commitment to meeting the community's healthcare needs, and the community needs this," said Dr. Joseph Pepe, president and CEO. "On any given day, this hospital is nearly or completely full. We treat some of the sickest, most medically complex patients in the community. The demand for our high-quality services is growing and patients expect nothing but the best from us. We have an obligation to deliver and this new addition will help us carry out our mission of health, healing, and hope."

CMC has been growing and evolving on the West side for more than 125 years. Its most recent campus expansion happened in 2008, with the opening of the Notre Dame Pavilion and the Sky Bridge over McGregor Street. In 2004, the hospital opened a 74,000 sq.-ft. addition. For this next phase of growth, CMC is working closely with its neighbors, Rite-Aid and St. Mary's Bank. The current Rite-Aid store will be moved to a new building closer to McGregor Street and various site, traffic flow and parking improvements will be made. The hospital expansion will replace the existing Rite Aid store and the remaining vacant strip mall.

"It's exciting to see CMC's role in transforming both health care and the West side of Manchester," said Ron Covey, St. Mary's Bank president and CEO.

St. Mary's Bank has been CMC's neighbor for more than 100 years and opened a new, award-winning headquarters on the corner of McGregor and Armory streets in 2013. "Both of our organizations play a significant role in Manchester's history, and we both are committed to its future," he said.

The approximately 220,000 sq. ft. of new space aims to increase patient access and satisfaction.

"The trend in health care is certainly toward single-patient rooms," said Jennifer Cassin, CMC's chief nursing officer. "Increased privacy promotes comfort and helps patients and families better manage the stress of being in the hospital. Single-patient rooms can also lead to fewer hospital acquired infections and help patients recover more quickly."

CMC is presenting its plans to the Manchester Zoning Board of Adjustment and the Planning Board in May. The goal is to break ground on the project mid-summer 2019, with an opening of the expansion in 2022.

For more information, visit catholicmedicalcenter.org.

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