MacRitchie addition of health center open to public

Home City News MacRitchie addition of health center open to public
MacRitchie addition of health center open to public

Approximately 150 community members attended the grand opening of the John “Jack” MacRitchie North Wing addition at the Hillsdale Community Health Center on March 3, including much of the MacRitchie family, state Sen. Bruce Caldwell, and state Rep. Ken Kurtz.

With the cutting of the ribbon, William and John MacRitchie Jr., the sons of the namesake, officially opened the new unit. It covers approximately 40,000 square feet, and contains a new obstetrician unit and 19 private rooms with beds for individual patient care.

“I’m really pleased by all here today, and am really excited for everyone to see this,” Hospital Chief of Staff Barry Collins said. “I think John MacRitchie would be proud to have his name on this building.”

In the dedication and opening of the building, Caldwell spoke on the history of the hospital, followed by Duke Anderson, president and CEO of the Hillsdale Community Health Center, who spoke on the influence and affluence of MacRitchie.

The addition allows the center to renovate its older obstetrics unit and the current skilled nursing facility, which will increase the overall capacity of the hospital and decrease the number of patients sent out of the county for care.

“The day after everyone moves out, we hope to get the new facility running and as soon as all the patients moved out,” Director of Development Judy Gabriele said. “We expect renovations to be complete as early as summer of 2014.”

The current staff and present patients will be transferred over to the MacRitchie unit by the middle of the month. Once the “Mac” McGuire Skilled Nursing Facility is completed, the hospital will add employees to have both units functioning and effectively doubling their current capacity.

“This facility allows a lot of our senior citizens to stay in town, especially since the nursing facility in Blissfield closed,” Caldwell said. “This is Hillsdale County’s answer to grandparents raising grandchildren.”

tsawyer1@hillsdale.edu