(Horizon) December 15, 2016 - Miramichi Regional Hospital today celebrated 20 years of helping people be healthy with a holiday event. 

"The staff, physicians, volunteers and patients of this hospital are an integral part of the community," said Executive Director Marilyn Underhill. "We are extremely honoured to provide exceptional care to every person, every day." 

John McGarry, President and CEO, Horizon Health Network, congratulated the hospital's staff on reaching this milestone. 

"It's my pleasure to celebrate 20 years of helping people be healthy in the City of Miramichi and surrounding communities," he said. "It is the staff, physicians and volunteers of this hospital that truly provide exceptional care to every person, every day." 

Dr. Michael Hayden, the hospital's Chief of Staff, recalls the opening of the new building. 

"It was so much more than a new facility," he said. "It was a new combined medical, nursing, and associated health services staff. It was enhanced diagnostic and therapeutic services for our area. It was an affirmation of the importance of locally provided health care services in the lives of the population of Miramichi, and the surrounding communities." 

During the celebration, community members, special guests and employees enjoyed refreshments and Christmas music, including performances by the Blackville School Girls' Choir. 

Guests socialized and listened to remarks from Horizon and hospital staff, as well from members of the local Anglophone, Francophone and First Nations communities, all of which the hospital has had long-standing and collaborative relationships. 

Hospital staff also wanted to use the occasion to give back to the community, and collected non-perishable food items at the door to be donated to local food banks. 

When the facility welcomed its first patients on Dec. 15, 1996, Miramichi Regional replaced Miramichi Hospital, in Newcastle, and Hotel Dieu, in Chatham. Miramichi Hospital was built in 1915, while Hotel Dieu had been around since 1869. 

The hospital continues to provide a full complement of health care services to the City of Miramichi and surrounding communities, including General Surgery; Urology; Internal Medicine; Psychiatry; Orthopedics; Ophthalmology; and Oncology. A large variety of ambulatory care services are also provided including a Healthy Kids Pediatric Ambulatory Care program. 

Currently, Miramichi Regional has 1,400 staff, physicians and volunteers. 

The 350,000-square-feet six-level hospital opened with 1,200 rooms and 173 beds, and cost about $110 million to build. Since then, health care providers have been equipped with several new technologies, including a permanent MRI (2013), a 64-slice CT scanner (2016) and Accredited Digital Mammogram machines (2008).  

Hospital staff also work closely with Public Health and Community Mental Health officials, as Miramichi has been a leader in the area of Population Health, especially through its Mango healthy eating program. 

As well, Extra-Mural Program moved into the facility in 1999, while Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick welcomed its first students in 2011. 

Upcoming projects include the renovation and expansion for a new Oncology program and a new Geriatric Clinic. 

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For more information contact: 

Stephanie Neilson-Levesque 
Media Relations   
1-877-499-1899     
Media@HorizonNB.ca   
www.HorizonNB.ca