Hospital to expand emergency room

By FRITZ MAYER

HARRIS, NY — Politicians and officials from across Sullivan County and the region turned out on June 4 to help mark the expansion of the emergency room at Catskill Regional Medical Center (CRMC).

Steve Ruwoldt, CEO of the hospital, said the project will see the emergency room expand from about 7,000 square feet to more that 17,000 square feet. He said, “This will allow us to see more patients in a private setting and enhance the level of care that we’re providing.”

The project will cost about $6 million, with about $2.5 million coming from philanthropist Alan Gerry who provided a match for a state grant of the same amount.

Construction of the expansion is set to begin soon, and should take about 12 months to complete.

The project is another sign that the hospital, which just four years ago was facing bankruptcy, is financially healthy again. Ruwoldt said the expansion was being undertaken without the need for the hospital to borrow funds.