U.S. Rep. Barney Frank and Local Leaders Help Dedicate a New St. Luke’s

Jo Ann Rapoza, RN, Vice President of Patient Services at St. Luke’s Hospital, tours the New St. Luke’s with U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass. (Photo by David Crowell).

The three-year, $33 million project has changed the way health care is delivered in the Greater New Bedford region and includes a new highly technical and efficiently designed Emergency Department, the renovation and expansion of three inpatient floors, an expanded high-tech cardiac catheterization lab and the new McBratney Amphitheatre for medical education and conferences.

“I am pleased that I was able to play a role in helping St. Luke’s carry out this important emergency room renovation project,” Rep. Frank said. “The new ER will improve the hospital’s ability to continue providing New Bedford and the surrounding communities with highquality medical care.”

Rep. Frank was joined by Massachusetts State Senator Mark C.W. Montigny, D-New Bedford, New Bedford Mayor Scott Lang and New Bedford City Councilor Jane Gonsalves, Ward 5, at the dedication ceremony held at the new Emergency Department.

John B. Day, President & CEO of Southcoast Health System, thanked local officials for their ongoing support.

“Rep. Frank has always been a great advocate for this region and a great friend to Southcoast Hospitals. Along with Sens. Ted Kennedy and John Kerry and Rep. Jim McGovern, Barney was instrumental in helping secure funding for this project, knowing that it would have a direct impact on each and every person in our region,” Day said to local leaders, donors to the project and hospital staff at the ribbon- cutting ceremony.

Better patient flow, increased space for patients and their families and shorter wait times have resulted in increased satisfaction for all who come in contact with the new ED, but there is still work to be done.

“We are going through each part of patient care systematically to increase efficiencies at every level,” said Ronald B. Goodspeed, MD, MPH, President of Southcoast Hospitals Group. “It is our goal to bring the people of Greater New Bedford the very best Emergency Department, more patient beds and better access to the essential services they need most.”