Maine’s first new hospital in 30 years opens in Bangor

BANGOR, Maine (WABI) - A new care option has opened in Bangor for people recovering from strokes, traumatic brain injuries, and other debilitating conditions.

The ribbon was cut in Bangor Thursday for Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Bangor, marking the company’s second hospital in Maine and the only one of this type north of Portland.

“Folks who need our help have a lot of physical rehabilitation needs,” explained Troy Trejo, CEO of Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Bangor. “We’re opening as a 50-bed hospital and there’s incredible demand for inpatient rehabilitation care in this part of Maine and all of Maine.”

Inside the newly built $60 million inpatient hospital, staff will provide physical, occupational, and speech therapy to help transition patients back into their daily routines, like walking on carpet or getting in and out of a car.

This is Maine’s second rehabilitation hospital and the first new hospital in more than 30 years.

“This is a big help to the hospital community that I represent. One of the biggest challenges our members have faced over the past several years is throughput. They do what they do in the hospital and when a patient is ready for discharge to the next level of care, it can be very difficult to find,” said Jeff Austin, President of Maine Hospital Association, during the ribbon cutting ceremony.

Following recent hospital and unit closures throughout Maine, officials noted that transitional care facilities like these help ease the strain on acute facilities and expand treatment options statewide.

“It’s very clear when we look at where folks are being discharged from hospitals with the conditions that would make them eligible for our level of care, that there are many, actually thousands, every year that are discharged to home or to other levels of care that they could come to us,” Trejo described. “Anytime we can have a milestone of access to care, investment in health care, just job creation like this in Maine is huge.”

Trejo added that the hospital plans to admit their first patients in early October, as they currently work with neighboring health facilities to identify eligible candidates.

The hospital currently employs 150 staff members with plans to expand its workforce.