Franciscan Healthcare-Munster: New Emergency Department has Bishop’s Blessing

Franciscan-Healthcare-Munster-New-Emergency-Department-has-bishops-blessing-01Most Rev. Donald Hying, bishop of the Gary Catholic Diocese, blesses with holy water a packed crowd that attended a dedication ceremony on Dec. 17 for a new, 24-hour Emergency Department at Franciscan Healthcare-Munster. He also blessed each room of the facility, which is scheduled to open Jan. 4. Other speakers included hospital president Michael Stenger and Sister Jane Marie Klein, chairwoman of the Franciscan Alliance Corporate Board.

The department is the spotlight of a two-year, nearly $70 million hospital renovation effort that includes more patient rooms, a gift shop, a chapel and a cafeteria-dining room. The project adds 80,000 square feet of space and 40,000 square feet of upgrades to the existing building. The emergency staff at the hospital, 701 Superior Ave., will include board-certified physicians and specially trained nurses, who are certified in CPR, advanced cardiac life support and pediatric advanced life support. Nursing staff members likewise have trauma training and completed emergency pediatric courses.

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