CARLETON PLACE — The Mississippi River Health Alliance (MRHA) is marking the one-year anniversary of the Thomas Cavanagh Emergency Department at Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital (CPDMH), recognizing a year of meaningful impact for patients, families, and communities across the region.
Since opening on January 29, 2025, the modern, purpose-built Emergency Department has supported the care of almost 20,000 patients, providing a safer, more efficient, and patient-centred environment for emergency services. Designed to meet both current and future healthcare needs, the facility has enhanced patient flow, privacy, and clinical functionality while continuing to deliver the trusted emergency care local residents have relied on for decades.
“This milestone is about much more than a new facility, it’s about how that space is being used, every day, to support patients and the teams who care for them,” said Brad Harrington, President and CEO of the Mississippi River Health Alliance. “Over the past year, the Thomas Cavanagh Emergency Department has demonstrated exactly why this investment mattered. It supports safe, timely, and compassionate emergency care, while providing a modern environment that better meets the needs of both patients and staff. It is a clear example of what can be achieved when healthcare organizations, governments, foundations, and communities work together with a shared purpose.”
The Emergency Department project was made possible through a combination of provincial investment and exceptional community generosity through the Healthy Futures. Together! campaign, led by the CPDMH Foundation and Campaign Cabinet.
“The one-year anniversary of the Thomas Cavanagh Emergency Department is a moment to reflect on the lasting impact our community has created together,” said Patrick Kenny, Chair of the Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital Foundation. “Through the Healthy Futures. Together! campaign, we raised $5 million to support a modern emergency facility and essential patient-care equipment — investments that are already making a meaningful difference for patients and families every day. This state-of-the-art Emergency Department reflects the quality of care our community residents deserve.
“This achievement is also a powerful example of the foundational role the Foundation plays — serving as a bridge between the generosity of our community and the care our neighbours need, today and into the future. We are profoundly grateful to our donors, campaign cabinet, and community leaders whose generosity and leadership made this vision a reality.”
While the space is new, the Emergency Department continues to be staffed by the same dedicated physicians, nurses, and support teams who have served the community for years, now working within an environment designed to better support modern emergency medicine and patient needs.
As the MRHA looks ahead, the Thomas Cavanagh Emergency Department remains a lasting investment in the health and well-being of the region, reinforcing the Alliance’s commitment to delivering high-quality care close to home for the growing communities it serves.
For more information, visit www.mrha.ca.
Media Release submitted by Mississippi River Health Alliance
