Carleton Place emergency department marks one year of operation with nearly 20,000 patients served

Nearly 20,000 patients have passed through the doors of the Thomas Cavanagh Emergency Department in its first year of operation, as the facility continues to play a critical role in the lives of residents from Carleton Place and surrounding communities.

This morning, the Mississippi River Health Alliance (MRHA) marked the one-year anniversary of the freshly modernized emergency department, which officially opened on Jan. 29, 2025, at the Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital (CPDMH).

Built as a purpose-designed space to meet both current and future healthcare needs, the emergency department was created to improve patient flow, privacy and clinical efficiency while continuing to provide reliable emergency care close to home, according to a release from the MRHA.

“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 MRHA. “Over the past year, the Thomas Cavanagh Emergency Department has demonstrated exactly why this investment mattered.”

According to the MRHA, the project was made possible through a combination of provincial funding and local fundraising efforts, including the Healthy Futures. Together! campaign led by the Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital Foundation and its campaign cabinet.

Patrick Kenny, chair of the hospital foundation, shared that the community raised $5 million to support the new emergency department and its essential patient-care equipment — an investment he believes is already making a tangible difference.

“This one-year anniversary is a moment to reflect on the lasting impact our community has created together,” Kenny said. “This state-of-the-art emergency department reflects the quality of care our residents deserve.”

While the physical space is new, hospital officials reiterated that the emergency department continues to be staffed by the same physicians, nurses and support teams who have served the community for years. However, they are now working in an updated environment, better designed to better support modern healthcare needs for both staff and patients.