RUMFORD – The Department of Health and Human Services has denied a request by Rumford Hospital to build a $6.2 million addition onto the facility.

John Welsh, chief executive officer of the hospital, said Thursday afternoon that he was shocked at the denial.

“We felt we had demonstrated the need for this project over and over again. I question the state about why it is denying a contemporary and efficient hospital. I don’t believe (the recommendation) was based on fact, and I believe they failed to recognize many things that supported this project,” he said. “The project is critical to the survival of this hospital and going forward.”

The hospital filed a certificate of need application with the state last spring, soon after Phase I of the overall project was completed. That project, at $2 million, provided a new entrance, a reconfigured emergency room that gave patients more privacy and an updated day surgery unit.

Phase II was to combine three nursing units into one and build an addition that would provide all private rooms for patients. Welsh said the hospital has some rooms that house three or four patients now, that one nursing unit is in a building that is 80 years old, and that the majority of patients are in a 40-year-old building. All rooms have inadequate temperature controls.

The hospital, working with its affiliated Central Maine Healthcare, would pay for the addition. It would not be state money, he said.

According to the 32-page facility reorganization project submitted by the DHHS, the addition was denied because of a lack of public need, the project would not improve the health of the community, and the proposal was not consistent with the state health plan, among other things.

Welsh said the hospital has about 10 days to respond to the reasons for denial. He said that response should be ready for submission on Monday and will include such things as how private rooms reduce hospital stays and infections, and the number of ways the hospital reaches out to the community to help improve the health of everyone.

Dr. John Kroger, chief of the medical staff and a doctor at the hospital for 13 years, said the state’s preliminary decision is absurd.

“This hospital has been through some tough times, and we’ve worked hard on upgrades. State licensing and the state fire marshal’s office has recommended these changes,” he said. “To have the state say there’s no benefit or need to do this project is ludicrous.”

Welsh said DHHS Commissioner Brenda Harvey has the final say on whether the project will go forward. Her decision should be made known within three weeks.

In the meantime, Welsh said he has called on the local legislative delegation for their support and will work with the governor’s office to get the project approved.

Attempts to get a response from the DHHS were unsuccessful.