SALINE, Mich. - After careful review, it has been determined that the St. Joseph Mercy Saline Hospital Community Health Pavilion expansion project will resume within the next week.

St. Joseph Mercy Saline Hospital, a member of Trinity Health, put the project on hold in October as a result of a Trinity Health directive for all non-emergency capital spending projects to be paused for review. It has been determined that the $7.8 million Community Health Pavilion project will move forward as originally planned.

'This is an important project for the Saline community and we are pleased to continue with the expansion. The Community Health Pavilion supports health and access to our ambulatory services for the local community,' says Kathleen Rhine, chief operating officer, St. Joseph Mercy Saline Hospital. 'While we are happy to be moving forward, it was wise to pause and re-affirm that this is the right project for the right time for the hospital.'

Plans remain the same for the 13,000 sq. ft. Community Health Pavilion, which will house a clinical laboratory, the nearly completed imaging center and a large community room for educational forums and events. The addition will also improve access to key services such as emergency, surgery and inpatient services.

'Continuing with this important project shows our strong commitment to the Saline community,' says Rob Casalou, president and CEO of St. Joseph Mercy Hospitals - Ann Arbor, Livingston and Saline. 'This project continues to support the direction we've set out for at St. Joseph Mercy Saline Hospital. We remain committed to providing excellent imaging, surgery, laboratory, emergency and senior services in Saline.'

The Community Health Pavilion is scheduled for completion in late fall 2009.