Maine Medical Center held a grand opening ceremony today for its Ronald McDonald Family Room.

The family room is on the ground floor of the hospital's East Tower at 22 Bramhall St. It's a satellite of the Ronald McDonald House of Portland at 250 Brackett St., a 21-room guest house that has served 4,500 families at little or no charge since it opened in 1995.

The family room was established to better meet the needs of families with hospitalized children, according to Ronald McDonald House officials. It's a place to take a break, make a phone call, access the Internet or get a snack in a home-like setting at no cost.

The family room was planned with help from Ronald McDonald House Charities of Maine and McDonald's restaurant owners.