The Elk Regional Health System Auxiliary became the first organization to support the hospital’s building project when its members voted unanimously to pledge $250,000 toward the $10 million project.
“We’re happy to make this pledge, which we view as fully in keeping with the spirit and tradition of the Auxiliary,” said Anita Wendel, the Auxiliary’s President. “This hospital has our full support as they pursue the modernization project.”
The Auxiliary’s pledge will be used to modernize the hospital’s Family Unit, which was last updated in 1990 thanks in part to a donation from the Auxiliary.
“That was a full 20 years ago, if you can believe it,” Mrs. Wendel said. “We simply must do this. It’s time to freshen up our Family Unit and modernize it in keeping with the hospital’s building project. To have the opportunity to play a role in modernizing our Family Unit – and in modernizing our hospital – is thrilling.”
Gregory Bauer, the President and CEO of Elk Regional Health System, said he was humbled by the Auxiliary’s generosity.
“Elk Regional’s Auxiliary has been a steady supporter of the hospital for decades,” Bauer said. “I’m pleased to accept their pledge and their support of our building project. I am humbled by the organization’s generosity and by their dedication to ensuring Elk Regional remains strong and vibrant for years to come.”
As part of the building and expansion project, Elk Regional will renovate space near the hospital’s operating suite and construct the new Family Unit there. The new unit will contain eight beds – four for OB/GYN patients and four for labor, delivery and recovery – along with a modern nurse station.
Elk Regional’s OB/GYN physicians –Dr. Wu Jan Lin, Dr. Marc Landsberg and Dr. Steven Koch – have each expressed excitement about the project. The group said a new, more modern Family Unit will enhance the care they provide to women throughout Elk and Cameron counties by providing a more private, modern, home-like and comforting environment.
A new Family Unit is just one part of Elk Regional’s $10 million building and expansion project, which hospital officials announced earlier this month.
The project will add a third floor to the hospital that will allow Elk Regional to replace rooms currently housed in buildings constructed in 1941 and 1958. The new floor will house 41 new, private, spacious medical/surgical patient rooms, each with a private bathroom and close proximity to modern nurse work stations. It will also house a new, more secure 10-bed Generations Unit, which is Elk Regional’s geriatric behavioral health unit.
Construction is expected to begin early next spring and could be complete by the end of 2011.
About the Elk Regional Health System Auxiliary
The Elk Regional Health System Auxiliary is a dedicated group of volunteers who work to raise money for Elk Regional Health Center. A large portion of the Auxiliary’s funding comes from the money raised through the ReSale Shop, which is located on Erie Avenue and features second hand clothes, furniture and other household items. The Auxiliary also operates the Peppermint Stick Gift Shop at the St. Marys campus of Elk Regional Health Center.