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Ward Manufacturing gives $1M to hospital

WELLSBORO – This Thanksgiving, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hospital is giving thanks for giving back as they celebrate a $1 million pledge from Ward Manufacturing.

The generous donation bolsters the Building for the Future capital campaign, a fundraising campaign to support the recent two-story expansion at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hospital.

As the hospital adapts to the evolving field of health care through cutting-edge technology and procedures, it remains committed to its goal of providing the highest level of care possible.

When the previous emergency department began to exceed capacity with even larger increases in visits forecast, SSMH determined expansion was necessary.

The hospital enhanced its facility through a two-story expansion housing new emergency and surgical care units-the largest addition in SSMH’s 70-year history, guided by long-term planning for the current and future needs of the community.

“For many years, the employees and management of Ward Manufacturing LLC have partnered with community organizations through personal and financial commitment,” noted Pete Guidi, president of Ward Manufacturing and HMAC. “These commitments have focused on benefiting not just our employees, but their families and loved ones as well. With this gift, we see an opportunity to enhance this philosophy and our internal guideline of ‘giving back.’ We are excited to be able to improve overall access to medical care in our community through the expansion of the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hospital emergency department and same-day surgery unit.”

The 36,000-square-foot expansion houses a new, state-of-the-art emergency department, same-day surgery unit and paramedic garage.

“Emergency services are a vital part of our service to the community,” explained Janie Hilfiger, president of SSMH. “The number of patients our emergency department treats is still increasing, and this expansion was imperative to providing the highest quality of emergency care as our patient volumes continue to grow.”

Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hospital’s emergency department currently treats more than 18,500 patients each year.

About 3,000 patients are brought to the emergency department through paramedic and ambulatory services, highlighting the importance of adding a separate ambulance entrance and paramedic garage.

“This phenomenally generous gift signifies the commitment of Ward Manufacturing to its partnership role in supporting key community services,” added Ron Butler, vice president and chief business development officer for Susquehanna Health. “All of us at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hospital and Susquehanna Health are extremely grateful for their investment in ensuring that quality medical services are available to everyone in our community.”

Over the past few months, the campaign has rallied the support of physicians, employees and system leadership and now is planning its outreach to invite the community to participate in the fundraising campaign.

“As excitement about our campaign continues to build throughout our hospital and the community, this extraordinary gift gives us great momentum going forward,” said Missy Coolidge, director of development.

For more information or to support the hospital’s capital campaign, call Missy Coolidge at 570-723-0506.

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