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Fund-Raising Campaign Kicks Off for Windsor, Vt., Hospital

Posted on: Thursday, 21 July 2005, 18:00 CDT

Jul. 21--WINDSOR -- Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site in Cornish provided an elegant setting for the kickoff of Mt. Ascutney Hospital's capital fund raising campaign.

Donors and Mt. Ascutney employees mingled on the grounds at Saint-Gaudens, sipping champagne and eating hor'dourves Wednesday night at an event that marked the start of the hospital's public fund-raising season.

The Caring for the Community Campaign is expected to raise $3.87 million over the next five years for the hospital's renovation and expansion project that was just approved by the state. Mt. Ascutney CEO Richard Slusky said Wednesday private fundraising has already raised around $1.6 million.

Construction is set to begin next month.

Last month, the Vermont Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration approved the hospital's plans for adding new space and reworking existing space for the emergency room, surgical suite, laboratory and physician's clinic.

Lack of adequate space in the emergency room and the surgical suites sometimes leaves patients without any privacy as they prepare to undergo procedures or are recovering from surgery, Slusky said. Space is also needed for the laboratory and radiology departments, as newer machines and technology have out outgrown the space.

"It addresses some fundamental issues we have at the hospital," Slusky said.

"We wanted to focus on things that will make a difference to the patients." The total cost for the project will be about $5.75 million. Slusky said most of that will come from fundraising, while the rest will come from bonds the hospital will take out.

The expansion is not the only reason for the campaign. Slusky said the hospital wants to grow the endowment fund and add to the hospital's annual fund over the next four years.

The hospital provides vital services to the community and the region, Slusky said. The rehabilitation center draws patients from as far north as Newport, Vt. and Barre, he added.

Locally, it provides primary care physicians and outpatient care as well as the nursing home.

"Our mission is to provide comprehensive, high quality care in a personalized way," Slusky said.

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Copyright (c) 2005, Eagle Times, Claremont, N.H.

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Source: Eagle Times, Claremont, New Hampshire

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