Day Kimball Healthcare Exceeds Fundraising Goal for New Emergency Department

Photo has link to PDF of this Rendering Vision of the future. These architectural renderings illustrate the planned exterior and interior designs of Day Kimball Hospital’s new emergency department - to be named the Townsend Emergency Medical Center - which will provide much-needed additional space and include the critical features of all-private treatment rooms and a dedicated behavioral health area, as well as a reduction in waiting and treatment time.

“Care in a Heartbeat” Campaign raised over $3 million and continues to climb

PUTNAM, Conn. – Donations came from each of the 13 towns that make up Northeast Connecticut. Support came from all the other New England states. And from Florida, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, Missouri and Virginia. People gave what they could, ranging from $2 to $500,000.

Over the past 10 months, 930 individuals and businesses donated a total of $3,035,304.68 to the “Care in a Heartbeat” campaign, exceeding the $3 million fundraising goal needed to build a new emergency department at Day Kimball Hospital, which is part of the Day Kimball Healthcare network.

“We’re overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and extremely thankful,” said Pomfret resident Peter Deary, owner of Sunnyside Farms and campaign co-chair with his wife, Kimberly Lane, APRN. “Though I’m not surprised, it’s heartwarming to have the firsthand experience of individuals and businesses pulling together for the overall good of the community.”

Deary explained that donations came from various sectors of the community. Following is a breakdown of the $3,035,304.68 raised:
• Leadership, including some physician (donations of $50,000 or more): $1,625,000;
54 percent of the total raised
• Business and community: $848,792.68; 27 percent of the total raised
• Physicians: $481,250; 16 percent of the total raised
• Day Kimball employees and volunteers: $80,262; 3 percent of the total raised

To honor the largest contribution of $500,000 made by Steven and Marjolaine Townsend of Brooklyn, Conn., the new emergency department will be named the Townsend Emergency Medical Center.

Day Kimball Hospital’s emergency department was constructed in 1970 and renovated in 1990. Originally designed to serve 18,000 patients per year, today over 30,000 people seek care there annually, with forecasts indicating the number growing even more over the next few years. Though patient care remains at optimum levels, demand has made the space obsolete.

“The expansion and upgrading of our emergency department is an important part of an overall, systemic vision for Day Kimball,” explained Robert E. Smanik, FACHE, president and CEO, Day Kimball Healthcare. “We continue to work hard in all aspects of our operation to become the premier, integrated medical services network for the benefit of all Northeast Connecticut residents.”