Mary Bridge Children's Hospital

Tuesday, April 22, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Todd Kelley (253) 403-1716

(TACOMA)—MultiCare Health System is increasingly closer to the goal of raising $25 million to expand and build new Emergency Departments (EDs) for Tacoma General Hospital and Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital.

The goal of the campaign amount represents about one-third of the total cost of the new building. Generous lead gifts pledged from board members, employees and physicians have raised total commitments to The Emergency Services Campaign to more than $16 million so far.

The expansion will be housed in a new building, named the Milgard Pavilion in recognition of combined $5 million gifts from the James Milgard Family Charitable Fund and the Gary E. Milgard Family Foundation. The new emergency departments are expected to be completed in early 2010.

The physicians have also responded with a donation of over $1 million and the employees of the MultiCare Health System have raised over $1.4 million.

"The support given by our Boards, employees and physicians has been remarkable," said Sara Long, Vice President of Philanthropy for MultiCare Health System. "It is particularly inspirational, given that those closest to our mission know how very important emergency services are to our community and how critical it is that we expand our facilities."

The Need for New Emergency Departments

Originally built in the early 1980’s, the current Emergency Departments are severely overcrowded, too small and inadequately designed to meet today’s needs and the needs of patients in the future. Designed to accommodate 40,000 patient visits annually, last year the two EDs handled almost 70,000 patient visits, a 42 percent increase over its design capabilities. This situation will only get worse as the population continues to grow.

The need for new, expanded, and better-designed facilities is magnified by the population growth of middle and senior age groups that require more health care than other residents.

For example, by 2014 the population of MultiCare’s primary service area aged 45 to 64 is projected to grow 32 percent, while the population aged 65 and older is projected to grow 29 percent. This aging of the population will require MultiCare to dedicate an increasingly significant portion of its facilities and services to the treatment of chronic diseases and disorders that affect the elderly.

The two hospitals need to upgrade and acquire advanced medical technology to ensure they can meet patient needs with the latest diagnostic and treatment capabilities. In addition, facility improvements are important for attracting and retaining expert physicians and other medical personnel.

The Plan for the New Emergency Departments

Designed with the input of MultiCare doctors and nurses, the new Emergency Departments and an Express Care Center (ECC) will be more than five times the size of the existing Emergency Departments, expanding from its current combined 13,000 square feet to 73,500 square feet.

The Emergency Services Campaign

MultiCare Health System is a locally-based and governed not-for-profit health care organization. It operates cost-effective, efficient, and high-quality hospitals, but financial pressures do exist. The projected cost of constructing and equipping the two new Emergency Departments and Express Care Center is $72 million. The project will be funded through a combination of cash reserves, operations, and debt, leaving a shortfall of $25 million to be raised from community support.

"We are very encouraged by the progress of the campaign so far," Folsom said. "Our community has responded favorably and we are well on our way to building Emergency Departments that will serve our community’s growing needs now and well into the future."

Campaign co-chairs John Folsom, Bill Philip and Jane Taylor join the Board of Directors of the MultiCare Health Foundation and Mary Bridge Children’s Foundation in launching The Emergency Services Campaign to approach area residents, businesses and foundations for philanthropic support.

The Future of Emergency Care

The new, much-larger Emergency Departments and Express Care Center will meet the needs of our community now and well into the future. They will provide medical personnel with the capacity to treat the increasing number of adult and pediatric emergency and urgent care patients more quickly and efficiently while providing a comforting and healing environment for patients and their families.

"The vitality of our community depends upon the health of its citizens, said MultiCare Health System Board Chair and Campaign Co-Chair John Folsom. "One of the most important community services is the availability of quality emergency services, close to home."