Potomac Hospital - Woodbridge, Virginia
Rx for Emergency Care
Nothing is as important as first-rate emergency health care, when seconds can mean the difference between life and death. With a new state-of-the-art emergency wing at Potomac Hospital, residents of Woodbridge, Virginia, have the peace of mind of knowing that if they do need emergency health care, they will receive prompt treatment close to home and loved ones.
Potomac Hospital's expansion was a direct response to burgeoning growth in metropolitan Washington, DC. To keep pace with escalating demands for service, Potomac - listed among the top 100 hospitals in the U.S. - launched Emergency Care 2000, a capital campaign that would raise private support to help double the hospital's emergency capacity.
The new emergency wing, big enough to absorb expansion of other hospital departments, now stands as a testament to what can be accomplished when caring professionals, citizens and business leaders work together for the good of the community.
What Made It Happen?
A feasibility study by Skystone Ryan showed that community support was strong for the hospital's expansion. To cultivate that support, Skystone Ryan helped the hospital development staff first build the campaign from within. The hospital's medical professionals, never before asked to contribute to the hospital in an organized way, raised $300,000 from within their ranks. Some 150 hospital staff rallied to raise another $125,000 from their colleagues.
Fueled by the momentum, the development staff and Skystone Ryan organized a committee of highly motivated community and business leaders to bring the hospital's case to local residents and commercial interests. As a result, one business yielded an unexpected $250,000 donation. Another donor responded to the cause of expanded emergency care with a $750,000 matching grant, a commitment that not only rounded out the campaign but boosted the total well beyond the original goal.
The success of Emergency Care 2000 did even more than build a much-needed emergency wing for Potomac Hospital and dramatically expand health care for the people of Woodbridge. It built the skills and confidence of the hospital's volunteers and development staff. Having risen to the challenge of the campaign, they now have the tools and expanded network of contacts to help the hospital prepare for the growth challenges ahead.
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