Growing Stronger Together
Physicians support hospital to grow and expand services
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital–Plymouth prides itself on being a cornerstone of the South Shore, serving as a trusted, essential resource for patients and families, close to home. Often referred to as the front door to the hospital, the Emergency Department (ED) and its staff are vital to the entire hospital ecosystem, ensuring access to expert, compassionate care every day. That is why the Growing Stronger Together campaign, a three-phase initiative to enhance and expand the ED, has resonated so strongly and gained remarkable momentum across our community.
As physicians affiliated with BID Plymouth, Steven Leckie, MD, and Julia Kenniston, MD, both members of Plymouth Bay Orthopedic Associates, Inc., recognize the importance for the community of an ED that is readily accessible and designed with the patient in mind. Leckie serves as President and Kenniston is the immediate past President of the Medical Staff, which provides oversight for quality and patient safety at BID Plymouth, while serving the hospital President in an advisory role. Under their leadership and together with the committee’s associated medical professionals, the committee proposed a $100,000 gift to honor the exceptional work taking place in the ED every day. The gift, unanimously approved by the medical staff, is a testament to their belief in BID Plymouth’s mission and its essential place within the surrounding area. “We wanted to give back to the hospital and the community by supporting an initiative aimed at continuing to enhance the care provided in the hospital,” says Kenniston. “The ED is often how patients initially come to us, so it was important for us as providers to be a part of bringing this project to life.”
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Phases 1 and 2 of the Growing Stronger Together campaign have already delivered significant improvements, including 12 new patient rooms, two nurses’ stations, and the construction of the 25-bed Clinical Decision Unit to accommodate low-acuity patients who do not require inpatient care. These enhancements have helped alleviate capacity constraints and better meet the growing needs of the community. This past spring marked the groundbreaking for Phase 3—a full renovation and expansion of the ED facilities. Once complete, the ED will offer superior care with significantly reduced wait times and a seamless patient experience, supporting the increasing volume of residents in the surrounding area.
“An expanded and renovated ED will put state-of-the-art equipment and spaces in front of an already incredible medical staff,” says Leckie. “Matching the space to the quality of the care provided therein will truly be transformational for Plymouth and the surrounding communities.” Further enabling the medical staff to do their best work and creating a more efficient ED will strengthen care throughout the entire hospital. “Speeding up the processes in the ED enables patients to get the care they require sooner,” explains Kenniston. “It means that people won’t have to wait as long or drive further away to be treated—it keeps the care close to home.”
Philanthropy is essential to bringing the Growing Stronger Together campaign over the finish line. “There are procedures we do now at BID Plymouth that we weren’t doing even five years ago,” says Leckie. “We’re doing them every day with the compassion and attentiveness of a community hospital.” The support of the community over the years continues to keep excellent care local. In addition to the strong commitment from the medical staff, philanthropic support from the community has been very encouraging, and it is essential to bringing the Emergency Department project to fruition. To join in and help close out this campaign, please contact Jennifer Rice, Vice President of Philanthropy, for more information.