Soldiers + Sailors Memorial Hospital RACP Funding

Laurel Health System (LHS) is a nonprofit charitable organization providing a comprehensive range of services to the residents of Tioga County, Pennsylvania and surrounding communities. LHS’s network is anchored by Soldiers + Sailors Memorial Hospital (SSMH), an 83-bed community hospital located in historic downtown Wellsboro and the only acute-care hospital in Tioga County. SSMH also operates the only emergency department (ED) within a 50-mile radius, providing emergency care for residents throughout the region. SSMH’s ED volume has grown steadily over the last 15 years and today far outpaces capacity - the current ED treats 15,000+ patients each year with only 9 patient bays. LHS recognized the critical need for a campus expansion at SSMH, and in 2009, received a $3 million grant through Pennsylvania’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP). A challenging and time-consuming application development process is required before initiating successful drawdown on the award.

LHS hired Delta to assist with developing a comprehensive RACP application for funding through the Governor’s Office of the Budget. Delta’s role included securing local and regional support for the project, assisting to position the project for compliance with the program’s strict requirements, and developing and submitting a complete application to the Commonwealth. Delta also consulted on how to appropriately leverage the RACP award with other public and private funding sources.

With Delta’s assistance in managing the RACP process, LHS has since moved forward with the campus expansion project at SSMH. This project includes relocating and expanding the emergency department to increase patient privacy, improve patient flow, expand the visitors’ area, and provide sufficient space and accommodations for anticipated volumes over the next 15 years. This project also includes new patient and ambulance access and additional space for future clinical growth. In addition, the project is projected to result in 8 full-time jobs created and 86 construction jobs created, further supporting Tioga County and the surrounding region.