New Riverview Surgery Center Gets the Gala Treatment

Riverview Medical Center celebrated the kick off of the Campaign for Surgical Excellence on Saturday night at the Blaisdell Pavilion Lobby. The event was filled with donors, doctors and member of the community who have supported and promoted the new surgery center.

The construction of the new surgery center was announced in March of this year. The Center for Surgical Excellence will be a 22,000-square foot addition to the hospital and will allow for improved patient care.

The surgery center is meant to catapult Riverview Medical Center to the next level.

Already a premier facility with high quality doctors and nurses, the surgery center would bring state of the art technology and care to Riverview and attract leading surgeons from all over the nation.

The center would also offer a renovated post anesthesia care unit, same day surgery suites and a state of the art conference and educational center.  

The new additions would improve services to the community by providing high tech capabilities close to home. 

“The surgery center would allow us to perform high level surgeries in neurology and gastroenterology,” said David Flood, President of Meridian Health Foundation. “It would allow Riverview to become a destination hospital, allowing for surgery that was previously only available in New York or Philadelphia."

On Saturday, Riverview Medical Center Foundation Board of Trustees, private donors, and members of the community gathered together to celebrate and learn more about the importance of the project.

“We will be here for you when you have a life changing moment,” Timothy Hogan, President of Riverview Medical Center, said while addressing the abundant crowd.

Domenic DiPiero, who recently donated $500,000 to the new center and is chairman of the Riverview Medical Center Foundation Board of Trustees, also addressed the crowd. 

“I ask you to join me, as a community, to make this a world class hospital,” DiPiero said, adding that the surgery center will attract doctors with national reputations and be able to provide outstanding patient care.

DiPiero also provided details of the funding, saying that $10.2 million has already been raised, with $250,000 contributed by employees.

“How much the staff cares is amazing,” he said, smiling.

DiPiero said that their preliminary goal is $15 million dollars, but noted that the surgery center is probably a “$30 million dollar challenge.” He encouraged people to continue to contribute and seek out more donors. 

Two River Theater owners and generous donors Robert and Joan Rechnitz were also in attendance. Earlier this year, the couple donated $5 million dollars to support the surgery center.

“I see many unfamiliar faces here, which would suggest many of you haven’t been to the Two River Theater,” Rechnitz joked when addressing the crowd. Turning a bit more serious, he then added, “We are proud to be part of something that we so strongly believe in.”

In honor of Rechnitz’ large donation and his love of theater, the Board had him participate in a “wall breaking” ceremony to celebrate the surgery center. Rechnitz and his wife, Joan, were great sports, donning the obligatory hard hats and crushing through the fake brick wall.

Construction is set to begin in spring of this year, with a completion date set for the latter half of 2012. For updates and news, please visit http://www.riverviewmedicalcenter.com