NORTH FORK BANK NOURISHES ITÂ’S EAST END ROOTS LENDING STRONG SUPPORT FOR EMERGENCY CARE BY DONATING $250,000
Today, ELIH Board Chairman, Thomas E. Murray, Jr. gratefully announced a $250,000 gift from North Fork Bank in support of OPERATION: Emergency Expansion. “This quarter million dollar donation breaks the million dollar mark toward the campaign goal of $1.7 million,” Mr. Murray stated. “OPERATION: Emergency Expansion is a project to rebuild and redefine emergency care for residents and visitors to the North Fork and Shelter Island,” Murray continued. HISTORICAL PHOTOS AND BACKGROUND AVAILABLE ON WEB SITE - http://eastendbusinesssolutions. com/ELIH-NFB. htm
(PRWEB) October 31, 2003
In 1905 the people of the North Fork started two entities to meet their needs-- a bank that would open Saturdays to cash checks for fishermen who ‘hauled out’ on Greenport Docks and, a voluntary, not-for-profit hospital association to treat the sick and deliver babies. Exponential growth is apparent at both entities—Eastern Long Island Hospital (ELIH) is now a progressive, full-service, 80-bed, community Hospital, and North Fork Bank (NFB) is a multi-billion dollar financial institution. The roots of both are deep in East End soil and continue to be intertwined.
Today, ELIH Board Chairman, Thomas E. Murray, Jr. gratefully announced a $250,000 gift from North Fork Bank in support of OPERATION: Emergency Expansion. “This quarter million dollar donation breaks the million dollar mark toward the campaign goal of $1.7 million,” Mr. Murray stated.
“OPERATION: Emergency Expansion is a project to rebuild and redefine emergency care for residents and visitors to the North Fork and Shelter Island,” Murray continued.
“Emergency care is paramount to every family on the North Fork and Shelter Island,” stated John A. Kanas, Chairman, President, and CEO, NFB. “North Fork Bank is proud to fortify these efforts and ensure access to quality emergency care,” Added Mr. Kanas.
“Expansion of the Emergency Department, and tangentially outpatient services, is critical at this time primarily because of the rapidly growing year-round and seasonal resident population, explained Paul J. Connor III, President and CEO at ELIH. “Added to that is the senior factor. Simply stated, seniors, 65+ years, access healthcare and emergency care 4-5 times more frequently than the general population. This region of Long Island is home to more seniors. In fact, 25 % of our population is over 65, that is more than twice the concentration of seniors in Suffolk County,” added Mr. Connor.
Contracts for construction are expected to be signed next week, and ground breaking is scheduled for November. Highlights of the expansion plans include-- a total of 43% more square footage overall; dedicated cardiac/trauma treatment area (doubled); a decontamination chamber (especially important with proximity to Plum Island); secure psychiatric exam room; new ambulance bay ramp; streamlined process for Outpatient care; expanded waiting area (tripled) with triage room; and on-site registration, around-the-clock.
Commitment to the urgency of this expansion project is apparent, as ELIH will be breaking ground while the fund-raising campaign continues. Additionally, ELIH has already put in place a team of physicians who are both Board Certified and residency trained in the sub-specialty of Emergency Medicine. Having such a qualified team raises the standard of care, and exceeds New York State Standards.
North Fork Bank and Trust was chartered on April 26, 1905 under the name Mattituck Bank, after merging with the PeopleÂ’s Bank and in 1950 changed its name to the North Fork Bank and Trust Company. During the 1950s, three other banks located on the north fork of eastern Long Island were merged into North Fork Bank and Trust. North Fork Bank and Trust then expanded its branch network to other areas of Long Island, primarily through de novo branching. On August 1, 1988, North Fork Bancorp completed the acquisition of Southold Savings Bank; a New York State chartered savings bank under the regulation of the New York State Banking Department and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Southold Savings Bank, established in 1858, was Suffolk County's oldest savings institution.
North ForkÂ’s CEO and President, John Kanas also has his roots in the East End, having been born and bred on Long Island and receiving his Bachelors at Southampton College in 1968.
As the first voluntary Hospital in Suffolk County, Eastern Long Island Hospital is an early example of voluntary action and private support working together to meet the needs of the community. Historically innovative, ELIH was first in Suffolk to offer x-ray services, first to provide bilateral joint replacement surgery, and is now first to offer emergency care stewarded by a team of physicians Board Certified in Emergency Medicine on the East End.
Clearly this community and ELIH have a partnership, each depending on the other—ELIH providing essential healthcare and access to sub-specialty care; the community providing philanthropic support and a caring spirit. North Fork Bank is a cornerstone of this community, and indeed its leadership embodies that same innovative spirit exhibited by our forefathers, the people of the North Fork and Shelter Island who founded both entities nearly 100 years ago.
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