Today, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced $6,567,304.50 in federal funding for the Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) Medical Center’s generator replacement project. This funding will support the addition of a new generator and the replacement and installation of other essential devices critical to the 300-bed hospital. The addition of a new generator will allow the hospital to continue to deliver care regardless of power interruptions and serve as an essential back-up power source. This funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and authorized under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.
“This federal funding is the shot in the arm Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital needs to ensure power can continue to flow during emergencies for lifesaving medical care to patients. Our rural hospitals are essential for the health of the North Country, but extreme weather and snow should never impede their mission, and these critical infrastructure upgrades will significantly improve resiliency to weather those storms,” said Senator Schumer. “I am proud to deliver this funding for the North Country and will never stop fighting for equitable healthcare for all New Yorkers.”
“Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital is the primary health care resource for thousands of residents in the North Country,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This funding will help ensure the lights at CVPH stay on during power outages and that local residents can rely on the hospital to provide life-saving care 24 hours a day, seven days week, 365 days a year. I am proud to have fought to deliver this funding for the North Country and I will continue to fight to provide resources for New York hospitals.”
“Rural hospitals like ours play a vital role in the health and wellbeing of the communities we serve. Our team is committed to delivering the care our patients need, and this infrastructure improvement will have a significant impact on our ability to sustain operations and continue our work – even during a power interruption,” said CVPH President Michelle LeBeau. “My thanks to our federal delegation for their support with the purchase of this generator, something that, given the current financial realities of rural hospitals, would likely not have been possible without this grant.”