Paoli, Pa (Noviembre 10, 2022) – Paoli Hospital, part of Main Line Health, is planning to expand its emergency department thanks, in part, to nearly $2.1 million in federal grant funding secured by state Senator Carolyn Comitta, state Rep. Melissa Shusterman, and state Rep. Kristine Howard.
Comitta and Shusterman announced the $2,087,500 in funding, which comes through the federal American Rescue Plan Act, at a press conference alongside U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, who voted for the ARPA in Congress, and Jim Paradis, President of Paoli Hospital.
“We are receiving this grant at a critical time in our health system as we are facing capacity challenges, local closures of area hospitals and longer hospital stays,” said Paradis. “This important funding will support our infrastructure expansion plans, beginning in early 2023, that include the addition of eight new treatment rooms to our existing 28-room emergency department. We are fortunate that by securing this grant we will continue to make vital investments in our hospital that will lead to better health outcomes for our patients and our community.”
Paoli Hospital continues to provide vital services to residents in the region. Both the COVID-19 pandemic and an influx of patients resulting from Tower Health’s closures of Brandywine and Jennersville hospitals, in addition to other factors, have continued to drive up patient volume.
“Investments in our healthcare infrastructure benefit the entire community and add to the strong and healthy quality of life throughout the region. Our towns and neighborhoods continue to grow and these funds will help ensure Paoli Hospital continues to grow with it,” Comitta, who serves on the Senate Health and Human Resources said. “I want to thank all of our partners who have been part of this team effort.”
“Paoli Hospital has been operating at over 100 percent capacity to meet the needs of our community,” Shusterman said. “Staff members have shown tremendous ingenuity and made great sacrifices to ensure our loved ones get the care they need. This much-needed funding will help alleviate some of that strain and I am happy to have collaborated with my colleagues to ensure Paoli hospital gets the resources it needs.”
“As the region’s only trauma center, Paoli Hospital provides an incredibly important service. I am thrilled to see this additional funding,” said Howard.
The state legislators also thanked Houlahan for supporting the ARPA in Congress, which provided crucial funding that made this and many other important community investments possible.
Construction on the Paoli Hospital Emergency Department expansion project is expected to begin in the new year.
Comitta also noted that she and her legislative colleagues are working to secure funds to support the reopening of both Jennersville and Brandywine Hospitals. Jennersville was acquired by ChristianaCare earlier this year. Stakeholders and community partners continue to work to facilitate discussions in finding a new owner/operator for Brandywine Hospital.