Funds support comprehensive and ongoing renovations aimed at reducing wait times, increasing patients' comfort and privacy, enhancing staff communications, and improving the standard of care

FLORENCE—Florence Bank has pledged $75,000 to Cooley Dickinson Hospital’s $26 million Transforming Emergency Care Campaign to renovate, expand and enhance the Emergency Department (ED) and improve the standard of care.

Diane Dukette, Chief Development Officer at the hospital, said the ED is 40 percent undersized to meet the community’s needs, given that the number of patients and the severity of their illnesses has steadily increased over the years, more than doubling since the 1970s. The hospital is also treating more patients with behavioral health concerns.

Cooley Dickinson broke ground on the extensive project to transform the ED in 2023. Project goals include reducing wait times, increasing patients’ comfort and privacy, enhancing staff communications, and improving the standard of care.

Florence Bank President and CEO Matt Garrity said, “Cooley Dickinson plays a vital role in the health and well-being of the communities we both serve. We’re proud to support this transformational project and the benefits it will provide to people and families in the Pioneer Valley and beyond.” 

Dukette said Florence Bank is a loyal supporter of Cooley Dickinson, and over the years, has donated to many campaigns, most recently the new Childbirth Center, North Building and Cancer Center, and has supported many programmatic needs, such as nursing development.

“In the last four decades, Florence Bank has given over a million dollars to Cooley Dickinson,” Dukette said. “Florence Bank has been a longstanding community partner, investing in the fabric of our society and recognizing the unique role we play in the community and for their customers. We are so grateful we can count on Florence Bank to get behind initiatives that are critical to the community.”

Construction in the ED is ongoing with a new addition in the works, and pods being constructed and renovated in phases. 

Dukette said ED staff have adeptly worked around the construction, reassessing and realigning workflows as necessary.  

“They are so skilled at doing whatever needs to happen to take care of patients in the moment,” Dukette said, noting project completion is expected in roughly a year. “Our ED is open, and our wonderful providers are there to do everything they can to take care of our community.” 

The Transforming Emergency Care campaign has raised $11.5 million of the $26 million project. To make a gift, call 413-582-2255 or visit cooleydickinson.org/giving.

To learn more about Florence Bank, visit FlorenceBank.com.

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About Florence Bank

Florence Bank is a mutual savings bank chartered in 1873. Currently, the bank serves the Pioneer Valley through 12 full-service branch locations in Florence, Northampton, Easthampton, Williamsburg, Amherst, Hadley, Belchertown, Granby, Chicopee, West Springfield, and Springfield. Additionally, it offers 25 ATMs and a wide range of financial services, including investment management through Florence Financial Group to consumers and businesses. Florence Bank is consistently voted best local bank by the readers of the Valley Advocate and the Daily Hampshire Gazette.