Gouverneur Hospital has been allocated $50,000 in state funding, secured by State Senator Patty Ritchie, to purchase “safe patient handling” equipment to help hospital staff lift and move patients, keep patients warm and comfortable, monitor their vital signs and use a bladder scanner to prevent unnecessary and painful urinary catheters.

“We are proud of the high quality services we offer to Gouverneur and the surrounding communities,” said David Bender, CEO of Gouverneur Hospital. “We are very grateful that Senator Patty Ritchie recognizes access to quality care is a critical issue in the North Country. The funding she has acquired for our hospital has been allocated for safe patient handling equipment that will enhance our patient experience.”

A total of $450,000 in state funding secured by State Senator Patty Ritchie for four area hospitals which in addition to serving their communities, also provide medical care to Fort Drum troops and their families, are now able to purchase medical supplies that will assist with surgeries and treatment to improve patient care.

“Our local hospitals are critical to the health and well-being of our communities. They are also critical to the mission of Fort Drum, meeting the medical needs of the installation’s 30,000 soldiers and family members,” said Senator Ritchie, who represents Fort Drum and its surrounding communities. “I am pleased to deliver this important funding to our outstanding hospitals which treat our community and our brave service members and families who give back so much to our region and our country.”

The funding comes as part of a $1.25 million Military Base Retention grant that was secured by Senator Ritchie in the state budget and aims to strengthen Fort Drum, which does not have its own hospital. Senator Ritchie started the Military Base Retention grant program in 2012 to help strengthen Fort Drum, the surrounding communities it partners with and to protect the installation from potential federal cuts.