Celebrating the 2024 Westfield Memorial Hospital Foundation’s campaign are board members Christine Adams, CPA, treasurer; Dr. Kathryn S. Bronstein, president; and Patricia Gaughan DiPalma, executive director. Not pictured are Jon Northrop, vice president, and Colleen Meeder, secretary.

WESTFIELD – The Westfield Memorial Hospital Foundation board recently closed its 2024 fundraising efforts which raised $236,000 in support of the AHN Westfield Memorial Hospital.

Funding came in the form of grants from the following organizations: Five Star Bank, Lake Shore Savings Bank, M&T Charitable Foundation, the Ripley Community Heritage Fund, and the Jesse C. Wilson Memorial Trust. Also contributing to the 2024 campaign total were Westfield Memorial Hospital associates, medical staff, hospital, foundation and auxiliary board members, individuals, businesses, civic and service organizations, and foundations.

“It is because of the foundation’s valued and loyal donors that the Foundation was able to meet its fundraising goals,” said Dr. Kathryn S. Bronstein, who has been foundation board president since 2018. “The entire AHN Westfield family, including my colleagues on the hospital, auxiliary and foundation boards of directors remain grateful to everyone who provided the needed financial support which is critical for our community hospital.”

In 2024, the foundation was able to fund more than $120,000 in equipment throughout the hospital including a new portable defibrillator, safe and comfortable flooring in the kitchen, kitchen supplies, four advanced surgical lights for the Emergency Department and Wound Clinic, water softener system throughout the hospital, and five air purifiers for the Medical/Surgical Department. Numerous donors – most notably donors Hans and Barbara Bergstrom, also provided gifts to the WMHF “The Little Hospital that Could” Endowment Fund.

“Like the foundation board of directors, we also remain grateful to our wonderful community which continues to provide incredible support,” said hospital administrator Dr. Rodney J. Buchanan.

The hospital’s service area includes Ashville, Bemus Point, Brocton, Chautauqua, Clymer, Dewittville, Findley Lake, Mayville, Panama, Portland, Ripley, Sherman, Stockton, and Westfield as well as visitors to the region. The hospital served close to 32,000 patients in 2024.

“The communities served by the hospital are the pillars of each and every campaign, and the 2024 Campaign was no exception,” said Patricia Gaughan DiPalma, Westfield Memorial Hospital Foundation executive director. “It’s so rewarding to witness how our communities come together for our treasured community hospital, year after year.”

As AHN Westfield Hospital pursues its new designation as a rural emergency hospital (REH) to protect healthcare access for residents in Chautauqua County, the WMH Foundation’s mission remains the same.

“I’m happy to report that our community hospital has begun the journey towards changing our designation to a Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) status protecting it from federal rules required to maintain a hospital – i.e., inpatient census requirements that has resulted in the closure of many rural hospital across the country. This designation will allow us to maintain four observational beds and will solidify our ability to remain a safe, viable and dependable hospital for decades to come. Patients will continue to receive the same outstanding medical care they have come to know and expect 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The overwhelming support we have received from members of the community, and our governing boards is greatly appreciated,” Buchanan said.

While the designation will be different, the hospital is looking to expand additional outpatient services with the steadfast support of the hospital Foundation. The hospital provides an array of services, in addition to emergency care, including ambulatory and short-stay surgery, outpatient diagnostic services, physical therapy, cardiac testing, imaging, women’s diagnostic services, digital mammography, laboratory, diabetes education, nuclear stress testing, wound and infusion clinics, and a specialty services suite that includes general surgery, digestive diseases, and orthopedics. Telemedicine services for critical care and stroke patients are also available at AHN-Westfield Hospital. The hospital also provides primary care services on the grounds of the Chautauqua Institution during its nine-week summer season.

For more information about how to give to the annual campaign, call DiPalma at 716-793-2338. Contributions to the Foundation are tax-deductible and can be made securely through the foundation’s website at www.westfieldhospitalfoundation.org or mailed to the Westfield Memorial Hospital Foundation, 189 E. Main St., Westfield, NY 14787.