Leahy Attends Opening Of New Education Center
At The Rutland Regional Medical Center

Vermont Senator Secured Funding For Hospital Addition In 2001

RUTLAND (Friday, Oct. 27) – The Rutland Regional Medical Center staff and administrators hailed the opening of the $2.5 million addition to the regional hospital Friday in a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.).  Leahy secured $600,000 for the construction of the Leahy/Central Vermont Public Service (CVPS) Education Center in the 2001 Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations Bill.  CVPS donated $100,000 for the effort, and in 2004 the Medical Center rounded out funding for the project through a capital campaign.

Founded in 1896, the Rutland Regional Medical Center has grown to become the state’s second-largest heath care facility.  Employing 1380 people, the hospital also enjoys strong community support, with volunteers logging more than 50,000 hours in volunteer services to the hospital in 2005 alone.  The new facility adds community meeting and education space to the hospital, as well as health resources for community research, including a medical library and computer terminals.  In addition to the new education facility, the hospital has raised funds to build a new emergency room and boiler plant.

“The completion of this project has been a long time in coming, and this achievement is a credit to the efforts of the entire Rutland community,” said Leahy.  “This new Education Center will help make this community stronger and healthier.  In offering meeting space and health information resources, the Rutland Regional Medical Center is moving toward the goal of strengthening this already supportive community.”

Leahy is a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

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