Altmire Delivers $296,000 to Jameson Health System to Expand Emergency Room

(New Castle, PA) -- U.S. Congressman Jason Altmire (PA-04) today delivered $296,000 in federal funding to Jameson Health System to help it expand its emergency room from 8,000 square feet to 12,000 square feet. Congressman Altmire secured this funding to improve health care in Lawrence County in the final FY 2008 budget. “In recent years, the number of emergency room visits at Jameson Hospital has greatly increased, putting a strain on existing facilities,” Altmire said. “The funding that I secured and am delivering today will help to expand the emergency room so it can accommodate rising demand and provide local residents with the first-rate health care they deserve. Jameson Hospital is the primary health care provider in Lawrence County and I am committed to doing everything I can to ensure that it has the resources it needs to provide quality care.” The expansion of Jameson’s emergency room is needed to accommodate the growing number of patients seeking care there. Jameson is the only health care provider in New Castle and has seen its annual emergency visits increase to 39,000 patients, a 30 percent increase, since it acquired the St. Francis Facility in 2002. “The funding that Congressman Altmire has presented to Jameson Hospital this afternoon will have a direct positive impact on the citizens of Lawrence County,” Tom White, President and CEO of Jameson Health System, said. “Jameson Hospital’s ability to expand and improve its emergency and surgical departments is critical to its mission of providing quality health and human services to the community we have the privilege of serving. We thank Congressman Altmire, Senator Specter and Senator Casey for their many efforts on behalf of Jameson Hospital and those who rely on our services, now and in the future.”