Senate Resolution No. 1886
BY: Senator STEC
COMMEMORATING the 100th Anniversary of
Elizabethtown Community Hospital and recognizing its
enduring legacy of service to the residents of Essex
County and the North Country
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to honor and
recognize those institutions whose longstanding commitment to public
service has strengthened the health, well-being, and vitality of
communities across the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
longstanding traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Elizabethtown Community Hospital, a
cornerstone institution which has faithfully served the residents of
Essex County and the greater North Country for more than a century; and
WHEREAS, Founded in 1921 as the Elizabethtown Community House by
prominent local citizens, the institution was established to provide a
safe place for women to give birth and to offer medical and surgical
treatment for non-contagious diseases and injuries, reflecting a deep
and enduring commitment to community health; and
WHEREAS, From its earliest days, the facility was sustained through
grassroots community support, including fundraising efforts such as the
Women's Exchange and Tea Room, exemplifying the spirit of local
investment and shared responsibility that continues to define the
institution; and
WHEREAS, In 1926, Elizabethtown Community House formally became
Elizabethtown Community Hospital, a nonprofit voluntary hospital located
in the historic Kellogg House on Court Street, marking the beginning of
its evolution into a modern healthcare provider; and
WHEREAS, Over the decades, Elizabethtown Community Hospital has
demonstrated remarkable growth and adaptability, undertaking numerous
expansion and modernization projects, including a 1930s expansion
supported by the Campe Foundation, the opening of a new hospital
facility at 75 Park Street in 1967 through broad-based public
fundraising, and subsequent expansions in 1979, 1983, 2008, 2009, and
2018, all aimed at enhancing patient care and access; and
WHEREAS, A significant $9.1 million renovation completed in 2018
transformed the Ticonderoga campus into a state-of-the-art emergency and
outpatient center, further extending high-quality care to underserved
communities; and
WHEREAS, Dedicated to meeting the unique needs of rural populations,
the hospital was designated a Rural Primary Care Hospital in 1996 and
redesignated as a Critical Access Hospital in 1998, ensuring long-term
sustainability and continued access to essential healthcare services for
residents of the North Country; and
WHEREAS, Elizabethtown Community Hospital has expanded its reach
through the development and operation of multiple community-based health
centers in Elizabethtown, Westport, Wilmington, Ausable Forks,
Willsboro, Crown Point, and Ticonderoga, bringing care closer to the
communities it serves; and
WHEREAS, The hospital has consistently demonstrated clinical
excellence and innovation, offering a wide range of services including
emergency medicine, ambulatory surgery, dialysis, chemotherapy, cardiac
and pulmonary rehabilitation, infusion services, advanced imaging,
telemedicine, and specialty care, thereby ensuring patients can receive
comprehensive treatment close to home; and
WHEREAS, Its early adoption of telemedicine and oncology services as
early as 2009 underscores its leadership in rural healthcare innovation
and its commitment to expanding access to advanced medical care; and
WHEREAS, In 2018, Elizabethtown Community Hospital launched a New
York State-accredited Paramedic Education Program, the first of its kind
in the region, demonstrating leadership in workforce development and
strengthening emergency medical services throughout Essex County; and
WHEREAS, The hospital's dedication to quality and patient experience
has earned it repeated recognition from Press Ganey, including Guardian
of Excellence Awards and a Top 5 percent national ranking for Emergency
Department patient experience in 2025, as well as achieving Pathway to
Excellence designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center in
2019; and
WHEREAS, Through strategic affiliations, including its 1993
partnership with CVPH Medical Center and its integration into the
University of Vermont Health Network, the hospital has enhanced regional
collaboration, expanded access to specialty and academic care, and
strengthened healthcare delivery across the region; and
WHEREAS, During times of crisis, including the COVID-19 pandemic,
Elizabethtown Community Hospital has served as a trusted and
indispensable partner, leading countywide testing and vaccination
efforts while maintaining essential emergency and inpatient services
under extraordinary circumstances; and
WHEREAS, Throughout its 100-year history, Elizabethtown Community
Hospital has remained a community-founded, community-supported
institution, dedicated to rural access, innovation, and quality care,
and has become a vital resource and trusted healthcare provider for
generations of families; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Elizabethtown Community Hospital,
and to honor its century-long legacy of compassionate care, innovation,
and unwavering service to the people of Essex County and the North
Country; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Elizabethtown Community Hospital.
