A stirring cornerstone ceremony laid the groundwork for a new emergency department and trauma center at Soroka Medical Center today, to be called the Frances and Nathan Kirsh Emergency Department.
UJA-Federation of New York’s capital fundraising campaign for the medical center has to date raised $6 million — $5 million gifted by the Kirsh family of New York (in honor of their 50th wedding anniversary) and the other $1 million from several UJA-Federation donors. Israel’s Clalit Health Services matched the donations 1:1 to provide the remaining funding for the $12 million project.
Among the participants at the cornerstone ceremony yesterday were Kirsh family members; UJA-Federation of New York representatives; Keren Hayesod representatives; Be’ersheva Mayor Rubik Danielovitch; CEO of Clalit, Prof. Ehud Davidson; Deputy Director of Clalit, Dr. Mickey Scharf; Director-General of Soroka, Dr. Shlomi Codish; and other senior hospital directors and staff of the ER and trauma unit.
Several factors created the need to expand the hospital’s emergency services, including the relocation of several major Israel Defense Forces (IDF) bases in the surrounding Negev Desert, which would mean an increase in potential patients in the next several years; an expected rise in Be’ersheva’s population by 30% in the next several years; and the general growth of the Negev Desert’s population.
As part of the expansion project, the new space will increase the number of beds by 43, including two in a dedicated trauma room. Altogether the new department will include 116 new beds, with eight in the trauma unit. Construction of the new department is expected to be completed in 2021. This is phase one of a two-phase project.
“It’s a mistake to thank us for the donation,” said Nathan Kirsh. “The truth of the matter is that we are lucky enough to be able to do so and are privileged to be a part of this amazing complex that we are visiting today.”
The Emergency Department at Soroka is the most active in Israel, with 250,000 patients annually. The department serves the entire Negev population, from Eilat in the south to Kiryat Gat in the north. The department’s patients include car accident victims, travelers, and IDF soldiers. During military conflicts and operations in the south, Soroka is at the forefront of treating civilians and the military.
“UJA-Federation of New York is deeply grateful to the Kirsh family and the other donors for supporting this crucial project,” said Eric S. Goldstein, CEO, UJA-Federation of New York. “The expanded emergency department will provide best-in-class care to all citizens of Israel’s south, and will help strengthen the infrastructure of Be’ersheva.”
