January 28, 2025
Star Lake, NY – Clifton-Fine Hospital celebrated a significant milestone in its Emergency Care Close to Home Campaign with a “Topping Off” beam on display for all to sign. The “Topping Off” marks the completion of the structural framework of the building and symbolizes both the progress of the project and the hospital’s commitment to enhancing emergency care in the community.
Thanks to the remarkable generosity of hundreds of community members, along with several key grants, the campaign has exceeded its goal of raising $1,000,000. These funds will provide state-of-the-art imaging equipment, including essential X-ray and CT scan radiology technology, for the newly expanded Emergency Department. The upgrade, the first of its kind in the hospital’s 73-year history, is a pivotal step in ensuring that Clifton-Fine Hospital can provide top-quality emergency care, close to home for years to come.
The “Topping Off” is not just a construction milestone, but it’s also an celebration of the incredible support from our community, the dedication of our volunteers, and the hard work of our team to ensure that our Emergency Department is equipped to meet the evolving healthcare needs of our region,” said Dierdra Sorrell, CEO of Clifton-Fine Hospital.
The new Emergency Department Annex, which broke ground last summer, is expected to be completed in the fall of 2025. The project has been made possible in large part due to the leadership of the hospital’s volunteers, the Hospital Board, and the Wilderness Healthcare Foundation. CEO Dierdra Sorrell also successfully secured state grants to cover the cost of construction, while community donations are funding the critical imaging equipment.
In lieu of a ceremony, the final steel beam was displayed in the hospital for the community to sign. The beam will be hoisted into place as the final piece of the building’s structural framework in the coming weeks. CEO Sorrell says, “This symbolizes not only the growth of the hospital but also the strong bond between Clifton-Fine Hospital and the local community”.
“We are proud to be a part of this transformative project, which will ensure that Clifton-Fine Hospital can continue providing life-saving emergency services to our community and visitors, 24/7, for years to come,” said a spokesperson for the Wilderness Healthcare Foundation.
Once the new Emergency Department is complete, renovation in the existing building will begin culminating with moving the hospital’s Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Department into the building. Renovation of the current building will further enhance the hospital’s capacity to expand services to meet community needs and is expected by be complete by June 2027.
Leadership donations have come from The Town of Fine, St. Lawrence County, and several foundations including the Northern New York Community Foundation (via their Community Grants Program, the Youth Philanthropy Council, the Caldwell Family Fund, the Paul Flynn Fund, and the Clifton-Fine Community Fund), the Cloudsplitter Foundation, and the Cranberry Lake Boat Club in honor of Clint Farnsworth.
“The community’s generosity is the reason we’re able to continue advancing healthcare in our region,” added Sorrell. “We are deeply grateful for the support and look forward to seeing the impact of this project for generations to come.”