The New Memorial embraced positive change on several fronts in 2014 with the achievement of several significant milestones designed to position us for future growth and improve the health status of our community.

To name but a few:

• The completion and opening of our $2 million Niagara Wellness Connection Center, which we believe to be the first of its kind, combines behavioral health, primary care and community support services under one roof. In addition to receiving quality care, participants at the Center enjoy a range of free educational opportunities in topics that range from nutrition to household budgeting to yoga.

• The completion and opening of David’s Path, a dedicated hospice unit in our Schoellkopf Health Center. Residents at David’s Path receive specialized hospice services from combined Schoellkopf and Niagara Hospice staff physicians, pharmacists, nurses, medical social workers and spiritual care providers as well as massage therapists, allied therapists, support staff, volunteers and bereavement counselors.

• A $250,000 sub-acute care unit at Schoellkopf. This modern new unit serves patients needing goal-oriented medical and surgical rehabilitation prior to returning home after being hospitalized.

• The announcement of the Golisano Center for Community Health, which will provide comprehensive integrated health care services to adults with special needs – the developmentally and intellectually disabled and other at risk individuals – and to their families. We will break ground for the new $5.5 million center this spring.

• The growth of our minimally invasive and robotic surgery center. Our expanded surgical team continues to pace the region in the use of leading technology for such advanced procedures as single incision robotic hysterectomy and gallbladder surgery.

• The continued expansion of our bariatrics program. This surgical weight-loss option has been a godsend for scores of patients with serious health problems caused by obesity. Niagara Falls Memorial now has a trio of surgeons performing this type of surgery and offers monthly patient information seminars in Lewiston, Lockport and Niagara Falls.

• The recruitment of several highly qualified physicians to our medical staff. During the past 12 months, Memorial and our entire community have been blessed by the addition of skilled and experienced doctors in such specialties as internal medicine, inpatient hospital care, obstetrics/gynecology and minimally invasive and robotic surgery.

• The success of our OB/GYN Center. At this new center, a trio of board certified obstetrician/gynecologists provide high quality care to a growing number of women at all stages of their lives. A fourth physician, Dr. Meaghan Aalto, will join the center’s medical staff later this year.

• The success of The Wound Center of Niagara. This busy center provides comprehensive care for chronic, non-healing wounds and has been nationally recognized as a Wound Center of Excellence for quality care, safety and patient satisfaction.

• The growth of the Niagara Falls Memorial Health Home. Working collaboratively with care providers across Niagara County, this community-based service provides coordinated care management services to more than 1,100 Medicaid eligible clients with chronic health conditions.

• Working side-by-side with the Health Home staff been our knowledgeable team of insurance navigators, who have helped hundreds of individuals and families across the county select and enroll in healthcare plans in support of NY State of Health, the official health plan marketplace.

• The opening of an all-new outpatient Laboratory Collection and Patient Services Center at 7751 Porter Road in the Town of Niagara. This attractive new facilitypromises to serve pre-registered patients and get them on their way in 15 minutes or less.

• The expansion of our sports medicine and sports rehabilitation service lines. We now provide sports medicine and athletic training services to seven area school districts in addition to Niagara County Community College. Our Competitive EDGE Sports Performance program, which provides specialized training to athletes at all levels from high school to the pros, has moved to an all new, larger site at the Niagara Falls High School athletic complex.

• Last but certainly not least was the opening of our new Tenth Street Café. This collaboration with Niagara University’s College of Hospitality and Tourism and Cannon Design to deliver a creative new food service experience to visitors, staff members, students and volunteers is generating a lot of local excitement and drawing positive national attention to our community.

The year ahead promises even more excitement, including the opening of an expanded primary care center on Grand Island, the construction of the new Golisano Center, and a $1.5 million interior renovation project to benefit our Schoellkopf Health Center residents.

Of course, none of these accomplishments would be possible without the continued and enthusiastic support of community members, funding partners, service partners and our 1,100-member Memorial Medical Center team. We are most grateful for that support and we promise we’ll have even more good news in 2015 as we keeping moving forward to provide high quality care to meet the area’s health and wellness needs.

Joseph A. Ruffolo is President & CEO of Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center.