Russell Salvatore Donates 350 Flat-Panel TVs to ECMC

BUFFALO, NY; Nov. 21, 2012-Well-known Buffalo restaurateur Russell Salvatore, a former Erie County Medical Center patient, today announced a Thanksgiving Eve gift of $195,000 for 26-inch, flat-screen, LG televisions for about 350 patient rooms.  

The gift prompted ECMC to end its practice of charging patients a fee for television use to defray the cost of the televisions. All patients will now be able to watch television for free. 

Salvatore, who was treated for a broken ankle at ECMC, was impressed with the care and compassion of ECMC staff. Salvatore's gift is in recognition and appreciation of ECMC's focus on patient experience that has transformed the hospital. ECMC is the No. 1 Adult Regional Trauma Center in New York State, but beyond emergency care, ECMC also treats the largest number of fractures regionally. 

"This is the season of giving, and I want to give back," Salvatore said. "When you are recuperating in a hospital bed, television becomes very important. I want to make sure all of ECMC's patients have the same excellent patient experience that I did. I wish everyone a quick recovery and a very Happy Thanksgiving." 

The gift to ECMC patients is through the ECMC Lifeline Foundation. 

"Russell truly understands the impact a good experience can have on a person," remarked Jody L. Lomeo, CEO of ECMC. "He has set the standard for customer service in his restaurants and hotels locally, which has made him successful here. He really appreciates that success and is always looking for meaningful ways to give back. ECMC and our patients are very fortunate to be on the receiving end of his deep generosity. 

"This gift allows us to continue to improve our superior patient experience," Lomeo said. "We're renowned for trauma care, transplant excellence and overall patient satisfaction. We want to really provide our patients with the best amenities that improve their stay." 

In recent years, ECMC also replaced all the beds in the surgical/medical rooms with the latest in hospital bed technology. 

"If you haven't been to ECMC in a while, you really must see it," Salvatore said. "There's new parking, a new entrance area, two major new care additions and now all the rooms have flat screens." 

MORE ABOUT ECMC: The ECMC Corporation includes an advanced academic medical center (ECMC) with 550 inpatient beds and 136 skilled-nursing-home beds, on- and off-campus health centers, more than 30 outpatient specialty care services and a long-term care facility.  ECMC is the regional center for trauma, burn care, transplantation and rehabilitation and is a major teaching facility for the University at Buffalo.  Most ECMC physicians, dentists and pharmacists are dedicated faculty members of the university and/or members of a private practice plan.  More Western New York residents are choosing ECMC for exceptional patient care and patient experiences-the difference between healthcare and true care^TM. 

NEWS CONTACTS:

Tom Quatroche at 716-898-5503 or tquatroc@ecmc.edu

Joe Cirillo at 716-898-4300 or jcirillo@ecmc.edu

 

 

11/27/2012