RUMFORD – Rumford Hospital’s 2004-2005 Annual Appeal closed on June 30 with $61,000, $11,000 beyond its $50,000 goal.

“We will have more than the $50,000 we planned to fund equipment for the expanded Day Surgery and Emergency departments,” said Don Cummings, hospital Development Committee chairman.

“Some of the $61,000 was restricted to other departments, equipment and services. For instance, the LifeFlight Foundation donated $3,000 for improvements to the helipad,” he said.

Equipment for the Day Surgery and Emergency departments to be purchased, in part, with Annual Appeal funds includes datascope monitors to continuously check the heart rate and blood oxygen saturation of patients before and after surgical procedures and a central monitoring system in the ED.

“The Annual Appeal funds will make it possible to purchase vital equipment in other areas of the hospital, while also buying the more than $100,000 worth of equipment needed for the expanded Day Surgery and Emergency departments,” said Becky Hall, Capital Equipment Committee chairwoman. “We are very, very grateful to our community for their meaningful gifts this year – and every year.