South Shore Hospital Receives Transformational Gift from the McKim Family Foundation
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With profound gratitude, South Shore Health announced it has received a $5.3 million donation from the McKim Family Foundation to help support an expansion project to South Shore Hospital’s West Unit, a short stay observation and inpatient unit.
The Foundation, run by Alan McKim, founder and former CEO of Clean Harbors, along with his four children, generously donated the transformational gift to honor and recognize South Shore Health colleagues while paving the way to help improve the hospital’s robust emergency department (ED) and services.
“Our Emergency Department and our state-of-the-art Level II Trauma Center is one of the busiest in the state," said Allen L. Smith, MD, MS, President & CEO of South Shore Health, the parent organization of South Shore Hospital. “This gift will help bolster and expand upon the resources we need to respond swiftly to the most critical care needs of our community.”
According to Smith, McKim’s gift will have a profound impact on the care patients receive, as well as help to alleviate capacity challenges in the hospital.
The project will expand the hospital’s short stay West Unit for both inpatient and observation care, doubling the West Unit’s capacity from 10 to 20 beds. By expanding observation bed capacity, patients can be moved out of a critical emergency care bed to a space more appropriate for their level of care – connecting them to the right care in the right setting.
For more than a year, South Shore Hospital has experienced record-breaking numbers of patients due to several factors, including the temporary closure of Signature Brockton Hospital, and the uncertainty of Steward Health Care hospitals, including Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton.
With patient and colleague safety at the forefront of its mission, the health system has made several changes to accommodate the unprecedented patient volumes, including adding staff in multiple areas, adding 120 temporary surge beds, expanding and reconfiguring much of its ED space, and investing in over $2 million dollars of equipment such as beds, stretchers, and wheelchairs.
Reinforcing emergency services is a top priority for South Shore Health, which has earmarked its annual Moonlight & Miracles Gala to help raise funds for the Digger and Susan Donahue Emergency Department, its Level II Trauma Center, and its Mobile Integrated Health program.
To be held on Friday, October 18 at the Weymouth Club, the event recently received a generous sponsorship from Norwell residents Digger and Susan Donahue, which will help strengthen the hospital’s critical work and ensure it can serve the region for years to come.
A member of its Board of Directors, McKim has been a loyal donor to South Shore Health for the past 16 years. He has supported many instrumental projects including the Emerson expansion, the creation of the Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center at South Shore Health, and the construction of the Richard and Joann Aubut Critical Care Unit.
The primary entrance at South Shore Hospital, the McKim Family Main Entrance, is named after his family.
McKim established his business in Norwell, raised his four children in Hingham, and has dedicated much of his time to helping and advising other organizations including, serving as co-chair of the Northeastern University campaign, a member of the Mass Maritime Foundation Board of Trustees, and supporting Norwell VNA and Hospice.
“Alan is a true champion of the South Shore Health mission, which aims to deliver high-quality, compassionate, and connected care close to home,” added Lauren Spencer, Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer. “Our entire community is fortunate to have him as a visionary supporter.”
