When someone is having a stroke, the clock starts long before they reach a hospital.
That’s the thinking behind a $1 million gift from the Lees family of Margate and Longport to the AtlantiCare Foundation, aimed at strengthening stroke and neurological emergency care at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center’s City Campus in Atlantic City.
AtlantiCare covers a service area of more than one million residents in South Jersey, a region that also draws more than 27 million visitors a year. ARMC is the region’s only Joint Commission-certified Comprehensive Stroke Center.
“When a patient is having a stroke or another neurological emergency, care cannot wait until they arrive at our doors,” AtlantiCare CEO Michael Charlton said. “It begins with recognition in the field, fast communication and the right specialists ready to respond.”
The gift will fund expanded neuroscience staffing and neuro hospitalist coverage, along with additional patient care capacity, equipment and clinical resources for patients needing urgent neurological assessment. It will also support new Emergency Medical Services technology designed to help field teams recognize neurological emergencies earlier and relay information to hospital staff before a patient arrives.
“This is an investment in faster response, specialized care and continued access for the people who live in and visit our region,” Charlton said.
The donation carries personal weight for the Lees family. It’s being made in honor of James Lees, Sr., whose life was affected by a neurological condition and continues more than two decades of family support for the AtlantiCare Foundation.
The Lees family has deep roots in Atlantic County through Kisby Shore Mechanical Contractors, the Atlantic City-based family business now led by James Lees, Jr.
“The strength of our community depends on access to outstanding healthcare, and AtlantiCare continues to deliver on that promise,” Lees said. “Our family is honored to support AtlantiCare and the extraordinary work of its physicians, nurses and staff. This gift is a reflection of our gratitude for the care that touches so many lives every day.”
Matt Lang, the Chief Development Officer for the AtlantiCare Foundation, expressed gratitude.
“The Lees family’s generosity builds on AtlantiCare’s commitment to clinical excellence, innovation and access to advanced care for the communities it serves,” he said.
