PROVIDENCE, RI In an effort to help Rhode Island Hospital expand its critical care services to more Rhode Islanders, U.S. Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) and Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) today presented an $800,000 check to Rhode Island Hospital president and CEO Joseph Amaral, M.D. for the hospitals new Critical Care and Readiness Initiative.This money, which Kennedy and Reed secured in a federal spending bill, will be used for repairs and expansion at the hospital to increase its current critical care capacity from 28 intensive care beds and 26 step-down beds into 83 multifunctional, single-bed, intensive care rooms as part of its Level One Trauma Center.The renovation will allow Rhode Island Hospital to better serve the community with a total of 140 critical care beds and will expand the Trauma Centers burn, trauma, and surgical ICU bed capacity by 35% -- strengthening the regions readiness and ability to handle a major disaster.This federal funding will allow Rhode Island Hospital to provide its important services and care to even more Rhode Islanders. It also helps to ensure that our state will be better prepared in the event of a major medical crisis, stated Reed. Congressman Kennedy was a real champion for this funding, and I was glad we could join together to make it happen. The expansion of this facility will allow the hospital to continue to provide top notch services to our state.Kennedy said, Rhode Island Hospital is central to responding to the health care needs of the region's citizens, especially during a major medical emergency. Whether it's in response to a disaster or epidemic, it is imperative New England's only Level One Trauma Center is equipped with the state of the art tools it needs to provide quality care effectively and efficiently. I am pleased to have worked with my colleague Senator Reed to assist in securing these funds."Construction has been completed on the Trauma Intensive Care Unit and Surgical Intensive Care Unit and is currently underway on the Hospitals step-down, or transitional, unit.Amaral said, "Senator Reed and Congressman Kennedy have placed healthcare high on their agenda and recognize the vital need to support healthcare initiatives in the state. Through their commitment, these appropriations will help Rhode Island Hospital improve its capacity to care for the most critically ill and injured in our region and we are grateful to them for their efforts."