North Bergen, N.J.-based Hackensack Meridian Palisades Medical Center, part of Edison, N.J.-based Hackensack Meridian Health, has kicked off construction on a new $50 million emergency department.

Marietta, Ohio.-based Memorial Health System broke ground Oct. 8 on a $125 million women and children's hospital, which is set to open in fall 2026. 

Seattle Children's has opened Washington's first urgent care clinic dedicated to pediatric mental health.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed earthquake retrofit requirements into law, and the legislation allows some hospitals to ask for a deadline extension, the Los Angeles Times reported Oct. 9. 

Coral Gables, Fla.-based Baptist Health South Florida received approval from the Sunrise (Fla.) community development department during a Sept. 24 meeting to build a 100-bed hospital.

Baptist Health Foundation, part of Coral Gables, Fla.-based Baptist Health, has kicked off its largest fundraising campaign with a goal to raise $600 million in philanthropic donations to invest in Baptist Health communities.

Burlington-based University of Vermont Medical Center, part of Burlington-based The University of Vermont Health Network, has temporarily paused construction on a $129 million outpatient surgical center.

From supporting construction projects to establishing endowed chairs, here are how six health systems are spending donations, as reported by Becker's since Sept. 20: 

Smithfield, N.C.-based UNC Health Johnston has won its appeal to the state to add 12 acute- care beds at its Clayton campus, according to a Sept. 26 news release shared with Becker's. 

Norfolk, Va.-based Sentara Health broke ground Oct. 1 on a $107 million hospital expected to open in 2026. 

Dallas-based Children's Health and UT Southwestern Medical Center broke ground on its $5 billion pediatric campus and received a $100 million gift to support the project.

Vineland, N.J.-based Inspira Health has broken ground on a $240 million expansion of its Mullica Hill campus. 

Between 2020 and March, 36 rural hospitals across the U.S. have closed. Hundreds of others are at immediate risk of closure because of financial difficulties.

Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Novant Health is planning to build a new full-service, community hospital campus in Bluffton, S.C.

Mercy Hospital South St. Louis broke ground Sept. 26 on a project to expand and redesign its entire emergency department. 

Indianapolis-based Indiana University Health has broken ground on a $421 million hospital in Fort Wayne, Ind.

Baylor College of Medicine in Houston has obtained a total of $51 million in new donations to support a new tower currently under construction.

Slidell (La.) Memorial Hospital has opened its $52 million surgical services and patient care tower and is expected to begin accepting patients later in September.

Inova Health has launched a comprehensive campaign to raise $500 million for the Falls Church, Va.-based health system by Dec. 31, 2029.

Three New York hospitals are among the 82 nonprofit organizations set to receive $360 million from billionaire donor B. Thomas Golisano, Buffalo Business First reported Sept. 17.