Rochester General Hospital in upstate New York has announced a $9 million gift from billionaire businessman and quadrennial gubernatorial candidate B. Thomas Golisano to establish a new emergency care facility.

The hospital's existing emergency department, which was designed for approximately 50,000 patient visits a year, currently experiences more than 80,000 — and that number is expected to grow substantially. The new B. Thomas Golisano Pavillion and Emergency Center will include a new emergency room, a cardiothoracic intensive care unit, and a vascular laboratory. The center is a key component in an overall plan to ensure greater ease of access for patients and their families and to improve aging facilities.

"Rochester General Hospital is a vital part of our community," said Golisano, founder and chairman of Rochester-based Paychex Inc. "We have a responsibility to make sure that it has sufficient resources to satisfy the needs of the population of this area."