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Augusta Health Foundation shares highlights from past year

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augusta-health-foundation-headerEach year, the Augusta Health Foundation provides for new and expanded patient care programs at Augusta Health because of the generosity of many residents, foundations, organizations and businesses in our community.

The Foundation helps to ensure that our community has access to top-notch healthcare and life-saving care right here at home, when critical minutes matter.  All administrative costs of operating the Augusta Health Foundation are generously provided for by Augusta Health, therefore 100% of all gifts supports the patient or employee service designated by the donor; every dollar raised by the Foundation stays right here in our community.

Generous gifts to the Foundation supported these programs in 2015:

  • Nearly $200,000 in end-of-life care services was provided to patients at the Shenandoah House.
  • $25,000 to support the 17th year of Camp Dragonfly, a weekend camp for children and teens grieving the loss of a loved one.
  • More than $13,000 was awarded to Augusta Health nurses who attended conferences, seminars, or educational classes to enhance their nursing skills at the bedside or in the outpatient setting.
  • An Employee Emergency Fund established and funded by Augusta Health’s own employees, provided $25,000 to employees who are struggling through a financial hardship due to illness, job loss or death in the family.
  • Sponsorships of $10,000 provided for the Augusta Health Continuum of Care Symposium, a professional development event for Augusta Health clinical staff and nurses.
  • The Cancer Services Bridge Fund provided more than $28,000 in medications, transportation, nutritional support and other needed items to cancer patients in treatment.

Nearly $50,000 was provided to enhance Augusta Health patient programs and services such as:

  • Living Better with Diabetes program for patients who need extra support managing their diabetes.
  • Chronic Disease Management Home Assistance program for patients who want to manage their chronic diseases better.
  • Child safety seats for infants and children leaving Augusta Health’s Emergency Department after a motor vehicle accident.
  • Media Centers with electronic tablets to engage children and teens while awaiting surgery or test results.
  • Essential equipment upgrade for the Emergency Department’s Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program to identify, document and record injuries of sexual assault victims.
  • Physical Therapy equipment to provide additional treatment approaches for neurological patients.

Additional monies were provided for many other patient care services and programs, such as cancer care, the operating room, nurse education, lab scholarships and a new music program for patients.

“We are truly grateful for the outpouring of support from our community, physicians, employees and volunteers,” said Tami Radecke, Vice President-Fund Development & Executive Director of the Foundation.  “In 2014, our first year of operations, more than $400,000 was raised to support essential services and programs in 2015.”

Looking forward to 2016, Augusta Health Foundation plans to work throughout the community and to expand opportunities for area citizens of all ages to support the health and well-being of its own community through charitable contributions and volunteer initiatives.

Augusta Health Foundation’s mission is to inspire community ownership through charitable giving to advance health and wellness in our region. The Foundation is the charitable arm of Augusta Health and exists to secure philanthropic support for patient care programs and services at Augusta Health, including its end-of-life program, Augusta Health Hospice of the Shenandoah.

Augusta Health is an independent, community-owned, not-for-profit hospital whose mission is to promote the health and well-being of our community through access to excellent care.  Named one of the 100 Top Hospitals in America by Thomson Reuters in both 2011 and 2012, Augusta Health has also been nationally recognized by HealthGrades as one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals for clinical excellence and patient safety for two consecutive years.

For more information about Augusta Health, its programs or its services, please contact Public Relations at 540.245.7329 or visit our website, www.augustahealth.com.

Contributors

Contributors

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