Act Alive helps diabetes patients
Type 2 diabetes is one of the most serious diseases residents of east Linn County face, and lack of physical exercise is at its root.
Exercise is one of the best ways to treat diabetes. This is the idea behind Act Alive, an annual event that raises support for the Diabetes Fund at the Lebanon Community Hospital Foundation and also raises awareness for diabetes prevention and healthy living in east Linn County.
The mastermind behind Act Alive is Tim Hindmarsh, MD, a family physician with Samaritan Sweet Home Family Medicine. In the past, Act Alive has consisted of public events such as a 5-kilometer run and a 15-mile bicycle ride. This year, the foundation and Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital are sponsoring the Act Alive Challenge, a fitness and weight loss contest for employees of the hospital, clinics and Samaritan Wiley Creek Community. To date, 58 employees have made contributions to the foundation’s Diabetes Fund to be a part of the Challenge. These employees will participate in the Challenge through Aug. 27, and the male and female employees who lose the greatest percentage of their body weight will win a cash prize.
While Act Alive does not feature a public component this year, we invite you to contribute toward the foundation’s Diabetes Fund to benefit our diabetes patients and support our employees who are taking charge of their health.
Matching fund improves care for patients
The Lebanon Community Hospital Foundation Matching Fund Policy supports employee-proposed projects designed to improve patient care or employee environment. The fund matches dollar-for-dollar the total amount of employee contributions to the foundation’s annual fall employee campaign. In 2009, employees donated more than $89,000 to the foundation. However, due to economic conditions, the foundation board in 2010 approved more than $177,000 in grants - nearly twice the amount donated.
“The foundation hopes that the Matching Fund for employee projects will both encourage and reward hospital employees in their financial support of the hospital,” said Bill Rauch, President of the foundation. “Their generosity over the years continues to allow the foundation to support projects that will enhance the quality of health care available to Linn County residents.”
The foundation funded more than 20 employee projects in 2010, including an office hysteoscope and supporting equipment for the Mid-Valley OB/GYN clinic, an automatic lint collector and pollution fighter for the Laundry Department, a high-definition endoscopic surgery monitor for Surgical Services, and a new floor in the procedure/treatment room and attached restroom at the Sweet Home Family Medicine clinic.