Foundation continues to make a difference in fight against breast cancer
The North Lincoln Hospital Foundation’s Snowflake Fund, which provides vouchers for local low-income patients to receive free mammograms, had a record year in 2009, thanks to another successful Snowflake Fashion Show and an incredible gift from Tanger Outlet Center.
The 2009 fashion show, held on Dec. 2, featured volunteers modeling outfits provided by several local stores, and raised $10,417 for the Snowflake Fund. During the show, Diane Kusz, general manager of Tanger, presented a check for $24,079.61 to the fund. The local outlet center raised the funds for its donation through its annual pink coupon campaign.
“All of this success with the Snowflake Fund in the past year has a very real implication for the health of women in our community,” said Connie Isaac, executive director of the North Lincoln Hospital Foundation. “It means that significantly more women who couldn’t otherwise afford a mammogram will be able to access this extremely important health service.”
Work begins on new rehabilitation center
With the help of foundation donors, the old therapy swimming pool at Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital, which closed in late 2008, will soon become a state-of-the-art physical rehabilitation center serving our entire community.
The foundation is currently working on a $100,000 campaign to fund the renovation project. The result will be Generations Rehabilitation Center, which will provide services for patients in three main areas.
The first area will serve elderly patients with a fall risk assessment program, assistive devices and education services to help local seniors avoid falls – which cause 90 percent of hip fractures in north Lincoln County.
The second area, the re-integration and rehabilitation program, will focus on patients who have suffered strokes, traumatic brain injuries or who suffer from Parkinson’s disease and other neurological and orthopedic conditions.
Finally, the pediatric rehabilitation program will serve children ages zero to 18 who are experiencing sensory loss and developmental delays. The staff will work with families on therapeutic interventions to help these children integrate into school and other activities.
“We are very excited to offer new and innovative services to the community with this newly designed and state-of-the-art rehabilitation area,” said Mary Fajer, the hospital’s Physical Rehabilitation Manager. “By having this area, we will be able to continue to go the extra mile in providing care to deserving individuals of all ages and enhance the quality of life for them.”
Donors help purchase more than $70,000 in medical equipment
The foundation has purchased $70,733 in equipment for the hospital and clinics in the last six months, benefitting everyone from newborn infants to senior patients receiving physical therapy. Examples include:
- Pediatric sensory integration system
- Infant warmer for Labor and Delivery Department
- Post-operative recovery equipment for Physical Therapy Department
- Directional Doppler Unit for Diagnostic Imaging
- Vas Scan table for Cardiovascular Department
- Wound care chair for Wound Ostomy Department
- Interactive metronome and balance system for Physical Therapy Department