Foundation For Community Care Awards $273,140.39

The Foundation for Community Care, a non-profit, Richland County organization focused on ensuring the continuance and quality of local healthcare services in northeastern Montana, announced its 2017 Healthcare Endowment Grants today.

In 1983, the Foundation for Community Care was organized to prepare for the future of healthcare in Richland County and surrounding areas. While rural hospitals across the nation were closing their doors, local residents felt fortunate to have excellent quality healthcare services and wanted to help keep it that way. An endowment fund was established, and each year, some of the earnings from the endowment fund are distributed for local healthcare needs.

“It is extremely rewarding to be a part of this organization,” Jeff Aisenbrey, Chairperson of the Foundation’s volunteer Board of Directors said. “Because of the generosity of our donors, we are able to award more than $273,000 in grants to a variety of important projects in the area.” Aisenbrey added.

“I am continually encouraged by how much support exists for our local healthcare services,” said Gina Heckey, Foundation Senior Executive. “The only way we can keep quality care close to home, is by investing back into our own community.” Heckey added. “Our donors have a clear vision of what they want, and we are able to deliver on that year after year.”

The 2017 Foundation Healthcare Endowment Grants were awarded with the intent of enhancing the medical and healthcare services in the region. The funds will purchase new medical equipment, provide educational materials and support efforts to improve overall community wellness.

Area projects funded this year include:

Boys & Girls Club

Fitness, Recreation & Health Program: Provide additional resources & materials to enhance sports, fitness, recreation, health and STEM programming. Funds will be directed toward physical education games and equipment, as well as STEM education program components.

$3,469.00

Crestwood Inn

Dining Room Chairs: Replacement dining room chairs for low income disabled and senior living facility. Funds used to purchase 4 multiuse chairs.

$1,600.00

Richland County Health Department

Car Seat Program: Project to make car seats available to any child in Richland County in need, and to educate the community, caregivers and parents on the importance of child restraints to decrease injury. Funds will be used directly in the purchase of 45 child restraints.

$3,000.00

Pediatric Medi-Spoons: Medical dosage spoons specific to pediatric patients which ensure the right dosage of pain and fever relievers after immunizations. Funds will purchase 500 spoons for distribution to parents after their child receives annual immunization.

$359.39

Head Lice Awareness: Program to increase awareness of the needs of treatment for head lice to prevent the spread. Funds will be used to purchase educational devices and combs for nit removal for distribution to Richland County schools and daycares, as well as local families.

$1,299.20

Sunrise Savage Manor:

Wireless Call System; Nurse paging system to meet state requirements of life safety code for senior assisted living in Savage, MT. Funds will be used to purchase the system, as well as installation, training, programming & warranty.

$10,000.00

Vision of Hope Autism Ministry/Emmaus House, Inc.:

Financial Aid & Scholarships for Autistic Youth; Start up program to assist high school and young adults in eastern Montana diagnosed with autism disorder to provide scholarships/financial assistance for programs and education to further their independence and develop sustainable career skills. Funds will be used within the 2017/2018 year and distributed to individuals and families who request assistance.

$12,500.00

ROI

“Healthy ME!” Healthy Ventures Program: Healthy living program to educate and train developmentally disabled clients in healthy dietary and exercise choices. Program funding includes nutritionist, personal trainer, fitness memberships and group swimming.

$9,480

To: Sidney Health Center Facilities & Departments

The Lodge Wellness Program Support: The Lodge, an assisted living facility for seniors, is beginning a wellness initiative for residents, including exercise, nutrition and physical monitoring. Funds will be directed to the purchase of a NuStep recumbent stepper, recommended by Sidney Health Center Physical Therapists.

$4,775.00

Surgical Equipment and Instrumentation: Request to purchase a second set of surgical equipment to eliminate delays and risk of infection to patients. Funds will be used to purchase a full set of necessary surgical tools.

$20,000.00

Medication Assistance Program: Program to assist lower income Richland County residents gain access to necessary medications, avoiding potentially higher healthcare costs of interventions and hospitalizations. Funds will be used throughout the upcoming year, going directly to offset the cost of medications for patients.

$5,000.00

Laboratory Blood Bank Automation: A system to replace manual screening tests on blood products. The automated system can run mandated tests, removing human variables, decreasing the potential for errors. Partial funding of the $98,250 will allow for assistance to the purchase of the much needed piece of equipment.

$50,000

Emergency Room SonoSite Edge II Ultrasound: Advanced technology used in emergency situations to immediately diagnose life threatening pathology. Funding will fully purchase the equipment for immediate use in the Emergency Room, potentially affecting 7,500 patients annually.

$65,692.80

Radiology CT Fluoroscopy: Equipment purchase to ensure safety and reduce radiation exposure to patients who are obtaining pain management injections in the Cat Scan environment. Funding will be used to immediately purchase the machine to start use on over 500 exams annually.

$56,000.00

Cancer Center MatriXX Quality Assurance Device: Replacement device used to verify output and stability of Tomotherapy, a radiation delivery system used to treat cancer. Funds will be used to purchase the MatriXX Evolution, the device used on every patient to verify care plan is delivered to the correct place in the body, at the correct pattern & dosage.

$26,100

Cancer Center Welch Allyn Vital Signs Monitors: An equipment purchase to increase the capability for consistent patient monitoring in the Chemotherapy/Infusion portion of cancer care. Funds will purchase a new monitor, to be added to the existing 3 monitors, to meet the demands of treating the ever increasing amount of new care cases.

$3,865.14

The Foundation for Community Care board & staff would like to thank each and every donor who has given to the mission of a healthier Richland County.

To make a tax-deductible donation to the Foundation’s Endowment Fund, contact the staff at (406) 488-2273 or send your contribution to 221 2nd St. NW, Sidney, MT 59270. Memorial gifts may also be given to the Endowment Fund. For more information please see http://www.foundationforcommunitycare.org.