Columbus Community Hospital Foundation: Helping to Make Our Vision a Reality
6/29/2018
At Columbus Community Hospital, it is our vision to compassionately deliver the state’s highest quality patient care. That vision wouldn’t be possible without the Columbus Community Hospital Foundation.
Our Foundation is committed to providing health care that embodies our values of integrity, compassion, accountability, respect and excellence.
Each year, the Foundation receives contributions that provide financial support to the hospital and help deliver much-needed and cutting-edge equipment to our facility.
Lifesaving Equipment
In the most recent fiscal year, the Foundation’s top priority was to assist in funding the purchase of Wide Bore MRI equipment. The new MRI is capable of scanning larger-sized patients and those with claustrophobia. Additionally, it is quieter and faster than our former MRI equipment and provides better quality images.
“This equipment is a significant upgrade for healthcare in our community,” said Mike Hansen, president/CEO of Columbus Community Hospital.
The Foundation contributed more than $500,000 to this $1.5 million upgrade.
“That impressive contribution was made possible through the generosity of community businesses and individuals, as well as the record-breaking success of the 2017 Foundation Golf Outing,” Hansen said.
Another important piece of equipment purchased through donor support was a Lucas 2 Compression device for $12,000. The LUCAS 2 Chest Compression System is a safe and efficient tool that administers chest compressions on patients in cardiac arrest. This device is used to avoid neurological damage and save lives with uninterrupted chest compressions.
In addition to that, the Foundation also purchased four heated, massaging recliners for the new Infusion Center. The recliners cost roughly $14,000. They allow patients to cope with treatments in a comfortable and relaxing way. They also send the message that CCH truly cares for our patients.
Helping Our Patients
In the 2017-18 fiscal year, the Foundation also provided funds to assist patients and families living with Parkinson’s disease through the Parkinson’s Support Group and offered financial aid to qualified lymphedema patients who needed compression garments.
“Gifts to the Foundation have enabled many hospital programs to better serve your family, friends and neighbors,” said Tom Jarecke, chairman of the CCH Foundation Board of Directors.
These programs include: Thrive Cancer Rehabilitation Care, Hospice, Maternal Health and Child Care, Volunteer Services and Wiggles and Giggles Pediatric Therapy for Children, among others.
“We also provide scholarships to local students, hospital employees and children with diabetes so that they can attend a specialized summer camp,” Jarecke said.
Giving Back to Our Team
On top of these contributions, the Foundation also recognizes the importance of supporting our own team of employees.
That’s why, in early 2017, the CCH Cares Fund was established. It allows hospital employees to make donations through the Foundation that support their co-workers in times of financial crisis.
“The idea came from discussions with other Nebraska hospital foundations,” said Carol Keller, CCH Foundation executive director.
Since its inception, the program has been well received. Some people have become new donors to the Foundation specifically so they can give to the CCH Cares Fund.
“It allows hospital co-workers to live out our value of compassion as we help our co-workers who are having financial difficulty,” Keller said.
Future Plans
The contributions of the Foundation are many and varied. As a new fiscal year begins, the Foundation has more exciting initiatives planned.
With their help and yours, Columbus Community Hospital will continue to make our vision of providing high quality patient care into a reality.