Hospital Purchases Blanket Warmer with Donated Funds

With the nation gripped in a record-setting deep freeze, the last thing people want to do is travel back and forth to their doctor, let alone for cancer treatment. However, patients visiting the Infusion Center at Reed City Hospital are staying warmer these days, thanks to the generosity of donors. For the past two years, former patients, physicians, staff, and individuals have given funds to Spectrum Health Foundation to support specific areas of Reed City Hospital – like cancer services. And just in time for the coldest part of the year, Foundation funds enabled the hospital to purchase a new blanket warmer.

“Patients love to wrap up in a warm blanket while they are here,” says Heather Ringler, infusion center office coordinator, “Little comforts make a world of difference in their experience.”

In just one year, patients from 17 counties in Michigan visited the Infusion Center more than 5,000 times.

Despite the struggling economy, individuals and organizations dug deep in their pockets for the hospital during 2009, giving donations to support the following projects and equipment:

Digital Processor for Crossroads Radiation Therapy Center
Infusion Therapy Chairs
Aquarium for Intensive Care Unit
Digital Mammography Unit
Cancer Screening Day for the uninsured and underinsured
Medical/Surgical Unit
Patio for Rehab and Nursing Center
Four Seasons Activity Room for Rehab and Nursing Center
Healing Garden for Rehab and Nursing Center
Activities for Elders in Rehab and Nursing Center

“Every donation has the power to impact lives, and bring hope to patients and families,” said Christie Carlson, Foundation Coordinator. “Generous gifts, both large and small, to the Spectrum Health Foundation help save lives and advance the health and well-being of individuals and families throughout our community.”

Spectrum Health Foundation provides a full-service giving program. All gifts are tax deductible. For more information call 231.832.7184 or email Christie.Carlson@Spectrum-Health.org.

Spectrum Health Reed City Hospital is a 25 bed acute care hospital located in Reed City, Mich. that has adopted the Planetree approach to care giving. A model of patient centered care in a healing environment, staff is committed to improving medical care from the patient’s perspective, empowering patients and families through education, information and encouraging healing partnerships with caregivers. Spectrum Health Reed City Hospital offers a newly renovated emergency department with private treatment rooms, an expanded medical imaging department, a regional cancer treatment center and an Eden Care award winning 54 bed rehab and nursing facility. Spectrum Health Reed City Hospital has been recognized for its quality care by the Michigan Quality Improvement Organization and has earned the Governor’s Award of Excellence for Improving Care in the Hospital Setting for 3 consecutive years, the Total Benchmark Solution quality award for 2005 and the 2006 and 2007 VHA Leadership Award for clinical excellence.