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THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT: Mary Ann Phelps, Jim Harrison III and Jim
Flemming were recognized by the Alabama Hospital Association with its
Special Citation Award for their many contributions and achievements that
support the DCH Health System and the community.
Tree long-time supporters of the DCH
Health System and of the health of
residents of West Alabama were honored
by the Alabama Hospital Association
(AlaHA) with its Special Citation Award
at the organization’s annual meeting in
the summer.
Mary Ann Phelps, long-tenured leader
with Tuscaloosa County Parks and Recre-
ation; Jim Fleming, president and CEO of
First National Bank of Central Alabama;
and Jim Harrison III, owner of Harrison
Galleries, were recognized for their many
contributions and achievements, such as
their major eforts to help raise funds to
build the DCH Cancer Center that opened
in May 2009. Tey have all served on the
board of the DCH Foundation as members
or ofcers, and Mr. Harrison currently is
a member of the DCH board of directors.
Hospitals do a lot of wonderful things for
health care in their communities. Much of
the credit is due to the foundations that
serve them and to charitable giving.
What are they?
Hospital foundations
are nonproft groups that raise money
for hospitals. Tose dollars go back into
the community through programs and
services that meet local health care needs,
according to the Association for Health-
care Philanthropy.
For example, hospital foundations raise
money that may help pay for:
●
●
Expanded services and building up-
grades, such as cancer care centers, neo-
natal units and community clinics.
●
●
New equipment and technologies that
help improve and save lives.
●
●
Medical care for those who lack insur-
ance. In 2009, U.S. hospitals provided more
than $39 billion in uncompensated care.
●
●
Education programs and events—from
diabetes prevention and care to CPR classes.
How it’s done
Hospital foundations raise
money in many ways. Tese may include:
Special events, such as gala nights,
auctions or fun runs.
Tese also increase
awareness of the foundation and hospital.
Annual campaigns.
Tese eforts seek
contributions from regular donors and also
attract frst-time supporters.
Capital campaigns.
Tese eforts raise a
signifcant amount of money for a specifc
project—such as a new facility—over a
certain period of time, sometimes years.
Reasons to give
More than 80 percent
of hospital donations come from indi-
viduals, the Association for Healthcare
Philanthropy estimated. Ofen, people
simply want to give back.
Today’s economic climate has had far-
reaching efects, and hospitals are not
immune to the downturn in the economy.
Tat same crunch is being felt by care-
givers and providers, the Association for
Healthcare Philanthropy reported.
Many hospitals face fnancial chal-
lenges, including Medicaid reimburse-
ments that fall short of the cost of care.
How to give
Even small donations to
a foundation can add up, and there are
many ways to show your support.
Options may include:
●
●
Giving cash.
●
●
Donating gifs of stocks, bonds, real
estate or other property.
●
●
Including a gif to the hospital in your
will.
●
●
Establishing a charitable remainder
trust. With this, you give appreciated
stock or other assets and receive interest
H E A L T H S Y S T E M N E W S
Te strong role of hospital foundations
Long-time supporters
of DCH honored
“Tis dynamic trio truly exemplifes
what it means to care for the health of our
citizens,” said AlaHA president J. Michael
Horsley, FACHE. “Tey were instrumen-
tal in bringing crucial cancer care to the
West Alabama area by helping to raise the
funds to construct a new cancer center.
We celebrate their dedication to the fght
against cancer and are pleased to be able
to recognize their outstanding service with
this award.”
In collaboration with DCH, these phi-
lanthropists raised approximately $10 mil-
lion for the construction of the new DCH
Cancer Center. Tey initiated tremendous
volunteer leadership in guiding more than
4,000 DCH employees, physicians and
community members in a very successful
campaign that will beneft cancer patients
in West Alabama for many years to come.
income for life.
The remainder
goes to the hospi-
tal as a future gif.
An impor tant
investment
Te
DCH Foundation,
organized in 1973,
supports the work
of DCH Health
System by helping
ensure that the f-
nancial resources
are available to deliver exceptional health
care to residents of West Alabama. To
learn more, call
205-759-7349
or visit
www.supportdch.org.
Additional source: American Hospital Association
Molly Baldwin,
Vice President
of Development,
DCH Health
System
DCH HOME MEDICAL
EQUI PMENT
Now ofering
home oxygen
therapy
DCH Home Medical Equipment provides
home oxygen therapy with a system that
allows patients to fll their own oxygen
cylinders.
Supplemental oxygen has improved the
lives of patients with chronic lung condi-
tions, but patients have to make sure they
have a supply of oxygen cylinders.
Te Invacare HomeFill system changes
all that, according to Henry Hajek, Man-
ager of DCH Home Medical Equipment.
Mr. Hajek said a concentrator that runs
of regular house current flters room air,
which contains about 20 percent oxygen,
and concentrates it so that the patient
breathes 95 percent oxygen through a
cannula. Te HomeFill system features a
multistage pump that compresses oxygen
from the concentrator into oxygen cylin-
ders in a variety of sizes.
“Te ability to fll their own cylinders
gives the home-care client greater inde-
pendence and freedom,” Mr. Hajek said.
“With the HomeFill system, patients don’t
have to depend on a supplier to deliver
oxygen cylinders.”
DCH Home Medical Equipment pro-
vides equipment and services to patients
to have a prescription from their doctor.
Equipment can be delivered directly to the
home or purchased at a retail store in the
BREATH OF FRESH AIR: DCH Home
Medical Equipment Supervisor
Laura Smith holds a HomeFill
oxygen cylinder that patients
can fill themselves.
Phelps Outpatient Center on the campus
of DCH Regional Medical Center. Available
equipment includes wheelchairs, hospital
beds, bathroom aids, continuous positive
airway pressure machines, walking aids,
Group I and II mattresses, nebulizers,
diabetic supplies, and Lifeline.
To learn more about DCH Home Medi-
cal Equipment, call
205-330-3177
or
go to www.dchsystem.com/homecare.
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H E A L T H Y C O M M U N I T Y
D C H H E A L T H T A L K