MCLEOD HEALTH FOUNDATION

THE MISSION OF THE MCLEOD HEALTH FOUNDATION IS TO GENERATE PHILANTHROPIC AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO PERPETUATE MEDICAL EXCELLENCE AT MCLEOD HEALTH. THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF THIS REGION'S CITIZENS, THE FOUNDATION HAS PROVIDED SUPPORT FOR MANY PROGRAMS AT MCLEOD HEALTH. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE SUPPORT FOR MCLEOD CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, THE GUEST HOUSE AT MCLEOD, MCLEOD HOSPICE, MCLEOD CANCER CENTER FOR TREATMENT AND RESEARCH, AND MCLEOD DIABETES SERVICES JUST TO NAME A FEW. SIMPLY PUT, THE FOUNDATION FUNDS BETTER HEALTH FOR THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES THROUGHOUT NORTHEASTERN SOUTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHEASTERN NORTH CAROLINA. MCLEOD HEALTH FOUNDATION WAS PROUD TO BE A PART OF THE INITIATIVES DESCRIBED IN MORE DETAIL IN SCHEDULE O.THE MCLEOD CENTER FOR CANCER TREATMENT AND RESEARCH RECEIVED GRANT FUNDING TO HELP BRING TECHNOLOGY UP TO DATE WITH SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT TO MEET THE STANDARD OF CARE THAT ENHANCES THE CARE FOR CANCER PATIENTS. GRANT FUNDING WAS ALSO PROVIDED FOR THE HELPING ONCOLOGY PATIENTS EVERYDAY (HOPE) FUND. THE HOPE FUND PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO ONCOLOGY PATIENTS THROUGH VARIOUS MEANS INCLUDING: TRANSPORTATION EITHER THROUGH GAS CARDS OR VAN TRANSPORT TO THE CANCER CENTER FOR TREATMENT; MEDICATION ASSISTANCE FOR PATIENTS WHO CANNOT AFFORD EMERGENTLY NEEDED MEDICATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR CANCER DIAGNOSIS; EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS FOR THE CANCER CENTER LIBRARY AND FOR PATIENTS TO TAKE HOME; AND ITEMS FOR THE HOPE CART, A CART OF MATERIALS INCLUDING MAGAZINES, BOOKS, HEADPHONES AND SNACKS THAT HELP THE PATIENTS PASS THE TIME DURING THEIR TREATMENTS IN THE CANCER CENTER. THE HOPE FUND ALSO SUPPORTS OTHER IMMEDIATE NEEDS INCLUDING FOOD INSECURITIES, HOME MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, SHOES, GLASSES, AND DENTURES. THE LUNG CANCER SCREENING PROGRAM RECEIVED GRANT FUNDING TO PROVIDE LOW-DOSE CT SCANS FOR PATIENTS FACING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. LUNG CANCER RANKS AS THE LEADING CAUSE OF CANCER-RELATED DEATHS IN THE U.S., TAKING MORE LIVES THAN BREAST, PROSTATE, AND COLORECTAL CANCERS COMBINED. ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL LUNG CANCER SCREENING TRIAL, HEAVY SMOKERS CAN SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THEIR CHANCES OF DYING FROM LUNG CANCER WITH AN ANNUAL LOW-DOSE CT SCAN. THE MAMMOGRAM SCREENING PROGRAM RECEIVED FUNDING TO PROVIDE MAMMOGRAMS FOR WOMEN HAVE LIMITED FINANCIAL RESOURCES. USING 3D TECHNOLOGY, THESE MAMMOGRAMS PROVIDE EARLY DETECTION AND DIAGNOSIS. NUMEROUS STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT WHEN BREAST CANCER IS DIAGNOSED EARLY, IT HAS A CURE RATE OF GREATER THAN 90 PERCENT. MCLEOD HOSPICE RECEIVED A GRANT TO SUPPORT THE HOSPICE PROGRAM, WHICH OFFERS PALLIATIVE (PAIN MANAGEMENT) AND HOSPICE CARE FOR PATIENTS IN NEED OF THESE SERVICES. MCLEOD HOSPICE SERVES 11 COUNTIES FROM THE MIDLANDS TO THE COAST IN SOUTH CAROLINA, WHICH INCLUDES FLORENCE, DARLINGTON, DILLON, HORRY, LEE, MARION, CHESTERFIELD, MARLBORO, CLARENDON, SUMTER AND WILLIAMSBURG COUNTIES.THE MCLEOD HOSPICE MISSION, IN PART, IS TO PROVIDE CARE FOR ALL PATIENTS REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO PAY. THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF THE MCLEOD FOUNDATION, THESE HOSPICE PATIENTS WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE INPATIENT CARE AT THE MCLEOD HOSPICE HOUSE, NEEDED MEDICATIONS AND SUPPLIES, AND HOME VISITS BY MCLEOD HOSPICE STAFF. THE GRANT ALSO PROVIDES FUNDING FOR BEREAVEMENT SERVICES, A CHILDREN'S GRIEF CAMP, AND MUSIC THERAPY. AN ADDITIONAL GRANT PROVIDED FUNDING FOR THE BUTTERFLY FUND. THIS FUND SUPPORTS HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE PATIENTS WITH LIMITED FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO ASSIST WITH DIRECT NEEDS THAT COULD BE A BARRIER TO THEIR CARE. THE MCLEOD HEART AND VASCULAR INSTITUTE WAS AWARDED FUNDING TO HELP BRING TECHNOLOGY UP TO DATE WITH SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT TO MEET THE STANDARD OF CARE THAT ENHANCES THE CARE FOR CARDIAC PATIENTS. THEY ALSO RECEIVED GRANT FUNDING TO BENEFIT CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE AND CARDIAC REHABILITATION PATIENTS. THE GRANT HELPS PROVIDE THE NECESSARY SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT FOR CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE PATIENTS TO SELF-MANAGE THEIR DISEASE AND IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE. MCLEOD CARDIAC REHABILITATION IS AVAILABLE TO PATIENTS WHO ARE RECOVERING FROM A HEART ATTACK, OPEN-HEART SURGERY, HAVE STABLE ANGINA, OR HAVE A HIGH RISK FOR HEART DISEASE. THIS GRANT ALLOWS CARDIAC REHABILITATION TO INCREASE THE QUANTITY AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF EXERCISE EQUIPMENT OFFERED TO PATIENTS. THIS EXPANSION ALSO ALLOWS THE PROGRAM TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO ADDITIONAL CARDIAC AND PULMONARY PATIENTS. THE CARDIAC REHABILITATION PROGRAM AT MCLEOD DILLON AND MCLEOD CHERAW ALSO WERE GRANTED FUNDING FOR PATIENT SCHOLARSHIPS AND EQUIPMENT. THROUGH THESE SCHOLARSHIPS, FINANCIALLY CHALLENGED PATIENTS ARE ABLE TO ATTEND AND RECEIVE VALUABLE CARDIAC MONITORING AND DAILY BLOOD PRESSURE AND PULSE MONITORING WHILE COMPLETING A SPECIALIZED EXERCISE ROUTINE. A GRANT AWARDED TO THE MCLEOD DIABETES PROGRAM FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIPS FOR PATIENTS TO RECEIVE DIABETES-TESTING SUPPLIES AND FOLLOW-UP EDUCATION SERVICES TO HELP THEM MANAGE THEIR DISEASES. THE GRANT ALSO ALLOWS THE PROGRAM TO CONTINUE DELIVERING THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO PATIENTS BOTH IN THE INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT SETTINGS, AND AT COMMUNITY SCREENINGS AND HEALTH FAIRS AS WELL AS PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN TO ATTEND A DIABETES CAMP TO LEARN ABOUT MANAGING THEIR ILLNESSES. MCLEOD HOME HEALTH WAS GRANTED FUNDING FOR THE MCLEOD HOME HEALTH CARE PROGRAM TO ASSIST HOME HEALTH PATIENTS WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO PURCHASE NEEDED MEDICATIONS, TRANSPORTATION FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT, MEDICAL SUPPLIES, NUTRITIONAL NEEDS, EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, AND EQUIPMENT. IT ALSO ASSISTS IN PAYING VARIOUS COST OF LIVING EXPENSES. MCLEOD CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE UNIT (PICU) AND NEONATAL INTENSIVE CAR (NICU) RECEIVED FUNDING TO HELP BRING TECHNOLOGY UP TO DATE THAT ENHANCES THE CARE FOR THIS PEDIATRIC POPULATION. ADDITIONALLY, FUNDS ARE HELPING TO CONTINUE PROGRAMS SUCH AS CHILD LIFE ACTIVITIES, PEDIATRIC REHABILITATION PROGRAMS AND EQUIPMENT, AS WELL AS SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT FOR CHRONICALLY ILL PEDIATRIC PATIENTS. GRANT FUNDING ALSO HELPED SUPPORT VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS AS WELL AS PROVIDED ASSISTANCE FOR THE HERO FUND (HELP ELIMINATE AND REMOVE OBSTACLES) FOR PEDIATRIC PATIENTS. THE HERO FUND IS USED TO BRIDGE THE GAP FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO ARE EXPERIENCING FINANCIAL STRUGGLES. THIS INCLUDES ASSISTANCE WITH SERVICES SUCH AS PROVIDING FORMULA FOR BABIES GOING HOME FROM THE NICU (NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT) PRIOR TO RECEIVING COMMUNITY RESOURCES, CLOTHING FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE VICTIMS OF TRAUMA OR ABUSE, SPECIALIZED CAR SEATS FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, BRIDGING THE GAP FOR PEDIATRIC MEDICATIONS AND MANY OTHER UNIQUE AND PRESSING NEEDS.A GRANT WAS AWARDED TO THE MCLEOD CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT (NICU) TO SUPPORT DONOR BREAST MILK FOR NICU BABIES THAT CANNOT BE FED THEIR OWN MOTHER'S BREAST MILK, AS WELL AS FUNDING TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE AND COORDINATED REGIONAL PERINATAL CARE SYSTEM EMPHASIZING PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE, COMMUNICATION, COORDINATION, AND EDUCATION. THIS INCLUDES REGIONAL SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT, OBSTETRIC OUTREACH EDUCATION, NEONATAL OUTREACH EDUCATION, MATERNAL AND NEONATAL TRANSPORT COORDINATION, BACK TRANSPORTS, CONSULTATION AND FOLLOW-UP WITH REFERRING PHYSICIANS AND HOSPITALS, AND DATA COLLECTION AND EVALUATION. ADDITIONAL FUNDING WAS PROVIDED TO SUPPORT SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT NEEDED IN THE TREATMENT OF THESE BABIES, MANY WEIGHING LESS THAN TWO POUNDS. A GRANT WAS AWARDED TO PERINATAL OUTREACH REGIONALIZATION TO OPTIMIZE PERINATAL CARE AND ENHANCE THE MANAGEMENT OF HIGH-RISK MATERNAL AND NEONATAL CARE IN OUR REGION OF SOUTH CAROLINA. MCLEOD SAFE KIDS PEE DEE/COASTAL WAS AWARDED GRANT FUNDING FOR THE OPERATION OF INJURY PREVENTION PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES. THESE INITIATIVES EXPAND THE WORK OF SAFE KIDS THROUGHOUT THE PEE DEE AND COASTAL AREAS AND INCLUDE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE CHILDREN'S TRUST OF SOUTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY PATROL, FLORENCE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS, HORRY COUNTY FIRE AND RESCUE, FLORENCE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, MYRTLE BEACH POLICE, MARION COUNTY FIRE, AND LOCAL SCHOOLS. FORENSIC NURSE EXAMINER (FNE) PROGRAM WAS AWARDED GRANT FUNDING TO ADDRESS THE NEED FOR AN FNE (FORENSIC NURSE EXAMINER), ALSO KNOWN AS A SANE (SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSE EXAMINER) PROGRAM AT MCLEOD REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER. THE PROGRAM SERVES VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT BY PROVIDING EXPERT TRAUMA INFORMED CARE, COLLECTION OF FORENSIC EVIDENCE, APPROPRIATE REFERRALS TO POST ASSAULT AFTER-CARE, AS WELL AS COURT TESTIMONY DURING TRIALS OF CASES PROSECUTED.