THE HUNTSVILLE HOSPITAL FOUNDATIONINC

ELEVATING CARE FOR THE UNDERSERVED: -HUNTSVILLE HOSPITAL ROLLED OUT A BRAND-NEW MOBILE MEDICAL UNIT (MMU) TO MEET THE NEEDS OF UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS AND PATIENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. -THE NEW TRUCK AND 25-FOOT TRAILER - CUSTOM BUILT FOR MEDICAL CAPABILITIES - ENABLES HUNTSVILLE HOSPITAL'S SKILLED CARE TEAM TO MORE EASILY HIT THE ROAD AND DIRECTLY DELIVER BASIC AND PREVENTATIVE HEALTH CARE AT NORTH ALABAMA SENIOR CENTERS, HOMELESS SHELTERS, NONPROFITS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS. -THE MMU PROGRAM OFFERS A SAFE, CARING, PREDICTABLE ENVIRONMENT, AND FUNCTIONS AS A 'MEDICAL HOME' TO MANY - AT ABSOLUTELY NO COST TO THEM. -THE NEW VEHICLE AND ALL ONGOING PROGRAM COSTS ARE COVERED BY GRANTS AND OTHER DONATIONS TO HHF. ELEVATING CARDIAC IMAGING: -A BRAND-NEW CT SCANNER WAS INSTALLED AT THE HUNTSVILLE HOSPITAL HEART CENTER IN THE FINAL WEEKS OF THIS FISCAL YEAR. -THE MAJORITY OF THIS MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR INVESTMENT WAS COVERED BY HHF. -THIS EQUIPMENT WAS A TOP-PRIORITY REQUEST FROM OUR HEALTH SYSTEM, AND IS ALREADY IMPROVING ACCESS AND OUTCOMES FOR HEART PATIENTS - CUTTING DIAGNOSTIC WAIT TIMES FROM MONTHS TO WEEKS. -THE NEW CT SCANNER IS ONE OF VERY FEW OF ITS KIND IN THE NATION, PUTTING HUNTSVILLE HOSPITAL ON THE FOREFRONT OF CORONARY CT IMAGING. -THIS INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY IS A PARADIGM SHIFT IN IMAGING, AND PROVIDES A SUBSTANTIALLY BETTER RESOLUTION IMAGE WHILE ALSO GIVING OUR PATIENTS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS RADIATION. -IT ALSO IMPROVES THE DIAGNOSTIC CAPABILITIES FOR OUR PHYSICIANS, ALLOWING FOR EARLY DETECTION OF CORONARY DISEASE AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE PREVENTATIVE TREATMENT. ELEVATING PATIENT ASSISTANCE: -HHF PATIENT ASSISTANCE FUNDS CLOSE THE GAP ON HEALTH CARE EQUITY FOR PATIENTS WHO ARE OVERWHELMED AND UNDER-RESOURCED AT DIAGNOSIS. -WE PROUDLY HELP PAY FOR FOOD, MEDICINES, RENT, UTILITIES, AND TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE FOR APPROXIMATELY 50 QUALIFIED PATIENTS EVERY SINGLE MONTH SO THEY CAN FOCUS ON GETTING WELL. ELEVATING VISIBILITY & REDUCING STICKS: -NEW EQUIPMENT IN OUR PRE-OPERATIVE DEPARTMENTS IS REDUCING STRESS FOR BOTH PATIENTS AND NURSES. -TWO NEW VEINVIEWER VISION 2 DEVICES USE NEAR INFRARED TECHNOLOGY TO PROJECT A REAL-TIME IMAGE OF YOUR VEIN DIRECTLY ONTO YOUR BODY. -THAT MEANS NURSES AND TECHS CAN LITERALLY SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING BELOW THE SKIN AND BE BETTER EQUIPPED TO START AN IV IN ONLY ONE ATTEMPT, REDUCING PRICKS AND PAIN. -THE INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY HELPS THEM SEE THE VEINS, AVOID VALVES AND KNOW WHICH SIZE IV CANNULA WILL BEST FIT IN THE VEIN. -THIS UPGRADE IS REVOLUTIONIZING THE IV EXPERIENCE FOR PATIENTS WHO ARE NOTORIOUS FOR "HARD" VEINS! ELEVATING COMFORT DURING STRESSFUL SCREENINGS: -NOW, INSTEAD OF AN AWKWARD HOSPITAL GOWN, WOMEN CAN BE WRAPPED IN A WARM ROBE AND COMFORT WHILE THEY AWAIT A MAMMOGRAM. -INTENTIONAL UPGRADES WERE COMPLETED THIS FALL TO PROVIDE A CALMER, MORE SPA-LIKE ENVIRONMENT FOR PATIENTS AT BOTH HUNTSVILLE HOSPITAL AND MADISON HOSPITAL BREAST CENTERS. -THE BIGGEST GAMECHANGERS ARE NEW WARMED ROBES, WHICH ARE ARE HELPING TO REDUCE THE STRESS AND ANXIETY MANY WOMEN EXPERIENCE DURING THEIR DIAGNOSTIC SCREENING VISITS. ELEVATING REGIONAL CRITICAL CARE: -EVERY YEAR, MORE THAN 600 CHILDREN ARE TRANSPORTED ON THE KIDS CARE CRITICAL CARE TRANSPORT AMBULANCE WHICH IS BASICALLY AN ICU ON WHEELS FOR KIDS WHO ARE CRITICALLY INJURED OR SICK. -THAT MEANS IF YOUR CHILD IS HOSPITALIZED ANYWHERE ELSE ACROSS OUR REGION AND THEY NEED THE ELEVATED CARE OF OUR WOMEN & CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, WE CAN GET THEM TO HUNTSVILLE QUICKLY AND CARE FOR THEM ALONG THE WAY. -EARLIER THIS YEAR, AN IMMEDIATE NEED EMERGED TO PURCHASE A NEW AMBULANCE. -A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE CARING FOUNDATION OF BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF ALABAMA, COMBINED WITH HUNTSVILLE CLASSIC PROCEEDS, COVERED THE VEHICLE COST AND IT IS NOW IN PRODUCTION. -WE CAN'T WAIT TO WITNESS HOW THIS SUPPORT HELPS FAMILIES IN THE NEAR FUTURE! ELEVATING CLEAR LAB RESULTS: -NEW INVESTMENTS IN THE MADISON HOSPITAL LAB ARE HELPING THE TEAM PROCESS LAB RESULTS FASTER AND MORE ACCURATELY, INCLUDING A NEW SLIDE PRINTER AND AEROSPRAY STAT SLIDE STAINER. -A SUPERIOR STAINING PROCESS GIVES ENHANCED CLARITY ON PATIENT SAMPLES TO REDUCE ERRORS AND PRODUCE ACCURATE RESULTS MORE QUICKLY. -THIS NEW EQUIPMENT HAS MADE THIS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT WORK EASIER FOR BOTH THE LAB TEAM AND PATHOLOGISTS. ELEVATING RESOURCES FOR KIDS WITH DIABETES: -HHF ISSUED AN EMERGENCY APPEAL FOR HELP FUNDING 20 KIDS WITH TYPE 1 DIABETES TO ATTEND SUMMER AND FALL DIABETES CAMPS AT CAMP SEALE HARRIS. -YOU ANSWERED THE CALL, AND ALL 20 WERE FULLY SPONSORED TO ATTEND THE CAMP FOR FREE! -THIS RESOURCE IS A BLESSING TO OUR PEDIATRIC ENDOCRINOLOGY & DIABETES CLINIC FAMILIES, GIVING THEM EDUCATION, EMPOWERMENT, AND A SENSE OF SHARED COMMUNITY. ELEVATING EKG TECHNOLOGY: -A BRAND-NEW FLEET OF 19 EKG MACHINES RECENTLY REPLACED OLD, UNRELIABLE, END-OF-LIFE EQUIPMENT IN THE EKG DEPARTMENT AND ACROSS HH MAIN, HHW&C, THE MEDICAL MALL, AND THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT. -THESE UPGRADED MACHINES ARE IN USE 24/7 DURING ROUTINE ROUNDING, CODE BLUE EMERGENCIES, PRIOR TO PROCEDURES, AND MORE. -THE INFORMATION A PROVIDER CAN GET FROM THESE SIMPLE, NON-INVASIVE TESTS IS TRULY REMARKABLE AND IS ESSENTIAL TO PATIENT CARE. -RESULTS ARE USED IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF HEART ATTACKS (PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE!), IRREGULAR HEART RHYTHMS, AND HEART DEFECTS FOR PATIENTS OF ALL AGES. ELEVATING GRIEF SUPPORT: -DURING OUR "SEASON OF CARING" THIS FALL, DONORS GENEROUSLY CONTRIBUTED ENOUGH TO FUND EIGHT FULL MONTHS OF GRIEF SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN AT THE CARING HOUSE. -WE WERE BLOWN AWAY BY YOUR GENEROSITY AND SUPPORT FOR THIS SPECIAL PROGRAM! -THE CARING HOUSE PROVIDES A SAFE PLACE WHERE MADISON COUNTY CHILDREN CAN RECEIVE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO OVERCOME GRIEF AFTER THE DEVASTATING LOSS OF A FAMILY MEMBER OR FRIEND. -YOUR SUPPORT GIVES THESE KIDS ACCESS TO THE SPECIALIZED RESOURCES THEY NEED TO HEAL, AT NO COST OR ADDED BURDEN TO THEIR FAMILIES. -THE CARING HOUSE RELIES FULLY ON HHF FUNDING TO OPERATE, AND WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. ELEVATING OUTCOMES IN CRITICAL CASES: -WHEN A PATIENT'S BODY TEMPERATURE IS DANGEROUSLY HIGH, IT CAN CAUSE LASTING DAMAGE. -DONOR FUNDING HELPED PROVIDE EIGHT NEW COOLING BLANKETS SO OUR CRITICAL CARE UNITS ARE ABLE TO REGULATE PATIENT BODY TEMPERATURE, REDUCE SWELLING AROUND THE BRAIN, AND PREVENT LONG-TERM DAMAGE OR DEATH. -THE BLANKET LIES UNDERNEATH THE PATIENT AND MAINTAINS A STABLE TEMPERATURE THROUGH CONSTANT CIRCULATION OF CHILLED WATER FROM THE ATTACHED MACHINE. ELEVATING NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION: -THE HH SPEECH PATHOLOGY PROGRAM NOW HAS TWO AUGMENTATIVE AND ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION DEVICES - A GAMECHANGER FOR PATIENTS WHO ARE UNABLE TO SPEAK DUE TO CONDITIONS SUCH AS STROKE, MECHANICAL VENTILATION, HEAD/NECK CANCERS OR SURGERIES, NEW TRACHEOSTOMIES, OR ALS. -THIS IS OUR HOSPITAL'S FIRST TECHNOLOGY-BASED OPTION TO ASSIST WITH NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION - AN INCREDIBLE UPGRADE FROM THE OLD PAPER-BASED METHODS, AND TRULY CUSTOMIZABLE BASED ON THE PATIENT'S NEEDS. -THE DEVICES GIVE PATIENTS A VOICE, EITHER THROUGH EYE TRACKING OR THROUGH A SPECIALIZED TOUCHSCREEN, SO THEY CAN EXPRESS THOUGHTS, WANTS, NEEDS AND FEELINGS WITH THEIR CAREGIVERS AND FAMILY. -THE ADDITION OF AAC WILL IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF CARE, PATIENT SAFETY, AND PATIENT INDEPENDENCE THROUGHOUT HOSPITALIZATION. ELEVATING THE EMPLOYEE ORIENTATION EXPERIENCE: -HUNTSVILLE HOSPITAL NOW HIRES AND ONBOARDS MORE THAN 200 NEW MADISON COUNTY EMPLOYEES EVERY SINGLE MONTH AND HAD OFFICIALLY OUTGROWN THE EXISTING EMPLOYEE ORIENTATION SPACE AND DOWNTOWN PARKING OPTIONS. -TO ANSWER THAT NEED, THE FOUNDATION FULLY FUNDED THE CONVERSION OF AN EXISTING ROOM AT THE OFF-CAMPUS HH COCHRAN CENTER, TURNING IT FROM AN OPEN WAREHOUSE INTO INTENTIONAL SPACE FOR UP TO 300. -FUNDING INCLUDED FULL ROOM RENOVATIONS, ALL A/V EQUIPMENT, BADGE READERS, TABLES, AND CHAIRS FOR A LARGER AND MORE EFFECTIVE ONBOARDING EXPERIENCE.