HOISINGTON — The Clara Barton Hospital Foundation held its annual meeting on Monday and heard status reports as well as a program by Dr. Joshua Durham called, "Lend a Healthy Hand." The foundation has seen growth this year.
"CBF continues to experience growth because of our supporters who give of themselves," said Michele Moshier, executive director of the foundation. The group saw an increase in assets over the prior year of $49,000.
The foundation holds fund raising events each year. The good news was that the golf tournament and the membership drive netted more revenue over the prior year. "The foundation is very grateful to the volunteers who give of themselves to serve on the board, or committee or help at our golf or membership drive events," said Moshier. "Volunteers, just like donors are critical to our success."
The foundation ended the year with $398,297.14 in assets compared to $349,342.17 last year.
In addition to purchasing seven new beds, the foundation purchased a plasma vaporization button electrode, supported four scholarships, helped publish the Kansas Hospital Education Service directories, made donations to the After Prom Party, donations to the Barton Community College nursing program, provided newspaper subscriptions for patients, and gave a donation to the injury prevention grant for the installation of safety bars.
The auxiliary report was given by Marty Schloemer. The group has a membership of 85 volunteers and 13 Pink Ladies. The Pink Ladies donate five days a week for four hours a day to the hospital.
The auxiliary purchased privacy curtains for the surgery department and therapy services, made donations for scholarships, helped provide newspaper subscriptions for patients along with the foundation, gave a donation to the injury prevention grant and the installation of safety bars also with the foundation.
In addition, the group was awarded the Gold Award of Excellence from the Kansas Hospital Association and Hospital Auxiliaries of Kansas.
According to President and CEO Chuck Waters, the hospital has $345,200 budgeted for upgrades to equipment in the hospital for 2011. Waters was also pleased to report that turnover has dropped to 9.25%. The hospital employs 131 full-time employees.
Last year, CB purchased $660,308 in new equipment for the hospital. "These purchases have allowed our health care professionals to continue providing the high quality health care our community is accustomed to receiving," Waters said.
In addition, Waters said, "In recent months we have lowered our days in receivable to the thirties and forties. The industry standard is in the sixties."
Waters said, "This is a very, very good hospital. I am going to miss this hospital." Waters plans to retire in the near future.
In his presentation on hand washing, Dr. Durham encourages people to wash their hands. "Fifty percent of men and 25 percent of women don’t wash after using the bathroom," said Dr. Durham. "There are 10 million bacteria between the fingertips and elbows.
He gave a demonstration of how germs spread with the use of a black light. The individuals he shook hands with all hand laundry detergent on their hands afterwards from Dr. Durham’s hand.
"Twenty-five percent of illnesses each year due to improper hand washing and 164 million school days are lost yearly due to illness," he said.
"Washing is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of illness," he added. "For good hand washing, the hands must be rubbed vigorously together with soap. Lather for 10 seconds, and wash front, back and between your fingers, and under your fingernails. Dry your hands with a paper towel."
