PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center | Community Update | Spring 2014 - page 3

Where would our community be without its volunteers?
Most every non-pro t organization and agency has a
loyal group of people who dedicate their time and talent.
PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center is no exception.
Volunteers provide vital services to patients and sta
every day. New volunteers are eagerly sought and always
welcome.
Auxiliary
e most visible volunteers are probably the
Auxiliary members who work in the lobby gi shop.
Open most weekdays from a.m. to p.m. and o en on
the weekend, the gi shop has cards, baby gi s, scarves,
and other items. ese dedicated volunteers donate the
proceeds from the shop to the Medical Center and clinics
in Ketchikan and on Prince of Wales Island to purchase
needed equipment.
Each year during the Volunteer Appreciation
Luncheon, the Auxiliary considers grant applications and
decides which projects to fund. “Since
, the Auxiliary
has donated just under a half-million dollars to the
Medical Center,” says Auxiliary President Carolyn Wilsie.
“ e hard part, of course, is to decide which projects to
fund. is year we had over
,
in requests but
about
,
to allocate.”
At their February meeting, the Auxiliary chose eight
projects. e Imaging Department received the largest
grant,
,
, to purchase an Extremity Coil to make it
easier and more comfortable for people getting an MRI
on their hands, wrists, and elbows.
e Auxiliary also awarded Home Health ,
for a
CoaguChek to do blood testing in patients’ homes; ,
to the Pediatric Clinic for a vaccine refrigerator/freezer;
for a carpet cleaner for the Child Development
Center;
for a wheelchair for the Surgery Clinic; ,
to Primary Care for charging equipment that checks eyes
and ears; ,
for an infusion pump for PeaceHealth
Prince of Wales Clinic; and ,
for shelving in the
Materials Department.
Setting the
scene for healing
Infusion
therapy has
a new home
Patients who need infusion therapy
now have a quieter, private, and more
pleasant place to receive treatment. e
Infusion erapy Suite opened the last
week of February near the inpatient area
of PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center
a er renovation began last fall.
Over
people attended the Grand
Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
on February
, including U.S. Sen.
Lisa Murkowski, other local and state
government representatives, and many
community members and caregivers.
“I think it’s a credit to this community,”
renovated space is entirely dedicated to
infusion therapy services, o ering patients
greater privacy in a serene environment.
Infusion therapy is used in the treatment
of a number of diseases, including cancer,
rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease,
psoriasis, anemia, and osteoporosis.
Previously, these patients received
therapy in unoccupied spaces in the
Intensive Care Unit, which could be less
than peaceful at times. e new space, just
steps from the elevator, has a private room
for consulting with doctors or therapists
and enjoys a view of Bar Harbor.
Infusion Therapy Coordinator Deb
Davis, RN, knows the value of having a
dedicated space for patients. “Sometimes
patients aren’t feeling so great when they’re
receiving treatment, so it will be so nice for
themtohave a space that caters to their needs:
comfortable chairs with space for a loved
one to join them, a good cup of tea or co ee,
a private bathroom, windows overlooking
the narrows, and so much more,” she says.
“I am so happy that we’ll be able to give
our patients this kind of caring experience.”
Also at the luncheon, Carolyn was reelected as
president along with Vice President Margaret Lynne,
Treasurer Gloria Manuel, and Secretary Marty West.
People interested in volunteering in the gi shop can stop
by the shop for information.
Care in its truest sense
e Mission of Ketchikan
Volunteer Hospice is to provide quality hospice care
to our community, striving to relieve su ering in the
terminally ill and their families. Elise Burger, Hospice
Coordinator, says, “We strive to ensure comfort, dignity,
and choices for the dying person and the grieving family
by attending to physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.”
About people, including volunteers on Prince of
Wales Island, participate in the hospice program. e
next training will be in late spring or early summer for
people who want to volunteer.
“The emotional connection between a hospice
volunteer, a patient, and their caregivers can be life-
changing for all those involved,” Elise says. “I would
invite you to open your heart and explore the possibility
of becoming a hospice volunteer.”
More information is available from Elise at
-
-
, ext.
.
Volunteers make the di erence
Sen. Murkowski says. “ is community
made a commitment to say this is a public
health service that we want to make sure
is provided.”
e approximately
,
project
was solely funded by donations, receiving
support from individual donations, State
of Alaska Designated Legislative Grant,
business donations, an award from e
Waterfall Foundation, and proceeds from
PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center
Foundation’s
SoleStice Shoe Auction.
Infusion therapy is not a new service
to PeaceHealth Ketchikan, but the newly
GRAND OPENING: Senator Lisa Murkowski and Deb Davis, RN, cut the ribbon to
formally open the Infusion Suite.
GIVING OF THEMSELVES: The volunteers above help in the Auxiliary Gift Shop unless otherwise noted.
From left, front row: Ginny Peltier (hospice), Carolyn Wilsie, Dolores Houts. Back row: Margaret Lynne,
Joanna Desanto, and Shannon Farstad (hospice), Kathy Fitzgerald, Doris Vig, Donna Teal, Mary Ann Christensen
(hospice), and Nadine Robertson.
T
To learn more about volunteering
for hospice, call 907-228-8300,
ext. 7213.
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