From staff reports
As a Mount Union native and Huntingdon County resident, Dave Goodman, Jr. counts many visits to J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital during his lifetime.
“J.C. Blair has cared for four generations of my family. I was born at J.C. Blair, and so was my daughter Alison,” he shared. “I’m thankful that the hospital is here for me, my family and my friends.”
Goodman wants to help ensure that quality health care continues to be accessible in Huntingdon County at J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital. To do that, he has contributed $50,000 towards the purchase of four bedside EKG monitors with a central station to be used in the hospital’s emergency department.
“Anyone who has visited the ER with chest pain knows how important those monitors are,” said Goodman.
The EKG units currently in use are 12 to 15-years-old. The total cost for the new equipment with up-to-date technology is $100,000. Securing the money to purchase the equipment is the primary fundraising project for J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital Foundation this fiscal year. Goodman challenges the Huntingdon County community to step forward and contribute the remaining $50,000 before June 30 to match his gift.
“I was inspired by Mel Isett’s challenge to the community last year to match the J. Melvin and Beulah Isett Community Foundation’s gift for the mammography system, and so were many others. That effort has really paid off,” stated Goodman.
Susan Ulrich McLaughlin, executive director of J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital Foundation, reports that the hospital has been able to increase the number of women it serves through mammography by 33.3 percent and reduce the waiting list by five months. Not only has access to mammography been enhanced, but J.C. Blair also projects an increase in net revenue of approximately $90,000 per year. That additional income goes directly to improving the financial stability of the hospital.
Goodman said he wanted to issue a similar challenge to the Huntingdon County community to support the EKG project.
“I am appreciative of everything the Isett family has done for our community. It’s time to follow their lead and step up to help. The Isetts set the example for me, and I hope that I can do the same for others in the community who can step up to help now or in the future.”
Dr. John Roth, emergency department physician, and Diane Baker, RN, director of emergent care, are grateful for Dave’s interest in supporting the hospital and his generosity.
“These new monitors will be a great enhancement for our nurses and doctors to diagnose, treat and get our patients to the best possible care,” said Dr. Roth.
J.C. Blair’s Emergency Department sees over 14,000 patients a year. When a patient comes into the emergency department with chest pains or other heart attack symptoms, the staff makes critical, often life saving, decisions about his or her care.
“These decisions are based on our ability to monitor and assess vital signs, such as blood pressure, oxygenation, respiration, and other clinical indicators,” said Roth.
“The computerized features of the new monitors will make monitoring patients easier for our nurses and more efficient in documenting and communicating the condition of patients to other healthcare providers that may need to be involved in their care,” added Baker.
“It’s up to us to make sure that J.C. Blair is able to continue to provide the quality health care we have come to expect,” said Goodman. “I hope that this challenge will be as successful as Mel Isett’s, and the community contributes. This will be a success if it’s a county-wide effort.”
J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital Foundation is committed to ensuring quality health care for the people of Huntingdon County by providing funds to support and enhance the delivery of services at J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital. The Foundation encourages and coordinates philanthropic gifts to support the hospital.
For more information about participating in Dave Goodman’s challenge or supporting J.C. Blair in other ways, contact Susan Ulrich McLaughlin at 643-8888 or foundation@jcblair.org.
