BY KALISHA MENDONSA
Lacombe Express
The Lacombe Hospital Auxiliary recently donated $12,000 to the Lacombe Hospital and Care Centre for efficiency-enhancing wall desk units within the facility.
The 20 new wall desk units allow for medical personnel to complete their paper and chart work more quickly, in turn freeing up time for personnel to attend to other duties.
Lacombe Hospital Auxiliary secretary Dawn Atkinson said the group’s purpose is to provide funds to purchase items that make patients more comfortable and help medical personnel perform tasks more easily.
“The wall desk units are there to help the staff’s convenience. When they come out of a patient room, they can do their charting right then and there. It helps the staff be more efficient moving through their rounds.”
Currently, a handful of units have been installed and installation will continue through the week.
The Lacombe Auxiliary groups - one for the active care units and one for the long-term care facility - share shop space in the Hospital and Care Centre foyer that raises funds for equipment purchase. These funds are pooled in addition to semi-annual casino events that build up the donation capabilities.
Atkinson explained the role of the Auxiliary groups is to raise funds for equipment that might not have otherwise been purchased. In previous years, the group has purchased reclining chairs for blood work and EKG tests, electronic beds for patient comfort, an operating room table and lights and more.
“We host casinos every 24 months or so in order to raise funds for equipment and patient needs,” Atkinson explained.
“We’ve been running those since about 2004 and it’s been a huge boost for our fundraising effort and activities. It makes a big difference in the community when you can raise over $20,000 from a couple of days’ work.”
Atkinson said without the community, the Auxiliary group would not be able to help out the hospital and long-term care facility and she is grateful for the continued support.
“We’re always appreciative of the community,” she said.
“Sometimes we sell raffle tickets on donated quilts and we have an annual bake sale and tea in the spring. We’re very grateful for the people that support us that way.
“It’s never a problem to sell those things and people are very helpful. When fundraisers concern the hospital, people really step up to support us.”
kmendonsa@lacombeexpress.com