The OSF HealthCare St. Francis Hospital Auxiliary recently donated more than $45,000 to OSF St. Francis Hospital & Medical Group for the purchase of new surgical waiting room furniture, a bariatric hospital bed and a wheelchair scale.
“Many pieces of the furniture in the surgical waiting room had torn, and they were removed and replaced with furniture pulled from other locations, so it was mismatched and outdated. The new furniture, tables, lamps, and freshly painted walls contribute to a more inviting environment for visitors waiting for their loved ones,” explained Jean Arvan, director of philanthropy at OSF St. Francis.
The bariatric bed the Auxiliary purchased is utilized by patients who weigh over 350 pounds. It has an alternating pressure air mattress and a built-in trapeze so the patient can assist with moving. The purchase of this bed ensures all patients are as comfortable as possible during their hospital stay.
The wheelchair scale allows for patients who are immobile to be weighed in the medical office building with ease. The scale is embedded in the floor and patients simply have to have their wheelchair placed over the scale.
“We are grateful for the contributions of the OSF St. Francis Auxiliary. Many of our departments have seen updates and received upgrades to their technology because of the generosity of this group. Most importantly, our patients continue to be positively impacted by the Auxiliary’s donations of their time and resources,” said Dave Lord, President of OSF St. Francis Hospital.
The OSF St. Francis Hospital Auxiliary members and volunteers dedicated more than 9000 hours in 2018 and donate approximately $60,000 annually to OSF St. Francis Hospital & Medical Group. They help patients and visitors in a variety of ways, including staffing the hospital information desk, medical office building information desk, and surgery waiting lounge. They assist the OSF Hospice staff, patients and family members, provide services to operate the hospital gift shop and contribute to patient well-being through donation of their time and resources.
For information about volunteer and auxiliary opportunities with OSF HealthCare, contact Jean Arvan at 786-5707, ext. 5516.