Impact of Giving
Catawba Medical Foundation provides assistance to various Catawba Valley
Health System practices, departments and programs through an internal
grant request process. Some of the foundation’s key areas of focus
for grant distribution include the following:
- Provision of vital equipment and supplies, including state-of-the-art technologies
- Creation and support of programs that benefit the health of the community
- Access to advanced training for medical center staff
The foundation receives, evaluates and approves grant requests year-round.
Following are some examples of CMF success stories.
Level III Neonatal Intensive Care
Catawba Valley Health System has the area’s only Level III NICU,
which means the sickest babies in our community don’t have to travel
to larger, unfamiliar medical centers for treatment. These precious, vulnerable
newborns can stay at Catawba in state-of-the-art GE Giraffe OmniBeds©—incubators
that provide the best controlled microenvironment—so that medical
providers and families can participate in the healing process.
Catawba Medical Foundation not only played an important role in funding
the NICU, but its efforts continue to provide the newest equipment and
updates for our frailest infants. Having a NICU like this means family
members can be close by, not worrying about how to get to another city
or how to take care of the other children at home.
CVHS Mobile Mammography Unit
About 1 in 8 U.S. women will develop invasive breast cancer over the course
of her lifetime. But with regular screenings and early detection, outcomes
improve for patients.
Having a mobile screening unit means we have the ability to go to women
instead of expecting them to interrupt their busy lives to come to us
for mammograms. The mammography truck has visited more than 10 clinic
sites, 25 companies and many community organizations.
Safe Pediatric Units
All of our young patients deserve a safe environment, so Catawba Medical
Foundation invested funds in the Pediatric Unit to make sure it is just
as safe as our newborn area. New auto-locking doors with special restricted
access will ensure that our young patents are protected. Nursing staff
will be able to concentrate on what matters most—healing—and
not have to worry that unwelcome guests are in the area.
VeinFinder for the Cancer Center
Nothing about a cancer diagnosis is easy, but Catawba Medical Foundation
works behind the scenes to make sure patients and staff have everything
possible to make the journey easier. For cancer patients with compromised
veins, even a “small” stick can be painful, so the Foundation
purchased a VeinFinder that provides infrared imaging to show exactly
where the vein is. Additionally, the Foundation provided funding for our
Infusion Center to be as comfortable and beautiful as possible so that
patients can concentrate on what matters: healing.
Good Samaritan Closet
Because Catawba Valley Health System treats every patient regardless of
ability to pay, the most vulnerable of our community come through our
doors. These patients often face additional challenges in getting well
because they simply do not have the financial means to afford the medications
or equipment they need to recover.
The social workers of CVHS recognized this problem and approached Catawba
Medical Foundation with the idea to keep a closet on-site with medical
and personal items necessary for these patients. Wheelchairs, gas cards,
clothing, walkers and other items can make a difference in the lives of
our most at-risk patients. The Foundation now provides annual funding
for this program by working with community donors and local physicians.
Fitness Center and Rehabilitation
Catawba Medical Foundation is fully invested in making sure healthy habits
don’t stop once a patient leaves the medical center. Investments
in the CVHS Rehabilitation Center with equipment and programs help patients
recover quicker and leave in better shape than when they came.
We are also committed to helping our community stay healthy by funding
initiatives at our Fitness Plus Center, a full-service fitness center
on the medical center campus. You can see the efforts of the Foundation
with each lap around the walking track, when working out.