In order to provide quality care, it is important for Catawba Valley Medical
Center to provide a safe discharge plan for every patient. Sometimes the
discharge plan includes durable medical equipment like walkers, wheelchairs,
bedside commodes, shower chairs, nebulizers or oxygen. Most of our patients
can obtain these items through insurance or private pay, but some patients
do not have these resources. At times, we have patients whose circumstances
are so unfortunate that they do not even have appropriate clothing to
wear when leaving the hospital.
In 2016,
Catawba Medical Foundation received a significant gift from generous community donors with the stipulation
that the money was to go directly to addressing the immediate needs of
indigent patients. Working with the social workers at CVMC, a program
called the Good Samaritan’s Closet was created. The closet stores
items that social workers can access immediately for patients with limited
resources. Since the closet opened, these patients have received wheelchairs,
oxygen, gas cards for transportation to treatments, walkers, clothing
and much more.
Since
Catawba Medical Foundation is dedicated to keeping this program effective and viable for the future,
the foundation reached out to area physicians during the holidays with
a matching gift challenge. Richard and Gaye Tucker gave the original gift
to start the closet and they committed to keeping the closet stocked and
ready by matching the gifts that were received in December. Although the
numbers are not finalized, Catawba Medical Foundation is hopeful that
$20,000 will be raised for this important program.
If you are interested in helping support our most needy population with
items that are crucial to their healing and well-being, please contact
the foundation office at 828.326.3670; send a check to Catawba Medical
Foundation at 810 Fairgrove Church Road, Hickory, NC 28602; or visit the
website.