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.