The $15,000 grant allowed for the purchase of a transport incubator for The Family Unit, an addition that will enhance Elk Regional’s ability to safely transport babies born via Caesarean section from the operating room to The Family Unit. The incubator can also be used to safely transport newborns that need to be transferred to a neo-natal ICU via ambulance or helicopter.
“It is absolutely wonderful to see this money used locally,” said Linda Hoffman, the treasurer of Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Mid-Penn Region.
“The grant money we award is funded in large part through the coin boxes at the cash register. People in the St. Marys area always give very generously, so it’s wonderful to be able to fund a grant request for our local community hospital.”
“We are grateful to Ronald McDonald House Charities for their generous gift,” said Sam MacDonald, Elk Regional’s Director of Business and Fund Development.
“Elk Regional has recently made major investments in 3D and 4D ultrasound and a new fetal heart monitoring system. By next summer, we will have a brand-new, state-of-the-art maternity unit. Thanks to Ronald McDonald House Charities, we can also offer our littlest patients the safety and security of a new transport incubator.”
Transport incubators are important because newborns must be kept warm at all times. When babies become too cold, they can develop respiratory problems and problems with blood sugar. Elk Regional’s new transport incubator allows caregivers to control the temperature and humidity inside the unit, which creates an ideal environment for the newborn while allowing for continual monitoring of the baby’s vital signs.
“The priority of our physicians and nurses has always been to provide a safe, secure and healthy environment for our newborns,” said Mary Helen Coroso, RN, the nurse manager of Elk Regional’s Family Unit. “The new transport incubator will allow us to continue to provide the highest quality of care to families who come to Elk Regional.”
Elk Regional Health System includes a fully-accredited, not-for-profit, 80-bed general acute care institution, an extended care facility, an independent living facility, a home health agency and an employed physician group that serves Elk and Cameron counties. The organization is backed by the strength of a clinical affiliation with UPMC Hamot in Erie, Pa. With campuses in St. Marys and Ridgway and physician offices in a number of locations throughout the region, Elk Regional proudly serves the residents of Elk and Cameron counties. It is Elk Regional’s ongoing mission to provide premier healthcare services to our patients through our commitments to service, quality, people, finance and growth, while maintaining economic viability and keeping an eye on the future. For more information, visit us online.
Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) corporation, creates, finds and supports programs that directly improve the health and well being of children. Through its global network of local Chapters in 54 countries and regions, its three core programs, the Ronald McDonald House®, Ronald McDonald Family Room® and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile®, and millions of dollars in grants to support children's programs worldwide, RMHC provides stability and resources to families so they can get and keep their children healthy and happy. All RMHC-supported programs provide a bridge to quality health care and give children and families the time they need together to heal faster and cope better. For more information, visit them online.
Photo: From left are Linda Hoffman, the treasurer of Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Mid-Penn Region; Sam MacDonald, Director of Business and Fund Development at Elk Regional; Mary Helen Coroso, interim manager of The Family Unit; Laura Lorenzo, RN; Sara Myers, RN, manager of The Family Unit; and Betsy Cheatle, RN.
