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Page 5: Life-Saving Gifts
CELEBRATING COMPASSIONATE HOSPICE INPATIENT CARE In February, we celebrated 10 years of providing peace, hope and comfort to patients and their loved ones through our community’s first inpatient hospice program. The Ed & Joan Hemphill Inpatient Hospice Unit was completely funded by generous contributions to St. Luke’s Foundation. Thanks to continuing support from donors like you, patients on their end-of-life journey have a peaceful, homelike environment and compassionate care in their final days.
PETSMART PUTS SMILES ON PATIENT FACES Imagine being a young child facing the unfamiliar, even scary, environment of a hospital ER or surgery center. At times like that, a cuddly friend can make all the difference. Thanks to the generosity of PetSmart shoppers in our community, more than 2,700 stuffed animals were distributed to St. Luke’s. Departments that received the toys include pediatric units, the Emergency Department, SurgiCare, behavioral health, and the Dental Health Center. “Who doesn’t love a stuffed animal?” asks Christina Fortmann, RN, St. Luke’s Surgicare. “A cuddly toy can relieve separation anxiety by acting as a friend to help kids or even adults feel safe and secure. Sometimes these small things make the biggest difference in someone’s hospital experience, changing a child’s tears to smiles and happiness.” 000928.cr-8 03/23 CS
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SPRING 2023 • S T. LUK E’ S FOUNDATION
IMPAC T REPORT Mission The mission of UnityPoint Health® – St. Luke’s Foundation is to support UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids in giving the health care we’d like our loved ones to receive.
News and Information Our third-floor modernization project
is complete! Two outdated medical and surgical areas at St. Luke’s Hospital have been combined into one modern, efficient healing environment. Among those who played a key role is longtime friend of St. Luke’s, Merlin Hulse. See story on page 3.
St. Luke’s is saving lives by distributing
AEDs and Stop the Bleed Kits to more than 100 organizations throughout Eastern Iowa. St. Luke’s Foundation provided the funding for this critical emergency equipment valued at over $100,000.