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Mercy grant to go toward children
Members of the Mercy Health Center Women in Philanthropy organization recently announced the donation of $745 in grant money to the Mercy Homecare Department.
Mercy Homecare officials used the funds to purchase updated equipment for the care of infants and pediatric patients. Mercy Homecare provides infant and pediatric care to infants, children and mothers with health, wellness and education needs.
Grant funds were used to purchase a pulse oximeter that measures oxygen levels so those levels can be reported to the physician for adjustments in oxygen flow levels and so other changes in medical treatment can be made.
"We care for very sick infants and children in homecare and we needed a pulse oximetry machine to monitor their oxygen levels," Brenda Bailey, a registered nurse at Mercy Homecare, said. "This allows us to better care for these patients. It will definitely be used a lot."
Services that staff at Mercy Homecare provide include growth and development, safety and teaching, assistance with feeding problems, care for jaundice, apnea monitoring, oxygen therapy, pulse oximetry, synagis injections, cardiac diagnosis, respiratory diagnosis, gastrointestinal care, treatment and care for diabetes, hemophilia and cerebral palsy, wound care, and parent teaching and support.
"We are always looking for new ways to strengthen the services that we provide to the community," Mercy Homecare Director Becky Davied said. "Our infant and pediatric program supports parents caring for infants and children at home with a medical condition. WIP grant funding gives us an opportunity to purchase vital equipment to meet that goal."
The Women in Philanthropy organization provided grant funds to two other Mercy Health Center programs this year. The total amount of funding for all three programs is $7,300. In April, Mercy Rehab Services received $4,055 in grant money for the purchase of pediatric physical therapy equipment. Last month, the Mercy OB/GYN clinic and social services department received $2,500 in grant money to assist with the cost of medications for the Mothers and Infants program.
A selection committee, along with the approval of all WIP members, shows particular interest toward programs that will enrich the lives of women and children.
Women in Phianthropy was created last year by women to support Mercy Health Center and, at the same time, encourage women to be philanthropic leaders. There are three levels of donations that women may choose from for their annual gift to WIP. By uniting donations, the group is able to identify timely opportunities at the health center and together members choose how to direct the group's pooled resources.
All money contributed by members of the organization is used to benefit services, programs and other endeavors at Mercy Health Center, officials said.
Mercy Homecare, located in the Mercy Health Center Medical Plaza, 902 S. Horton St., has provided services for residents in Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, Crawford, Neosho, Linn and southern Miami counties since 1974. Services are provided by registered nurses, physical therapists, home health aides, speech therapists, and social workers.
The WIP organization is open to all women who support the work of Mercy and recognize that women as donors have the capability of making an impact on health care in the community. For more information about the organization, contact WIP Coordinator Tina Rockhold at (620) 223-7073.