April 28, 2003
Genesis Health Services Foundation Gala Raises Money For Nursing Scholarships, X-Ray Units
Davenport, IA - Patient care will be improved with the addition of two portable x-ray units, and 11 young people from the Quad City region will be able to pursue nursing degrees, thanks to the Genesis Health Services Foundation. The Foundation's annual Gala, held April 4th at the Davenport Outing Club, raised more than $116,000 to support those health-related needs. 374 guests attended the charitable event. It included a raffle for a $16,000 pair of one-carat diamond earrings, a champagne truffle and gemstone event along with live and silent auctions. Gala events also included a luncheon with former U.S. Air Force Captain Scott O'Grady, who spoke about his incredible true-life struggle to survive after being shot down over Bosnia in 1995.
"We are thankful to members of the Gala Committee, and proud to be able to help address vital health care issues in our community," says Jim Tansey, who along with his wife, Stephanie, co-chaired the event. "As the health care industry struggles with a nationwide nursing shortage, the scholarships we're funding are important incentives to attract new nurses into the profession and to Genesis."
Again this year, 11 scholarships of $5,000 will be awarded to students pursuing a baccalaureate degree in nursing at St. Ambrose University, the University of Iowa, Iowa Wesleyan College, Mount Mercy College, Coe College or Clarke College. The scholarships are awarded as forgivable loans, meaning repayment will be waived if the recipients agree to work full-time at Genesis for two years upon completion of their degrees. This year's scholarship winners will be announced Tuesday, May 6, at the 14th annual Distinguished Nurse Lecture, one of the Genesis Medical Center events that coincide with National Nurses Week.
"This scholarship program creates a relationship between the students and the hospital," says Carole Reid, RN, MSN, Vice President of Patient Services, Genesis Medical Center. "In each case, we hope it's a relationship that will develop into a rewarding career at Genesis."
The portable x-ray units purchased with Gala proceeds are used when patients in areas like the intensive care units, emergency room or operating room cannot be transported to Radiology. They will replace older models that are cumbersome to move, not suited for use in some patient care areas and had exceeded their life expectancy. The new units take advantage of the latest technology, making them smaller and more maneuverable, more reliable and easier to operate. They also are better suited for small patients, like babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit or children in Pediatrics. The Foundation elected to purchase the units after reviewing requests from a dozen hospital departments.
"We're very fortunate that this project was selected," says Pat Engelhaupt, Manager, Radiology. "These new, portable x-ray units will be used throughout both the East and West campuses. They truly will impact all of our services and benefit patients of all ages."
Planning for Foundation's 2004 Gala already has begun. The event will be held Saturday, March 13 at the Outing Club in Davenport. Rick Flaksman, M.D., Medical Director of the Genesis Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and his wife, Cindy, are chairing next year's event.
The Genesis Health Services Foundation exists to develop, manage and grant charitable support to meet the health-related needs of the Quad Cities and surrounding communities. Annually, it raises more than $1 million dollars toward community and Genesis Medical Center programs and services. The Foundation's charitable donations have helped fund a variety of services and equipment that improve patient care, ranging from transportation for outpatient rehabilitation patients, to a hospital infant security system to state-of-the-art dialysis machines.
Anyone interested in making a contribution to the Genesis Health Services Foundation may call 563-421-6865.
