BRMC Hospital Foundation launches $1 million campaign, receives $500K donation from BRMC Auxiliary
<p class="p1"><em>Reprinted with permission of The Baxter Bulletin</em></p><p class="p2"> </p><p class="p3">Mountain Home, Arkansas – To make improvements to patients’ rooms at the Baxter Regional Medical Center’s Acute Inpatient Rehabili-tation – especially the bathrooms that have step-in showers but need to be walk-in showers, bathroom sinks and the toilets – the Baxter Regional Hospital Foundation has launched a $1 million campaign.</p><p class="p3">It’s been 18 years since the Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation had a facelift. To refurbish the unit, the Hospital Foundation is turning to the community for help raising the money.</p><p class="p3">Barney Larry, executive director of the Hospital Foundation, announced the campaign during a news conference Wednesday, June 28. The capital campaign began Jan.1 in silent phase. BRMC Auxiliary is already helping the campaign reach its goals. </p><p class="p3">During the same news conference, BRMC Aux-iliary announced a $500,000 donation to the campaign.</p><p class="p3"><span class="s2">Jean Adams, BRMC Auxiliary president, told <em>The Bulletin </em>the Auxiliary’s mission is to help “this hospital stay here with all the advantages that we have and to help patients and their families feel welcomed and at home.”</span></p><p class="p3">The campaign has raised a total of $800,000 so far. Justin Woods, major gifts officer of the Hospital Foundation, told <em>The Bulletin</em> the campaign would wrap up by the end of the year, and construction would begin in 2018.</p><p class="p3">To donate, call the Hospital Foundation at 870-508-1770.</p><p class="p3">Jean Gaylord, program director of the Acute Inpatient Center, told <em>The Bulletin</em> the renovation would improve the functionality of the facility. It needs to be remodeled to make better use of it, she said.</p><p class="p3">As hospital officials renovate the facility, they’re hoping to turn one of the 23 rooms into an apartment-like room.</p><p class="p3">Located on the third floor of BRMC, the Acute </p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Inpatient Rehabilitation, which provides rehabilitative care to patients after they have suffered either an accident or a medical incident, treated 405 patients last year. The goal is to get patients back to their daily routines.</span></p><p class="p2"><span class="s1">The facility’s mission is to help people see and understand that they can enjoy life and do anything and everything they did before their accident, Gaylord said, adding that they may have to do it a little differently. The goal is to show them ways they can accomplish whatever they want to, she said, whether it’s gardening or fishing.</span></p><p class="p2"><span class="s1">Once completed, she hopes the facility looks like a comfortable, inviting setting for the patients, as well as their families, while they’re recovering.</span></p><p class="p2"><span class="s1">Jeff Quick, president and CEO of the Food Bank of North Central Arkansas, is grateful, lauding the Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation staff for taking care of him during his stay at the facility over a year ago when he fought double pneumonia.</span></p><p class="p2"><span class="s1">Because of some associated health issues, he had to learn to sit in a chair again. He also had to learn how to walk and swallow.</span></p><p class="p2"><span class="s1">“My health issues had been life-threatening, and honestly, I was scared,” he said.</span></p><p class="p2"><span class="s1">He said the Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation team was “stellar,” adding that he knew he had a team that focused on him and his best interests from the get-go.</span></p><p class="p2"><span class="s1">He said the team cared for him like he was one of their own, praising the therapists, doctors and staff for checking on him.</span></p><p class="p2"><span class="s1">“They pushed me and ultimately gave me the hope that I would, in fact, get back on my feet,” he said.</span></p><p class="p2"><span class="s1">Quick said he’s blessed to be back to himself again. “May God bless you,” he said, thanking the team. “May God bless the work that you’re doing. And congratulations on an amazing project.”</span></p>
<p class="p1">Baxter Regional Medical Center Auxiliary president Jean Adams, left, presents a $500,000 donation to Justin Woods, right, major gifts officer of the Baxter Regional Hospital Foundation. The Hospital Foundation will use the money to renovate the BRMC Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation in Mountain Home, Arkansas. </p>
<p class="p1">During a recent press conference, Jeff Quick, president and CEO of the Food Bank of North Central Arkansas, talks about his stay at Baxter Regional Medical Center’s Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation. He lauded the team for taking care of him.</p>
