The annual St. Joseph’s Foundation Radiothon for Life is underway today.
The fundraising event using local radio personalities, got underway at 6 a.m. this morning and will continue to 6 p.m.
The telephone number to make donation pledges is 306-340-0510.
“If you miss an opportunity to call in during the actual one day radiothon, you can still add to the donation total by contacting us at the regular St. Joe’s Foundation number which is 306-637-2474,” said Becky Conly, the foundation’s executive director.
The radiothon is being conducted in the front foyer of the hospital and will include interviews with donors, recipients and hospital employees and administration.
“A little over $50,000 was raised last year, and with the economy being what it is right now, we haven’t set a firm target for this year,” said Conly.
So, while the industrial complex in the Energy City may have been slowed down a bit due to the recent downward trend in the oil patch, the needs of the community do not decrease, she said. They only keep growing.
“We have a lengthy wish list. There is no end to what we can do with the money for the hospital and for the community,” Conly added.
Last year, St. Joe’s Foundation purchased over $163,000 in equipment and services to help the hospital stay abreast of ongoing needs.
There was a $7,000 upgrade to the endoscopy sector and $25,000 spent on food service upgrades including chillers, blenders and new refrigerator units. New chairs were purchased, laproscopic cameras were upgraded and new flooring was put down in a couple of areas to improve infection control. A new Telehealth unit was also purchased, and $10,000 was spent on two patient lifts.
There are some major needs moving into the future, said Conly; beginning with a chemotherapy mixing lab upgrade that will come at a cost of nearly $200,000, and a roof replacement over the long-term care wing will have a $500,000 price tag.
More patient lifts are needed in various wards and units along with an IV pump and a cautery machine for the endoscopy department.
There is an ongoing need for patient and resident beds, and they come with a price tag of $5,000 each, and with 80 beds being required in acute-care and long-term care facilities, the cash requirements just keep on mounting.
A bio-hazard hood replacement alone will cost $150,000 and, it was noted, there are still funds to be raised to complete the installation of the new CT scanner that will be arriving soon.
