| Partners for Health Event: Giving Hope |
Over 200 friends of Mercy Health Foundation attended the second annual Partners for Health "Giving Hope" charity luncheon held June 7, 2011 at the Oshkosh Convention Center. Guests heard stories of courage and healing from cancer survivors and oncologists Karen Gremminger, MD, and Thomas Klinkhammer, MD, from the Michael D. Wachtel Cancer Center. Phyllis Leach, a 17-year breast cancer survivor, was the MC. She said, "Even when you've been pronounced cancer free, the experience of facing this life threatening disease stays with you. You have to live and cope with it. Through my personal experience, I have been given opportunities to support others as they make their cancer journey." Mary Kohlbeck, owner of A Cut Above Salon and Spa, Oshkosh, was a featured speaker. She told her story of living with non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, a cancer that isn't curable but is manageable. "It is so wonderful to have the large room and windows in the Michael D. Wachtel Cancer Center. There's a camaraderie among patients. There are tremendous heroes in that room. It is very inspiring and therapeutic," she said.
The 2011 Partners for Health Event has so far raised $150,322 to support the remaining priority projects of the five-year MercyStrong initiative: acquisition of a new linear accelerator for the Michael D. Wachtel Cancer and other enhancements to the cancer program at Mercy Medical Center; and continued funding of community outreach projects such as the Living Healthy Community Clinic for the uninsured, the Tri County Community Dental Clinic for low income, uninsured patients, and the Fitness for the Physically Challenged Program at Mercy Medical Center. The 2011 year-end goal is $260,000. |
| Kimball Grant Supports Integrative Medicine |
 The Alberta S. Kimball Foundation has pledged $40,000 over two years to support expansion of Affinity's Integrative Medicine Program. This grant will provide funding to help establish Integrative Medicine services in the new Affinity Medical Group medical home practices and Mercy Medical Center. The focus at the hospital will be on cancer patients. The initial IM services to be offered are acupuncture and massage, but additional therapies will be added depending on the medical profile of patients in each medical home. The IM Department recently hired its first full-time acupuncturist to provide care to an increased caseload. Funds will also be used to help cover the cost of continuing education in IM for physicians, nurses and other medical staff.
The Affinity Integrative Medicine Program and the Mary Kimball Anhaltzer Center for Integrative Medicine, located at the AMG Koeller Street Clinic, Oshkosh, were made possible by previous grants from the Alberta S. Kimball Foundation and the Alexandra Charitable Trust.
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| Memorial Scholarship Awarded |
Oshkosh West High School senior Crystal Bell was selected as the 2011 recipient of the Natalie Kate Bolin Mercy Student Volunteer Scholarship Award. She was selected for her dedicated service with the Mercy Medical Center Volunteers. Crystal became a volunteer in 2007 and has donated 440 hours of her free time to staff information desks and do errands at Mercy on weekends. In a thank you, Crystal said, "Volunteering has taught me so many things. I've learned to be courteous, no matter how un-courteous the the other person may be, how to handle emergency or dangerous situations with calm actions, and that a smile goes a long way. I look forward to continuing my community work throughout the rest of my life."
This $500 annual scholarship was established in 2010 by Mary Jo Menzies in memory of her daughter Natalie, an Oshkosh West student and Mercy volunteer. Mary Jo established a donor advised endowed fund with Mercy Health Foundation to ensure that the award will be continued. She presented the 2011 Natalie Kate Bolin Mercy Student Volunteer Scholarship Award to Crystal on May 23, 2011 during Oshkosh West's senior awards program. |
2011 Nursing Awards Presented
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Three outstanding Affinity nurses were recognized with continuing education scholarships provided by Mercy Health Foundation at ceremonies held May 9 in honor of Nurses Week. These annual awards honor nurses who do a wonderful job of not only providing skilled care, but also demonstrating the genuine compassion and respect for patients that is the heart of personalized care. Two awards went to nurses at Mercy Medical Center and one to an Affinity Medical Group Clinic nurse practicing in an Oshkosh area clinic.
Loraine Carley, RN, is the 2011 recipient of the
 | Laraine Carley
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Phyllis Leach Excellence in Nursing Award. She works on the night shift in the BirthPlace at Mercy and has helped introduce many newborns into the world. Her nominator noted, "Loraine is a true model for nursing. It is evident that she loves helping families and is passionate about creating an exceptional birth experience for all our families. The care Loraine provides is personal." Also nominated for the Phyllis Leach Excellence in Nursing Award were Mercy nurses: Kelly Calkins, RN, ICU; Scott Fischer, RN, Surgery; and Nancy Rolfs, RN, ED.
Connie Moran, RN, is the winner of the 2011 Dolores A.
 | Connie Moran
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Wassmann Nurse Mentor Award. Connie has been a labor and delivery nurse for the past 28 years and an RN at Mercy for 35 years. Her nominator stated, "Connie is an active preceptor of both nursing students and new nurses to the BirthPlace. She is considered a role model by all her peers." There were three other nominees for the Dolores A. Wassmann Nurse Mentor Award: Kelly Ehlke, RN, PCU-1; Sharon McMullen, RN, OPA/SPA; and Diane Roeder, RN, PCU-2.
Trina Wollersheim, RN, is the recipient of the 2011
 | Trina Wollersheim
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AMG Southern Region Nursing Award. She was recognized for "consistently displaying a high standard of professionalism in quality of work, service to patients and the surgery team at Mercy. Trina has a great sense of personal responsibility and ownership in the department and is a nurse advocate for the patient." Additional nominees for the AMG Southern Region Nursing Award were: Kathy Dahlke, LPN, AMG Jackson Street; Marcey Laudolff, LPN, and Erica Moderow, LPN, AMG Koeller Street.
Each award provides funds for the winner to attend a continuing education program of their choice.
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Affinity Health System Recognized
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For the third consecutive year, Affinity Health System has been recognized in the top 57 of the 285 multi-hospital health care systems in the United States by Thomson Reuters. The rating is based on eight measures of clinical quality, efficiency and patient satisfaction including: mortality, medial complications, patient safety, average length of stay, 30-day mortality and readmission rates, use of evidence-based practices and patient satisfaction survey data. Affinity was the only system based in the Fox Valley to be recognized and one of only four in Wisconsin.
"As we enter the era of health care reform, Affinity is well positioned to deliver personalized care and the highest level of clinical quality," said Daniel E. Neufelder, president and CEO. "Our integrated health system is able to demonstrate value to employers as they determine the best investment of their health care dollars." |
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Discover Mercy Dates |
June 28, Noon
July 13, 4:30 p.m.
July 26, Noon
Join us for this one hour introduction to Mercy's mission. Hear from Mercy's leaders and tour the Michael D. Wachtel Cancer Center. Call Janet Pavelack at (920) 223-0522 or click here to make your reservation today! |
Tribute Gifts
4/1/2011-
5/31/2011
(Honor or Memorial) | |
Dr. Jennifer Norden
John Sawtell
Pat Seibold
Peter Allen
Shirley Bowen
Margaret Bunke
Sharon Drees
Lawrence Egnoski
June Fenrich
Joan Haringer
Betty Harrmann
Kermit Johnson
Richard A. Jones
Joyce Kellermann
Larry Klabunde
Parents of Dr. and Mrs. Albert Ritsema
Fredrick Sperling
Robert Steinike
Le Roy Tesch
Lillian Thomson
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| Upcoming MMC Volunteer Fundraisers | |
Dimples Jewelry Sale
Today!
June 14, 7 a.m.-3 p.m.
Books are Fun Sale
June 29, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
June 30, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
Carmel Corn Sale
July 14, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
July 15, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
All sales in the hallway outside Mercy Gift Shop | |
| Contact Us | | P: (920) 223-0520
F: (920) 223-0508
mhf@affinityhealth.org
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Did You Know? |
For the first seven months of its fiscal year (10/1/10 to 4-30-11), Mercy Medical Center averaged $261,000 a month in charity care.
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What is the Signature Society?
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Mercy Health Foundation created the Signature Society to recognize donors who have committed to an estate gift through a bequest, trust, gift annuity, real estate, life insurance policy or retirement fund. An estate gift secures a legacy for the donor and allows him or her to continue supporting quality local health care far into the future. New Signature Society members who wish to be recognized are inducted in a signing ceremony at the annual donor appreciation event and listed on the donor wall at Mercy Medical Center. With an irrevocable gift of $10,000 or more, the donor also receives a Health Care Hero Award.
Information about the many options for creating a legacy gift are available on the Foundation's GiftLegacy website at www.mmcgift.org.
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