Funding Excellence In Local Healthcare
Funding Excellence In Local Healthcare
Emily Seyler, Franklin Oil Region Credit Union and Bethany Ochs, Clinical Coordinator of UPMC Northwest School of Radiology with the juniors and seniors of the UPMC Northwest School of Radiology
Franklin-Oil Region Credit Union and the Northwest Hospital Foundation are teaming up to raise funds this October. Between now and 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 31, vote for your favorite pumpkin painted by the students of the UPMC Northwest School of Radiology.
Votes can be made in person at Franklin-Oil Region Credit Union in Oil City or online on the Northwest Hospital Foundation’s Facebook and Instagram pages. In-person votes are limited to once per day per individual, and online votes are limited to once per account.
For every vote cast, Franklin-Oil Region Credit Union will donate $1 to the Presents for Patients program up to $250. Presents for Patients provides small gifts for inpatients at UPMC Northwest during holidays. The students with the winning pumpkin will each receive a $25 gift card courtesy of Franklin-Oil Region Credit Union.
Dr. Ibrahim Bawab presenting at the Annual Corporation Meeting
90 members of the Northwest Hospital Foundation Corporation and UPMC Northwest representatives gathered for the Foundation’s annual meeting on Wednesday, October 11, at Wanango Country Club, where they discussed Foundation activities over the last year and were introduced to several new UPMC Northwest initiatives. Board chair Joseph Keebler, Esq., welcomed 6 new members from surrounding communities to the corporation: Matthew Bloom, Michelle Goodwill, Laura Ordaz, John Phillips, Alexander Spaid, and Natalie Toscano.
An important benchmark was reached when the Foundation board participated 100 percent as donors for the ninth consecutive year, personally demonstrating their commitment to the organization’s mission. Noted was their collective vision for a healthier community where everyone has access to top-notch healthcare services. Mr. Keebler stated, “We know that when we all pitch in, when every one of us contributes, we can achieve incredible things.”
Philanthropic support was highlighted by Otolaryngologist/head and neck surgeon Dr. Ibrahim Bawab who spoke about the purchase of new surgical equipment by the Foundation totaling nearly $250,000. Key additions included an ENT Storz Endoscope, HAVAS Laryngoscopy, Medtronic StealthStation Navigation System, and PTeye Parathyroid Detection System.
Dr. Bawab, whose office is located at Home Depot Drive in Seneca, offers expertise in the treatment of diseases and conditions affecting the ears, nose, and throat, as well as surgery and reconstruction of the face, neck, and jaw. Dr. Bawab credits Foundation support as “having made a great positive impact on patient care by helping make UPMC Northwest a beacon of superior care in the region.”
Hospital President, Brian Durniok, emphasized the importance of the partnership between the Foundation and UPMC Northwest in providing advanced care in Venango County. “The hospital’s goal remains to provide high-quality care with state-of-the-art equipment,” Durniok said.
Mr. Durniok reported UPMC Northwest’s annual economic impact to the region is $211 million.
He also shared that UPMC Northwest is a critical partner in serving patients with SUD (substance use disorders). Continued efforts in Venango County have significantly decreased the instances of newborns impacted by substance exposure during pregnancy. Efforts provide for early intervention with at-risk mothers.
There were several capital equipment/construction projects for fiscal year 2023 including many projects to maintain safety and improve facilities for staff and patients. Some of these include: Upgrades to the HUGS security system in the Family Birthing Center; upgrades to the OR surgical lighting and painting and room repairs; and installation of patient lifts in several rooms in each department.
The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) has given UPMC Northwest in Seneca four stars out of five in its annual comparison of the nation’s hospitals. The star rating reflects comprehensive quality information about the care provided at our nation’s hospitals based on 64 quality measures.
Five physicians recently joined the medical staff, said Durniok, including: Morgan Gallo, DPM, podiatrist; Kristin Romutis, MD, obstetrics & gynecology; Emily Carbaugh, MD, obstetrics & gynecology; Bethann Hamm, DO, family medicine; and Paul Hamm, DO, family medicine.
A review of the Northwest Hospital Foundation’s financial report was presented by McGill Power, Bell and Associates, LLP who declared a clean opinion of the Foundation audit for fiscal year ended June 30, 2022, with work currently under way on the 2023 audit.
Mr. Keebler concluded the meeting by sharing with the Corporation membership, that “We are fortunate to have a hospital in Venango County proving care of this caliber which attracts patients from surrounding communities, and that is worthy of our support.”
For more information about the Northwest Hospital Foundation, please visit NorthwestHospitalFoundation.org or contact Theresa Edder, Executive Director by calling 814-676-7145 or emailing edderta2@upmc.edu.
Two UPMC Northwest employees were recently awarded Cenedella Nursing Scholarships.
Christopher Frye, a Patient Care Technician in the Emergency Department, is pursuing an Associate of Science in Nursing from Pennsylvania Western University-Clarion Venango. He anticipates graduating in May 2024 and taking the NCLEX examination to become a Registered Nurse.
Catherine Dinger, a Certified Nursing Assistant in the Transitional Care Unit, is currently enrolled in the Practical Nursing Program at Venango Technology Center. After completing the program and becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse, she plans to continue her education to become a Registered Nurse.
The Stephen C. and Marie F. Cenedella Nursing Scholarship was established to offset the cost of education intended to advance the recipient’s skills or qualifications as a members of the Hospital’s nursing staff.
If you would like to contribute to the Cenedella Nursing Scholarship Fund, please visit NorthwestHospitalFoundation.org or contact Theresa Edder, Executive Director by calling 814-676-7145 or emailing edderta2@upmc.edu.