A donation of $2.5 million to Edward Hospital will help the hospital meet the needs of its patients while expanding some critical services.
The Edward Foundation, the fundraising arm of Edward Hospital & Health Services, announced the donation to the hospital during a brief ceremony Wednesday. The funds will be used to fund an expansion at Linden Oaks at Edward, upgrade the hospital's cardiovascular operating room and also fund access to care for the uninsured or those without suitable insurance.
Linden Oaks will be receiving $1 million, which will be used to expand the facility including renovations to the inpatient units and three one-story additions, according to Edward.
“The need for psychiatric beds is critical,” said Mary Lou Mastro, CEO of Linden Oaks. “We are seeing a shortage and long delays for beds while patients wait.”
The funds will be used to supplement patient services, creating group home settings, which will allow patients to be more comfortable, she said. Adolescents, those being treated for chemical dependence and adult patients will benefit.
“We are just really grateful our board is willing to support mental health services in the community,” Mastro said. “It is the service most often limited.”
While the hospital offers charity care to patients, the $500,000 from the donation will be used to offset the costs of providing free services and special programs, such as mammogram screening, for those in need, said Brian Davis, vice president of marketing and government relations for the hospital.
“Our financial assistance program allows patients who qualify to concentrate on meeting with their doctors and caregivers, and getting the medical care they need instead of being burdened with worries of whether they can pay,” said Pamela Davis, Edward Hospital’s president & CEO.
The cost to run the hospital is $1.6 million a day and the margins for any hospital are small, Davis said. Being able to implement advanced healthcare technologies in order to save lives is critical.
With $1 million from the donation the hospital will be able to open a hybrid operating room — the first of its kind in the western suburbs — which will allow for minimally invasive procedures along with open cardiovascular surgeries.
In 2011, the Edward Foundation had a record fundraising year, even with the economy as it is, Davis said. Since 1990, the foundation has raised $26.5 million.