The Difference A Gift Makes

A year in review for the Kaweah Health Foundation

Another year is history for the Kaweah Health Foundation. But what a year it was.

The Foundation kicked off the year by completing the Hope in Motion campaign, which supplied the funds for a SafeGait track-and-harness system that will help patients re-learn to walk at the Rehabilitation Hospital. Late in 2021, the system was installed and in late January we received state approval for physical therapists to start using it. It’s the first SafeGait system in the state, and Kaweah Health recently learned that our 100-foot-long track is the largest in the United States. This new system means patients can get the care they need close to home.

Soon after, The Foundation had two big kick-offs: A name change to Kaweah Health Foundation, and the launch of the Modernization campaign, seeking $1.9 million for support across Kaweah Health. While the campaign was planned to last more than a year, donations have already reached 90% of the goal, allowing for the purchase of many items, including:

• Ultrasound Bladder Scanners: This new tech will be used throughout the medical center to improve patient comfort.
• Halo Bassinets: With more than 4,500 babies born each year at Kaweah Health, the Mother/Baby unit really needed these 42 baby beds that swivel for easy reach for new, nursing moms.
• Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS): Kaweah Health gastroenterologists love this new machine, which helps them diagnose cancers earlier with crisp, clear images.
• New Generation Ventilators: Fifteen lightweight, quiet ventilators will allow freedom of movement for patients in long-term care.

But the year’s story doesn’t end there. A wonderful donor gifted the Foundation the funds needed to purchase a TrueBeam linear accelerator for the Brain Lab plus a top of the line CT scanner, AND for Kaweah Health Hospice to take over operations of the Ruth Woods Open Arms House, which had closed, in 2021. This donor wishes to remain anonymous, but they have the Foundation’s unending gratitude for helping with such critical upgrades that will serve our entire community.

TrueBeam delivers precise doses of radiation for cancer treatment with pinpoint accuracy during the 400-plus treatments performed each month. The CT scanner will be the third at Kaweah Health, used for biopsies as well as for trauma and stroke patients. With more than 3,000 scans done here every month, the new scanner will make a huge difference in wait times as well as accuracy.

Grantors also love helping grow the organization. The California Health Facility Financing Authority granted more than $2,000,000 for Kaweah Pediatric facilities, including $1,000,000 toward construction of the Tulare Rural Clinic. Another $300,000 went for child and neonatal cribs, an ultrasound, jaundice meters, lead analyzers, vision screeners and telemetry monitor, all geared for kids. The San Joaquin Valley Air District granted $60,000 for electric vehicles for Security, and the Isnardi Foundation gave $45,000 for Street Medicine, their second year giving to the program.

Finally, the Foundation has been able to support Kaweah Health medical teams with 23 grants for equipment, education, and programs requested by the departments that will use them, including General Medical Education, Simulation Lab, and Kaweah Health Medical Group. Foundation grants totaled more than $78,000.

What does 2022 have in store for the Foundation? The end of the Modernization Campaign by mid-year, if not sooner, and then a deep dive into a new one. The annual Golf Classic will take place once again in August, and the Heritage Club Dinner moves to April from its usual fall date. With help from our amazing community, anything is possible.

Visit kaweahhealth.org/foundation to learn more.