BITTERROOT HEALTH EMPLOYEES DONATE $500,000 TO ENHANCE PATIENT CARE
BITTERROOT HEALTH EMPLOYEES DONATE $500,000 TO ENHANCE PATIENT CARE
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HAMILTON – The Bitterroot Health Foundation proudly announces a significant milestone in its Employee Donor Program, with employees contributing over $500,000 to purchase vital medical equipment. Since the program's inception 17 years ago, employees have supported this initiative by donating a portion of their bi-weekly paychecks.
“It’s remarkable what happens when hundreds of employees give $5 or more each payday,” said Bitterroot Health CEO John Bishop. “You don’t fully grasp the impact until you hear a number like $500,000. I’m incredibly proud of our employees’ generosity; they are continuing the legacy Margaret Daly began when she opened our hospital nearly 100 years ago.”
Currently, 219 of Bitterroot Health’s 950 employees participate in the program, collectively generating over $130,000 in 2023 and 2024 alone. Every dollar directly funds new equipment to improve patient care and enhance the overall experience.
When the Employee Donor Fund reaches $50,000, a committee of the top 10 donors selects items from the hospital’s unfunded critical equipment list—which currently exceeds $5.5 million in needs. Employee donors then vote on which items to purchase. Recent selections included a $40,000 Electroencephalogram (EEG) unit for Neurology and a $7,000 high-efficiency floor scrubber capable of sanitizing 19,000 square feet per hour.
Over the years, employee donations have funded essential equipment such as high-tech trauma gurneys, baby warmers for Obstetrics, and a digitally controlled Pharmacy refrigerator.
Al Garver, Senior Director of the Bitterroot Health Foundation, shared the joy of informing departments when their long-awaited equipment is funded. “Seeing the excitement when a long-standing equipment need is granted is incredibly rewarding,” said Garver. “Employees see the items they’ve collectively purchased in use and proudly say, ‘I voted for that. I helped buy it!'.”
Employee donations have supported a wide range of equipment purchases, including:
· Emergency Stretcher Beds (capable of taking x-rays while patients remain in bed) - $10,000
· Baby Warmer for Birthing Center - $17,800
· Exam Chairs for Eye Clinic - $15,140
· Mobile Workstations for Oncology-Infusion Center - $21,000
“Employee donations are a powerful testament to the dedication our staff have for the mission of Bitterroot Health,” said Garver. “When our employees choose to give back, it speaks volumes about their commitment to our patients, our community, and each other. Their generosity directly enhances the care we provide, from funding new equipment to supporting essential programs. When you see so many employees giving back to their own workplace, it’s a true testament to the integrity of our mission—and a joy to witness staff supporting that so wholeheartedly.”
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Bitterroot Health has been providing care to the people of the Bitterroot Valley since 1931, and is committed to excellence in quality, accessible, personalized healthcare. For more information about Bitterroot Health, please visit www.bitterroothealth.org, or call (406) 375-4649.