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Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesNew Hospital Beds Could Be a Lifesaver for Schneider Regional

New Hospital Beds Could Be a Lifesaver for Schneider Regional

Bio-technologist Peter John Baptiste and Partners for Health board member Rina Roebuck test out the new $40,000 telemetry bed donated by Partners for Health.Receiving the first of four special beds on Monday, Schneider Regional Medical Center has the cornerstone set for a new telemetry unit for the hospital.
The telemetry beds are designed for patients who have been “stepped down” from the Intensive Care Units and no longer require constant attention.
This frees up more ICU beds for sicker patients and allows for less-intensive monitoring of patients who are in less critical condition.
The $40,000 beds allow caretakers to monitor the patient locally at the bedside or remotely. The versa-bed is the lowest height bed in the industry, features intuitive controls and digital head-of-bed display.
Hospital officials and board members of the Partners for Health were on hand for the ceremony presenting the new beds.
“This is the top of the line,” Elizabeth Harris, who served as the hospital’s Interim Chief Executive Officer. “It’s the best in class.”
SRMC’s new CEO concurred. “Our goal is eventually have a unit for patients who don’t quite need the skill level of the ICU but are not ready to go to an area that is unmonitored,” Alice Taylor said.
The group’s next donation will be for a $20,000 central monitoring unit, according to hospital officials.
Partners in Health is a 31-year-old local charity founded by former Gov. Roy L. Schneider. Seed money for the group came from a $250,000 donation by Henry Kimelman, said Lorraine Baa, the hospital’s director of development.
The group, who are made up of people from all walks of life, raises money for hospital equipment donations through its jazz festivals and annual ball.
In addition to Monday’s donation, the group has provided a considerable amount of equipment to the hospital, including a total-care bed in 2009, a plasma freezer and a serofuge, and a dialysis machine, according to Partners in Health president Barbara Holder.
This year’s annual ball is scheduled for Sept. 26 at the Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort, and will features live music by the Millers Kings.

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