St. Mike’s Donates Defibrillators
For the City-Times
In early December two Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) were installed at both Boys and Girls Club of Portage County locations in Stevens Point and Plover. With help of a generous in-kind installation contribution from Office Supplies 2 U (OS2U) in Stevens Point, the AEDs were installed as a gift from Ministry Saint Michael’s Hospital.
In October 2013, Ministry Saint Michael’s Hospital hosted a ground breaking ceremony to formally announce their plans to renovate and construct a new emergency department, ambulatory surgery and other outpatient areas in 2014. To commemorate the occasion and reaffirm their commitment to emergency medicine Dr. Michael Curtis, Emergency Physician, presented an AED to Peter Gebhardt, Boys and Girls Club Director of Club Site Operations.
“This gift could not have come at a better time,” shared Kevin Quevillon, Boys and Girls Club Director. “Continuing to improve the safety and protection of our club kids is one of our top priorities; the AEDs are a great safety feature to be able offer.”
Through Saint Michael’s Foundation, Ministry Saint Michael’s Hospital is working with the Cardiac Arrest Survival Team (CAST) to put more AEDs in businesses, schools, and other public locations like the Boys and Girls Club throughout Portage County.
“The donation of the AEDs recognizes the vital role that the Emergency Department of Ministry Saint Michael’s Hospital plays in the Portage County EMS System, we support the CAST team goal to achieve 50% survival from witnessed-shockable cardiac arrest,” stated Dr. Curtis. “This goal requires both increased numbers of citizen rescuers trained to perform CPR and widespread deployment of AED’s throughout our community.”
About CAST
Portage County’s CARDIAC ARREST SURVIVAL TEAM (CAST) is a volunteer effort of local emergency medical services and community leaders that are committed to improving cardiac arrest survival in our community.
About Ministry Health Care
Ministry Health Care is an integrated healthcare delivery network serving more than 1.1 million people across Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota. Ministry generates nearly $2.2 billion in annual operating revenue with 15 hospitals, 47 clinics, and more than 12,000 associates including 650 physicians and advanced practice clinicians. Ministry Health Care recently joined Ascension Health as the second healthcare ministry in Wisconsin. Ascension is the largest Catholic and not-for-profit healthcare system in the nation. Ministry is ranked among the top 20 percent of healthcare systems in the country according to Truven Health Analytics.