For the City-Times

Saint Michael’s Foundation announces recipients for their fourth quarter, fiscal year 2014 grant allocations for programs and services that support patients served at Ministry Saint Michael’s Hospital and Ministry Medical Group.  Over $15,000 was granted to support the following programs and services.

Gun locks

Through funding by Saint Michael’s Foundation, Ministry Saint Michael’s Hospital Emergency and Urgent Care Departments and Mental Health Unit are able to provide free gun locks to patients who request them. Along with gun locks patients are given suicide prevention information and overall gun safety. By providing gun locks coordinators hope to reduce the number of completed suicides by firearms and also decrease the number of accidental injuries.  Last year Ministry Saint Michael’s Hospital Emergency and Urgent Care Departments and Mental Health Unit provided over 500 free gun locks. Since the program inception in 2012 over 1,000 total gun locks have been distributed.

Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE)

Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners specialize in performing medical forensic examinations on victims of sexual assault and abuse. These examinations include assessment and nursing diagnosis and treatment of individuals who have been victims of sexual assault, generation of forensic medical reports, and providing expert testimony in court.  Those who are assaulted are amongst our most vulnerable. Through funding from Saint Michael’s Foundation more nurses at Ministry Saint Michael’s are able to receive this specialized training giving more victims the access to the specialized care they need to assist in the prosecution of perpetrators.

Stroke Survival Group

Suffering a stroke is a life-altering event, affecting the patient, caregivers and family members. Stroke survivors in the Stevens Point and surrounding communities now have a local resource to reach out and be supported by those who have experienced similar journeys. Saint Michael’s Foundation provides the funding necessary for the Stroke Survival Group to provide education materials and to gather over refreshments to discuss the mental and physical experiences after suffering a stroke.

Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs)

The Cardiac Arrest Survival Team (CAST) was formed in 2013 and is working with Saint Michael’s Foundation to increase the survival rate of Portage County residents struck by sudden cardiac arrest by putting AEDs in as many workplaces and schools as possible. The national survival rate is just 8 percent. Communities that have established programs similar to CAST have dramatically higher survival rates, around 40%. Through recent Saint Michael’s Foundation funding, CAST was able to supply AEDs to St. Maximillian Kolbe Parish, Almond, and Redeemer Lutheran Church, Stevens Point.

These programs are supported through thoughtful contributions to the Greatest Need Fund at Saint Michael’s Foundation – providing unrestricted support for vital programs and services that improve the quality of health care services for the patients and families served by Ministry Saint Michael’s Hospital and Ministry Medical Group. This year’s Saint Michael’s Foundation Gala for Giving proceeds will directly benefit the Greatest Need Fund. Join us on Saturday, November 1 at The Grand Hall at Sentry World.

Committed to creating a healthier community, Saint Michael’s Foundation will continue support of current programs as well as look for new health initiatives in 2015. For more information on other programs and services, contact Saint Michael’s Foundation, 715.343.3259,[email protected]  or visit ministryhealth.org/smfoundation.