Palatine woman pledges $100,000 for $8.5 million project
When Martha Atherton heard about a campaign to raise funds for a proposed Emergency Room Imaging Center at Northwest Community Hospital, she didn’t hesitate to make a $100,000 pledge to the project. NCH has long been the Atherton family’s hospital of choice — the place where Martha’s late husband, Robert, waged his battle with heart disease.
“Over the years, our family has made many visits to that emergency room, and we receive excellent care each time,” said Atherton, of Palatine.
“I wanted to be among the first to support the new Imaging Center, and I hope others join me. It’s a far-reaching project and a unique opportunity for local philanthropists to impact so many lives.”
The new Imaging Center will be steps from triage rooms, bringing advanced technologies closer to patients. Currently, many ER patients are transported to outpatient radiology for imaging, which takes time and requires moving people who are seriously injured.
The hospital estimates the center will improve care for 100,000 patients each year.
“There’s a lot of high-tech equipment we want in that center, but it will take a considerable charitable investment by the community to see it through,” said David Ungurean, vice president of the NCH Foundation.
“This comes at a time of unprecedented fiscal challenges at NCH, so we’re reaching out to the community to gain support for this valuable initiative.”
The estimated cost of building out the ER space and providing a full range of advanced equipment in the Imaging Center is $8.5 million. The hospital’s tentative timeline has the project beginning in late 2011 and being completed in 2012. To learn how to get involved, visit the hospital online at www.nch.org/foundation.
Faster care and advanced diagnostic tools are among the key patient benefits of the ER Imaging Center:
타 Faster care: Rapid imaging is often key to obtaining an accurate diagnosis and choosing the most effective treatment. The center will be in the heart of the ER for fast imaging when timing is critical.
타 Rapid stroke response: With a stroke, rapid imaging increases the possibility of a full recovery.
타 Integrated technology: NCH plans to house all levels of imaging within the new center, including Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and the most advanced CT scanners, along with ultrasound and digital radiology rooms. This minimizes movement of patients if more than one technique is required.
타 Exposure to less radiation: NCH already protects patients by minimizing radiation doses, but improved access to advanced CT scans and MRI will further reduce the risks of radiation.