Community support helps NCH expand emergency room
While Northwest Community Hospital has grown over the years to provide world-class medical services for its local community, it has been that local community stepping up to help make the hospital's projects become a reality. The latest example is NCH's newly expanded Emergency Room, which opened Wednesday, Aug. 17.
Leading the way among many gifts were seven-figure contributions from local philanthropists John and Rita Canning of Inverness, and Vince and Pat Foglia of North Barrington. Public waiting areas of the new ER bear the Canning and Foglia names to commemorate their generosity.
“I could never say enough about the critical role of the community in the success of our hospital,” said David Ungurean, vice president of the NCH Foundation, which is the fundraising arm of the hospital. “The loyal partnership with our residents is really what defines the word ‘community' in our name. They care about quality healthcare, and are willing to invest in NCH for the well-being of their families and neighbors.”
One of the most thoughtful features of the new ER is a well-appointed reception room for bereaved families. It was made possible by a charitable contribution from the Glueckert family of Glueckert Funeral Home in Arlington Heights. The room provides a private space where family members can comfort one another.
“We're proud to support the hospital's effort to accommodate the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the community,” said John Glueckert Jr. “It's the type of emergency care that's often overlooked.”
More is on the horizon for the new ER, which is the busiest in the northwest suburbs at 75,000 patients a year. The NCH Foundation aims to raise $4 million to help build an advanced diagnostic imaging center. It would bring sophisticated technologies such as MRI and CT scans close to emergency patients, who currently get transported to outpatient radiology for imaging. The benefits include a faster diagnosis to save more lives and ensure the best patient outcomes.
When Frank Russo learned of NCH's imaging center plan while recently attending the ER's ribbon-cutting event, he pledged $100,000 on the spot.
“Making this gift to the hospital just felt like the right thing to do,” said Russo, president and owner of Schaumburg-based Advantage Ambulance. “The new imaging center will impact thousands of emergency patients every year, and I'm proud to get behind a project of that magnitude.”
To get involved in supporting the ER imaging center or other meaningful projects at NCH, visit the hospital online at nch.org/foundation or call the Foundation at 847.618.4260.