Donations to the Confluence Health Foundation fund medical resources and programs that bring hope and joy to patients. From the first steps of a patient with spinal-cord injury in the Exoskeleton, to the gift of donor breastmilk for newborns in the Special Care Nursery, every dollar can make a difference.
Generous donations from employees, local businesses, and the public fund high-quality, state-of-the-art medical equipment that enhances the care Confluence Health provides to patients. Foundation staff and board members work with providers and leadership from Confluence Health to identify the most compelling healthcare-equipment needs in North Central Washington and prioritize purchases based on impact, feasibility, and sustainability. This process ensures that donations are invested in sound medical technology that will benefit the community far into the future.
Highlights:
Exoskeleton
The Foundation funded the first robotic exoskeleton in the region. The Ekso Bionics® Exoskeleton is a powerful device for stroke and spinal cord–injury rehabilitation
Patient SafetyNet is a system of remote devices that allows clinicians to view the status of patients in a central display. This sophisticated monitoring technology ensures prompt response to alarms and more comprehensive post-surgical care so that patients can go home faster.
Hugs Infant Security Bracelets
This wearable technology provides safety and security by alerting staff and hospital security when a newborn or pediatric patient leaves the Mother-Baby Unit at Central Washington Hospital. The bracelets prevent abduction by strangers and family members.
Crash Carts
In rural communities, such as those in the Methow Valley, patients sometimes rely on their primary care clinic to provide emergency services. The Confluence Health Foundation purchased crash carts for the Winthrop Clinic that include defibrillators, bag masks, medications, and other life-saving equipment that can help stabilize a patient in emergency situations while the ambulance is in route.
The Confluence Health Foundation develops and maintains programs that deliver comfort and compassion to patients and their families in times of need. Donations from the community are used to help shape programs that promote a positive patient experience. These special touches are unique to our local healthcare system and send the message to our community that healthcare at Confluence Health goes beyond medicine.
Highlights:
Comfort Therapies for Palliative Care and Hospice Patients
These programs provide palliative care and hospice patients with therapeutic treatments that bring joy and comfort in challenging moments of their disease. The funding from this program is used to support services for patients, such as massages, music and pet therapy, and personal care (e.g., nail care and haircuts).
Snuggle Buddies
Snuggle buddies are plush stuffed animals that pediatric patients receive when they are admitted to the hospital. Snuggle buddies help reduce the stress and uncertainty of their stay, and, best of all, kids can take their new friend home with them after their visit.
Footprints on My Heart
This program provides support to families who have lost an infant. Funds help cover the cost of annual burial services and provide memento boxes for parents.
CARE Channel
The Continuous Ambient Relaxation Environment (CARE) Channel is a 24/7 television broadcast that features relaxing music, calming imagery, and guided relaxation exercises. It serves as a therapeutic tool that can be viewed by patients on any television at Central Washington Hospital. Research indicates that music and relaxation therapy can lead to improved patient outcomes, including lower stress levels, reduced anxiety, and decreased discomfort and pain.
As a growing regional organization with more than 4,000 employees, one of the biggest challenges facing Confluence Health is the need for more clinical and administrative space. The Foundation plays an important role in ensuring that Confluence Health can meet the growing healthcare demands of the region.
Highlights:
Campbell Building
Benevolent local businessman Carl Campbell donated an East Wenatchee property to the Confluence Health Foundation in 2016. Formerly a retirement home, the newly remodeled space has been transformed into offices for Confluence Health’s Human Resources, Marketing, and Enterprise Project Management departments. Additionally, the Campbell Building has dedicated space for training, which is a valuable new resource for employees.
Medical Unit 1
In 2013, the Confluence Health Foundation contributed half a million dollars toward the development of Central Washington Hospital’s Medical Unit 1 (MU1), which was the first secure medical unit in the region. In MU1, staff with specialized training provide a safe environment for patients with underlying mental health conditions, dementia, or behavioral issues. This unit plays an important role in Confluence Health’s ability to serve vulnerable patients in our community by providing additional security and physical safety during their hospital stay.
Central Washington Tower
In 2009, the Confluence Health Foundation initiated a capital campaign that raised more than $9.4 million from the local community to help construct a five-story tower at Central Washington Hospital. The tower increased the number of available hospital beds and provided new, state-of-the-art hospital facilities for the community. With 85 percent of Central Washington Hospital patients coming from outside the Wenatchee area, the development of the tower has been a critical factor in allowing Confluence Health to meet the healthcare demands of our growing communities in North Central Washington.
Methow Valley Clinic
In 2014, the Confluence Health Foundation acquired the Winthrop Clinic as part of a charitable gift from generous members of the local community. This tax-deductible gift was a win-win for the donors and for Confluence Health. In 2015, the Winthrop Clinic, now known as the Methow Valley Clinic, officially became part of Confluence Health, and it continues to be a significant source of primary care for the region.
Sterile Set-Up Room for Wenatchee Valley Hospital
In 2017, the Confluence Health Foundation funded a pre-surgical sterilization room at Wenatchee Valley Hospital. The room is equipped with electronic doors, special air-filtration and control equipment, and other safety features that allow clinical staff to prepare for the next surgery while the operating room is being sterilized. This new room dramatically reduces set-up times for surgeries, increases scheduling efficiency, and decreases the need for staff overtime.
The Confluence Health Foundation funds initiatives that go beyond traditional healthcare. We design and implement programs that help our patients achieve health and well-being at any age—and not just during their visit, but at home too.
Highlights:
Miracle Milk for Babies
Miracle Milk for Babies provides safe, pasteurized donor breastmilk for infants admitted to the Special Care Nursery, those in need of supplemental feedings for medical reasons, and newborns whose mothers struggle to provide an adequate supply of breast milk. Prior to this program, formula was the only alternative to mother’s milk in the Mother Baby Unit. Breast milk is widely accepted as the most healthful source of nourishment because it contains antibodies that establish a strong immune system, which protects babies from acute and chronic health conditions.
Reach Out and Read
Reach Out and Read provides books to primary-care patients ages 6 months to 5 years at the start of a well-child check-up. This program has been adopted as a standard of care in pediatrics because it creates an opportunity for providers to assess the development of their patient and helps stimulate important discussions with caregivers about language and literacy.
Wade Family Literacy Endowment, Baby’s First Book
The Literacy Endowment is a partnership between the Confluence Health Foundation and the North Central Regional Library that provides books to newborns and pediatric inpatients to help foster a passion for literacy.
Mammogram Program
In some special cases, the Foundation will cover the cost of mammograms and ultrasounds for patients who are called back for additional imaging based on initial test results. These funds fill the gap for patients who do not have full coverage through insurance and do not qualify for coverage through state and federal programs.
Maternal Support Services
The Maternal Support Services Assistance Program for mothers in Okanogan County will be used to reduce the financial and logistical barriers to care facing women and their families by providing various methods of travel assistance and supportive services. Insufficient access to obstetric services increases the risk of complications during pregnancy and childbirth, which can have lasting consequences on the physical, emotional, financial, and social wellbeing of moms and their babies. By reducing the cost and difficulty of travel, more women, especially those with limited financial resources, will have greater access to the obstetric care necessary to ensure healthy pregnancies and safe deliveries.