In 2008-2009, SJMC Foundation provided $2,865,252 to the Medical Center.

Ray and Carole Neag made a leadership gift to fund the purchase of medical equipment and technology for Cardiovascular and Radiology services.

The majority of the funding supported the purchase of medical equipment and technology, including the following:

• A Dual Source 64-slice CT (computed tomography) Scanner which produces images with twice the resolution and speed of the most advanced single-source CT systems. This state-of-the-art imaging technology enables physicians in the Heart Institute to capture motion-free images of the heart and coronary tree without the use of medications, while reducing the need for invasive procedures and cutting patient exposure to radiation in half. The new technology also enables emergency physicians to make faster and more confident diagnoses, particularly in examining patients with acute chest pain, abdominal pain, and suspicion of stroke.
   
• A software upgrade which interfaces with the 64-slice CT to create 3-dimensional images of the heart form both CT and MR (magnetic resonance) image data. These 3-Dimensional Work Stations allow physicians to easily navigate within these images to more quickly and accurately understand disease conditions, providing better outcomes for patients.
   
• A Cardio Mapping System which works in conjunction with the 64-slice CT. The Cardio Mapping System measures electrical signals from within the heart and builds a 3-dimensional map of the patient's heart based on these signals. The map can then be used to diagnose and treat rhythm disturbances (arrhythmias) within the heart.
   

United Way of Berks County

Through a grant from the United Way of Berks County, the Foundation was able to purchase a high definition ultrasound machine for St. Joseph Family & Women's Care OBGYN Clinic at the Downtown Reading campus. Currently the only clinical ultrasound service offered in the city of Reading, the equipment improves the quality of prenatal care we offer our patients and demonstrates the benefits of a collaboration of local community organizations to enhance women's access to and use of prenatal care.

Foundation Charity Ball

Net proceeds from the 2008 SJMC Foundation Charity Ball funded four EKG (electrocardiogram) machines for use in the Emergency Department. Equipped with newer technology and wireless modems, these machines require less time to transmit the EKG to a cardiologist for interpretation, thus improving the quality of care we are able to provide to emergency patients.

The Foundation funded the purchase of two Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) probes. These probes are used in an important diagnostic test in order to evaluate the left atrium of the heart for an embolus (e.g. detached blood clot).

Employee Giving Campaign

SJMC Foundation's Employee Giving Campaign and additional Annual Fund Gifts designated to support the purchase of medical equipment and technology funded the purchase of equipment used in the Operating Room:

• A Wrist Arthroscopy Tower System which positions a patient's hand, wrist, forearm or elbow during orthopedic surgical procedures.
   
• An Ultra Shoulder Positioning System used to position a patient's shoulder in conjunction with existing operating room tables during orthopedic surgery.
   
• A 20-Piece Hip Grip Set which holds a patient in a lateral position for hip and pelvis surgery, allowing firm support without creating pressure on vital structures.
   
• A 360 Camera Head and Video Arthroscope used in procedures to examine joints, especially knees. The arthroscope contains magnifying lenses and glass-coated fibers that send concentrated light into the joint. The camera attached to the arthroscope allows the surgeon to see a clear image of the joint.
   
• A Doro Skull Clamp used in neurosurgery to safely stabilize and position the patient's head.
   
• A Meditech Instrument Interface which connects an existing Radiometer ABL 80 FLEX instrument to the Medical Center's computer system. The Radiometer ABL 80 FLEX is used for blood gases and electrolyte testing during cardiac and other long, complex operating room cases. The Interface offers rapid communication between the Radiometer and the hospital's computer system, providing fast and accurate patient test results which are recorded electronically to become part of the patient's permanent record.
   

Additional Grant Funding

Through grant funding for the St. Joseph Medical Center Adult Dental Access Program, the Foundation was able to purchase digital x-ray equipment for the Dental Clinic in our Downtown Reading campus. The grant for the Adult Dental Access Program was received from the Community General Hospital Healthcare Fund of Berks County Community Foundation.

The Foundation, with support from the St. Joseph Medical Center Auxiliary, funded medical equipment, renovations and improvements for the convenience, comfort and care of our patients at several St. Joseph Medical Center outpatient satellite locations.

SJMC Foundation
Medical Equipment Funding 2007-2008
$2,690,984

Cardiology

SJMC Foundation funded two pieces of equipment for the Heart Institute that further Cardiology's advancement in technology in our community: Electrophysiology and CardioLab ADT Interface - This Electrophysiology equipment does all the electrical functioning tests of the heart including ablations and electrophysiology procedures. The CardioLab ADT Interface provides feedback between the equipment and already existing cardiology equipment. Console for Diamondback 360 Orbital Atherectomy System - This is new technology for the treatment of blockages in the peripheral vessel below the knee. St. Joseph Medical Center is only one of 45 hospitals in the country and the third in Pennsylvania to offer this therapy.

Neurologic Diagnostics

The Foundation provided funding to Neurologic Diagnostics to purchase an improved Electroencephalogram (EEG) with digital video and a universal reader. This equipment records brainwaves over a longer period of time. Benefits of this equipment include the ability to offer ambulatory EEG recordings; EEG testing with digital video so that patient activity can be correlated with electrical activity in the brain; and the ability to record to CD the EEG recording so that physicians may review it in their offices.

Operating Room

The Operating Room received funding to purchase a JTS - Mizuho OSI Jackson Table system. This equipment allows neurosurgeons to perform minimally invasive fusion and decompression procedures on the spine along with vertebraplasty and khyphoplasty procedures.

Additional funding from the Foundation funded the purchase of an Innomed Bone Mill. This unit is used during spinal surgery to take chunks of bone and process the bone into smaller pieces for the spine.

Nursing

Nursing received funding to purchase a Physio-Control Lifenet STEMI Management Solution which allows Pre-Hospital Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers to transmit EKG's from the field directly to the hospital and the cardiologist, so that all the medical teams who work together have precise information about a patient's condition before arrival. This information permits hospital staff to act immediately when the patient comes in the door, enhancing positive clinical outcomes.

Rehabilitation

The Foundation provided funds to Cardiac Rehabilitation for the purchase of a Trenscenter Central Station with interface module and telemetry receivers for the Spring Ridge facility. This system is vital to providing quality patient care by accurately recording the patient's heart rate and rhythm as they exercise. Additionally, this system allows standardization of reports for medical records and follow-up for physicians.

Radiology

St. Joseph Medical Center's Radiology Department received funding to purchase additional storage for the current PACS system (Picture Archive Communication System). This additional storage allows for quick retrieval of images for comparison and interpretation.

Laboratory

The Foundation funded a GXHT 4000 with Desktop computer and software. This instrument performs direct Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus (MRSA) testing. Previous testing methods took 24 to 72 hours. This new equipment provides results within 2 hours of admissions and can be conducted on a 24-hour basis.

The Blood Bank received funding from the Foundation to purchase software, hardware and validation equipment which allows the Blood Bank to improve patient safety through a more accurate labeling system of blood units and products.