The Georgetown Hospital Foundation has received a vital financial boost.
The charitable organization recently received a $4,615 grant from the Georgetown Legion (Branch 120), which supported the purchase of a new vital signs machine for emergency department patients.
According to the foundation, the device allows healthcare workers to efficiently measure temperature, heart rate, blood pressure and pulse oximetry at the patient's bedside, using just one device. Additionally, it helps support staff determine if a patient is beginning to show signs of deterioration, which can prevent potential critical situations.
In an average year, more than 30,000 patients visit Georgetown Hospital's emergency department, and 4,000 undergo surgeries. All of these patients need vital signs to monitor during their stay.
The foundation says that government funding is not sufficient to provide Georgetown Hospital with the necessary equipment, which is why it relies on the community and community groups to help raise funds to acquire new equipment.