At its annual holiday meeting, held December 15 at the Bungalow Inn in Manistee, the West Shore Medical Center Auxiliary had much to celebrate. The volunteers have been very busy in 2015, offering their time in departments throughout the hospital and raising funds to support vital health care programs and services.
“We cannot thank our volunteers enough for all they do for West Shore Medical Center and our community,” said James Barker, West Shore’s CEO. “They work hard in the hospital every day, supporting our staff in caring for patients, while also hosting fundraisers throughout the year that benefit our services.”
So far this year, members of the Auxiliary have volunteered 7,500 hours working in and for West Shore. The organization also completed a two-year pledge to support wound care services, contributed to the hospital’s endowment fund, and pledged to purchase lifesaving devices for West Shore’s ambulance fleet.
At the holiday celebration, the Auxiliary presented the hospital with a check for $14,000 toward the latest pledge.
“The LifePak units perform multiple functions on the ambulance,” said Barker. “They provide external cardiac defibrillation, monitor vital signs, and alert emergency medical personnel of changes in the patient’s condition.” The machines also store and transmit data from the field, allowing hospital-based professionals to view and interpret the information and make informed decisions about the patient’s care. “We are grateful to the Auxiliary for purchasing this lifesaving technology for our community,” said Barker.
For information about volunteering, contact the West Shore Medical Center Auxiliary at 231-398-1187 or visit westshoremedcenter.org/wsmc-auxiliary.