Working in healthcare is never easy but the past few years have been enormously taxing for caregivers everywhere.  The Irene Dunne Guild is pleased to support caregivers at Saint John's with supportive programs and equipment that helps care for them and enhanced the personalized care they provide for our community. 

At our January General Meeting, Guild members heard how our fundraising dollars are deployed at the Health Center. Recent gifts from the Guild include: Massages for Caregivers, Biocon Bladder Scanners, a FloWater Station for staff in the Cancer Center, electric gurneys for the Pre-op and the GI Departments, a Cardiac i-StatMachine for the Heart and Vascular Department, portable battery headlights for the Heart and Vascular Department, portable fetal monitors for the Labor and Delivery department, Locker Room Refresh for ICU and PCCU and Nursing Scholarships.

Caregiver representatives from various departments described each of these gifts and how they are being used at the hospital. Their excitement and heartfelt appreciation for these gifted programs and equipment was palpable! 

We also heard from our Guild member liaisons to various institutes in the Health Center who updated fellow members on exciting new programs and research at Providence Saint John's. One example was guild member Kathy Yawitz's update on the Pacific Neuroscience Institute (PNI).  

She said that PNI has been creating “a roadmap to brain health.” This combines memory training, exercise, and nutritional-based curriculum. They are offering classes to the community, with various packages to choose from and individual, group and virtual sessions available for varying time lengths and prices. One example was a class called Vital Minds – catered towards individuals experiencing cognitive changes, covering brain-healthy behaviors such as diet, exercise, sleep, stress reduction, cognitive stimulation, and memory strategies. She mentioned another class addressing memory care, helpful for individuals, loved ones and for home health caregivers. Another class, LifestyleHealth Coaching, offers virtual classes which focus on healthy lifestyle behaviors including sleep, stress management, exercise, diet – certainly something that all of us could appreciate. This and many other classes are available at affordable prices.

For more information, please refer to the Pacific Neuroscience Institute's website.www.pacificneuroscienceinstitute.org/brain-health/lifestyle/

Because the Guild has members who serve as liaisons to Saint John's Health Center and its Institutes of excellence; we can be apprised of small needs that we can fulfill to support the high level of care at Saint John's.

During the summer surge in COVID, the Guild was able to provide the staff in the Emergency Department with a pizza party at the end of July, giving the caregivers a needed break from their routine. Small events like this can help raise the morale of the staff which then gets carried forward.  We so appreciate our caregivers in the ED and throughout the Health Center!

In mid-September, the Guild will also host our annual 'Treats for Caregivers' which provides treats for caregivers throughout Saint John's for the day and night shifts.   To help us provide support for Saint John's caregivers who support our community, consider making a tax-deductible donation.

Posted in Circling The News by Sue Pascoe-scroll down for link to original post:

​IRENE DUNNE GUILD SUPPORTS DOCTORS/NURSES DURING COVID-19​​

This year, the Irene Dunne Guild’s yearly patron drive funds going are going to help support doctors and nurses at Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, during the Covid-19 pandemic. The drive is a letter-writing campaign from the more than 120 Guild members to friend, families and associates in the community requesting donations.
From the drive so far, movie trailers were rented for the staff, so they were able to shower and change before leaving the hospital for home. Guild funds have also paid for a laundry service to wash the scrubs for the staff and purchased new scrubs to have on hand when needed.
Additionally, 10 new iPads were bought and distributed between intensive care, emergency room and the progressive coronary care unit. One of the iPads was for labor and delivery so the fathers, who cannot be in the hospital, can see their new babies when they are born.
Each year, the Guild, which has about 51 Palisadian members, typically provides more than $100,000 to St. John’s and has funded a natural birthing center, an ultrasound machine, portable childbirth monitors, an OB/GYN table and a Fast Track system for the emergency room.
As well, the Guild has created numerous programs, including a hospital gift shop, a volunteer effort called Angels of the ER, a library of books, CDs and DVDs for patients and waiting loved ones, toys for children in the hospital, childbirth classes, lactation classes and a clothing closet to aid patients.
Founded in 1987, the Guild has raised more than $17 million for Saint John’s vital programs, equipment and special projects.

​To view the original post, Visit Circling The News