The White County Medical Center Auxiliary has made its final installment in a $50,000 pledge toward the robotic da Vinci® Surgical System. The Auxiliary Board of Directors and members presented a $20,000 check to the White County Medical Foundation to be used for the advanced equipment.
“We are delighted to present this check to the Foundation for the da Vinci system,” Auxiliary President Kathy Gammill said. “This investment demonstrates our hospital’s dedication to providing excellent healthcare, as there are numerous benefits of the da Vinci.”
The White County Medical Foundation was established in 1997 to ensure that the hospital will be able to provide for the future growth of the community and changing medical technology. The Foundation contributes funding to purchase advanced medical equipment and special projects that enhance patient care.
In its commitment to excellence in patient care and keeping the community healthy, the Foundation continuously encourages community members to show support for the hospital to provide patients with the highest-quality healthcare available.
The four-armed robot, which joined physicians and a team of associates in the Operating Room more than a year ago, is known as the robotic da Vinci® Surgical System.
In the past year, nearly 3,000 surgeons worldwide have been trained in using the da Vinci, and six of those surgeons are right here in Searcy. The da Vinci is being used for gynecological procedures— primarily hysterectomies—thoracic procedures, and general surgeries. To date, four OB/GYN physicians at WCMC are trained on the da Vinci, including Bruce Thompson, M.D.; Bill Williams, M.D.; Kris Citty, MD; and Kyle Citty, M.D. Also, Cardiothoracic Surgeon Miguel Aguinaga, M.D., and General Surgeon William Gibbs, M.D., also use the da Vinci for procedures in their respective areas of surgery.
“This equipment has changed the way we do surgeries now,” said Tisa Carlisle, Assistant Vice President of Surgical Services. “It is a much more advanced method of performing laparoscopic surgeries, which is beneficial to our patients in that it shortens the length of a patient’s hospital stay and reduces post-operative pain. The fact that we are able to offer this state-of-the-art equipment to the community means a lot for our area.”
The mission of the Auxiliary is to support White County Medical Center by purchasing equipment, and providing funds for buildings and healthcare items that help the hospital best meet the needs of patients. The Auxiliary’s primary means of raising money to donate to the Foundation is through managing the Carousel Gift Shoppes on the WCMC North and South Campuses, and Moxie, the gift shop located inside the Cancer Center of Excellence.
Auxiliary members provide non-clinical support in various areas throughout the hospital. Last year alone, volunteers contributed nearly 36,000 hours of service to the hospital. In years past, the WCMC Auxiliary has made numerous contributions to the hospital. A few of those include: a master communication board for the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit; a Nintendo® Wii electronic gaming system for individual and group therapy; an electronic door for the Rehab Unit to make accessing the unit easier for patients; and, a horticulture therapy garden for patients. Most recently, the Auxiliary donated $150,000 toward the Cancer Center of Excellence.
The Auxiliary also funds 15 scholarships for students who are entering healthcare-related fields of study. According to Gammill, the Auxiliary is working toward creating an endowment to ensure that the scholarships will be available for years to come.
“The WCMC Auxiliary has always been so supportive of White County Medical Center and the health and well-being of our community,” Cassandra Feltrop, Executive Director of the White County Medical Foundation, said. “Our Auxiliary is so generous with sharing their time and talents. To see them work together to provide this caliber of advanced technology for our surgical center is tremendous. They truly are an asset to our hospital family, and we thank them for all of their commitment and dedication to White County Medical Center.”
If you or your business would like to partner with the Auxiliary and the White County Medical Foundation to provide advanced healthcare technologies and capabilities, please contact the Foundation Office at (501) 278-3191 or via e-mail at foundation@wcmc.org.
