Ready, Set, Grow

Rudy Zaragoza, MD, Medical Director, Rideout Memorial Hospital Emergency Dept.

Recently the governing board of the FRHG gave the green light to FRHG management for a significant expansion of the Emergency Department at Rideout Memorial Hospital in Marysville. Construction on the two-year, $6.2 million project will begin this summer. The hospital will maintain all services and patient care during the construction period.

Currently, the Emergency Department comprises only 12,000 square feet; state and local emergency planners confirm that the additional 5,000 square feet planned for the expansion will be necessary in order to keep pace with demand. The Emergency Dept was last updated in 1996. Since then, Yuba-Sutter’s population has grown by more than 59%, and now the ED also serves residents from So. Butte County and the surrounding region.

The enlarged facility will increase the total number of beds to 37, and include:

• 13 multi use Observation Beds, alleviating pressure on inpatient beds by patients still being observed and assessed, thus improving arrival-to-admission times.
• A Rapid Care Exam Room, improving “door-to-discharge” times for patients not requiring admission to the hospital;
• An additional Triage Room, substantially improving initial patient assessment and care;
• A dedicated Radiology Room and CT Scan Room.

Rideout is the only full-service emergency and trauma facility in Yuba, Sutter, Colusa and southern Butte Counties, and one of only 45 trauma centers in the entire state of California. Without Rideout’s Emergency Dept., Yuba Sutter trauma patients would have to be transported to Davis, Chico or Roseville.

To learn more about our emergency department expansion, please visit www.frhg.org/giving

Opportunities

The Fremont-Rideout Foundation is dedicated to the support of the Fremont-Rideout Health Group, including Fremont and Rideout Hospitals, The Fountains, The Courtyard, The Fremont-Rideout Cancer Center and affiliated projects and programs.

Do You Want to Begin or Continue Your Education in Healthcare?

The Foundation will award six $1000 scholarships, available to any high school senior or continuing education student with a 3.0 GPA or higher, who has been accepted to study a health career curriculum at an accredited college, university, or technical school.

Applications are available in your counseling office or by calling 530 751-4070 or Download The Application. Deadline: April 8, 2011.

Wireless EKG

Each year the Foundation establishes a special focus for its Annual Appeal to raise funds for a program or purchase that will benefit the entire community. For 2009/10, with proceeds from The Foundation’s Annual Fairway to Health Golf Tournament and the help of hundreds of sponsors, they met their goal to provide money for Wireless EKG Machines in all 21 Bi‑County Ambulances.

This important technology is a major benefit to our community, as it enables Rideout Emergency staff and physicians to determine the best course of care and gives the hospital time to put appropriate staff in place in route – before a patient arrives at the ER.

Special thanks to Bi-County Ambulance who split the cost with the Foundation to provide this very important medical technology for the entire Yuba-Sutter community.

The Fremont-Rideout Foundation Hospice and Cancer Center Discretionary Funds enable social workers and Fremont-Rideout staff to offer emergency assistance to patients and families. At the discretion of the director, the funds can help bridge the gap while medical coverage is being established or cover basic needs such as food, beds, help with home maintenance – basic needs for those who are already struggling through a difficult time.

Since its establishment in July 2008 the Hospice Discretionary Fund has provided 102 patients and their families with nearly $15,000 worth of prescriptions, medical equipment and supplies, groceries, fuel and transportation, utility bill payments, urgent home maintenance and funeral expenses.

Since its establishment in July 2009, the Cancer Center Discretionary Fund has assisted 54 patients with nearly $12,000 in expenses for groceries, fuel, medication, utilities, and basic necessities, as well as special footwear, eyeglasses, and a stay at Kiwanis House during a medical evaluation at UC Davis.

Funds raised by the Foundation help pay for a varied array of equipment, services, programs, education and other enhancements that together raise the level of healthcare delivered to the community. (Donors may also inquire about direct donation of needed equipment or materials in lieu of cash.)

The Foundation’s FY 2009/2010 gifts to the various divisions and campuses of Fremont Rideout Health Group included:

• At Rideout Memorial Hospital: a medical recliner for 4-main; Same-Day Surgery refurbishment; bladder scanner; valet parking service
• At Rideout Emergency Department: Sponsored EMS Day & disaster drill
• At Fremont Medical Center: gift cards for maternity classes; lobby refurbishment; bladder scanner
• At The Gardens Alzheimer’s & Special Care: Special locked cabinets for resident rooms; Prize Wheel for activities; table and chairs for family gatherings
• At The Courtyard Assisted Living: Bench in memory of Foundation friend Renzo Del Pero
• At Fremont-Rideout Hospice: Discretionary fund for financial assistance for hospice patients; Lights of Remembrance Memorial for Hospice families
• At The Fountains: Quality of Life attendant; activities cart and supplies; water fountain (Onstott Family Donation); Life Trail equipment for the outside mobility area.
• At Fremont-Rideout Home Health: Laptop computers for nurses in the field.
• At Fremont Rideout Cancer Center: Refurbishment of furniture; discretionary fund for financial assistance for cancer patients; nurse education; Cancer Survivor celebration; digital thermometers for patients.
• For the Financial Aid & Scholarship Program: Awarded six $1,000 scholarships; made employee education loans equaling $24,566.
• For the Teen Leadership Council: TLC program support for 28 high school students from six area schools.
• For the Vial of Life Program: financial support
• For Education: hosting and underwriting of Diabetes, Neurosurgery, Cardiac and Vascular Symposia for physicians and clinical staff; underwriting for California State Chico Nursing work-study program.