The Friends of Reading Hospital (The Friends) announced today that they will provide $233,880 in grant funds to aid hospital departments and community organizations. The donations include support for:
- NICView Camera Upgrade in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Reading Hospital. The 30 new cameras will allow for each baby to have its own camera, allowing bonding to continue when parents and family members are not able to be with baby.
- Warm Handoff program partnership between Reading Hospital Emergency Department (ED) and Council On Chemical Abuse (COCA) to continue providing Certified Recovery Staff in the ED 24 hours a day. Since its inception, the Warm Handoff program has achieved inpatient rehabilitation acceptance by patients of more than 70 percent.
- The Soft Landing program at Reading Hospital will partner with Safe Families for Children™ to provide childcare services for mothers and families so they can attend medical appointments during pregnancy and the postpartum period, offer early intervention services, and provide child abuse prevention.
- Eye Protection for Reading Hospital volunteers to protect against COVID-19.
- Western Berks Free Medical Clinic to support operational needs such as telephone interpreting services, office and medical supplies, cleaning supplies, and personal protective equipment.
- Berks Farm Bucks to support and encourage individuals to consume additional fresh fruits and vegetables. Qualified candidates will receive Farm Bucks, equivalent to cash, to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at the Penn Street Market in downtown Reading.
Commenting on the donation to support camera upgrades in the Reading Hospital NICU, Nicholas Obiri, MD, Chief, Division of Neonatology, said:
“When parents learn their baby will have to spend time in the NICU, they often experience stress and anxiety knowing they will leave the hospital without their child. We are so grateful to The Friends of Reading Hospital for their generous donation so families have the opportunity to bond with their baby, even when they can’t physically be together. The NICView cameras allow parents, family members, and friends to watch and learn their baby’s routines, making them feel more involved and can help make for a smoother transition at home.”
The Friends of Reading Hospital is as an association of dedicated community leaders focused on raising funds to support and enhance Reading Hospital’s promise of Advancing Health. Transforming Lives. By funding health and wellness programs, grants, and initiatives, The Friends have made a powerful and sustainable impact on the hospital, patients, and surrounding community.
Lucine Sihelnik, President, The Friends of Reading Hospital, added, “The Friends are committed to providing financial support to initiatives within hospital departments and community organizations that align with the key issues identified in the most recent Community Health Needs Assessment. When we work together, we can address the health issues identified and ensure everyone in our community has access to the services they need.”
About Reading Hospital
Reading Hospital is the flagship, Magnet Recognized, acute care hospital of Tower Health. Located in West Reading, Pa., Reading Hospital is a 714-bed hospital that is home to many top-tier specialty care centers, including Reading HealthPlex, Tower Health Transplant Institute, McGlinn Cancer Institute, Miller Regional Heart Center, Emergency Department, Level I Trauma Center and Beginnings Maternity Center, which houses the region's only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). With more than 1,000 physicians and providers across 49 locations, Reading Hospital has been recognized for its quality outcomes and clinical expertise across services lines. It is listed as one of America's 100 Best Hospitals for five consecutive years and received a 5-Star Rating from CMS two years in a row. For more information, visit towerhealth.org.