Donor Funded Programs

The Funding Priorities Process
— Creating the Margin of Excellence for MVH Patients

Miami Valley Hospital Foundation uses the phrase "the Margin of Excellence" to identify programs funded by donor contributions that directly contribute to an improved quality of life. These programs would not be available if not for charitable giving.

Once each year the Foundation’s board of trustees allocates funding for patient programs that were not able to be covered under the hospital’s operating budget. Proposals are submitted by units and programs throughout the hospital. In a thorough and careful screening process — in consultation with hospital management — the Foundation board allocates unrestricted donor funds to make these programs available.

The MVH Foundation board of trustees allocated funding for the following programs for 2010:

• Captioning for Deaf and Hearing Impaired Patients
• Diabetes Inpatient Team - Bull Family Diabetes Center
• Diversity Nursing Associate
• Electronic/Media-based Education System
• Energy Management Recycling Project
• Palliative Care Program
• Treatment for Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS)
• Bone Densitometry

Captioning for Deaf and Hearing Impaired Patients

On average more than 600 deaf or hearing impaired patients are served annually at MVH through the use of interpreters and other assistive devices. Without 24/7 captioned television program coverage, access to information for deaf and hearing impaired patients and visitors is limited. Funding will add twelve channels of open-captioned programming (re-broadcasts of existing programs from television stations or cable networks) to the hospital's existing TV system.

Diabetes Inpatient Team - Bull Family Diabetes Center

The Diabetes Inpatient Education Team, based at the Bull Family Diabetes Center, provides information and education to patients about how to better manage their disease, which is essential in controlling diabetes. People with well-managed diabetes have less hospital readmissions, fewer chronic health problems and a reduced risk of diabetes-related complications. In 2008 there were more than 6,400 combined management and education visits.

Diversity Nursing Associate

This one-year formal fellowship program will develop the skills of potential leaders from our internal minority nursing staff who are interested in pursuing leadership positions. This program will increase the diversity of candidates for nursing managerial, professional, and clinical leadership. MVH patients benefit from a workforce and leadership team whose demographic make-up is similar to our community.

Electronic/Media-based Education System

This internet-based system allows patients, family members and caregivers to learn about all aspects of treatment from a reliable clinical source. The system provides information on risks, benefits and alternatives of diagnostic and/or medical procedures, allowing the patient to be better prepared in making informed decisions about care and in managing their own health care.

Energy Management Recycling Project

In 2009, MVH launched an organization-wide energy management initiative to incorporate energy efficiency and renewable energy into design, construction, operations and maintenance. Funding will be used to purchase hospital-appropriate recycling receptacle adhering to strict infection control rules for storage and removal of waste materials. This project will provide a safer and healthier environment for patients, visitors, physicians, staff and volunteers at MVH.

Palliative Care Program

The Palliative Care team relieves suffering and improves the quality of life for patients with advanced illness. In addition to providing symptom and pain management they ensure that patients' wishes are respected. Since 1999 the team has had more than 6,000 consult with patients, family members, physicians and staff, providing emotional spiritual and educational information and support while facilitating family communication.

Treatment for Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS)

TTTS is a rare condition in which one twin receives too much blood from the other, resulting in the death of both twins in more than 80 percent of cases. Funding will provide Fetoscopic Selective Laser Photocoagulation equipment which removes the vascular communications between the twins resulting in superior survival rates. This potentially life-saving therapy allows families to maintain continuity of care with local physicians rather then seeking treatment in other cities.

Bone Densitometry

Osteoporosis (bone loss and deterioration of the skeletal system) is a major public health threat for an estimated 44 million Americans, or 55% of the people 50 years of age and older. Approximately one in two women and one in four men over the age of 50 will have an osteoporosis related fracture in their remaining lifetime. If diagnosed in pre-symptomatic stages, treatment can prevent additional bone loss. The testing equipment will help predict patients at risk for osteoporosis, and thereby head off a highly preventable disease.