Thomas Hospital Foundation Inc.

“The foundation board of directors is elected or appointed by the board of directors of baldwin county eastern shore health care authority.”

“The form 990 is carefully prepared by accountants employed by infirmary health system with considerable assistance and input from the thomas hospital controller and the executive director of the foundation. The executive director reviews the return before filing. No other review will be performed for the current return.”

“Each director signs a conflict of interest statement annually.”

“Foundation documents required to be made available to the general public are provided upon request. Financial statements and the conflict of interest policy are not made available to the public at this time.”

“The foundation's board of directors is made up of all volunteers. The major fund-raising events each year are also supported and staffed by volunteers.”

“This is an important addition to the hospital as the expected population growth of the 20-39 year old population is expected to be 10.5% over the next two years. The radiology department of thomas medical center received a 300,000 grant to replace their ct scanner. The old scanner was 11 years old and could not be upgraded to current regulatory requirements. If the scanner was not up to regulatory requirements by a certain date, there would have been a large penalty associated with the noncompliance. The new scanner will have clearer image quality, increase patient throughput, and allow for additional studies and cardiac abilities that were not capable with the older machine. It is anticipated that this will affect about 5,000 patients annually. A common patient complaint is that the televisions in the north tower are too small. They are also older models that are no longer made and supported. As each tv that is in service quits functioning, a new one has to be purchased, one at a time, to replace it. The foundation has provided the funds to replace the older 22 inch models with new, modern 42 inch flat screen tvs and the new brackets required to affix them to the walls. This also has the added benefit of making the rooms more ergo dynamic and allowing current tvs to be repaired when they malfunction instead of having to be completely replaced. The foundation has awarded a grant of almost 45,000 to the surgical services department to purchase a new mammotome neoprobe system. This system injects dye into lymph nodes near a site where cancer is discovered and is instrumental in mapping malignant tumors and masses. The current system on hand, which was broken and irreparable, reached the end of its useful life two years ago. Before the new system was purchased, services for this procedure were being procured through use of a machine on loan to the department which could cost up to 1,300 per day. To support cancer care at thomas hospital, general surgeons are being certified in the technique of nipple sparing mastectomy and oncoplasty. In order to perform this procedure with the best possible outcome, the exclusion of lesions and a reduction of scaring, there is a need for two specialized lighted retractor trays. It is estimated that this will initially impact 105 cases annually and increase year over year. The televisions in the 3 south tower are old, bulky, and stick out from the wall. Family members visiting their loved ones have occasionally injured their heads from contact with the protruding television brackets that hold them to the wall. The foundation provided a grant of over 22,000 to upgrade the televisions and bracket system that holds them to the walls to improve safety for its visitors. This is expected to benefit over 8,000 patients and their loved ones annually. This year the employee assistance fund granted 5,062 to employees facing unexpected or extraordinary financial circumstances.”

“ROUNDING 5”