HOULTON, Maine — A total of $20,000 was generated for the Health Services Foundation’s fundraising efforts from the 26th Annual County Open.
“This is a wonderful time that everyone who participates looks forward to,” said Elizabeth Dulin, Foundation executive director. “There is an awesome camaraderie that takes place over this very special weekend and even Mother Nature did a great job of providing perfect weather for all the golfers.”
The gala dinner saw a large turnout that enjoyed a meal presentation by Nancy Levin and her staff at The Horn Restaurant. Tony Bowers was emcee for the night, providing lighthearted humor during the raffle drawing, and Paul LaPointe gave the evening some background musical fare.
“For the past five years, Jackie White has been the committee chair and her dedication to this event can only be summarized as outstanding,” Dulin noted.
This year committee members continued to work hard under new chair Don Collins, along with White, Bob Anderson, Kelly Ashley, Dewey DeWitt, Vickie Hagerman, Heidi Hollis, Ben Lynds, Greg Palmer, Warren and Scot Walker to make sure everything was done just right to make this event go smoothly.
“There is a lot of work that goes into putting on this kind of effort and it simply would not be accomplished without the kind of dedication they all put forth,” Dulin said. “We are so grateful to Bob Anderson for beginning this fundraiser in 1989 and since then the County Open has raised $540,000 in support of the Foundation’s mission of ‘Excellence in Health Care’ to all those it serves. There are never enough ways to say ‘thank you’ to everyone that participates year after year in so many different capacities, and our sponsors for they all make it possible, all adding up to an amazing testament in generous giving”, said Dulin.
This year County Open funds will be used in support of Phase I of a three-phase campaign to bring 24 pieces of equipment/services over 12 different departments to Houlton Regional Hospital. Phase I will focus on a new coagulation instrument for the laboratory. This instrument performs tests to evaluate patients for bleeding abnormalities, monitoring anticoagulant therapy (coumadin and heparin), and checking patients for blood clots.
Another unit is the FUJI PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System), for radiology that enables the radiologist to read off the computer monitors in his office any study that has been done within the department. The system also has the ability to send images over the internet to other facilities for reading.
A medical records “Fusion” voice dictation system will be an upgraded dictation management solution which automates dictation tasks, provides easy-to-use applications that are flexible and customizable to the needs of Houlton Regional.
“The generous County Open support has played a vital role in bringing nuclear medicine, digital mammography, radiology and pediatric expansions, a handicapped accessible van, the Education Center for Community Health, and so much more to Houlton Regional Hospital,” Dulin said.
Anyone wishing more information about this particular project, have other questions, or wish to make a donation to a Foundation project/program may call 521-2147 or visit www.healthservicesfoundation.org.
