Impacting Lives…Working Together

In 2018, Rice Health Foundation provided $1,117,722 to Carris Health-Rice Memorial Hospital to fund patient care, programs and services, continuing education, new technology and equipment. This support is possible because of your donations to Rice Health Foundation designated funds and endowments. Your generosity supports the vitality and quality of care at Rice Hospital, while improving the health and well-being of residents in west central and southwest Minnesota.

The Rice Health Foundation Endowment was established to provide a stable and consistent source of funds to help meet the changing needs in healthcare. Grants from the Foundation Endowment and other donor-advised and designated-purpose endowments accounted for nearly 20% of the $1.11 million. Some of the endowment grants awarded are highlighted below.

Controlling Infection at Rice Care Center (RCC)

A grant provided the opportunity for two staff to attend a national conference to learn about infection control and antibiotic stewardship to benefit long-term care residents. As a result of this training, Staff have decreased the rate of infection by 35% and decreased acquired antibiotic use rate by 44% among residents at RCC.

Breathing Easier with Pulmonary Rehab (PR)

Five Pulmonary Rehab professionals completed coursework, passed required tests, and obtained their certifications in Pulmonary Rehabilitation. PR plays an important role in reducing readmissions. For example, in the year prior to enrolling in PR, one patient had 10 hospitalizations and 19 ER visits. While in PR, the patient only had four ER visits and no hospitalizations!

Diabetes Prevention in the Community

According to the American Diabetes Association, approximately 35% of adult Minnesotans have prediabetes. Prediabetes occurs when blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. With grant funds, the Diabetes Center offers diabetes prevention education programs that provide tools to enhance support and hands on experiences for participants to successfully manage their condition.

Lymphedema Therapy Program

The Lymphedema Therapy program at Rice continues to be one of the few offered in greater Minnesota. A Foundation grant provided specialized training for one therapist to help meet the increased demand for this service.

Management of Controlled Substances      

The Foundation and the Hospital purchased a new automated system to manage controlled substances, called Omnicell. This system increases the level of security for all controlled substances stored in the Pharmacy, allowing staff to spend more time on other efforts to improve patient care.

Caring for Children

The Caring for Children Endowment was established to provide for the special needs of infants and children. Grants funded advanced training for physical therapists to manage foot and ankle deformities in children.  Grants also enabled five obstetrics nurses to learn new techniques for providing lactation support to new moms.

Diabetes Camp Scholarships

Jeremiah Fostervold Endowment

The Jeremiah Fostervold Diabetes Endowment provides camp scholarships to youths living with diabetes in the Kandiyohi County area. In 2018, three children received full scholarships to attend the American Diabetes Association’s Camp Needlepoint or Camp Daypoint, in Hudson, Wisconsin.

“Thank you so much for letting me go to camp! Camp was very fun this year! My favorite part was capture the flag. The food was very good! I love doing activities, and especially human foosball. My fellow campers, my counselor and C.I.T. were very nice. I also liked making friendship bracelets when we got to have cabin time. I’m excited for next year. Thank you again.”                                          Amber, 11