» Community Benefit

wE GIVE bACk COMMuNITY bENEfIT

Over the past year, Sonoma Valley Hospital staff and in particular, our Community Trust Team, have carried out a number of programs and activities conducive to health and healing for the whole community.

In February, we offered four free blood pressure clinics, five blood drives and a popular vascular screening event. In this screening, a patient was found to have a life-threatening problem. Fortunately, she went on to treatment and is fine now, and very happy she took advantage of our service.

In April, we offered an emergency preparedness class to help educate our community members about what to do if the unexpected should happen. Our café was filled to capacity.

In 2011, for the first time in years, SVH participated in the Fourth of July Parade. And while it is not literally a healthcare activity, the spirit of the parade did indeed generate a happy and therefore healthy awareness of the Hospital as part of the community and all the departments ready to serve.

In August, we participated in the Relay for Life, and raised $9,387 for the American Cancer Society. The team vows that next year, with Director of Ancillary Services Jackie Lyons, RT as Chair, we will do even better. Also in August, we held a series of highly successful classes for the “Active Aging.” These, taught by experts on our staff, focused on demonstrating ways of keeping healthy and fit as we age. We will continue the series this next year.

In October, we observed Breast Cancer Awareness Month with two information tables, T-shirts, a breakfast for survivors and free mammograms. Twenty-six women took advantage of the mammograms, exceeding our expectations by one.

Also in October, we participated in a Bi-National Health Fair at La Luz, and gave a Stroke Support lecture at Vintage House. In November we held a food drive for Christmas and delivered food to local families.

In addition, throughout the year, we sponsor worthy health related causes such as the children’s newspaper, KidScoop. In November, we held a public Forum to help educate our seniors on the health insurance choices available to Medicare recipients who want to continue to use their local doctors and hospital.

Opposite: Sonoma Valley Hospital marches in Fourth of July Parade, 2011

42 SONOMA VALLEY HOSpITAL

2011 ANNuAL REpORT 43

44 SONOMA VALLEY HOSpITAL