Charity Invitational 22-Benefits for Each and Every Patient

from August 2018 Gallup Journey Magazine

Trees Martin Link

Benefits for Each and Every Patient

Charity Invitational has been a success for over 21 years because the people of our community believe in what we do. Together with Gallup’s individuals and businesses, we have partnered to reach incredible goals. In recent years, the funds we have raised through the Western Health Foundation’s Charity Invitational have purchased equipment for the operating room, reopened the Substance Abuse Treatment Center, and renovated the old dialysis building into a beautiful and inspiring Wellness Center.

We believe everyone is entitled to receive compassionate, high quality care in a facility that is as attractive, comfortable, and as efficient as any facility you might find in a big city. Every healthcare facility should continuously upgrade to comply with safety, caring, and environmental standards.

Funds raised from Charity Invitational 22 will be used to renovate Rehoboth McKinley Christian Hospital’s patient rooms and bathrooms. In addition to paint, new flooring, bathroom fixtures, and furnishings, we will purchase state-of-the-art patient beds. Each standard bed will cost approximately $11,000. We will also purchase a bariatric bed and specialized beds for the Intensive Care Unit, which are far more costly than standard patient beds. Plans also include the purchase and installation of computers in each patient room. These will be used by providers and nurses for accessing reports and test results, as well as documenting orders, care plans, and other information essential to providing the best care for each patient. In all, the total cost of this project will be over $1 million.

The choice to renovate patient rooms is part of Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services’ overall commitment to you and our community — to invest in improving and enhancing the care we provide. The benefits of our project will touch every patient of RMCH, every family member, every visitor, our staff, and providers. RMCHCS wants to make sure you and your loved ones have access to a hospital that offers excellent care in a

comfortable and healing environment.

With our choice of this year’s project came an obvious choice of Honorees. The Western Health Foundation is delighted to announce David and Judy Conejo as the Honorees for Charity Invitational 22. David moved to Gallup in 1983 to become the first CEO of the newly merged Rehoboth McKinley Christian Hospital. It was here that he met and married Judy. The Conejos left Gallup in 1994 to work for hospitals that needed help to improve their operations. They returned to Gallup in 2014 when David was invited to become CEO of RMCHCS.

One of David’s passions is to provide opportunities for people to turn their lives around. This is evident in the recent growth and development of the RMCHCS Substance Abuse Treatment Center. Today the Center includes a 90-day, 69-bed residential treatment program, a four-month out-patient work rehabilitation program, a pottery program, a culinary arts program, and a GED program.

Under David’s leadership, the RMCHCS administration and staff have worked hard to improve and expand services. Renovating the rooftop helipad, opening the Urgent Care Clinic and Wellness Center, as well as purchasing new, state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging and laboratory equipment are just some of the changes that have taken place over the last four years. Other major accomplishments include the return of full-time orthopedic, podiatry services, and a urologist on staff. RMCH has also achieved accreditation as the only rural stroke-ready hospital in New Mexico.

Judy has been a volunteer for both RMCH and McKinley General, prior to the merger, and spearheaded other fundraising projects. Judy has overseen a number of recent improvements on RMCHCS’ main campus and at the Substance Abuse Treatment Center. She served as a consultant for the interior design and furnishings of the Urgent Care Clinic. For the past three years, Judy has been an active member of the Charity Invitational Committee and this year is serving as Chair.

Together the Conejos make a dynamic duo who have proved they can accomplish great things. We are grateful to have them working so hard to help improve healthcare in our community. For this, we are pleased to name Judy and David Conejo our Charity Invitational 22 Honorees.

For more information on this year’s Charity events or to find out how to become involved, call the Western Health Foundation at 505-863-7287, or the Charity Invitational Committee at 903-436-4921. You can also get more information at our website at http://www.rmch.org/getpage. php?name=foundation&sub=About+Us.