Norman Regional Health Foundation - Equipped for Tomorrow

Inspire Health: Caring for our Community

“Norman Regional Health System has been part of the fabric of the regional community for more than seven decades. Inspire Health builds on that legacy and meets our long-standing commitment to provide the highest quality healthcare services to our residents now and long into the future.”

Richie Splitt, FACHE President & Chief Executive Officer

At Norman Regional Health System, we care. We care for. We care about. We care because. Healthcare isn’t just about health to us, it’s equally about caring: for, about, and because of our patients.

That commitment to caring leads to Inspire Health, an investment to modernize healthcare for you, your family and the next generation. With construction of the Norman Regional HealthPlex campus well underway, we look forward to consolidated medical facilities that will expand and enhance life-saving work and access to care.

We invite you to invest in a future of healthcare and education excellence. Through your generosity, Norman Regional Health Foundation will equip our healers with the best possible environment to care for you and your loved ones, and upgrade the Education Center on the Norman Regional Porter campus.

The Foundation’s $4 million capital campaign focuses on five areas:

The Inspire Health transformational plan is a vital step in ensuring Norman Regional Health System and our communities grow stronger and healthier. Together, we will inspire health now and into the future.

Physical Rehabilitation

Perinatal Care

Cardiovascular Care

Cancer Care Education Center

Cancer Care

As the second leading cause of death in our state, cancer impacts the lives of too many Oklahomans. Norman Regional prioritizes quality cancer care close to home by recruiting highlytrained medical experts. This campaign will equip physicians with new tools to diagnose and/or treat breast, esophageal, gastric, rectal and pancreatic cancer in addition to many other diseases, in a minimally invasive way.

Dr. Kayla Barnard, NRHS Breast Surgeon

Goal: $695,000

Michelle’s Story

To assist NRHS providers in diagnosing and treating cancer three pieces of equipment will be purchased. Endoscopic Ultrasound Equipment (EUS) combines endoscopy and ultrasound to provide a non-surgical evaluation to obtain highly accurate images of the digestive tract and surrounding tissue and organs (ie. Esophagus, pancreas, stomach, intestines, etc).

“When I was diagnosed with Stage 3 colorectal cancer at 34 years old, I was shocked. I didn’t know where I wanted to go for my care. I quickly decided to go with the providers at NRHS because of proximity, and I have not been disappointed. The care I received and the compassion I was shown is something I will be forever grateful for.”

EUS allows for earlier diagnosis and/or staging of disease. Earlier diagnosis means quicker treatment and better chance of recovery and survival.

Specimen Radiography and Ultrasound Units will aid in the removal of all cancerous tissue in the breast and leave a margin of healthy tissue intact.

The radiography equipment provides intraoperative specimen analysis to aid surgeons with immediate verification of tissue margins. The ultrasound unit allows surgeons to make smaller incisions, be more precise and save more of the healthy tissue.

Throughout her diagnosis, colon resection surgery, radiation, and conjunctive chemotherapy, Michelle experienced many aspects of the Norman Regional Health System. She received cutting edge care at each stop on her cancer journey, and formed meaningful, impactful relationships with providers all across Norman Regional’s campuses.

Though she feels other people in her position may have an urge to seek care outside of Oklahoma or at a larger facility, she never doubted the quality of care she received at Norman Regional. Because she underwent her surgeries and treatment locally, she got to continue working, lean on her family for support, and uphold a bit of normalcy during an extremely tumultuous time.

Michelle Smith, Patient

Patients being treated for stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, amputation, and orthopedic injury, can receive therapy through a new robotic body-weight support system at Norman Regional Inpatient Physical Rehabilitation. Being the first in Oklahoma to offer this technology, NRHS will enhance quality of life through strength and mobility.

Physical Rehabilitation

Zero-G Gait and Balance

Goal: $250,000

Caleb’s Story

This high tech equipment offers the best robotics available with unparalleled responsiveness, seamless drive, controlled motion and the ability to be programmed from crawling to walking or climbing stairs.

ZeroG empowers patients by reducing the need for ongoing mechanical aids such as scooters and walkers, and by returning to independence with confidence.

Falls are the biggest risk in therapy and can set patients back to square one and require a stay in the acute care side of the hospital. Falls decrease by 90% with ZeroG.

“This equipment will allow us to give our patients far more practice, while minimizing the risk of injury and burnout to our therapists.”

Ben Vandaveer, PT, NCS, MRMC NRHS Program Manager, Inpatient Rehabilitation

here that Caleb experienced the Zero-G special gait and balance system the Campaign will be purchasing through Equipped for Tomorrow.

Caleb shared, “That was one of my favorite machines I used, because it gives you such a freedom. You have something holding you up, but at the same time you don’t necessarily feel like you are co-dependent on someone else. You feel like you are walking and you are running.”

To keep Caleb and their family together, the family lived in-between states and facilities from Dec 2017 to late August 2018. The addition of the Zero-G System to the newly expanded Inpatient Rehabilitation department at the Healthplex could make a huge difference for patients who are looking to return to independence with confidence. Families across Oklahoma can keep a bit of normalcy staying close to home for care when their lives change in an instant, just like Caleb’s.

Perinatal Care

The littlest patients need the biggest expertise. Equipping the Labor and Delivery department with state-of-the art labor beds and our Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, with isolette incubators and infant warmers, provides enhanced services for the 2,500+ babies born at the Healthplex each year and their mothers.

Goal: $360,000

Amelia’s Story

Labor & Delivery Beds will improve patient comfort and assist nurses with the 2,500+ deliveries at NRHS per year!

Infant Warmers with innovative technology for Labor & Delivery, NICU, OB Emergency Department and Nursery.

Warmer technology includes uniform heat delivery, an in-bed scale, pulse oximetry, and compartmentalizing all resuscitative equipment.

Swivel overhead lights that can position over the infant to ensure warmth is consistently maintained through care and procedures.

“Our sweet child was admitted to the hospital within a few hours of a fatal complication.

Over the week, her stability turned to healing, improvement, and recovery. We are forever grateful to have Norman Regional Health System to keep our whole family healthy!”

Norman natives Gabriel and Erica Bird have trusted the Norman Regional Health System with the births of all three of their children. Their positive experiences and faith in the physicians and nurses was put to the test with their middle child, Amelia. After a complicated, three week early birth where the umbilical cord had wrapped around her neck and body, Amelia was safely and healthily delivered.

Four months later, after having already dealt with a bout of RSV, Amelia came down with a respiratory virus. Amelia’s daycare alerted her parents that she wouldn’t eat or sleep, and seemed to be having trouble breathing. An assessment by Amelia’s pediatrician led to her being promptly admitted to the Norman Regional Healthplex, where it was discovered that her blood oxygen levels were dangerously low. Mom and dad waited anxiously while their baby received care.

Amelia spent a week at Norman Regional Healthplex receiving around-the-clock care and made a full recovery. Gabriel and Erica couldn’t be happier with the skilled and attentive staff and the care shown to Amelia. They now know, in hindsight, that Norman Regional saved their little girl’s life.

Gabriel Bird, DDS

When a heart attack happens, minutes matter. Norman Regional cardiovascular services provides more than 6,500 heart cath procedures each year. To equip these services for tomorrow, the campaign will fund a designated cath lab tailored to patients experiencing heart health distress.

Cardiovascular Care

Dr. Paul Ayers NRHS Cath Lab Medical Director

Goal: $1.6 million

By specifically designating a Cath Lab for emergencies, patients would receive care in a room where all the life-saving equipment they may need is available quickly.

Karl’s Story

Norman Regional completes more than 6,500 urgent, emergent, and elective heart Cath Lab procedures per year.

Norman Regional sees approximately 30 heart attack patients per month and sometimes as many as five a day.

“Heart attack patients require very quick treatment. The longer a patient goes with a clogged artery, the more damage to their heart and the worse they do. It is recommended that we have the artery open in 90 minutes of first contact. That takes a lot of practice, a lot of welltuned people and processes to make that happen.”

Karl Seivers was at home alone practicing trumpet like any ordinary day when he began to experience the classic symptoms of a heart attack; chest pain, pain in his left arm, and sweating profusely. He knew he was in trouble but doubted his condition since he was a marathon runner and had no prior indication of health issues.

Karl had suffered a heart attack.

When he arrived at the HealthPlex he was taken directly to a Cath Lab, where a stent was placed in his heart. He still recalls his cardiologist, Dr. Muhammad Anwar, telling him that “time is muscle,” so they would need to move quickly.

Under the skillful care of Dr. Anwar and the team at the Norman Regional Health System, Karl made a full recovery and enjoys long motorcycle trips and fishing at his Wisconsin retreat with his wife Beth and their family. Dr. Karl Seivers continues his successful performance career and is principal trumpet for both the Norman Philharmonic and Oklahoma City Philharmonic.

Dr. Paul Ayers, NRHS Cath Lab Medical Director

The NRHS Education Center provides meeting space for education, community prevention and wellness seminars, patient support groups and complimentary

meeting space for community organizations. With more than 9,000 meeting reservations and 28,000 hours of use annually, the 30-year-old Education Center will receive state-of-the-art technology and meeting space upgrades.

Education Center

Education Lobby

Goal: $920,000

The center provides space for education, community prevention and wellness seminars, and patient support groups.

Complimentary meeting space is provided for community and civic organizations to include large room space as well as smaller board rooms.

The upgrade will allow presentation interface with a multitude of technological platforms with audience engaging audio and visual equipment.

“One of the many lessons the pandemic has taught us, is around technology and the utilization of it. While the Education Center has served us well for 30 years, we are excited to move it to the next level. The state-of-the-art technology will insure that we are able to provide training opportunities and education both virtually and in-person.”

Brittni McGill, Chief Nursing Officer

located on the Porter Avenue campus of the Norman Regional Health System (NRHS). The center provides space for continuing education for NRHS staff, community prevention and wellness seminars, and patient support groups. The meeting space is also available at no charge for community and civic organizations including Norman Public Schools, Home Health Consortium, Rotary Clubs, Oklahoma Blood Institute, Norman Police Department, Norman Chamber of Commerce events, and numerous other regional meetings, support groups and workshops.

NRHS regularly utilizes the Education Center for ongoing trainings such as EMSStat monthly training, nurse and emergency residency training, mechanical ventilation training and advanced stroke life support training. Additionally, NRHS recently announced a partnership with the University of Oklahoma to create a new school of nursing campus option in Norman. As Oklahoma ranks 46th in the nation for nurses per 100,000 residents, this program expansion will produce more bachelor’s-prepared nurses. The Education Center will be the epicenter of this new partnership for training and classes.

Fiscal Year 2022

In a study conducted by the Norman Economic Development Coalition, Norman Regional Health System contributes directly and indirectly to the local economy by supporting:

Campaign Leadership

Dr. Jim Bond

Sue Bond

Dr. Aaron Boyd Mike Bumgarner*

Dr. Lawrence Carter

James Chappel*

Dr. Kate Cook* Tom Cooper Steve Corley

Dr. Archana Gautam*

Susan Gladhill*

Kelley Grace* Chris Graves* Janna Heermans

Dr. Jennifer Jenkins

Dianne Kittinger*

Armand McCoy*

“I can think of no entity whose branches reach as far and wide within a community as a facility for healing. The Equipped for Tomorrow Campaign will arm our healers with state-of-theart equipment and spaces that will enhance Norman Regional Health System’s ability to save and improve the quality of lives.”

Diane Dragg

Kathey Drummond

David Floyd*

*Foundation Board Member

**In Memoriam

Dr. Melanie Newcomer* David Nimmo* Dr. Vincent Petros

Chilton Purcell

Lee Reynolds*

Andy Rieger* Tom Sherman** Andy Sherrer*

Joe Siano

Michelle Smith Kathleen Smith* Jill Splitt

Dr. Sara Spurlock* Dr. David Surratt*

Lisa Talley

Sam Talley*, Board Chair

Chuck Thompson

Teresa Turner* Casey Vinyard

Dr. Joe Voto

Jim Wade* Brianna Wall* Lynn Weber* Rocky Williams* Nyky Wilson*

Chair

Norman Regional Health System Leadership Norman Regional

Foundation Leadership

Richie Splitt, FACHE, President & Chief Executive Officer

Aaron Boyd, MD, Chief Medical Officer

Meegan Carter, Vice President, Population Health & Wellness

Ken Hopkins, Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

John Manfredo, FACHE, Chief Operating Officer

Brittni McGill, MSN, RN, CCRN, Chief Nursing Officer

Paula Price, Vice President, Strategy and Growth

Erin Barnhart, Executive Director

Tarasina Compagni, Campaign Coordinator

Trish Crow, Development Coordinator

Becky Sowers, Grant Writer

Jenna Woodward, Engagement/Event Coordinator

Sherri Coale, Campaign

405.307.1077 | www.NRHFoundation.org