Giving the Patient a Lift?
If you are 70 ½ and have an IRA, now is the time.

The mission of the Pratt Health Foundation (PHF) is twofold: to raise money for Pratt Regional Medical Center, and to promote health. Promoting health is needed now more than ever before in our history. Obesity in the United States is growing at a phenomenal rate. In 1990, 11.6% of the population was considered overweight. In 2006, 25.1% of the population was considered overweight. It has more than doubled in the last 15 years. These statistics are based on body mass index (BMI) averages of 30 or more. And it includes an alarming number of children. If you would like to review an interesting website on obesity go to www.revolutionhealth.com for more information and statistics. It will even help you evaluate your body mass index.

Obesity is causing adjustments to be made in medical care as well. The number one PRMC Workman’s Compensation claim is an injury related to moving patients, many of which are overweight. In an effort to provide a safer environment for employees and patients alike, a Patient Lift system is needed. The system involves the installation of a track in the ceiling, a hoist and roller apparatus is placed in the track which can be attached to a variety of slings in which the patient is placed. Then the patient can be moved without endangering the patient or the employee. This will be installed in several rooms to accommodate our patients and our staff.

PRMC is able to purchase this system due to a successful Kansas State Tax Credit application this year. These tax credits allow donors to claim a 70% Kansas Income Tax credit and count the same gift as a deduction on their Federal Itemized Return. We can actually tell the government where we want our tax dollars spent.

And it gets better for our 70 ½ year old IRA friends, who are required to take a minimum distribution this year. Under special federal provisions they can transfer ownership of up to $100,000 of an IRA asset with no tax consequences and it qualifies for Kansas tax credit benefits too. But act fast; this is not a last minute strategy.

. . . equipping PRMC to be “Simply the Best”

Campaign Progress – The end is near.

The “Simply the Best” Capital Campaign is getting close to the campaign ending celebration. The $2.6 million campaign was designed to provide resources to purchase $2.1 million dollars of technical medical equipment and a $500,000 quasi-endowed fund for unforeseen technical medical equipment needs in the next five years. Most of the campaign pledges will be completed by the end of 2008. The campaign lacks about $227,000 in pledges before the campaign can be put to rest. The success of the campaign has been the direct result of the generosity of our donors in the PRMC service area. We are thankful for their partnership in the campaign.

Festival of Lights Program

The Gifts and Bequests Committee established a tremendous history for the Pratt Health Foundation and PRMC. Over the years the Festival of Lights program has given families an opportunity to recognize their loved ones through memorial and honorarium gifts. Hundreds of people choose this method of remembering those they love and admire. This year the Festival of Lights Christmas tree will once again stand in the PRMC Complex’s Riney Atrium as a tribute to the Gifts and Bequests Committee and those families who choose it as a focus of their fond memories of past and present family members, friends and special people.

A publication of the Pratt Health Foundation (PHF)
203 S. Main * Pratt, Kansas 67124
( PHF and PRMC are 501(c)3 charitable healthcare organizations.)