LAWTON - With the ever-rising cost of health care services and equipment, coupled with a nationwide nursing shortage, hospitals everywhere are facing challenges.
Comanche County Memorial Hospital of Lawton is no exception. But the CCMH Foundation has formed partnerships with local businesses and organizations to help overcome those obstacles.
To provide Lawton and the surrounding communities with the latest innovations in healthcare as well as meet the needs for a growing percentage of patients undergoing financial hardships, the hospital established the CCMH Foundation in 1993.
The foundation works closely with the hospital’s board of directors to prioritize needs and find possible solutions.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
In 2017, more than 20,000 patients were seen at Lawton Community Health Centers (a division of CCMH). Of those, 2,650 had no insurance, 6,311 were on Medicaid. 5,604 were children under the age of 18, and 2,425 were seniors over 65.
“We are a community hospital with a heart,” said CCMH Foundation Executive Director Lea Ann Chandler.
“We understand that many times patients need financial assistance and we do all we can to help.”
COUNTY TAXES
While it is a county hospital, Comanche County Memorial only receives about $160,000 from county taxes each year. Last year, local businesses and civic organizations alone raised more than $150,000 to support hospital services. The foundation’s annual fundraisers also brought in close to $230,000.
CCMH Foundation’s most successful fundraiser, the Starlight Country Concert was held in March and raised close to $212,000. Proceeds from the event allowed the hospital to make improvements to the Starlight Pediatric Unit, Women’s Services, Labor and Delivery, as well as Southwest Oklahoma’s only Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
In 2018, the foundation raised $1.3 million. One million was used to purchase Southwest Oklahoma’s first Da Vinci Robotic Surgical System.
The Da Vinci allows surgeons to perform an array of bariatric, gynecological, urological and general surgical procedures. Because the Da Vinci is less evasive, patient recovery time is shorter than traditional surgery.
Chandler began as the Foundation’s Funding Development Specialist in 2014 and became the Executive Director two years later.
With a reduction in state funds, she is thankful that funding from private donors has increased over the past few years, but she accredits much of the foundation’s success to her two teammates Greg Shannon and Sandy Tugmon.
“Greg is an excellent grant writer,” said Chandler. “He is always researching fundraising possibilities and is able to get results. And Sandy is such a blessing; she is compassionate about our work and makes everything in the office run smoothly. I seriously couldn’t ask for a better team.”
NURSE SHORTAGE
Another pressing concern for hospitals nationwide is the shortage of nurses. More than 80 nursing applicants to Western Oklahoma State College’s nursing program were turned away or placed on a waiting list due to a lack of instructors.
CCMH Foundation’s partnership with Western Oklahoma State College and Oklahoma City University’s Kramer School of Nursing is expected to bring in at least two additional instructors and help more than 30 nursing students get into the program. The Foundation has also started a scholarship program to continue nurses’ education.
By building and cultivating professional relationships with businesses and organizations, the Foundation is able to help the hospital find resources needed to provide the best care for its patients and make nurses’ wishes come true.