HRMC Foundation COVID Response Funds Helps to Provide Safe Care

The Huron Regional Medical Center Foundation has received more than $143,000 in contributions to a COVID-19 Response Fund, which is dedicated to keeping the community safe and healthy during the global pandemic, according to Shawn Martin, executive director of the HRMC Foundation.

"When we asked the community to help us secure the supplies and equipment our health care professionals need to confront COVID-19, we knew there would be support,” explained Martin. “However, the response has exceeded our expectations."

Keeping staff and patients safe requires significant investments in PPE (personal protective equipment), telehealth and other supplies. This need for investment comes at a time when patient numbers are down, and elective procedures are limited. The Foundation and its partners wanted to help alleviate some of the financial burdens on the local health care system.  

Northwestern Energy kicked off the campaign with a challenge gift of $5,000. The company also contributed two Apple iPads to support patients whose families are unable to be by their side due to visitor restrictions.

"We are dealing with an unprecedented event in American history, and our community health care professionals have been hit with one of the most difficult medical challenges of the last 100 years," said Tom Glanzer, NorthWestern Energy Community Relations Manager for South Dakota and Nebraska. “Donations of money are not going to save people. The courageous people in our health systems are going to save people, and this is a small way for NorthWestern Energy to help them impact our futures. Being able to partner with those caregivers in this way is humbling for us as a company and as humans in this battle together."

Within days of the challenge, Lewis Drug announced they would match NorthWestern Energy's $5,000 challenge. 

American Bank & Trust soon answered the call with a $10,000 donation for telehealth upgrades. Bob Goetz, regional president of American Bank & Trust, says his organization was honored to be able to assist the community and HRMC. "We truly appreciate what our ‘local heroes’ at HRMC have done for the greater Huron area during these unprecedented times,” said Goetz. “As a community bank, we felt that it was equally necessary and important for our hospital staff to be equipped with the latest technologies to be able to effectively screen patients in the safest possible way."

South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF) has also made funds available for COVID response through its South Dakota Fund. A $20,000 grant will be used for telehealth upgrades that promote patient and staff safety. A donation from board member Marilyn Hoyt was matched by the SDCF. Hoyt, along with her parents, the late Dr. Paul and Carol Hohm and brother Dr. Robert Hohm, has long been committed to quality health care in the Huron area.

Additionally, Independent Health Solutions, Coborn Foods of Huron and other individual donors, also contributed to the $143,000 total. 

To date, the funds raised have helped purchase telemedicine solutions that allow health care workers to monitor patients remotely, the retrofitting of HVAC to create negative pressure rooms for isolation and the creation of a temporary COVID-19 ward. As the number of cases increase, so does the need for additional investments. The HRMC Foundation is continuing to raise dollars for our COVID-19 Response Fund. 

“We, as the Foundation, are gratified to be able to help through the generous contributions from the community to not only meet the unique needs of providing care in the pandemic, but also financially support our facility which is critical to the care of our region,” explained Martin.

To learn more about how you can help, contact Shawn Martin at 605-353-6319 or smartin@huronregional.org. If you’d like to contribute, visit www.hrmcfoundation.org and click "Donate Now" or send your donation to 110 4th St. SE, Suite B-8, Huron, South Dakota 57350.

Tom Glanzer, NorthWestern Energy SD/NE Community Relations Manager

Bob Goetz,
American Bank & Trust Regional President