PMC Employees Raise Funds for Community Wellness

Healing Families—Healing Communities®. Parrish Medical Center (PMC) employees live that vision in a big way. They raised more than $113,600 in their fifth annual employee giving campaign. Cochaired by Ryan Hieronymus, registration and scheduling interim director, and Sheryl Shelley, who works in the clinical equipment department, the PMC Circle of Giving Committee rallied employees and selected a signature project that reaches out to the community.

The campaign supported a wellness package consisting of four projects: a new Healing in Motion van—a transportation program that helps patients get to their hospital appointments or gives them a ride home after a hospital stay; new lift equipment to safely transport patients; a third floor fitness area upgrade for care partners; and Telehealth Monitoring equipment to remotely monitor patients to keep them healthy and prevent readmissions to the hospital. All four projects focus on increased wellness for the community and PMC employees.

Because of the generosity of PMC employees, the Healing in Motion van transportation program was started in April 2007 after employees raised money to purchase a van, hire a driver and put the program in place for the community. Since the program was initiated, approximately 12,000 patients have been served, according to Security Manager Deena Ellis. Security oversees the PMC van program and the head driver is PMC employee Tiffany Pergerson.

Due to aging and normal wear and tear, the original van was frequently out of service for repairs. PMC employees were able to once again raise funds to purchase a new van so patients could continue to receive transportation for necessary treatment. The new van offers increased passenger capacity and allows additional patients to be served.

The second project in the wellness package—new lift equipment—has been ordered and will soon be put into place at the hospital. “This new equipment will provide safer patient handling, reduce employee injuries and ensure the safety and comfort of our patients,” says Jean Hallet, RN, PMC employee health nurse.

The remaining two projects will be completed by summer 2013.

“The generosity of our employees is amazing. We’d like to thank everyone who supported the campaign and who are committed to bringing increased wellness to our community,” agreed Hieronymus and Shelley.

The Circle of Giving committee is an extension of the Jess Parrish Medical Foundation. For more information about the Foundation, contact 321-269-4066.

Shown in front of the new van (L-R) are: Deena Ellis, security manager and Healing in Motion van project champion; committee members Paul Fender and Kathie Coon; Sheryl Shelley, Circle of Giving committee cochair; Misty Wilson, JPMF staff liaison; Ryan Hieronymus, Circle of Giving committee cochair; Tiffany Pergerson, van driver; and committee member Jerald Smith.