Rotarians the world over are well known for being champions of the communities in which they live and serve and that is certainly the case this week in South Haven where members of the South Haven Rotary Club celebrated the opening of the communities new $22 million Bronson South Haven Hospital on Tuesday, June 22nd with a tour of the state-of-the-art facility, highlighted by the presentation of two Rotary grants totaling nearly $17,000.
The new grants from Rotarians include one for a new Telehealth Initiative and the other in support of a history wall featuring the story of healthcare in the South Haven community.
The Rotarians and representatives of Bronson were joined by past District 6360 Governor Margie Haas. Representing Bronson were Dr. Matthew Dommer, Chief Operating Officer of Bronson-South Haven Hospital; Chris Fitzgerald, Chief Nursing Officer; and Heather Oestrike Schripsema, from the Bronson Health Foundation.
The history wall tells through photos the century-long story of health care in the South Haven community. Longtime physicians in the community are pictured. Included is the cornerstone and bricks from the 1941 hospital building. Two display cases will feature items representative of healthcare over the years. The project was made possible by a grant from the South Haven club and District 6360 Foundation.
The Rotary-Bronson Telehealth Initiative is an outgrowth from the limitations on personal interactions between patients and physicians during the COVID pandemic. It is helping people in need of care at home by providing durable medical equipment, including pulse oximeters, diabetic monitoring supplies, scales and thermometers. It is also promoting better access to care through telemedicine by providing tablets so residents can have virtual doctor visits and communicate electronically with their provider. Grants totaling $16,568 were presented by the South Haven club, Rotary District 6360 Foundation and South Haven Rotarian Paul Hix.
Show in the photo accompanying this story on Moody on the Market are (from left to right): Mark Odland, South Haven Rotary immediate past president; Rotarian Paul Hix; Dan Thompson, South Haven Rotary President; Bill Roberts, South Haven Rotary President-elect; Rotarian Dr. Richard Swanson; Heather Oestrike Schipsema of Bronson Health Foundation; Dr. Matthew Dommer, Chief Operating Office of Bronson-South Haven Hospital; Rotary District 6360 past Governor Margie Haas; and Chris Fitzgerald, Bronson -South Haven Chief Nursing Officer.
The photos are courtesy of professional photographer Tom Renner of South Haven.
