Statements
Mission
To meet healthcare needs through (1) assistance to patients and families, (2) involvement in community health initiatives, and (3) provision for medical education.
Background
Formerly operating as Sumner Regional Volunteer Auxiliary since 1972, Friends of SRMC, Inc. became a nonprofit 501c3 charitable organization in 2010 and is composed of over 100 community volunteers who support the patients of Sumner Regional Medical Center in Gallatin, TN. Through service and fundraising efforts in the hospital and at Sumner Station, volunteers advocate for mission-related projects that impact patients and families, community health initiatives and Sumner County residents seeking a medical career at Volunteer State Community College, Welch College, and Union University. Services for patients and their families are priority efforts of the volunteer unit, and the organization allocates 100% of its annual budget to mission-related projects.
Impact
In 2022, 90 food bags were given to patients (which impacted 208 individuals including family members) who needed food assistance upon discharge. Of those, majority of the recipients claim disability, unemployed, or retired; the majority also claims to be in the SNAP program, Medicare/Medicaid, or SSI program. Our Transportation Assistance Program is available to patients of the hospital that need transportation home or other location upon discharged from Sumner Regional Medical Center. In 2022, Friends has assisted 101 patients with rides home through Uber or Lyft. 500 Halo Sleep Sacks were given to newborns at SRMC to promote 'Back is Best' to help prevent SIDS. Hospitality Cart Volunteers visited more than 3,400 patients and families providing items such as reading material or puzzle books to pass the time, dolls or bears to children. Volunteer cancer survivors meet the first and third Tuesday of every month with patients who have a cancer diagnosis, currently going through treatments, completed treatments, and individuals who have survived cancer to share stories to encourage. One patient stated, ' this program means the world to me it is so helpful to hear from someone else who has experienced the journey that I am going through. I have encouraged other cancer patients that I have met to take advantage of this wonderful program'. In 2022 Compression Garment Assistance Program, which is available for patients' receiving treatment from either HighPoint Therapy Lymphedema Services or Sumner Wound Care to purchase compression garments due to insurance not covering in most cases. Friends of SRMC have helped 86 patients in 2022receive the garments they need to help improve their health and treatment. Most of the patients receiving help are on Medicare or TNCare. This was another program that we had to pause because of budgeted funding not available.
Needs
$4,500 annually to purchase SleepSacks for SRMC newborns for safe sleep habits for infants for the possible prevention of Sudden Death Syndrome and to facilitate nursing staff to conduct Safe Sleep for Baby educational classes for new parents to have best sleeping practices.
$4,000 Food Pantry for nutritionally and economically compromised patients.
$300 Clothes Closet for patients in need of clothing.
$3,000 Transportation Assistance Program for economically challenged patients in rural areas to be able to travel to the hospital for necessary health treatments.
$2,000 Still Fabulous & My Cancer Journey at Sumner Station.
$9,500 Compression Garment Assistance Program to assist with purchasing compression garments due to insurance not covering in most cases.
$1500 Hospitality Cart to purchase items such as coloring books or puzzle books for patients and family.
CEO Statement
Friends of Sumner Regional Medical Center, Inc. is a small and unique organization dedicated to its mission of supporting the patients of the hospital, involvement in community healthcare initiative and providing a medical scholarship at Volunteer State Community College. In my professional circles, I know of no other hospitals where volunteers provide a full food pantry for patients, clothing for patients, gas vouchers for patients evaluated on needs-based, SleepSacks for newborns to help prevent SIDS, and a two Cancer Support Group for patients and their families. It is a distinct honor and privilege for me to be the director of this organization that impacts the community in such a significant manner.
Service Categories |
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| Primary Category: | Health Care - Health Support |
| Secondary Category: | - |
| Tertiary Category: | - |
Areas Served
HighPoint Health System of Gallatin, TN includes four hospitals: Sumner Regional Medical Center in Gallatin; Trousdale Medical Center in Hartsville; Riverview Regional Medical Center in Carthage; and Livingston Regional Medical Center in Livingston.
| TN - Macon |
| TN - Sumner |
| TN - Smith |
| TN - Trousdale |
