Funds will help pay for hospital renovation

St. Luke Foundation is in the planning stage of a capital outlay campaign and has taken one of the most important steps — hiring a professional fundraiser.

Frank Albert has been hired by the foundation to oversee the campaign — St. Luke Foundation: A Healthy Investment in Your Future.

St. Luke Hospital and Marion County Hospital District No. 1 are planning a nearly $6 million hospital renovation and expansion project, which coincides with the foundation’s campaign.

Albert spoke to Marion Chamber of Commerce members Friday about charitable giving.

Even with an uncertain economy in 2008, American gave $307 billion to charities.

“No country on earth gives as much as the United States,” Albert said.

Of all charitable donations, 76 percent are given by individuals; 8 percent through estates.

“Ninety-five percent or more of charitable giving in Marion County is leaving the county,” Albert said.

Specific details cannot yet be revealed, Albert said, because a steering committee is laying the groundwork for the campaign.

An announcement will be made in January with the details.

About Albert

Albert was born in Czechoslovakia, now the Czech Republic. He has lived in Kenya and England.

“My first schooling was French and so English is my third language,” he said.

Albert has spent the most time in Evergreen, Colo., living there since 1984.

All of his family lives in Europe.

Many residents have met Albert through his dog, a longhaired German Shepherd named Honey Bee.

Albert became interested in fundraising after reading the book, “The Truth About You.”

“I did the homework and came up with ‘raising money for charity’ as my No. 1 criteria for career fulfillment,” he said. Traveling and meeting people are criteria two and three.

About the hospital project

Renovations to the 1952 hospital building have been discussed in the past. The hospital board took the first step a few months ago and approved a $5.2 million project to renovate and remodel the aging facility.

Funding for those improvements will be obtained through revenue bonds, possible grants, and the foundation.

Currently, all hospital rooms are private. With the new expansion and renovation project, there will be a total of six private rooms, newly renovated.

Aqua therapy is included in the project, which should attract patients from the area. The closest aqua therapy facility is 68 miles from Marion.

This form of therapy is successful with orthopedic patients.

Other improvements in the works include paperless files, which would eliminate the need for space to store manila file folders with patient information.

New radiology equipment has put the hospital in an attractive position, providing digital testing for all aspects except mammograms.

Renovations will include space for an expanded laboratory and physical therapy areas, and updating to the emergency and surgery rooms.

Albert said a recent feasibility study was conducted by the hospital. Of those people surveyed, 97 percent used St. Luke Hospital and the same percentage prefers to use the local hospital instead of one out of town. Of those interviewed, all believed a viable hospital was critical to the community.

Albert will be in Marion for a year.

Mike Norris was recently hired to assist Albert.

“I believe in the hospital,” Norris said. He said when he came to Marion more than five years ago, he would not have moved to Marion had there not been a hospital in town.

Small groups of those wanting to hear more about hospital renovation plans are being organized.

For more information, contact the foundation office at (620) 382-3115.