Beebe Auxiliary presents $311,000 donation to Beebe Healthcare and installs new officers
During its annual meeting on Wednesday, May 3, the Beebe Auxiliary presented its largest annual gift to Beebe Healthcare. The donation of $311,000, will be used to fund a new Cardiac Electrophysiology Lab at the Medical Center in Lewes, planned for fiscal year 2017.
Auxiliary President Wendell Alfred presented the check to Jeffrey M. Fried, FACHE, President and CEO of Beebe Healthcare, The Honorable William Swain Lee, Beebe Board Chairman, and Dr. Firas El-Sabbagh, Medical Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology.
“We are honored we can do this for you,” Mr. Alfred said. “Beebe is an integral part of the community and we are delighted that the community is able to give back in ways that provide such important services here in Sussex County.”
“Every patient is a VIP in the cardiac unit and it makes us proud to know that we can help provide this service at Beebe so that members of our community do not have to travel for this important medical treatment,” said Dr. El-Sabbagh.
Beebe Auxiliary is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year. During the course of those 80 years, the Auxiliary has donated more than $5 million to Beebe Healthcare.
“We are so proud to be celebrating 80 years of the Beebe Auxiliary and 100 years of Beebe Healthcare. While it is gratifying to see the progress Beebe has made over the last 100 years, it is truly exciting to think where Beebe is headed in the next 100 years,” said Mr. Fried. “While new facilities and technology often capture the attention and focus of Beebe’s progress, it has always been our people that have made Beebe what it has become today.”
Cardiac electrophysiology (EP) treats heart arrhythmias or irregular heartbeats. EP studies most often are recommended for patients with symptoms of heart rhythm disorders or for people who may be at risk for Sudden Cardiac Death. Although it is more invasive than an electrocardiogram (ECG) or echocardiogram, and involves provoking arrhythmias, the test produces data that makes it possible to:
• Diagnose the source of arrhythmia symptoms
• Evaluate the effectiveness of certain medications in controlling the heart rhythm disorder
• Predict the risk of a future cardiac event, such as sudden cardiac death
• Assess the need for an implantable device (a pacemaker or ICD) or treatment procedure (radio frequency catheter ablation)
Each year at the luncheon, the Auxiliary recognizes individuals who have given great support to Beebe and to the Auxiliary. This year, Janet Zary of the Beebe Healthcare Print Room was recognized for her dedication and support of the Auxiliary. Ms. Zary is retiring in June, but plans to volunteer for the Auxiliary in the future.
The Auxiliary also welcomed its newly elected officers for 2016-2018. The new officers are: Nancy Tartaglione, President; Lesley Nance, First Vice President; Nancy Almacy, Second Vice President; Patricia Sandy, Treasurer; Lester Levin, Assistant Treasurer; Rosey Vanderhoogt, Recording Secretary; Eileen Thompson, Corresponding Secretary; and Patricia Barry, Member-at-Large.
