GRANT WILL BENEFIT UNINSURED

Representatives of Charles Cole Memorial Hospital and the George A. and Margaret Mee Charitable Foundation gathered Wednesday at the hospital's Emporium Health Center for presentation of a grant from the foundation. On hand were (left to right) Ed Pitchford, Charles Cole Memorial Hospital president and CEO; Kathy Fragale, PA, Emporium Health Center; Bob Martin, CCMH Board of Directors; John Rogers and Dave Guloien, Mee Foundation; Dr. Saira Bano, Emporium Health Center; Carol Gibbs, Wellness Center; and Judy Blumle, Emporium representative to the CCMH Community Benefit Advisory Committee. Representatives of Charles Cole Memorial Hospital and the George A. and Margaret Mee Charitable Foundation gathered at the hospital's Emporium Health Center on Wednesday for presentation of a grant from the foundation.

According to Patrice Levavasseur, CCMH executive director of Patient & Community Relations, the $40,945 grant will be primarily directed toward helping uninsured Cameron County residents obtain medical appointments and preventative health care screenings at the Emporium Health Center.

"Funding will also be used to purchase equipment that will enable us to conduct visual testing for our low vision patients - screening costs are also written into this to assist the uninsured or underinsured in obtaining testing," Levavasseur said.

"Last, we will purchase a new treadmill for the Emporium Wellness Center and also be holding family fitness classes in Emporium to address the growing problem of childhood obesity.

"We think the foundation money will greatly assist Cameron County residents who have no health insurance and may not seek medical treatment as a result. The funding couldn't be more timely given the statistics just published with Cameron County having the highest unemployment rate in the state," she added.