While the Health Foundation recently celebrated a $100,000 grant for new oncology equipment, not every impactful investment comes with a large price tag. Some of the most meaningful improvements to patient care begin with a simple observation and a thoughtful request from our staff—made possible by the generosity of our donors.
Two recent grants highlight how small ideas can make a big difference:
Charging Stations for Patient Convenience
Becki Lampe, Orthopedic Clinic Manager, identified a need for mobile device charging access in the Medical Specialists Clinic. With support from the Health Foundation, a charging kiosk was ordered and is now in service. It will serve patients across orthopedic, cancer care, and visiting specialty services. Becki collaborated with her team to ensure the kiosk would meet various device needs.
This builds on previous Foundation-funded charging stations already in place in the Emergency and Surgery waiting areas—demonstrating how donor support continues to enhance patient experience across departments.
Virtual Nature for Healing and Calm
In another innovative effort, Julie Wilhelmson, Director of Emergency and Outpatient Services, partnered with Spiritual Care team members Tyler Thiessen and Michael Carpenter to bring immersive nature experiences to patients in the Outpatient Injection and Infusion Department. With funding from the Health Foundation, the team introduced virtual reality headsets that allow patients to explore calming natural environments during treatments.
The impact was immediate. One patient, who regularly endures painful wound care procedures, was offered the chance to use the VR headset. Despite limited experience with technology, the patient quickly adapted and became fully immersed in the virtual environment. During the procedure, they remained calm and relaxed—an experience that had previously been marked by significant discomfort.
Tyler Thiessen reflected on the moment, saying it was powerful to see how the technology helped a patient with a known pain tolerance disconnect from the discomfort. “It really opened our eyes to the potential this has for other patients,” he shared.
Initially launched in the Outpatient Injection and Infusion Department, the program is already being considered for expansion into other outpatient and inpatient settings.
These stories are a powerful reminder that every gift—large or small—has the potential to transform care. The Health Foundation is proud to support staff-driven ideas that bring comfort, dignity, and innovation to the forefront of healing. And we are deeply grateful to our donors, whose generosity makes these moments of impact possible.