Elks provide funding for emergency equipment

Mineral Community Hospital received a gift on Wednesday, June 14, when Dennis Cooper, a Trustee with the Montana State Elks Association presented hospital CEO Ron Gleason with a check for $2,700. Cooper drove over from Deer Lodge to present the check, which was the result of grant application made by the hospital.

The Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks has chapters all over the U.S. including the Montana State Elks Association. One of the missions of the Montana order it to provide financial aid to rural community hospitals in the state to purchase equipment to aid patient care.

In January they sent out letters to rural hospitals inviting them to fill out an application. Mineral Community Hospital asked for grant funds for a new Lifepak Biphasic Cardiac Monitor/Defribrillator.

Gleason thanked the Order for their generous contribution, saying “the defibrillator that they are funding will replace an aging piece of equipment and at the same time allow us to monitor the CO2 status of patients without the use of a separate piece of equipment. The Elks have provided badly needed funding to small hospitals around the state for many years and we appreciate all they do for rural Montana.”

Cooper said the Montana Elks Association gave out approximately $18,000 to rural hospitals in Montana this year. They also donated $2,500 to Camp Mak-A-Dream for five campers to attend this summer. The state association also gives each of Montana’s 27 lodges $1,000 for their Community Impact Grants. These funds are used for local youth projects like the Backpack Program and musical instruments.

The Elks raise funds through activities like auctions and they also get a match from the National Elks Association. Other activities the Order contributes to include a variety of community programs and scholarships like the yearly Elks Hoop Shoot Free Throw Program; the Drug Awareness Program; various state projects; and the Elks National Memorial; and the Soccer Shoot Program.

“This grant aids small hospitals in emergency situations,” said Cooper who is also a past State President to the Elks Association. “We feel that when a small hospital is struggling to make ends meet and there is a piece of equipment that they really need we want to be able to aid them in any way that we can. The Elks are out there to promote and help communities including area youth and veterans.”

The Mineral Community Hospital has 25 beds and is a Critical Access Hospital which is independent and a non-profit organization with no affiliations to larger hospitals. It is designated as a level V trauma receiving facility which serves Superior residents, other county residents and travelers passing through the area on Interstate 90.

It has emergency services staffed with Medical Providers on a 24 hour per day basis. It is the only hospital in Mineral County and is the first stop for individuals who have had a sudden injury, critical illness or have suffered a major trauma Gleason said in his application letter.

“Our services include diagnosis and treatment of patients as well as stabilization of individuals who require transfer to a facility with a higher level of care. Due to limited transportation resources and unpredictable weather, we often must treat and monitor for a period of hours until transport is feasible. Updating emergency equipment will have an immediate, direct effect on the services we provide to this community” he said.