EPHRATA — As a public hospital district operates, it needs community support to keep its mission of serving the community’s health needs. That may be purchasing chairs, organizing volunteers or working to fund upgrades to medical equipment said Susan Scheib, the hospital’s director of communication and development. 

“The foundation was actually started back in 1982 from the donation of a property,” Scheib said.

The property was sold and the money was split among multiple 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations, she said. The Columbia Basin Hospital Foundation got about $10,000 as seed money to get started and has been working to support the hospital since then. To maintain the foundation’s operation and efforts to support the hospital, various member donors contribute money. That includes general donations and donations for specific purposes, depending on what it is about the hospital that is a draw for each donor.

“I have a lot of donors that are specific towards our Garden Oasis Assisted Living, because they’ve had family there, so they like to give funds,” Scheib said. 

Other specific donor causes include keeping up the roses in front of the hospital’s entrance — a feature the hospital is known for — and equipment such as a new ventilator for the emergency room, and an accessible bathtub for the hospital’s long-term care facility. The foundation is currently raising funds to replace hospital beds that have reached the end of their expected service life through its Buy a Bed campaign. 

“When I first started here in 2006, hospital beds were $7,200. They have a life expectancy of 10 years,” Scheib said. “They are now $14,000 a piece, and we are looking to fund 31 beds, which is $434,000.”

So far, one bed has been fully funded, but Scheib said she hopes for public support to ensure quality equipment is available for patients at Columbia Basin Hospital. Anyone wishing to donate can either contact Scheib at the hospital or visit https://bit.ly/CBHFBEDS. 

The Columbia Basin Hospital Foundation’s board consists of seven positions, but Scheib said only four of those are currently filled. Retirements and one member passing away unexpectedly have reduced the board’s membership. She’s looking to fill those positions with residents in the hospital district’s boundaries who care about health care and support the mission of the hospital to provide medical care to residents in and around Ephrata, Soap Lake and Wilson Creek.

Board members represent the foundation in the community and help to ensure its success, she said. The right person can really help make a difference.

“You have to have a passion for health care and passion for the hospital to be on the board,” Scheib said, and added that doesn’t mean the person has to be a medical professional of any sort.

Community events help the foundation with its mission. Scheib said she’s hoping to restart an old practice of hosting murder mystery dinners which are lots of fun and keep donors laughing while supporting a good cause. As she plans those out, the information will be released. In the past, they’ve included a murder mystery and partnered with local groups for various fundraising activities.

For those who can’t donate or want to contribute their time, there are plenty of opportunities to lend a hand, she said. That might include reading to patients, working on the hospital grounds or any number of other tasks.

“We always embrace more volunteers here,” Scheib said. 

R. Hans "Rob" Miller may be reached at editor@columbiabasinherald.com.

Want to know more? 

To find out more about the Columbia Basin Hospital Foundation, visit www.columbiabasinhospital.org and click on the "Foundation" link in the top-right corner.