GIST (Gerhard Impact STorytelling) is our way of conveying the profound impact that Gerhard contributions have on Bryn Mawr Hospital and the families who entrust their health to us. This new initiative will combine patient testimonies with program outcomes to provide a full picture of what your giving can really do. Check back often to see your Gerhard Society dollars at work!
Interventional procedure suite project
Bryn Mawr Hospital's interventional procedure facilities are being relocated and modernized to better serve the growing demand for and lifesaving capabilities of cardiovascular, peripheral, electrophysiology and neurointerventional procedures. The $34 million project involving the purchase of state-of-the-art equipment will enhance our clinical team's ability to diagnose and treat patients with life-limiting and potentially fatal conditions including heart attacks, coronary artery disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, heart rhythm conditions including atrial fibrillation and much more. View our video to watch some members of our cardiovascular team talk about this exciting project and learn about our efforts to raise $5 million for this purpose.
Behavioral health inpatient unit expansion and renovation project
Gerhard-level gifts have supported the relocation and expansion of Bryn Mawr Hospital's inpatient behavioral health unit (the only such unit within Main Line Health). The $35 million project doubles the unit's capacity to 40 beds and quadruples the unit's current size, creating safe, healing and modern facilities (slated to open early 2022). Bolstered by a $10 million system-wide capital campaign, this expansion will enable the Hospital to better address the pressing behavioral health needs of our community. Learn more about "what is Behavioral Health?" and why we are making this investment.
Dee Adams Center for Integrative and Regenerative Medicine
Main Line Health's Dee Adam's Center for Integrative and Regenerative Medicine at Bryn Mawr Hospital, which opened in March 2020, offers an integrative primary care concierge practice alongside integrative therapeutic services and consultations available to members of the public. Gerhard dollars aided in creating this unique, healing environment that reflects and contributes to the pursuit of wellness for its patients. Learn more and take a virtual tour.
COVID-19 employee emergency grants and employee recognition and wellbeing initiatives
Thanks to Gerhard support, Main Line Health and Bryn Mawr Hospital established an Employee Emergency Fund to assist our dedicated employees working tirelessly in the midst of facing personal and financial hardships tied to the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 800 colleagues received grants of up to $1,000 thanks to an incredible outpouring of community support within months of the pandemic reaching our doorstep. Gerhard dollars also continued to help provide initiatives focused on the health and wellness of our employees and recognition of their tireless efforts.
COVID-19 and other clinical research
With philanthropic support from our Gerhard Society members, Main Line Health launched a Research Fund to support several biomedical scientists at our Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, who quickly pivoted their research towards battling COVID-19. Gerhard dollars helped to advance studies to better diagnose, treat, and prevent infection while also continuing to support ongoing clinical research studies in cardiology, breast health, cancer, bariatrics and more. Read a recent LIMR report
Patient financial and transitional assistance
Established with Gerhard Society support, Patient Assistance funds at Bryn Mawr Hospital are used to help reduce financial barriers of patients to accessing necessary healthcare – a much needed step in our commitment to equity of care. These funds help offset the burden of expenses for uninsured and underinsured patients related to screening and diagnostic imaging, specialty and procedural services, short-term medical respite, outpatient services, medical devices, prescription costs and transportation.
Oncology Nurse Navigation program
Gerhard Society dollars help fund important positions throughout the hospital which are frequently of utmost importance to the patient experience and offered at no charge. Our oncology social workers and nurse navigators guide patients and families through their cancer journey acting as a resource, liaison, educator and advocate, making the often complex cancer diagnostic and treatment experience more coordinated and less overwhelming for patients and family members. These resources are offered at no cost to our patients and families, with no reimbursement from insurance providers, thanks to Gerhard Society members.
Insights platform for behavioral health
Gerhard Society philanthropy is helping us reach a fundraising goal of $400,000 to support the acquisition of Owl Insights' specialized software suite that will enhance our ability to offer measurement-based care in both inpatient and outpatient behavioral health settings. The Owl platform will be launched across the entire behavioral health service line, including: Women's Emotional Wellness Centers, outpatient psychological centers, inpatient psychiatry, Mirmont Treatment Center, and multiple integrated primary care offices. This tool will help gather patient-reported data, monitor progress and inform treatment plans to ensure quality care, a better patient experience, and improved outcomes.
Acute Care for Elders unit
In April 2020, Bryn Mawr Hospital opened Main Line Health's first Acute Care for Elders (ACE) unit which is specifically designed to provide comprehensive and interdisciplinary inpatient care for older adults. Gerhard dollars supported the establishment of this program via special modifications to the unit to accommodate an elderly patient population and the purchase of specialized gym equipment. The unit and multidisciplinary approach to care is designed to increase the mobility and independence of seniors, improve the likelihood of being able to return to independent living, and minimize the risk of hospital readmission.
Equipment
Gerhard Society donations provide essential support to purchase new hospital equipment and critical supplies. Gifts were received to help purchase personal protective equipment for our clinical teams who continued to serve the community throughout the ongoing public health crisis. Bryn Mawr Hospital also acquired new surgical equipment, imaging devices, incubators, nuclear medicine technology and devices to help ventilate patients in respiratory distress in our emergency department and critical care units.
Pennypacker Auditorium renovations
The Pennypacker Auditorium is Bryn Mawr Hospital’s only auditorium space and a critical resource for hospital staff and the community. Philanthropy will provide the necessary funding to undertake a modernization of this important space to best accommodate essential programs with state-of-the-art technology and expanded, accessible seating. If you’re interested in helping us raise funds for this purpose by “naming a seat” in the Pennypacker Auditorium, please contact Lynn Keily in the Development Office at 484.337.8177 or keilyl@mlhs.org.
Palliative Care and Hospice programs
The Bryn Mawr Hospital Palliative Care and Hospice programs, supported by Gerhard Society dollars, aim to relieve suffering and improve the quality of life for both patients with advanced-stage diseases and their families. Particularly treasured are the Linking Hearts tokens, offered to family members upon the passing of a loved one. One piece may stay with the loved one while the other may be kept by the family member as a reminder of their eternal connection. Those with family members in hospice often spend a great deal of time at BMH. Gerhard dollars have funded enhancements for hospice patient rooms and amenities to ensure comfort and privacy for family members during this difficult time in their lives.
Critical Incident Response Team
Main Line Health's Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) provides a trained team of colleagues to help staff cope with the emotional or psychological effects of traumatic events in the MLH workplace. Witnessing events such as unexpected outcomes, accidents and violence or severe trauma care can have psychological effects on health care providers who may require support to cope effectively. Gerhard gifts help fund specialized training, supplies and CIRT coverage at Bryn Mawr Hospital.
Nursing scholarships and continuing education
Among the most popular Gerhard gift designations is support for Nursing Excellence at Bryn Mawr Hospital. These funds help cover tuition reimbursement for nurses pursuing graduate degrees or advanced certifications and send nurses to participate in, and present at, local and national conferences. Gerhard nursing gifts also assist with professional development, specialized training and continuing education opportunities. In turn, this investment in our nurses ensures that patients are receiving top-notch care that follows up-to-date best practices.
Diversity, Respect, Equity and Inclusion initiatives
Bryn Mawr Hospital recognizes and values the individual differences among its patients, staff and community and welcomes the diverse backgrounds and traditions of the patients it serves. Contributions from Gerhard Society members support Diversity, Respect, Equity and Inclusion initiatives including LGBTQ inclusive care providers, an annual Healthcare Disparities Colloquium, and ongoing staff training and education opportunities to ensure employees always provide culturally competent and equitable care.
Donor breast milk
Bryn Mawr Hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is committed to using donor breast milk and human milk fortifiers known for their health benefits for vulnerable premature babies. Gerhard philanthropy helps fund the purchase of donor human breast milk which costs the Hospital more than $250,000 annually.
Community Health and Outreach
The Community Health and Outreach (CH&O) Department is committed to addressing disparities in care, health equity, and community benefit throughout our region. As the pandemic continued, Gerhard dollars provided vital support for this department to ensure they were able to continue providing impactful health programs at no cost to our community members, while utilizing virtual options or adhering to strict COVID-19 safety protocols. Popular programs like SmokeFREE, Stretch Your Limits (for individuals 55 and over) and healthy cooking tutorials successfully went virtual. The Wig Program for patients with a cancer diagnosis started safely seeing patients again during Summer 2020 and continues to provide this complimentary service.
Graduate medical education
Bryn Mawr Hospital is also a teaching hospital, and Gerhard gifts support recruitment of new physicians as well as help to fund graduate medical education programs including residencies and fellowships. The training these physicians receive from our nationally acclaimed clinical team prepares them to provide superior and compassionate care to our patients and their families and many choose to then stay with Main Line Health throughout their careers.
Gifts in kind
At Bryn Mawr Hospital, and all across Main Line Health, community and Gerhard Society members donated food, masks and more to support our health care family. Individuals, local businesses, board members, and even young children stepped up to the plate in extraordinary ways. Each food donation for our staff meant they had one less thing to worry about as they worked to provide excellent, compassionate care in the face of COVID-19. Each handmade mask for our non-clinical staff meant one more medical grade mask could be saved for those on the frontlines.