Staff writer
When people join the auxiliary, they do not realize how much they will contribute to St. Luke Hospital, CEO Jeremy Armstrong said while addressing members of the auxiliary Thursday night.
At the annual auxiliary dinner, volunteers learned how much the shop made this year, ending with a $33,500 profit, nominated new officers, and reported volunteers worked a collective 19,955 hours this past year.
“The amount of hours volunteers from our auxiliary work is equivalent to an auxiliary that should be at a much bigger hospital like McPherson or Emporia,” Armstrong said. “Thank you for being a part of our family, and allowing us to keep doing what we’re doing.”
Armstrong said inpatient days have increased for the past three years despite a decreasing national trend.
“St. Luke is bucking national trends,” Armstrong said. “We have a lot to be proud of. I believe it means more people are staying local for their health care.”
He reported surgical patients have risen 31 percent, and home health visits have decreased.
Because of the Auxiliary, St. Luke has equipment and support for projects it never would have otherwise, Armstrong said.
In line with that support, auxiliary president Janet Herzet presented Armstrong with a $25,000 check for a new mammography machine.
She said the number of hours volunteers put into the auxiliary is testament to their love for their community and drive to do something good.
The auxiliary has donated more than $250,000 to the hospital since its founding.