Auburn Indians donate $60,000 to Sutter
By: Michelle Miller, Journal Staff Writer
2:04 AM PDT
A gift from the United Auburn Indian Community kicked off a campaign
this week to raise $400,000 for a new infusion center at Sutter Auburn
Faith Hospital.
The tribe has given an outright $30,000 grant and pledged $30,000 more
if Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital can match those funds in
donations.
Auburn currently has no infusion therapy center - the next closest is
at Sutter Roseville. Infusion therapy provides intravenous treatments
for Lyme Disease, fibromyalgia, chronic infection, multiple sclerosis
and chemotherapy for cancer.
Kelley Keyser, chairwoman of the tribe's Community Giving Committee,
said the need for the center was apparent to many in the tribe.
"This is our hospital, so we want to give back to our community," she
said.
The center would have four to six stations and one private station, all
with equipment for monitoring chemical treatments in one central
location, said Mitch Hanna, chief administrative officer for the
hospital.
"It's not a huge capital investment because of the equipment. Most of
the costs come from updating the facility to meet current building
codes," he said.
While the hospital has the capacity to do some in- and outpatient
infusion, much of that space will be lost as the hospital's $9.5
million renovation is completed.
"This is so beneficial to our community, finally, we'll be able to take
care of all of our patients," said Sharon Birinsko, director of
surgical services.
Currently, the hospital foundation has raised $143,000 toward the
project. The UAIC's gift is the largest so far, giving them naming
rights to the facility.
"This will provide a better patient care in one location," said Mindy
Danavario, executive director of the Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital
Foundation, which raises funds for the hospital. "The Cancer Support
Group and patients are helping to design it and give input on what
matters to them."
Comfort is key for infusion therapy centers, said Dr. William Kirby, a
urologist and member of the infusion center committee.
"The bottom line is right now Auburn does not have a good facility for
proper infusion therapy," he said. "This is an absolute necessity to
give patients a better quality of care."
Since patients are sometimes on slower intravenous treatments that
leave them sitting for hours, he said televisions at each station,
windows and private areas will make their treatments more
relaxed.
It's also easier to drop someone off for treatment locally or not have
to drive so far away, Kirby said.
"People are sick and they're driving all the way down to Roseville," he
said. "You don't feel like driving when you're not that well, so they'd
be far better off treated locally."
