.JPG?width=550&height=376&ext=.jpg)
Whether it is chemotherapy, immunotherapy, blood or hydration, an infusion can be a time-consuming process for a patient tethered to line of medication.
Donations to Carle Health Center for Philanthropy are helping patients pass the time in a more productive or sometimes entertaining way. At the Carle Cancer Institute, donations of more than $48,000 from the Chris Craig Cancer Care Fund and the Busey-Mills Community Foundation Compassionate Care Fund provided 26 tablet computers for patients receiving treatment. The computer tablets are mounted on easy-to-move frames and distributed to patients in the main infusion room as well as individuals in private patient areas.
“We’re so grateful to the donors who made these two funds possible at Carle,” said Beth Katsinas, vice president of Carle Health Center for Philanthropy. “It’s exciting to see charitable giving impact the patient healing environment and make their cancer journey a bit more pleasant.”
Mel Zech of Rantoul is a regular user of the tablet computers that come with software providing access to TV,
games, relaxing music, the internet, news and social media. The tablet computers not only prevent a patient from using up their personal cell phone battery, but it also serves as a nice distraction.
“I think they are great. A lot of times I used the headphones with the tablet so I can take a nap. Whoever donated these, it was a great idea,” Zech said.
The tablets were a great help as she needed infusions to combat loss of magnesium three times a week following a double mastectomy. A retired medical clerk, Mel’s health improved to where she now receives chemotherapy treatment once every three weeks through August.
Carle Cancer Institute Patient Care Manager Courtney Cox said the individual tablet computers are so patient-friendly in contrast to the shared wall TVs. “Now patients can watch and hear whatever they want as well as surf the web or play some games to pass the time,” Cox said.
“Additionally, patients have varying visual acuity and each patient can pull the tablet as close as they need to where they are sitting,” Cox said.
Donations to Carle Health Center for Philanthropy are helping patients pass the time in a more productive or sometimes entertaining way. At the Carle Cancer Institute, donations of more than $48,000 from the Chris Craig Cancer Care Fund and the Busey-Mills Community Foundation Compassionate Care Fund provided 26 tablet computers for patients receiving treatment. The computer tablets are mounted on easy-to-move frames and distributed to patients in the main infusion room as well as individuals in private patient areas.
“We’re so grateful to the donors who made these two funds possible at Carle,” said Beth Katsinas, vice president of Carle Health Center for Philanthropy. “It’s exciting to see charitable giving impact the patient healing environment and make their cancer journey a bit more pleasant.”
Mel Zech of Rantoul is a regular user of the tablet computers that come with software providing access to TV,
games, relaxing music, the internet, news and social media. The tablet computers not only prevent a patient from using up their personal cell phone battery, but it also serves as a nice distraction.“I think they are great. A lot of times I used the headphones with the tablet so I can take a nap. Whoever donated these, it was a great idea,” Zech said.
The tablets were a great help as she needed infusions to combat loss of magnesium three times a week following a double mastectomy. A retired medical clerk, Mel’s health improved to where she now receives chemotherapy treatment once every three weeks through August.
Carle Cancer Institute Patient Care Manager Courtney Cox said the individual tablet computers are so patient-friendly in contrast to the shared wall TVs. “Now patients can watch and hear whatever they want as well as surf the web or play some games to pass the time,” Cox said.
“Additionally, patients have varying visual acuity and each patient can pull the tablet as close as they need to where they are sitting,” Cox said.
Categories: Culture of Quality, Community
Tags: Carle Cancer Institute, Champaign-Urbana, Giving, Philanthropy