SEMC Foundation Receives Grant for $16,500 from The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties, Inc.

UTICA, N.Y. – The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties, Inc. (The Foundation) recently awarded $16,500 to the St. Elizabeth Medical Center (SEMC) Foundation to purchase a BloodTrack Emerge system for the SEMC Laboratory.

The BloodTrack Emerge system allows the SEMC Laboratory to store blood products in the Emergency Department or Operating Room in order to provide immediate access, while also maintaining the security and traceability of the blood inventory. The system increases patient safety by maintaining control of emergency blood, decreases time to access blood in clinical areas and reduces blood inventory and waste.

“Our ability to purchase this system means that when our staff members are presented with a situation where a patient is losing an excess amount of blood, we have access to an emergency blood supply, which can mean the difference between life and death,” said Andrea LaGatta, director of Development for the SEMC Foundation.“We are extremely grateful to The Foundation for awarding us this grant and helping us to provide better care to our patients.”

Since 1952, The Foundation has invested $52 million into Oneida and Herkimer counties. The Foundation partners with various nonprofits to make impactful investments in core areas of need, including economic development, education, health and arts and culture.

“The Foundation is delighted to be able to provide this grant to St. Elizabeth Medical Center,” said Laura Cohen, community investment manager for The Foundation. “We felt this was an important investment as the new system will provide our community members with safer, more technologically advanced services when receiving care at the Medical Center.”

For information about the SEMC Foundation, visit www.stemc.org/foundation or call 315-801-4441. For information about The Foundation, visit www.foundationhoc.orgor call 315-735-8212.

###

Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center are affiliates under the Mohawk Valley Health System.