Virginia Mason Inside

March Edition Virginia Mason Foundation Newsletter

Inside this issue

Impact of Philanthropy | Donor Spotlight | Transforming Healthcare | Your Dollars at Work | What's Happening at Virginia Mason | Events |

 

IMPACT OF PHILANTHROPY:

Our donors make it possible for Virginia Mason to provide patients with outstanding health care that is affordable without compromising service or quality. 

Virginia Mason supporters are an amazing group that includes patients, nurses,volunteers, physicians and other team members. Their reasons for supporting Virginia Mason vary, but they all share a commitment to providing the best care possible.

“I think I should praise good work and not just complain if something goes wrong. Virginia Mason is where I go for all my health care ­— and the entire staff is friendly and genuinely helpful. With my small donation, I'm saying ‘thank you' — and I know my gift will be put to good use helping others.” – Mike Kittross, Virginia Mason donor

“I’ve received the very best care from Virginia Mason and I donate because I believe in the idea of paying it forward.” – Leti Palelei, Virginia Mason team member

"Through my longtime association as a patient, I have been very much impressed with Virginia Mason's continuous efforts to provide superior care to all patients. I feel it is very rewarding to volunteer at Virginia Mason and I am proud to be a part of such great team.”  –  Kristine Park, Virginia Mason volunteer

It is with heartfelt gratitude that we thank you and all our donors for your continued support.

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DONOR SPOTLIGHT:

Part of the Virginia Mason Team

Bruce and Camille Winter first became involved with Virginia Mason as patients about 28 years ago. “We've been going to Virginia Mason ever since, and we've been very, very pleased with the support and the facilities and the doctors,” Bruce says. Many positive personal experiences inspired the couple to give their first gift in 2008.

Bruce and Camille Winter

The Winters met on a soccer field, where their sons played, and subsequently discovered they both had attended Roosevelt High School and the University of Washington. The two found themselves on the same flight shortly thereafter. “I bought her a little bottle of wine on the plane, and the rest is history,” Bruce recalls. They married in 1986 and together they have five children.

After graduating from the University of Washington and earning an MBA from UCLA, Bruce worked in manufacturing, spending 17 years at PACCAR, Inc., and two years at Lanoga. Bruce then transitioned to the financial field. “I wanted to get into something where I could control my own destiny,” he explains. He started at Shearson Lehman Brothers and today is portfolio management director and senior vice president at Morgan Stanley. Camille has worked as a school teacher and a product information specialist with Eddie Bauer.

It is important to the couple that their philanthropy remains local, according to Camille. “We just don't give to very many national charities. We like to see our dollars at work,” she explains.

They feel confident their donations have had an impact, for example, helping to build the Floyd & Delores Jones Pavilion. “I have been very happy to give because Virginia Mason is very much on the leading edge with respect to its facilities,” he comments.

Bruce additionally sits on Virginia Mason's Board of Governors, which has given him greater insight into the inner workings of the hospital and medical centers. He also was instrumental in encouraging Morgan Stanley to become a corporate sponsor last year.

“I've met some wonderful people at Virginia Mason through donating and serving on the board,” Bruce says. “Overall, it's been a very good experience for Camille and I. We are very proud to be part of the team.”

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TRANSFORMING HEALTHCARE:

A Spa Experience at the newly remodeled Gastroenterology Clinic and Procedural Unit

The updated Gastroenterology Clinic and Procedural Unit is open for patient care.

Imagine yourself enjoying a cup of tea while wrapped in toasty warm blankets. The lights are dimmed to a soft glow, allowing you to unwind while you relax or read a book. Sounds like a typical spa experience, doesn’t it?  Would you believe this is what colonoscopy patients are experiencing at the newly renovated Gastroenterology Clinic and Procedural Unit?

Methods to transform health care at Virginia Mason are working, thanks to the generosity of our donors. Patients who visit the new Gastroenterology Clinic and Procedural Unit will experience a care environment created around their needs. Ideas for improvement from the patients themselves were directly incorporated into the design of the new clinic.

The new space is quieter. New flooring and soft paint tones on the wall make the space warm and inviting. Care is private, personalized and attentive to the comfort of the patient while encouraging family involvement. In addition to amenities like warm blankets and light refreshments, process improvement work has made care more convenient for patients, with less downtime for procedures and more available procedure times.

There is no better praise than when a patient says their care at Virginia Mason made them “feel like royalty!” This innovative approach to health care − focusing on the comfort of both patients and their families − is what sets Virginia Mason apart, and we are grateful to our donors for their continued support.

 

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