LHD Foundation Donates $100,000 for Surgical Equipment Purchase

The Foundation celebrated its 29th anniversary in November during its annual meeting at Lompoc Valley Medical Center.

I’m sure you’ve all heard the saying ‘You’ve come a long way, baby.’ That’s what we can say about the Lompoc Hospital District Foundation. It’s come a long way in the past 29 years. We’ve made our mark on this community and elsewhere. This recognition and achievement did not just happen. Our success would not have been possible without the many contributions of our many outstanding volunteers, trustees and members who have made this Foundation one for which we can be very proud.

During the meeting, a slate of Foundation officers were elected.

The officers are:

• President: Alice Milligan
• Vice President: Jim Raggio
• Treasurer: Gary Williams
• Secretary: Marilyn Oliver
• Asst. Secretary: Steve Popkin

New Foundation Trustees are:

• Yolanda Macias
• Fred Bittle
• Ruth Moran
• Susan Bean-Mandibles

The Foundation presented a donation of $100,000 to LVMC toward the purchase a mobile fluoroscopic X-ray imaging device nicknamed “C-Arm.” The medical imaging device provides high-resolution X-ray images in real time, allowing a surgeon to monitor and immediately make corrections if necessary.

The C-shaped ‘arm’ is used to connect an X-ray source and X-ray detector to one another. The C-shape enables the machine to move horizontally, vertically and swivel, so X-ray images may be produced from virtually every angle.

Purchase of a second C-arm has allowed LVMC to book two exams that require C-arm use, says Director of Diagnostic Imaging Tim Stout. It also allows the hospital to do emergency surgeries that require a C-arm when another C-arm case is in progress. Both scenarios have increased the speed of care in surgery, and lead to increased physician and patient satisfaction.