Foundation Volunteers to Raise $1 Million for Heart Center
Southeastern Regional Medical Center, Lumberton, NC

(March 2005)

Since an open-heart surgery program was first proposed in 1997, community support for this project has been strong and ongoing. Robeson County residents have traveled across the state, written letters and spoken before state planning boards to get approval for the venture. Now a local leader has stepped forward to raise $1 million to make this vision of comprehensive heart care close to home a reality.

“It’s no secret that a heart center is much needed here in Robeson County,” said John Barker, who is leading the fundraiser to help build and equip the Southeastern Heart Center. “Heart disease is a leading cause of death, both here and in the southeastern part of the state. Patients and their families must travel a great distance to get care at Duke.”

Barker, a native of Robeson County, is a retired businessman who founded the Triangle Ice Co. He has served on the SRMC Board of Trustees since 1991.

“This is a great opportunity to partner with Duke to open a high-tech heart center that will be managed by Duke University Health System, a leading institution for heart care and research, not only in the southeast but in the nation as well,” he said. “The $1 million goal will go toward funding family-friendly enhancements for the heart center,” Barker said. “We want to build not only an outstanding high-tech heart center but also one that will offer conveniences for the family members who are so important to the patient’s healing.”

At the groundbreaking for the Southeastern Heart Center held on November 12, 2004,SRMC Foundation Chair Faye Caton announced that the combined boards of the hospital and foundation had unanimously agreed to help provide funding for the heart center. The goal is to raise $1 million of the $11 million needed for the 29,000-square-foot building, now under construction at Southeastern Regional Medical Center.

“This funding will help make our heart center the most patient- and family-focused facility in the nation,” Caton said.

The enhancements that will allow family members to participate in the treatment and recovery process include:

• A reception desk for patients and their families,
• Spacious cardiovascular ICU rooms for open visitation, with a family lounge area in each room,
• An enlarged family cardiac waiting area / lounge with an adjacent refreshment center,
• A surgeon call room to facilitate ready access in critical situations, and
• An enlarged nursing station allowing staff to quickly respond to patient and family needs.

Barker is very optimistic about the outcome of the heart center fund drive. “Part of my decision to take on this challenge was the great team I am working with, including co-chairs Horace Stacy and Lisa Rust and the many volunteers across the county, who are supporting our efforts,” he said.

The community volunteers include Drs. Bob Andrews, Martin Brooks and John Rozier, Faye Caton, Larry Chavis, W.C. Washington, Coble Wilson Jr., Drew Bullard, Katrina Locklear, John McLean, and David Walker.

The Foundation recently completed a very successful “Take it to the Top!” campaign, raising more than $4.75 million to help fund the building of the six-story Patient Bed Tower and expanding both emergency and cancer services.

“Many people who gave to that campaign have already stepped forward to give again for the heart center,” Barker said. “There is no doubt in my mind that we will have a successful fund drive to build a heart center that will serve our patients and their families with high-quality care and family-focused attention.”

For more information about giving to the Southeastern Heart Center, call the SRMC Foundation at (910) 671-5583.

Source: SRMC Public Relations

http://www.srmc.org