For the week of March 20 - 26, 2002

St. Luke’s auxiliary donates $184,000

Nurse Laurie Mallea honored

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By TRAVIS PURSER
Express Staff Writer

Nurse Laurie Mallea won a $1,000 award for her mentoring skills, and the hospital auxiliary presented a $184,000 check to pay for cardiovascular equipment during ceremonies Monday at St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center.

Hospital technician Linda Anderson uses the diagnostic imaging machine to test 25 to 30 cardiovascular patients each month. Donated funds helped pay for the machine. Express photo by Willie Cook

The auxiliary raised the funds through its annual ball, membership luncheon and fashion show to help pay for cardiovascular diagnostic equipment.

One device, the diagnostic ultrasound imaging machine cost $225,000, hospital technician Linda Anderson said. The device uses sound waves to create images of the cardiovascular system. Anderson tests from 25 to 30 patients with it each month.

St. Luke’s relies on the financial support of donors to pay for many of its special programs and for medical technology to address a wide range of patient needs, hospital public relations, manager Kerry George stated.

This year, the hospital’s 75 nurses nominated 11 nurses for the Carl A. Gray Memorial Award, which Laurie Mallea eventually won.

Director of nursing Theresa Bush praised Mallea for encouraging other nurses in their professional and personal growth.

Bush praised all the nurses at the hospital and said that selecting one for the award was difficult.

The Carl A. Gray Memorial Award was established in 1995.

With a $30,000 endowment, the award will likely be given annually for the next 22 years.

Carl Gray was president of the Sun Valley Ski Club and a patron of local skiing events.

 

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