The Foundation at Mission Regional Medical Center

News

Kiwanis Club Sponsors Transport Teddy

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(Mission, TX) Transport Teddy, official mascot of Mission Regional Medical Center’s Neonatal/Pediatric Transport Team, wishes to thank the Kiwanis Club of McAllen for their 5-Year, $5000 sponsorship commitment.

“Our mission is to improve the lives of children,” states Terry Wilson, Kiwanis Club president.  “So, when we look for organizations and projects to support, we look for the ones that share our purpose. Mission Regional’s Transport Team is the only dedicated, hospital-based transport team in the Rio Grande Valley, and the work of this special Team is the ‘life or death’ sort.  The members of this special team are making a huge difference in the lives of critically ill infants and children.  Thanks to them, they have a chance to grow up and lead healthy lives.”

In 2009, the Team transported 130 sick or injured infants and children. Some were transported to Mission Regional’s state-of-the-art NICU, while others were safely carried to higher-level-of-care facilities as far north as Temple. In addition, this team of specially trained nurses and respiratory therapists responded to more than 1,000 calls for assistance within the hospital, and participated in 24 community education events.

“The ‘rapid response’ Transport Team is an integral part of Children’s Services at Mission Regional,” asserts Anne Wilson, RN, department director. “Since the 2007, expansion of our Level II & III NICU, we’ve been carefully building a quality program designed to deliver the very best care to the children of South Texas.  As a result, this department now includes a NICU surgical suite and a pediatric step-down unit, tailored to meet the special needs of infants and children in the most appropriate environment of care.” 

“We are grateful to Mr. Wilson and every member of the Kiwanis Club of McAllen for choosing to support our Transport Team,” acknowledges Marianna Trevino Wright, director of The Foundation at Mission Regional Medical Center.  “Their multi-year commitment to fund this program not only allowed us to acquire the costume for our mascot, Transport Teddy, but also to purchase small teddy bears for distribution to our patients and at community events.”

Transport Teddy accompanies the Team on public appearances and acts as their ‘good will’ ambassador at schools and health fairs, when the Team teaches children about safety and basic first aid.  When responding to calls for assistance, the Team carries small teddy bears to help comfort children and their families during a difficult and frightening time.

The Transport Teddy Program is a special project of The Foundation at Mission Regional Medical Center, your nonprofit hospital.  To donate to this program, or one of The Foundation’s other projects, please call 956.323.1102, or visit www.thefoundationatmrmc.org.

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About Mission Regional Medical Center

Mission Regional Medical Center is a nonprofit 297-bed medical center that provides a comprehensive range of inpatient and outpatient hospital services: a full service Emergency Department Unit offering "Fast Track" Urgent Care; a dedicated inpatient Rehabilitation Unit; an Intensive Care Unit; Wound Care; cutting-edge imaging technology for accurate diagnosis and treatment; a nationally recognized maternity center and cardio pulmonary department; a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU); a dedicated pediatric unit, plus a complete continuum of medical care by a caring and compassionate staff, to serve the community’s health care needs.

Ranked among the top 10% of hospitals in the country for Clinical Excellence in Orthopedic Services (total knee replacement surgery) and Five-Star Rated in Maternity Care, Mission Regional Medical Center has been offering quality health care, close to home, for more than 50 years.

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