Spring 2024 TFHS Foundation News

From the blossoming wildflowers that carpet our trails to the sun-kissed docks at Donner Lake, every moment is infused with the spirit of possibility and shared purpose. Join us as we celebrate the beauty of the season and the remarkable generosity of our community. The Tahoe Forest Health System Foundation team reflects on our accomplishments for 2023, and we are profoundly grateful for your support. Your donations empower us to fulfill our mission of providing exceptional healthcare services and programs that enrich the lives of those we serve. Together, we embody the spirit of compassion and community.

We know now, more than ever, how vital local healthcare is for this community. During the 1920s, these essential healthcare services required extensive travel out of our area. This unfortunately resulted in the loss of Dick Joseph’s wife during the birth to their twin daughters. Mr. Joseph was inspired to donate the land on which Tahoe Forest Hospital currently resides, to ensure no other family would experience this profound loss due to distance. His generous act laid the foundation for what Tahoe Forest Health System has become.

With immense gratitude, we celebrate a significant milestone this year: the 75th anniversary of Tahoe Forest Health System. This milestone is a testament to the enduring commitment and unwavering support of individuals like you, who have made our journey possible. Foundation work helps guarantee that Tahoe Forest Health System, a not-for-profit organization, is here to serve our community for the next 75 years.

In this edition of our eNewsletter, we are excited to:

• Share updates on our recent Giving Tuesday campaign, which exemplifies the spirit of generosity and collective action.
• Present a heartfelt testimonial from our Grateful Patient Program, highlighting the extraordinary care exhibited by our dedicated healthcare professionals.
• Inform you of the highly anticipated feature, On My Way, available at Tahoe Forest Urgent Care Clinics.
• Introduce you to our newest board member, Scott, who brings invaluable insights and a wealth of experience to our Tahoe Forest Health System Foundation Board.
• Present our 2023 TFHS Foundation Stewardship Report, which elaborates the ways in which our fundraising increases access to local patient services.

Your support is invaluable. Through your generous contributions, we continue to fortify lifesaving programs and services at Tahoe Forest Health System. As we commemorate 75 years of dedicated service, we set our sights on the next 75 years of healthcare excellence.

In gratitude,

Karli Epstein
Executive Director

We proudly celebrate the Foundation’s annual accomplishments while educating our communities about our important work. We are grateful for any opportunity to illustrate how the support of our donors helps Health System provide essential care. With that, we are eager to share our 2023 Stewardship Report in this eNewsletter!

In this annual report, we share impressive patient census data, inform you about the innovative technology we are helping to support, demonstrate how your gifts are elevating local healthcare, and provide a brief overview of how you can donate.

Each year, we look forward to circulating this brochure within our communities. We hope you will be as excited as we are about our successes!

View the electronic version of our 2023 TFHS Foundation Stewardship Report

#GivingTuesday is a global day of giving, created with one simple idea in mind: to encourage people to do good things. It has since grown into a movement that has inspired hundreds of millions of people worldwide to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. By supporting organizations and causes that are important to us, communities are transformed.

We are thrilled to announce, thanks to your help, that we have exceeded our expanded match! This record-breaking #GivingTuesday, raising more than $90,000, enables our Cancer Center team to offer Oncology Support Services for our Cancer Center patients and their caregivers.

One hundred percent of every donation designated to Oncology Support Services goes toward a whole-person approach to cancer care, and provides services such as individual counseling, massage therapy, acupuncture, and biofeedback – to mention just a few! We are proud to partner with our community to be able to ensure every cancer patient and their caregivers have access to these supportive services during an extremely challenging time.

“When patients realize they can receive counseling, massage, acupuncture, biofeedback, and exercise classes for no cost, they are surprised by the level of care they are receiving, but … there is part of me that believes they intuitively know that those services should be available for anyone going through cancer treatment. Patients and the Cancer Center staff recognize that if you are going through cancer, you deserve more than just chemotherapy or radiation. People being treated for cancer deserve whole-body care.” – Kirk Ditterich, MSW, PsyD.

The TFHS Grateful Patient program was created to provide patients with a way of sharing gratitude with caregivers and staff for the care either they or a loved one received. Supporting patient services, through gifts and words of appreciation, help us enhance expert and compassionate healthcare. Read on to learn more about one grateful patient’s experience at Tahoe Forest.

“From day one, my experience at TFHS has been by far the best medical care I have ever received.”

“It starts as soon as you enter the door; you’re greeted with a warm welcome and always a smile. It doesn’t matter which department you enter; the reception is always the same. Even upon my first experience in the cafeteria, the greeting was great.”

“The staff, from the doctors to medical assistants are professionals; informative and generous with their time. I would love to list by name all my encounters with staff, but I could never get this finished.”

“I highly recommended this facility to all looking for medical excellence. I have reached a point of ‘fear’ in sharing my experience at TFHS, knowing the impact could affect the future. (Pretty selfish on my part.)”

“Thank you again for making the necessity a welcomed experience. I will continue to support this medical center as long as my time on earth continues.”

THANK YOU!
A Grateful Patient

Are you interested in sharing a Grateful Patient story or giving a gift in honor of the care you received at TFHS? Visit our Grateful Patient webpage.

Patients requiring urgent care services are now able to “get in line” prior to arriving at Tahoe Forest Urgent Care clinics in Truckee and Tahoe City. The easy-to-use online tool called On My Way is available through a the patient’s MyChart app on any smart device or via the Tahoe Forest Health System website.

“We respect how valuable our patients’ time is,” said Harry Weis, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tahoe Forest Health System. “With MyChart’s On My Way feature, our goal is not only to shorten wait times at our Urgent Care clinics but also to improve patient experience and access to care.”

The new tool can be accessed through the Tahoe Forest Health System website at TFHD.com/urgent-care or through an existing MyChart account. Inside the On My Way widget, users simply select the desired urgent care location and time increment at which they plan to arrive.

It’s important to note the On My Way widget does not guarantee an appointment; however, TFHS Urgent Care clinics will do their best to see all patients in a timely manner. Walk-ins to TFHS Urgent Care clinics are always welcome.

For a comprehensive list of clinic locations and additional details about On My Way, please visit www.tfhd.com

Our team members play a vital role in advancing TFHS’ mission of cultivating healthier, stronger communities. Their commitment extends beyond their daily responsibilities; when they generously donate to support the care they help deliver, it conveys a profound belief in the life-saving impact of our Health System.

This year we launched our internal fundraising campaign, Raising $75,000 for 75 Years of Tahoe Forest Health System. Team Member Giving funds raised this year will be designated to the Perinatal Emergency Readiness program. This program will focus on collaborative training and drills between the Obstetrics and Emergency departments to better prepare for obstetric emergencies as they arise. We are so close to reaching our goal of raising $75,000 with hopes to purchase instrument carts for both OB and ER as well as the maternal manikin, Victoria. This technologically advanced manikin can simulate a wide range of obstetric emergencies such as hemorrhaging and breach deliveries. With many Obstetric departments in the region closing their doors, preparation for these emergencies is crucial to our lifesaving efforts.

Hundreds of employees participate in the Foundation’s Team Member Giving Program. Read below to learn what inspired Jan Iida, Chief Nursing Officer, to become involved:

“I am a firm believer in giving back. I have a great deal of faith in our healthcare system, the staff that we work with every day, and in the care provided to our patients. We can help those who are in need by giving, and we can also give to purchase equipment to keep our expertise high or provide increased services to our community. TFHS team member giving is a great way to show my gratitude and to make a difference.”

By sharing valued skills, professional dedication, and charitable gifts with the Health System, staff members like Jan help provide critical resources and advance care. This benefits our patients, their families, your loved ones, and other employees. We are extraordinarily grateful for our staff’s commitment to your care!

If you would like to join the many TFHS team members who give gifts in honor of local healthcare, please visit www.tfhd.com/giving to learn more.

Save the Date!
Inspired by the idea of gathering together as a community and celebrating the growth of the Tahoe Forest Health System, the 75th Anniversary Fall Festival and Fun Run will highlight and celebrate the community.

Please join us for this community event and fun run at Truckee Regional Park on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for this event, contact the TFHS Foundation at [email protected] for more information.

Scott and his wife Sarah, along with their two college-age children, split their time between Berkeley and Truckee. Lately, they are spending more time in Truckee, with plans to retire here. Their migration has already begun, as Sarah lives in Truckee full-time in the winter working for the Vail Corporation. Scott has worked in the financial services industry for nearly 30 years, primarily for Fidelity Investments. He is currently at Goldman Sachs in the Asset & Wealth Management division based in San Francisco. Scott has previous experience serving on nonprofit boards and fundraising, and presently serves on the Board of The Archie Bray Foundation, a ceramic arts residency program in Helena, Montana. Scott and Sarah are passionate about the environment and the preservation of the Sierra, and the thoughtful growth of Truckee and its community.

The Foundation is incredibly honored to welcome Scott Wessel as our newest addition to the Tahoe Forest Health System Foundation Board. We look forward to collaborating with Scott in this role as Board Member.

We are always proud to share some of the positive recognition we receive from patients, honoring the compassionate care provided at Tahoe Forest Health System!

“The care that my dad received and the kindness shown to my family as a whole was incredible. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

“Went to this facility for both chemo and now radiation. Both times it was amazing how kind, caring and friendly EVERYONE was. Thank you!!”

“The nursing team is incredible. We were so grateful for their extra care and attention!”

“I am a retired physician, and I was treated with care, concern, and respect throughout my visit. Most everyone had a sense of humor. Wish that all medical services replicated my experience at TFHD.”

“In a time of stress, they helped me stay calm by keeping me well informed and cared for. Many thanks!”

Learn more about the Foundation by following the Health System on social media! We post updates weekly.

Instagram Username: tahoeforesthealthsystem
Facebook Page: Tahoe Forest Health System
Twitter Account: TahoeForestHospital

Thank you for your interest in the Tahoe Forest Health System Foundation. To learn more about the different ways you can support TFH through philanthropy, visit www.tfhd.com/giving/giving or contact Karli Epstein, Executive Director, at 530-582-4204 or [email protected].

If you are not on our electronic mailing list, sign up to receive our quarterly TFHS Foundation eNewsletter.