Contributions Help Outpatient Pediatric Rehab Obtain Equipment Enabling Parents to Extend Therapy to the Home

Contact: Robby Channell, 601-968-5135 rchannell@mbhs.org

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Jackson, Miss. – October 17, 2006 – Speech Therapist Mary Lou Sorey works in the Baptist Outpatient Pediatric Rehabilitation, a division of Baptist Medical Center in Jackson, Miss., treating cerebral palsy and developmentally delayed children. Parents of these special-needs children often find it difficult to continue using the needed therapeutic techniques in their homes, which can make it harder to reinforce their child’s learning.

Through donations to the Baptist Health Foundation, outpatient rehab was recently able to purchase “augmentative communication devices” and “positioning equipment” which enhance the patients’ communication skills and fine motor skill development. Now, parents can check out the needed devices through outpatient rehab’s lending library and help their child improve skills in the home.

“Equipment for special-needs children can be outrageously priced; so for a parent to buy something to use for three or six months and then turn around and have to buy something new or different shortly after can get expensive. Insurance doesn’t pay for the majority of the communicative devices,” Sorey added. “With the equipment we were able to purchase through generous contributions to Baptist, it has opened up a whole new world and quality of life for our patients and their families.”

Kim Niskala of Brandon, Miss. agreed. She brings her six-year-old son, Gabriel, to outpatient rehab once a week. She explained how important having access to equipment is as she expands her child’s therapy at home.

“Now, he can use a communication device throughout the week at home. The more he uses it, the more he comprehends and retains what he learns. Without the device he can’t communicate at all. We can take turns reading a book, saying a prayer at meal-time, or he can even sing with a person,” Niskala said. “So it is a huge benefit for us to be able to use this equipment and not have to purchase something he would only have to use for three or six months.”

Baptist frequently receives memorial and honor gifts from the public through the Baptist Health Foundation. To make donating easier, Baptist has established online giving through its website, www.mbhs.org/foundation, using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology, which is the industry standard to keep private information secure.

“For decades, the generosity of individuals, employees, businesses and community leaders has helped Baptist serve patients. Online giving makes the process quicker and easier,” said Baptist Vice President and Chief Development Officer Jim Moore. “The donor still receives a thank-you letter and an acknowledgement is sent to whomever the donor designates.”

“It’s helped us expand his therapy,” Niskala continued to say. “Kids like Gabe need to do things over and over not just once a week. So contributions to Baptist are important. We have therapists come to our home, and they can use the equipment to help with his therapy.”

For more information visit www.mbhs.org/foundation or call 601-968-1489.

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