Opening the Doors to all of DeKalb
Providing care to community members who do not have easy access to healthcare was the focus of this campaign component. Two projects, the Physicians’ Care Clinic and a new van for the Wellness on Wheels program, received funds to continue offering healthcare services to low-income, refugee and immigrant populations in DeKalb County. For more information or to support these ongoing programs, select the following links:
Teaching, Testing and Treating for Better Health
Diabetes and cancer affect thousands of our neighbors in DeKalb County. Money raised for this initiative expanded DeKalb Medical’s diabetes education program to address a growing health problem in the community and set up a special endowment fund for the cancer center to use for patient support services and clinical research studies.
Designing for Health
DeKalb Medical at Hillandale was designed with new standards that promote healing and improve patient outcomes have been established for DeKalb Medical. The hospital is a fresh, modern facility that incorporates soothing colors, natural lighting, water and other healing elements of nature, all-private room accommodations and convenient amenities for patients and their families. Upgrades to DeKalb Medical’s other two campuses were also made a part of this campaign.
Building a Healthier Tomorrow
2006 to 2008
- Raised $5.5 million to enhance the health of our community. The campaign consisted of the following initiatives that focused on health and wellness.
Diagnosing the Future
2003 to 2005
Raised more than $5 million to enhance cancer care in our community through prevention, early detection and treatment offered by our Charles B. Eberhart Cancer Center. The project addressed the physical and emotional impacts of the disease through the following elements:
- PET/CT scanning technology combines traditional PET and CT scanning capabilities into one, more superior diagnostic capability, resulting in more detailed images that aid in earlier diagnosis and treatment of a variety of cancers.
- Digital mammography is the latest tool in diagnosing breast cancer, which is the leading cancer diagnosed here at DeKalb Medical. In 2008, 339 new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed here. Digital mammography can enhance the diagnosis of breast cancer.
- Stereotactic radiosurgery is a very high-tech treatment that uses precise, three-dimensional, radiation beams to treat brain abnormalities, including both malignant tumors and noncancerous lesions.
- The cancer center’s endowment was increased from approximately $2.5 million to more than $3 million to provide long-term financial stability for the community outreach programs offered by the Eberhart Cancer Center. These programs range from counseling services to clinical research studies to patient education materials.
Community Partnership 2000
1996 to 2001
Raised $5 million to fund collaborative community effort to significantly improve the health of DeKalb County residents. Components of the campaign included the following initiatives:
- Delivered free health care to over 1,000 patients who may, or may not, have jobs, but no health insurance, through the Physicians’ Care Clinic.
- Funded the Herbert E. Kahn, M.D., Cancer Center, which offers outpatient cancer treatment, prevention programs, and support services for children and families of cancer patients.
- Provided health screenings and education to 2,550 children through the City Schools of Decatur Program for Children’s Health.
- Purchased and operated Wellness on Wheels, a mobile van that served more than 3,800 DeKalb residents without access to traditional health care, primarily non-English speaking new residents.
Emergency Center Project
1994 to 1996
- Raised $1.6 million for capital and equipment needs for new Emergency Center.
Maternity/Outpatient Surgery Center
1991 to 1994
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