Northern California Doctors and Nurses Are Major Volunteers for Hurricane Relief

Pair of Sutter Health Network Employees Even Shave their Heads to Help Victims in the Gulf Coast

SACRAMENTO, Calif., September 29, 2005 – From providing critical medical care to counseling those in grief, doctors, nurses and other employees across the Sutter Health network have volunteered nearly 100 days or approximately 2,400 hours to help the victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

"We learned from a study just released today by the Salvation Army and Red Cross officials that California is the nation's most generous contributor to victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita," said Patrick Fry, president and CEO of Sutter Health. "I am proud to say that caregivers across the Sutter Health network have added greatly to this outpouring of support."

On top of a $500,000 donation provided by Sutter Health to the American Red Cross, Sacramento Sierra Chapter, (the largest donation ever given to the chapter by a single organization), the Sutter family of not-for-profit hospitals, physician organizations and foundations has contributed extraordinary additional amounts of time, money and kindness to help the victims in the Gulf Coast.

Some donations include:

• Sutter-affiliated Palo Alto Medical Foundation in the Bay area donated $20,000.
• Sutter-affiliated Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley donated an additional $5,000 and is matching all of the funds donated by its employees.
• The Sutter Maternity and Surgery Center of Santa Cruz collected $1,500 for Hurricane relief.
• Two Sutter Health network employees at Sutter Roseville Medical Center even shaved their heads as part of a fundraiser that raised another $3,700 to help victims of these disasters.

"Our physicians, nurses and other caregivers provided whatever they could to those hurting thousands of miles away. I am overwhelmed by the quality of people working within our organization," concluded Fry.

Summary of Support to Date

• Donated more than a half million dollars
• Provided more than 300 containers of medical supplies and additional goods including hygiene kits
• Numerous Sutter Health network volunteers have traveled to affected areas, including:
  • Physicians
  • Nurses
  • Chaplains
  • Licensed clinical social workers
  • Physician’s assistants
  • Patient account representatives
  • Radiation therapists
  • Transcriptionists
• Sutter Health volunteers have spent nearly 100 days or nearly 2,400 hours providing care in the Gulf Coast

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Contact
Kami Lloyd
(916) 286-6680
lloydk@sutterhealth.org