The Foundation is pleased to announce the 2012 recipients of the Donna Swartzfager Memorial Award. The award was established through the creation of the Donna Swartzfager Memorial Fund in 2010 after the unexpected passing of Donna Swartzfager, the beloved Director of Medical Staff Services. The Fund serves as a living memorial to Donna and provides support for the professional continuing education, training and certification of EJGH team members and current EJGH physician office staff.

On Monday, May 14^th, East Jefferson General Hospital physicians, staff, donors, board members, local business leaders, and friends of EJGH came together on a sunny day to participate in The Foundation at EJGH's 10^th Annual Golf Classic. Held at the Chateau Golf and Country Club, this year’s tournament allows the Foundation to invest over $52,000 in the expansion of the EJGH Outpatient Oncology Infusion Center.

Led by Platinum Sponsors Cerner and Humana, 33 sponsor teams enjoyed friendly competition and a shot at winning a brand new car, thanks to Hole-In-One Sponsor Peake BMW. Rounding out the day’s festivities was an awards ceremony and cocktail reception with a live auction featuring a trip to Pinehurst, NC to compete in the National BMW Golf Cup as well participation in The EJGH Fitness Principle Golf Academy.

“We are extremely thankful for our sponsors, volunteers and participants who have made this event so successful again this year,” said Annual Golf Classic Chair Bob Mathis. “Because of the support we received for our golf tournament, patient care will be enhanced and above all, more lives will be saved. We thank our partners for joining with us in our mission to provide the highest quality, compassionate care to the patients and community we serve.”

East Jefferson General Hospital is one of only 45 Magnet hospitals in the nation to be selected for study.

The Foundation recently granted its second gift of $10,000 to the Improving Heart Failures Outcomes Research Study. This gift, combined with previous support, raises the total contribution to this lifesaving study to $20,000. As one of only 45 Nurse Magnet hospitals in the country selected by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, EJGH stands as a regional leader in treating patients with heart failure complications. East Jefferson is also the only hospital in the region to earn the prestigious Gold Award in Heart Failure Care from the American Heart Association.

"As a Magnet hospital, we are always focused on improving outcomes through excellent nursing care," said Nicole Jones, RN, Clinical Nurse Specialist and Heart Failure Program Coordinator. "We are so grateful to The Foundation for recognizing the value of nursing research in improving patient outcomes at our hospital, within our community and throughout the nation."