Proceeds: Your Support Makes a Difference!

Proceeds from the 2010 Birthday Ball go towards Auxiliary projects including new ultrasound technology in the Center for Women's Health in addition to healthcare professional scholarships.

Ultrasound Technology

The new ultrasound machine will feature improved image quality and reliability, a measuring package so that the doctor can know the baby’s head size, which can help to determine the age of the fetus as well as predict certain problems. It also has better color capabilities, which allows the technicians to better watch blood flow in the umbilical cord.

An ultrasound will help doctors discover several problems with the fetus, such as cleft palate, Down Syndrome, and uterine problems in women such as cysts on the ovaries and uterine problems. It can confirm a viable pregnancy and determine the position of the baby. It is used as a survey tool to determine if the baby’s organs are developing correctly, if the placenta is in good shape, if there is enough fluid around the baby, if the baby is growing and be a true predictor of the number of fetuses. It can produce a biophysical profile of the baby’s breathing, muscle tone, flexion of muscles and amniotic fluid.

Other uses of the machine are for many gynecological procedures. The length of the cervix can be determined, uterine abnormalities such as fibroid tumors, polyps, and problems with the endometrium, such as cancer, can be found. Doctors use the machine for IUD placement, saline infusion for sonograms, amniocentesis and to determine if any tissue is left after a miscarriage.

The OB Department at Winona Health delivers between 350 and 400 babies a year, and the ultrasound machine is used for every baby. The new ultrasound machine would also serve as an upgrade to the status of the facility, enticing many more parents to choose Winona Health as the place to be to deliver their precious babies.

Scholarships

Each year the Winona Health Auxiliary Carol Hill Scholarship committee awards $20,000 in scholarships to students pursuing a career in healthcare. Since the Auxiliary awarded its first nursing scholarship in 1962, more than $471,000 has been awarded. With your support, we are pleased to be able to help these students as they begin their education in healthcare or are in the process of completing their healthcare program.

Pictured are some of the 2010-2011 scholarship recipients and committee members. Recipients are Amber Bonow, Linda Brunkow, Traci Ciszak, Alicia Grossell, Amy Huerkamp, Chancey Klein, Justine Koenen, Rebecca Lamberty, Wade Lawson, Megan Lehnertz, Barbara Olson, Crystal Payne, Violeta Petkova, Suzzanne Plaisance, Heather Repinski, Erin Rieckenberg, Amy Schmidtknecht, Pao Vang, Susana Venegas, Emilie Volkman and Heidi Wenzel.