Not many wish to spend their days in a hospital, yet many have walked through our doors seeking care for themselves or someone they love. The Sheridan Memorial Hospital (SMH) Auxiliary is different. These volunteers choose to be here — to help, to care and to serve the community. They play a pivotal role in enhancing the hospital experience for our patients.
A Mission to Comfort and Improve
The SMH Auxiliary Board has long been dedicated to fulfilling their mission: “to provide comfort to and better the welfare of SMH patients.” Each year, they deliberate carefully on the best way to allocate funds to make others’ journey through the hospital less daunting. They contribute to Sheridan Memorial Hospital to ensure that friends, families, neighbors and even patients they may not know have an excellent experience. This year, their commitment led to a unanimous decision — a $20,000 gift in 2026 to enhance patient care in two of SMH’s growing clinics.
The first was an innovative echo bed for the Heart Center, intended to enhance patient comfort during echocardiogram procedures. The second was the acquisition of new vital sign monitors for the Primary Care clinic, designed to boost efficiency and reduce patient visit duration.
On the Auxiliary Board are volunteers who had experienced both the Heart Center and Primary Care firsthand. They saw the challenges patients faced and how an upgrade could make a world of difference. These volunteers knew the proposed changes would not only bring relief to patients but also support staff in delivering more efficient care. They believed in the essential role the hospital played in their lives and wanted to contribute to its betterment.
Enhancing Efficiency
Imagine lying on a bed, feeling unwell and being asked to twist and turn into various positions for imaging. The echo bed, however, changes this narrative. Designed to move with the patient, it allows the sonographer to access the patient from all sides effortlessly. A simple but revolutionary change, it ensures every position is achieved with comfort and care, significantly reducing patient discomfort during an echocardiogram.
Primary Care will also see transformative changes with the new vital sign monitors. By increasing rooming efficiency, these monitors reduce wait times and ensure a smoother, more organized patient flow. They have become indispensable tools in a clinic experiencing increased patient volume as we serve a growing population.
Philanthropy in Action
With their remarkable $20,000 gift, the SMH Auxiliary challenged the SMH Foundation to match their generous gift and fully support these critical projects. Together, they committed to enhancing patient care by ensuring all necessary upgrades were completed.
Through the unwavering dedication of board members, volunteers, and community donors, Sheridan Memorial Hospital continues to be committed to its mission – providing excellent patient-centered care.
With the Auxiliary Board and the SMH Foundation working in tandem, their combined effort and generous donors underlined the power of philanthropy and the tangible difference that enhanced technology can bring to both patients and staff in a growing hospital and community.
To learn more about volunteering or joining the Sheridan Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Board, please click here or reach out to Development Coordinator Jasmine Martinez at 307.675.2620.
If you wish to join the SMH Foundation in their efforts to support your community hospital, please click here or reach out to the team at 307.673.2418.