Latrobe Area Hospital Charitable Foundation (LAHCF)

Latrobe Area Hospital Charitable foundationthe mission of the Latrobe Area Hospital Charitable Foundation (lahcf) is to facilitate the very best in community-based health care at excela health. Latrobe Hospital supports the excela health system in improving the health and well-being of every life touched. Since the Foundation's establishment in 1995, the community has provided generous support for the betterment of Latrobe Hospital and the areas it serves. Contributions have gone to educational programs and projects that have been far-reaching and comprehensive. Serving as the steward for all contributions received on behalf of excela health Latrobe Hospital, the Foundation also supports the Hospital by administering numerous donor-specified contributions toward projects such as cardiac rehabilitation, childhood obesity nutrition program, adolescent behavioral health, epic rehab, and the excela health Latrobe family medicine residency, among others. Throughout its history, the lahcf has supported many initiatives so that the message and practice of good health, disease prevention, and wellness reach community members of all ages. Redefining surgical and cancer care in fy22, the excela health surgical institute, based at excela Latrobe Hospital, was created with a focus on advanced cancer care and treatment. The entire surgical institute project represents a $10 million investment by the health system in both technology and facility upgrades. The surgical institute features a state-of-the-art operating room. The centerpiece of the operating room is the davinci xi, the latest iteration of the surgical robot as well as other upgraded instruments and equipment. To further the build-out of the program, the lahcf has pledged $2 million to the project. The Foundation maintained its support for child and adolescent behavioral health services at both the inpatient and outpatient level. Disruptions to school and family life exacerbated by the covid-19 pandemic saw a sharp rise in demand for care as well as the need for innovative ways to reach this population. Therapists turned to virtual support groups to address anxiety, anger management and gender identity issues among others.donations in support of home care helped to facilitate service to hospice patients and their families during a time of transition. The demand for bereavement services also accelerated in fy22 as a result of covid, with the Foundation supporting various grief and loss programs facilitated by the health system's home care division.the Foundation also supports the health needs of the community through a program called healthy habits. For more than a decade, a local registered dietitian has provided health and wellness education and information to the community related to healthy and nutritional foods and beverages and how to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle. In spite of the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic, she remains committed to excela health audiences through blogs as well as interactive cooking demonstrations for the excela health mall walkers community outreach program, so she can continue to share healthy habit educational messages.