The Donor Difference

At Barnes-Jewish Hospital, some patients need additional help overcoming barriers that prevent them from successfully transitioning home to lead healthy lives. Thanks to dedicated patient care funds provided by donors to the Foundation, hospital social workers are able to provide these patients with resources—transportation, lodging, medical equipment, bill assistance, gift cards for medicine, food, car seats, and cribs—at a time of urgent need. Here’s just one of 30,000 annual stories of how these donor funds are put to use:

Gina was overjoyed after the birth of her child. However, she was also heavy with worry because the electricity had been disconnected at her home as overwhelming bills mounted. Through patient care funds at The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital, electricity was restored to Gina’s home so her new baby could get a healthy start.

“I could see a visible weight lift from her shoulders,” says the Barnes-Jewish Hospital case manager who helped Gina. “This money was life-changing for this family. I’m proud of our ability as health care providers to acknowledge how social determinants of health play such a significant role in our patients’ lives. And I’m proud of an institution that can use its financial capital to invest in patients.”