The Carroll Hospital Center received its first multi-million dollar gift ever and it intends to use the money for intiaitives that include a new cancer center, a community education center, increased cardiovascular and stroke services and new technology.

The Carroll Hospital Center Foundation, the nonprofit organization that oversees the fundraising efforts of Carroll Hospital Center and Carroll Hospice, announced that the Taneytown-based Kahlert Foundation has donated $5 million to the “Campaign to Cure & Comfort, Always,” a new $22 million community fundraising initiative, according to a hospital news release.

This is the first multi-million dollar gift the hospital has received in its 50-year history, according to the release.

Funds donated through the “Campaign to Cure & Comfort, Always” will directly support five key areas including:

• Cancer center – Beginning in 2013, a new cancer center will be constructed adjacent to the Dixon Building on Carroll Hospital Center’s campus. The new facility will house expanded cancer services and provide coordinated care for patients with all types and stages of cancer.
• Community education and wellness center – Major renovations to the Dixon Building will include new conference space for healthy living and learning opportunities as well as an expanded library and resources to help the hospital better prevent illness and promote wellness in the community.
• Cardiovascular and stroke – Cardiovascular diseases and stroke are two of the leading causes of death in Carroll County. To address this community need, Carroll Hospital Center plans to develop clinics for congestive heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, chronic pulmonary disease and diabetes. The hospital also hopes to expand its offering of vascular procedures, angioplasty programs and begin to work towards earning designation as a stroke center.
• Emerging technology – With support from campaign funds, Carroll Hospital Center plans to continue to obtain the most advanced diagnostic, medical and communications equipment and make improvements in electronic medical records, medication safety and comprehensive tele-education for patients and other clinical advancements.
• Endowment funds – Campaign funds will be used to create an interest accruing savings account that Carroll Hospital Center and Carroll Hospice can use to support everyday non-reimbursable expenses such as bereavement and spiritual services, the palliative pediatric care program, navigation services, gaps in medical costs vs. reimbursement, funding scholarships, community outreach and other needs.

The campaign’s focus on hospice and cancer care hold special meaning for Greg Kahlert, president of the Kahlert Foundation, and motivated the foundation’s donation. His father, William Kahlert, co-founder of Evapco, Inc., died from liver cancer in 2011.

“We are honored that the Kahlert Foundation has chosen to give so generously to our campaign,” said John Sernulka, Carroll Hospital Center’s president and CEO. “This gift will impact thousands of people in our community and will continue to shape the future of quality health care in Carroll County.”

For more information on the five initiatives of the campaign or to learn how to participate, please contact the Carroll Hospital Center Foundation at 410-871-6200 or visit www.carrollhospitalcenter.org/campaign.