Chrestor Charity Challenge helps hospital buy equipment
Money given to Uniontown Hospital through the Crestor Charity Challenge at this year’s 84 Lumber Classic golf tournament will be used to pay for a hemodynamic monitoring device for the cardiac catheterization laboratory, said hospital President and CEO Paul Bacharach. Bacharach said a hemodynamic monitoring device is used to monitor patients’ vital signs when they have diagnostic procedures or therapeutic procedures done. The device costs about $100,000, he said.
The Crestor Charity Challenge, sponsored by AstraZeneca, an international healthcare business, is a season-long competition that recognizes and rewards the tournament leader entering the final round at 35 PGA Tour events, including the 84 Lumber Classic at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa.
Bacharach said Crestor will donate $50,000 to Uniontown Hospital, noting that the rest of the money needed to pay for the device will come out of operating fund money set aside each year to update and purchase equipment.
In addition to donating $50,000 to the hospital, AstraZeneca will also donate $50,000 to the healthcare charity chosen by the tournament leader, according to a Crestor press release.
“Giving back is at the heart of the PGA Tour, and AstraZeneca is pleased to be able to support this by offering health education and recognizing local communities through the Crestor Charity Challenge,” stated Tony Zook, AstraZeneca senior vice president of commercial operations, in the same press release.
“The Crestor Charity Challenge will not only add an exciting new twist to the PGA Tour, but will also help the tour reach its milestone of $1 billion in charitable donations within the next few years.”
PGA Tour officials hope to donate $1 billion dollars to charitable organizations as part of the tour’s “Drive to a Billion” campaign.
This is the second time AstraZeneca has donated money to Uniontown Hospital. The business also donated $50,000 to the hospital last year, in addition to donating $50,000 to the American Red Cross.
Bacharach said hospital administrators decided to pay for part of the hemodynamic monitoring device with the money from AstraZeneca since Crestor is a prescription medication primarily used to lower cholesterol levels, which can prevent heart disease, heart attacks and strokes in some patients.
“We thought it was an appropriate use of the money,” he said.