CALLING CARD PROGRAM

For two siblings and their extended family, a situation that occurred during the recent death of their sister, empowered them to help others in a similar circumstance.

After Joanne Oelhafen suffered fatal injuries in a motor vehicle collision, her sisters Arlene Debevec and Marjorie Debevec-Marksteiner were among the first family members to arrive in the Emergency Department at Saint Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield. In their attempts to contact family members, they found they could not make a long distance call as neither of them had a calling card with them.

Unfortunately, in the confusion of the situation, they were not put in touch with Hospital staff who are able to make long distance calls in emergency situations for families.

As the family rallied together after the loss of Joanne, Arlene began thinking about how she and her relatives might assist other families who face a similar plight trying to make long distance calls in an emergency situation. They considered purchasing a small supply of calling cards for the Hospital.

Marjorie proposed the idea, and the Foundation of Saint Joseph's Hospital Board of Directors approved funding of the project. According to Greg Netteshein, Foundation President, the idea appealed to the Board because it definately helps patients and families in a crisis and wasn't something that the Hospital would normally provide. The Foundation Board voted this summer to again underwrite the purchase of 6,000 10-minute cards for the Emergency Department, Critical Care and Intensive Care Units, Palliative Care Unit, Birth Center and House of the Dove. Children's Miracle Network purchased an additional 4,000 cards for the Pediatric and Neonatal Units of Saint Joseph's Hospital. The total project cost was $10,200, which will provide approximately a one-year supply of cards.

"We had no idea the Foundation would fund a project of this magnitude," Marjorie said. "For us, it started as just a simple idea to give something back to the community, and preserve the memory of our sister." All cards allow for a 10-minute call, and families who require more than one card receive an appropriate quantity.

The Foundation and CMN Board of Directors anticipate that the calling card program will be funded on an annual basis. In addition to the critical care units, the Patient and Family Services Department at Saint Joseph's Hospital issues cards to families within the Hospital based on financial need. All of the other units with the calling cards provide the cards to any patient or family member needing to make a long distance call during an emergency situation.

"It means so much for our family to somehow have a positive effect on people's lives," reflects Arlene. "It's a good program that will help others, and something for us to contribute to in memory of Joanne."