Virtua Impressions 2018

10 Marques and Emily Colston Support Technology for Early Intervention The Heart House and Virtua Foundation join together for hearts across South Jersey AED Program Recognized with AHA Heartsaver Award Thanks to retired NFL wide receiver, entrepreneur and philanthropist Marques Colston and his wife, Emily, practitioners in Virtua’s Pediatric Early Intervention Program (P-EIP) now have the technology they need to provide children and families with the most comprehensive and streamlined care possible. Through The Power to Heal campaign, the Colstons recently made a $50,000 gift that enabled Virtua to equip all 88 of its P-EIP caregivers with a new iPad complete with protective case and keyboard, along with software applications designed to benefit the patients they serve. This contribution has made a world of difference for Virtua’s P-EIP professionals, who deliver customized, in-home therapy to children ages 3 and under who have or are at risk for developmental delays. With their new iPads, these practitioners can manage and report data, respond to inquiries, receive new assignments and perform other tasks more efficiently than ever before, while also accessing specialty applications and other valuable resources during appointments. By generously funding upgrades to the technology used across Virtua’s P-EIP, the Colstons have ensured that children in need of early intervention services will continue to grow and thrive. During National Heart Month in February,The Heart House—South Jersey’s largest independent cardiology practice—andVirtua Foundation began distributing life-saving automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to community organizations across Camden and Burlington counties. AEDs are easy-to-use, portable devices that deliver an electric shock that can fix an irregular heartbeat and allow the heart’s normal rhythm to resume, significantly increasing a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival. However, many community centers and other neighborhood facilities lack an AED on site—an issue this joint initiative aims to fix. Dr. Sanford Gips andThe Heart House generously contributed funding for Virtua Foundation to purchase 25 AEDs, and together, the institutions are distributing the devices around the region as well as providing cardiac health education.Their efforts were recognized in June at the American Heart Association (AHA) and American Stroke Association’s American Heartsavers and Stroke Heroes Awards ceremony, held annually to commend individuals and groups throughout New Jersey for taking extraordinary steps to strengthen the AHA Chain of Survival. Virtua Foundation is truly grateful to Dr. Gips andThe Heart House for their commitment to keeping our community safe and healthy!