As the Morongo Basin community has grown and changed, Hi-Desert Medical Center (HDMC) has responded with growth and change as well.  HDMC's expansion of facilities, programs and services to meet the dynamic needs in the Morongo Basin requires that the Foundation adjust its operations to better serve the Hi-Desert Memorial Health Care District.

Advances in technology require new equipment, facilities, and staff.  A nationwide healthcare crisis creates financial pressures for HDMC.  With lower reimbursements for care and ever increasing needs wtihin the community, the District struggles with financial pressures in conflict with the continued provision of high quality healthcare to community members.  These vital factors create challenges for the Foundation as they seek to continue to provide a high level of support to the District.

Foundation Mission Statement

The mission of the Hi-Desert Medical Center Foundation is the promotion of contributions, community awareness, and education in support of the high-quality healthcare serves that the Hi-Desert Medical Center is committed to provide the Morongo Basin.

How We Help

Several years ago we started a project to help with the nursing shortage by creating the Martie Avels Nursing Scholarship.  Through this program, we are accomplishing many goals.  First, we are bringing qualified local nurses to work at HDMC with full-ride scholarshipsto Copper Mountain College's RN Program.  This created huge savings for the District.  By the end of 2010 we anticipate saving the District over $2 million dollars by using these home-grown local nurses versus registry nurses.  We have nearly 20 nurses on staff through this program already!  No small feat!  Additionally, we are helping the Morongo Basin economy because each new nurse who lives here locally spend his or her money in the Morongo Basin instead of out of the area.

Some Foundation awards on behalf of HDMC

• Awarded HDMC $250,000 towards the purchase of new beds in every patient room
• Worked with the Department of Defense to provide $2.5 million in MRI equipment at HDMC
• Awarded $112,000 in nursing scholarship funds
• Awarded $16,000 for an E.E.G. machine for neurological diagnostics in acute care
• Awarded $4,000 for a report dictation system for the pathology and clinical laboratories
• Granted the Special Additions Prenatal Program $6,000 to purchase car seats for new families
• Raised money through our employees, in turn helping them with nearly $28,000 in Emergency Assistance Grants
• Purchased over $3,000 in special comfort sleeper chairs for the Continuing Care Center
• Provided nearly $9,000 through the Adam Crites Memorial Fund for patient comfort

We hope we can count on your help.  We depend on the generosity of our donors to help us sustain our good works on behalf of the Hi-Desert Medical Center.

• To make a donation, please call 760-366-6321.