CRNAs Donate $10,000 to Ronald McDonald Houses in Pa.

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Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists

Dec 17, 2018, 12:02 ET

HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec. 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists (PANA) is donating $10,000 to Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) in Pennsylvania to help families with housing near a hospitalized child. The grant will support each of the houses in Danville, Hershey, Pittsburgh and Scranton and both houses in Philadelphia.

"Nurse anesthetists are on the front line of patient care," said Derek Reckard, president of PANA, which represents more than 3,700 certified registered nurse anesthetists and students in Pennsylvania. "Our focus is keeping patients comfortable and safe during procedures and giving families peace of mind. Having them close to their child eases strain and helps with healing."

Helping a sick child fight their illness takes a big enough emotional toll on a family. Adding a financial strain can make it almost too much to bear. Ronald McDonald House Charities helps to address those problems, whether they involve housing that's near a hospitalized child, the expense of staying together in another city, or even getting basic medical and dental care in a vulnerable community.

RMHC Mid-Penn Board President Darin Tornatore said: "On behalf of each of the houses, I would like to take the opportunity to thank PANA for their gracious donation. This donation will directly assist our mission of keeping families together and near the care and resources they need as their children receive essential medical care."

PANA's $10,000 grant will cover roughly three nights at each location --- one each in Danville, Hershey, Pittsburgh and Scranton and two in Philadelphia --- during the holidays.

Pennsylvania has 13 nurse anesthetist programs, making it a leader nationally. Most of the programs are located in hospitals served by the six Ronald McDonald Houses. Nurse anesthetists work with patients of all ages as the hands-on providers of anesthesia care in hospital operating rooms, ambulatory surgical centers and other settings.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists