For Immediate Release

For more information, contact:
Heather Logelin, 715-426-4503, cell 651-343-9173

Health Foundation makes $4,000 grant to hospital
Grant will fund staff training for acute pediatric care

RIVER FALLS, Wisc. 02/14/2008--

The Kinnickinnic Health Foundation's recent grant of $4,000 will help bring a pediatric simulation training laboratory to River Falls Area Hospital.

The simulation laboratory, which is owned by St. Paul Children's Hospital, facilitates hands-on learning for pediatric caregivers. Clinical instructors from Children's will first work with local health care providers to develop instructional plans for the hospital. The instructors will then bring the lab to the hospital for two days of hands-on instruction. 11 physicians and 15 nurses plan to participate in the simulation training.

"By providing this additional training for our caregivers, we will be able to better meet the acute care needs of families with young children," said Jane Peterson, director of Patient Care at River Falls Area Hospital.

"The Foundation is excited to help the hospital out with this training," said Heather Logelin, executive director of the Foundation. "One of our goals is to improve local access to high-quality care. This grant means that more families from our region will be able to get the care they need right here at River Falls Area Hospital, without having to transfer their children to hospitals in the Twin Cities."

About Kinnickinnic Health Foundation

The Kinnickinnic Health Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 1978 to raise funds for River Falls Area Hospital and other local health initiatives. Since its inception, the Foundation has raised more than $350,000 to support projects and scholarships that improve the health of the region. To make a gift to the Foundation, or for more information about the Foundation's grantmaking programs, contact Heather Logelin, executive director of the Foundation, at 426-4503 or heather.logelin@allina.com.