Every gift is important to fulfilling University Health Care’s vision to provide excellence in patient care, medical education, and research. Many donors to University Hospital Foundation choose to make their gifts to support activities that are meaningful to them for personal reasons — Grateful patients often make a gift in gratitude for the good care they have received while other donors make gifts in memory of loved ones. Alumni often choose to make a gift in tribute to a former mentor or in appreciation for their training.

Others give to provide world-class facilities and equipment, speed advances in the treatment or prevention of a particular disease, or to support care for the less fortunate or those who have come to the hospital in an emergency.

Your gift can make a difference, whether in an area of importance to you, or to support the priority needs of the University Hospitals and Clinics.

University of Utah Neuropsychiatric Institute

For nearly 25 years the University of Utah Neuropsychiatric Institute has served those with acute mental illness, substance abuse and behavioral disorders. UNI is recognized for excellence in both in-patient and out-patient clinical care. It is also ranked as one of the top psychiatric facilities in patient satisfaction.

UNI is frequently full and patients’ requiring hospitalization must be placed on waiting lists putting a serious strain on families, loved ones and the patient. The shortage of beds for acutely ill patients is particularly critical for adolescents and school-age children. Often there are ten or more young patients waiting in the community for an open bed. With this increasing need for acute mental health services and facilities, the University of Utah Neuropsychiatric Institute is undertaking an expansion that will add a new 120,000 sq. foot pavilion, including 66 much-needed private beds and treatment space.

In addition, the UNI expansion includes the relocation of the training and research space of the Department of Psychiatry to the facility. This will provide more clinical guidance and didactic experiences for future psychiatrists, residents, medical students, psychologists, nurses, social workers and other mental health professionals as well as allowing clinical research on treatment, brain imaging, and the genetics of mental illness.

In the past two decades there has been a change in the way that mental illnesses are perceived and treated. We now know and understand that with treatment people can improve and experience a better quality of life. Many of our lives have been affected by mental illness, either our own, or someone close to us such as a family member, colleague or friend. It is comforting to know that The University of Utah Department of Psychiatry and University Neuropsychiatric Institute are working together everyday to improve the quality of life of people with mental illness.

CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE CENTER

The Departments of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Radiology have created programs which lead the health care market in Utah and the Intermountain West. University physicians provide surgical and treatment options which are unique in the region, advanced imaging options, the opportunity to participate in clinical trials, and affiliations with leading research organizations. Neurosurgeons from the University of Utah offer a full complement of the most sophisticated neurosurgical services, performing over 2,000 cases per year at University Hospital, and have created the largest pediatric neurosurgery service in North America, and the only one in the Intermountain West. University Hospital is identified by the Joint Committee on the Accreditation of Health Care Organizations as the first Certified Primary Stroke Center in Utah, and the only one staffed entirely by neurologists specially trained in management of brain attack and stroke.

The Clinical Neuroscience Center at the University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics will gather neurology, neurosurgery, and neuro-imaging specialists together to improve care and access for patients with brain, nerve, and spine diseases, disorders and injuries. The creation of the Clinical Neuroscience Center will allow the University of Utah to expand upon its standing as a regionally renowned center for Neurological care and create an international center to attract leaders in clinical care, research and education.

CLINICAL, RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL EQUIPMENT

Providing the finest health care, research and clinical education requires the latest equipment and technology. Donor support for clinical, research and educational equipment stretches our resources and allows us to help more people. Recent donations have supported the purchase of high definition imaging equipment, equipment for hearing tests for new babies, training equipment for minimally invasive surgery and many other important areas.

COMPASSIONATE ASSISTANCE

The circumstances which bring patients and their families to University Hospital are often urgent, and many come unprepared for a lengthy stay. Families from out-of-town may need a place to stay, food, or a change of clothing. Many times, others may not have the resources available to continue important care after discharge. Responding to this need, University Hospital created the Compassionate Assistance fund.

The Compassionate Assistance fund ensures that both the emotional and physical needs of patients and their families could be met during their stay at University Hospital. Compassionate Assistance average between $10.00 to $25.00 dollars and help provide necessities to patients and their families that cannot, for whatever reason, be provided by themselves at that time. Often, the Fund helps a family member of an out of town patient stay the night in a hotel, provides a meal, or helps pay for much needed medication until other assistance can be found. Donations to this fund enable us to provide a higher quality of care to patients and families while at University Hospital.

OTHER AREAS

University Hospital Foundation accepts donations for any donor-designated area. If you would like to make a gift to a specific clinical program or to support a specific area of clinical care, research or education, contact the Foundation at 801-587-6500 or by using our information request form.