This GivingTuesday, the Williamson Health Foundation, the charitable arm of the Williamson Health regional health system, is giving the community an opportunity to make an impact on Williamson Medical Center’s youngest patients through donations in support of a special campaign. The foundation aims to raise $10,000 on GivingTuesday, held this year on December 3, to fund the purchase of a Transcutaneous Bilirubin (TcB) monitor for the Williamson Medical Center OB/NICU department. A TcB monitor is a medical device used to non-invasively estimate the level of bilirubin in a newborn’s blood, allowing for rapid screening for jaundice without the need for a blood draw through a heel prick, which some babies may require multiple times a day.

“GivingTuesday is a great opportunity for the community to rally support for equipment that will enhance the experience of our smallest patients,” said Leigh Williams, Williamson Health Foundation president. “A second TcB unit for our OB and NICU department will help facilitate discharges for healthy babies, support providers in clinical decision-making and allow lab techs to focus time on further testing needed for higher-risk newborns.”

A TcB monitor offers several advantages to patients, families and staff including:

• Blood Draw Elimination: TcB measurement replaces the heel prick blood sampling required for total serum bilirubin measurement with a simple scan of the forehead, making babies and their parents more comfortable.
• Faster Lab Results: TcB provides almost immediate results, which can support clinical decision-making. Faster results lead to early treatment and shorter hospital stays for babies. Not waiting on lab results also means parents can take their newborns home sooner.
• Reduced Need for Blood Sampling: TcB can reduce the need for blood sampling by 41–73%. 
• Reduced Risk of Infection: TcB reduces the chances of infections associated with invasive procedures.

“While it has been several years since I had a newborn, I vividly remember the discomfort both of my babies experienced from repetitive heel pricks due to their jaundice,” said Williams. “I am thrilled that there is now technology and a meter to make the process of checking bilirubin levels less traumatic for the sweet babies in our nursery.”  

Founded in 2012, GivingTuesday is a global movement that inspires people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. Locally, the observance is an opportunity to contribute to a fund directly benefitting babies born and/or treated at Williamson Medical Center.  

“Williamson Health is committed to providing world-class healthcare to residents in Williamson County and the surrounding region,” added Williams. “We are proud to be a part of a community that continues to support our efforts to expand patient care to match the expansive needs of those we serve.” 

Donations of all sizes are welcome. For information about the campaign and how to donate, click here.

ABOUT WILLIAMSON HEALTH FOUNDATION | The Williamson Health Foundation, Inc., serves as the charitable and development arm that supports Williamson Medical Center, the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital Vanderbilt at Williamson Medical Center and Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee in providing best-in-class healthcare services to the families of our community. The Foundation oversees capital projects and health outreach programs, seeking charitable gifts of all types to provide ways to continuously improve the quality of patient care. To learn more about the Williamson Health Foundation, click here.

ABOUT WILLIAMSON HEALTH | Williamson Health is a regional healthcare system based in Williamson County, Tennessee, with more than 2,100 employees across more than 30 locations and more than 860 physicians and advanced care practitioners offering exceptional healthcare across 60-plus specialties and subspecialties close to home. The flagship hospital, Williamson Medical Center, now undergoing a historic $200 million expansion and renovation project, offers extensive women’s services, state-of-the-art cardiology services, advanced surgical technologies, an award-winning obstetrics and NICU, leading-edge orthopaedics, outpatient imaging services, and comprehensive emergency and inpatient services for both adult and pediatric patients. Other Williamson Health service providers include the Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee, The Turner-Dugas Breast Health Center, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital Vanderbilt at Williamson Medical Center, Williamson Health physician practices that are strategically located throughout the community, countywide Emergency Medical Services that include 18 rapid response units, Williamson Health Foundation, and multiple joint venture Vanderbilt Health and Williamson Medical Center Walk-In Clinics in Williamson County. Learn more about our many specialized services at www.WilliamsonHealth.org.