Rx4Life gets hospital support. (September 20, 2007)

In a show of community support and recognition, St. Joseph Hospital awarded the Chewelah-area group, Prescriptions for Life, $5,000 from the hospital’s Community Benefit Fund last week. The funds will support the group’s efforts to “eliminate pain medication abuse in the local community and to provide pain medication monitoring and treatment options.” 

“We are very appreciative of the hospital’s support of the group and of our efforts,” remarked Jim Tilla, Prescriptions for Life (Rx4Life) co-founder and President.

St. Joseph Hospital CEO Gary Peck noted that he hoped this grant would not only help support the group’s ongoing operations but serve as seed money for leveraging additional, outside dollars.

“That was one of the reasons we chose to provide this funding at this time,” Peck said. “We have a responsibility for the greater good of the community and the surrounding area and that is what the Community Benefit Fund is for.”

Peck added, “there is becoming a huge awareness out there about prescription pain medication abuse. We are glad to be able to help in addressing this issue.”

One aspect of the group’s efforts is focused toward educating the public - especially parents and children - about the dangers of prescription drug use.

“Rx4Life is about a community coming together: industry leaders, social and public service providers, health professionals, educators, and individuals, to address a growing problem of addiction and hidden drug abuse,” noted Jerry Pugh, Rx4Life Interim Director. “As a prominent representative of Chewelah’s medical community, the hospital’s support of our work is especially encouraging and important to us. Their contribution will enable our organization to show significant local support, which makes us even more effective in bringing outside dollars into our community.”

Chewelah Police Chief Troy Anderson, who also serves as Rx4Life’s treasurer, echoed that sentiment.

“We appreciate the working relationship the hospital has with the Chewelah Police Department and with Prescriptions for Life and how the hospital continues to support us as a legal, criminal, health and safety matter,” Anderson said. “The hospital and the hospital staff have always been supportive of the group and the mission.”

For more information about Prescriptions for Life, visit www.Rx4LifeChewelah.org or call (509) 935-4529.

St. Joseph Hospital CEO Gary Peck (center) delivered a $5,000 check from the hospital’s Community Benefit Fund to the Chewelah-based group Prescriptions for Life last week. The group is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the elimination of pain medication abuse in the community and to providing prescription pain medication monitoring and treatment options. Also pictured are (left) Jim Tilla, Rx4Life co-founder and President and (right) Jerry Pugh, Rx4Life Interim Director.