ROCK SPRINGS– In celebration of 55 years of service this year, Vaughn’s took the initiative to give back in a way that would maximize the comfort and recovery of individuals who may have to stay overnight at the WaldnerHouse.
Tiffany Marshall, Foundation Director for Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County, gave a presentation at the monthly Chamber Luncheon last January regarding the Waldner House.
It hit home with a few members from Vaughn’s who were in attendance and sparked an idea: “The Waldner House of Health” project.
ABOUT THE WALDNER HOUSE
The Waldner House was established for patients who travel to Rock Springs from the surrounding communities and states needing lodging assistance while receiving treatment at Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County or the Sweetwater Regional Cancer Center.
Named after the Waldner Family, the Waldner House was made possible with a thoughtful and generous donation from the Waldner family in honor of their loved one, Ken, who had to travel to receive cancer treatment.
It was his wish that people who travel for any type of medical treatment to be able to stay somewhere that felt like home.
“We’re thrilled to provide the Waldner House as a free home away from home and truly honored that Vaughn’s Plumbing & Heating Co. wanted to partner with us to improve the patient’s experience and comfort,” Charlie Van Over, Foundation President.
VAUGHN’S UPGRADES THE WALDNER HOUSE’S HVAC SYSTEM
Most, but not all, of the patients utilizing the home are receiving some form of cancer treatment.
It was recognized that during this unfortunate time, their immune systems are low so the management team at Vaughn’s came together and decided to upgrade the home’s HVAC system which included their means of air filtration.
The home’s existing HVAC system was 27 years old – at the end of its life expectancy.
Vaughn’s replaced and upgraded it with a 95% efficient Lennox furnace, higher efficient air conditioner, and a top of the line filtration system – similar to what you would see in a surgical operating room.
With the help of Lennox Industries, they also threw in a state-of-the-art touchscreen thermostat which can be controlled remotely from Tiffany’s office computer or mobile device.
“Lennox gave us a 50% discount for all the equipment we installed, which demonstrates the commitment and trust they put in their customers in providing ultimate home comfort.
“We have been a Premier Dealer for them for 32 years now and are extremely grateful for their generosity throughout this project,” said Keaton West, Sales & Marketing Manager for Vaughn’s.
IMPROVING THE WELL-BEING OF OTHERS
“We are fortunate enough to have been in business for 55 years and 3 generations now this year,” West continues. “Part of our Mission Statement here at Vaughn’s is to improve the well-being of our customers.
“While this isn’t a customer per-say, we truly believe it will assist in improving the well-being of each patient staying in the home. Giving back is a strong core value of ours that has been passed on from generation to generation.
“We hope that with the improvements made to the Waldner Home, it may give back to multiple families for the next 20+ years to come!”
ABOUT THE NEW FILTRATION SYSTEM
Some of the key components in their new product installation include the technology behind the filtration system and thermostat control. Most homes are equipped with a MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) 2-4 rated filter.
Our bodies naturally filter the air we breath at a MERV 8 rating, which means they are constantly working to recover the air they breathe inside their homes with these lower-rated, standard filters.
This new purifier and filtration system provides a MERV 16 rating which will allow the body to rest and recover by not having to work additionally to filter any airborne particles or contaminants.
“Knowing about this available technology helped prompt the idea of the Waldner House of Health Project,” said West. “With the lowered immune systems, this add-on was an absolute must in our eyes!”
“COMPASSIONATE CARE FOR EVERY LIFE WE TOUCH”
“Having local businesses in the community who want to support our projects and our patients truly speaks volumes of Sweetwater County. We really appreciate Vaughn’s for wanting to partner with our Foundation to help our patients in their time of need.
“Compassionate care for every life we touch is our mission and Vaughn’s has helped us execute our mission through this donation.” – Irene Richardson, Chief Executive Officers of MHSC.
THE NEW THERMOSTAT CONTROL
Another key component is the remotely accessed thermostat.
“Patients will still be able to adjust the temperature inside the home, but this feature also allows Tiffany to monitor and adjust the system from afar. The thermostat is connected to the Wi-Fi in the home which allows for the remote accessibility.
“Furthermore, the thermostat will send an email notification to Tiffany, along with our office, should any equipment failure occur. Essentially, we can have a technician loaded up and dispatched with the necessary parts before we ever get a call from Tiffany or the Hospital staff,” West stated.
“She can also turn the system on or off when it’s not in use without having to go to the home.”
“We can’t say thank you enough to Keaton and the team at Vaughn’s Plumbing & Heating Co. for thinking of the Waldner House and wanting to help out our patients.
“The Waldner House occupancy has been increasing over the past few months and having a better HVAC and filtration system will help their bodies stay stronger. We really appreciate everyone involved in this project.” -Tiffany Marshall, Executive Director of Foundation.
