Members of the C.H. and Anna E. Lutz Foundation visited the USC Union Nursing Department for a demonstration of new equipment that was purchased through their grant.
The Lutz Foundation (501-C3), based in Chester, SC, was established in 1995 with the purpose of endowing a foundation that would help to fund community needs. Since then, they have funded over $8,000,000 in grants, contributing to an average of 20-25 grants per year.
Earlier this year, USC Union received a grant to obtain a MATT (MedVision Auscultation Task Trainer). This simulator is a tool for learning auscultation points and sounds. During their visit, the Lutz Foundation members saw how the MATT produces heart sounds, lung sounds, and abdomen sounds so that nursing students can listen with stethoscopes and learn to make diagnoses based on what they hear. The simulator mimics the look and feel of a real human torso and is controlled through computer software and can produce sounds that match ECG diagrams and other vital parameters.
The Lutz Foundation previously awarded USC Union a grant for their food pantry and grants for a high fidelity mannequin, a wound simulation kit, and an Alaris System Combo for the Nursing Department.
“Grants and donations are essential for the USC Union nursing program to provide the support needed to enhance resources, improve facilities, and update technology,” said Annie Smith, Marketing and Development Director at USC Union. “We are extremely grateful to the Lutz Foundation for awarding us this grant for a MedVision Auscultation Task & Sound Trainer (MATT). This type of funding ensures that our nursing students receive a high-quality education to fulfill the growing demand for skilled nurses.”
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