WTVM.com and WTVM News Leader 9, Columbus, GA | Sumter Regional Hospital Competing to Win New Equipment

Sumter Regional Hospital Competing to Win New Equipment

When Sumter Regional Hospital in Americus, Georgia, was destroyed by a tornado on March first, the facility also lost all of its very expensive equipment.

As the hospital continues the slow process of rebuilding, a glimmer of home has appeared. Siemens, a medical company, is hosting a contest to give away a free state-of-the-art MRI machine. The MRI machine, which has a value of $800,000, is any hospital's most important diagnostic tool.

"This contest is not something they dreamed up just because we were unfortunate enough to have a tornado strike our community and our hospital, but certainly it's a good fit for our needs," explained David Seagraves, CEO of Sumter Regional Hospital.

The contest requires each hospital to make a video explaining why it needs the MRI.  The video is then posted on the Siemens website so that visitors can vote once each day for the best story. Sumter Regional was able to use surveillance video from the night the tornado hit.

"Our team came up with a really good script, that really tugs at the heart a little bit, so we felt our chances were pretty good going into it," said Mark Grimes, who was in charge of the video's production.

Since then, a grassroots campaign has taken off.

"Somebody came up with a pretty good strategy of sending emails to everybody in your address book, the kind of things you get, pass this to everybody you know," said Grimes, who serves as the hospital's Director of Education.

The strategy seems to be working. Sumter Regional is currently in first place out of about forty other hospitals. CEO David Seagraves says its important for everyone cast their votes for this machine, because you never know when you may need it.

"Have folks put it on their to-do list for each day. Get online and vote for Sumter Regional Hospital's video. Help us win that MRI," Seagraves said.

You can watch Sumter Regional Hospital's video and cast your vote at www.winanmri.com. You can vote once a day from your ISP address, so you are encouraged to vote on several computers every day until the December 31st deadline.