Community helps hospital exceed its equipment fundraising goal

Donations from a big-hearted community have brought several pieces of medical equipment to the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital, marking an over-the-top goal for the Picture of Health Campaign.

The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation ECMH Foundation Board of Directors learned the $319,000 goal set last April for the Picture of Health and Re-Imagine campaigns was exceeded by $22,000.

The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary championed the campaign giving $100,000 – $50,000 toward the MRI Campaign and $50,000, raised at the Festival of Trees toward the Endo Works Picture Archive System, which had a price tag attached to it of $101,000.

“The PECMH Auxiliary is happy to partner with the PECMH Foundation to help successfully complete the Picture of Health Campaign. We were able to contribute $100,000 towards the MRI refurbishment and $50,000 from the annual Festival of Trees towards the Endo Works Archive system,” said Pat Evans, Auxiliary president. “With the support of the community our volunteers are pleased to raise funds that contribute to the health and wellbeing of our community.”

Supporting events included RE/MAX’s third annual Teeing Up Fore Health Care golf classic, the Uncork Canada wine tasting in partnership with the Rotary Club of Picton and the 10th annual Bake Off Challenge at the Picton Fair.

“I am thrilled with the commitment the County has shown,” said Penny Rolinski, executive director of the PECMH Foundation. “The government does not pay for medical equipment so this support is vital.”

Heartfelt thanks are given to more than 1,000 individual donors, monthly donors, service clubs and businesses that supported this campaign.

The donations purchased a replacement colonoscope and two gastroscopes and bought a Picture Archiving System to the Endoscopy Department and updated the telemetry (heart monitoring) equipment for the emergency department. The regional MRI machine at Belleville General Hospital was upgraded at a cost of $1 million. The County community contributed $170,000 toward the diagnostic imaging equipment.

While this campaign has come to a successful close, the need continues and the foundation is ready to embark on its next campaign to enhance care for the nearly 40,000 patient visits PECMH sees annually.

The $22,000 overage will be directed to the 2018/19 equipment campaign.

Efforts again this year focus on securing medical and supportive equipment for most of the departments at PECMH at a cost of $289,724. Again, the foundation is asking for continued public support to help equip the hospital.

Hospital Foundation Chairperson Monica Alyea thanked the community, noting donations mean County residents and patients continue to have access to state-of-the-art medical equipment.

“Every year, we need to ensure that the Regional Endoscopy Centre at Prince Edward County memorial has the scopes it needs. Also this year, we need a new stretcher for ultrasound procedures, a ventilator for the emergency department, a vital signs monitor for use when patients are transported to other hospitals, a monitor for pediatric and neonatal patients, and infusion pumps. Other devices slated for replacement include wheelchairs, stretchers for the endoscopy and emergency departments, and lifts used to move patients safely in and out of bed.”

Straight out of the gate, the PECMH Auxiliary has stepped forward and committed to picking up $34,981 worth of the supportive (non-medical) equipment from this year’s list.

Coming up are activities supporting equipment purchases which will include the 4th annual Teeing Up Fore Health Care golf classic on June 12 and the Uncork Canada on June 23rd.

“The response from the community for the Picture of Health Campaign has been overwhelming and we expect this drive to be even more remarkable.” said Alyea. “The Foundation is really about you, the donors. Our job is to raise the needed funds so when we have need the hospital, the care providers are best equipped to meet those needs. The Foundation plays a critical role in providing funding for essential, specialized equipment. Your dollars go a long way towards improving care for residents in our community who need treatment, close to home. Thank you to our Auxiliary and to our ongoing donors. New donors are always welcome and there are numerous ways to be involved. Every donation, no matter the size, makes a difference in the care you and your family receive.”