Hospital Auxiliary puts heart into fundraising for new echocardiogram unit
Administrator | May 30, 2026 | Comments 1
Pictured with the new echocardiogram machine, from left, are: Shannon Coull, Executive Director, PECMH Foundation; Peggy Payne, Chairperson of the PECMH Foundation and PECMH Auxiliary volunteer; Bev Sharpe, PECMH Auxiliary volunteer representing the Marathon Bridge Group; Carol Harvey, PECMH Auxiliary volunteer representing the Festival of Trees; Lisa Camp, Manager of Diagnostic Imaging, Quinte Health; Pam Strachan, PECMH Auxiliary volunteer and Manager of the Second Time Around Shop; Jane Winwood, PECMH Auxiliary volunteer representing the Perfectly Preserved Group; Tammy McCoy, Sonographer, Quinte Health; and Sharon Morcom, Chairperson of the PECMH Auxiliary. – Briar Boyce photo
The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital (PECMH) Foundation is celebrating the extraordinary efforts of the PECMH Auxiliary, whose volunteers have raised $145,000 toward a new echocardiography ultrasound machine for the hospital.
An echocardiogram, or “echo,” is a non-invasive ultrasound of the heart used to diagnose and monitor cardiac conditions. At PECMH, echocardiography services are currently offered three days a week, with demand continuing to grow.
Funds were raised through auxiliary-led initiatives including Festival of Trees, Perfectly Preserved, Marathon Bridge, and the Second Time Around Shop’s Christmas Bazaar.
“We are incredibly grateful for the unwavering commitment of the PECMH Auxiliary,” said Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation. “Their energy, creativity, and deep-rooted connection to this community make such a meaningful difference. This is a true partnership, and together we are ensuring our hospital is equipped with the tools needed to care for our patients.”
“The auxiliary is made up of an extraordinary group of volunteers who give so generously of their time and talents,” said Sharon Morcom, chairperson of the PECMH Auxiliary. “We are proud to support equipment that will make such a meaningful difference for patient care in our community.”
The hospital’s previous echocardiography unit had reached the end of its life and required replacement. The new system delivers higher-resolution imaging, enhanced diagnostic capabilities, and future-ready technology that will transition into the new PECMH facility.
“Echocardiography is a cornerstone of care for many of our patients,” said Lisa Camp, manager of Diagnostic Imaging at Quinte Health. “A new unit will allow us to deliver clearer images, make faster and more accurate diagnoses, and ultimately improve patient outcomes. It will also support our ability to expand services and reduce the need for patients to travel outside the County for care.”
Echocardiograms support several areas of care, including cardiac, stroke, and oncology services, and can also be used at the bedside in emergency situations.
The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation raises funds to advance health care for the people of Prince Edward County, including the construction and equipment of a new hospital. For more information, or to lend your support, visit www.pecmhf.ca
Representatives from the PECMH Auxiliary, the PECMH Foundation and Quinte Health gather for a photo on the site of the new Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital. Briar Boyce photo
Filed Under: cheers • Featured Articles • News from Everywhere Else
I thank and congratulate the Hospital Auxiliary for their tremendous work in raising $145,000 to support the purchase of new echocardiograph machinery for the Picton Hospital. However, I think the provincial government should help (It does not cover medical equipment). Isn’t medical care one of the fundamental services for which we pay taxes? If we did not have an organization like the Auxiliary, would we just have to try to get by without this equipment? The provincial government seems to have lots of cash to put meaningless ads on TV but the purchase of essential medical equipment is not considered to be of sufficient importance to be included in their budget. Sad.