Hospital Auxiliary will double all community gifts to help buy x-ray machine

Pictured at the Hospital Auxiliary Second Time Around Shop, back row, from left, are: Nancy Parks, Back the Build campaign chairperson; Cathy Starkey, PECMH Auxiliary president; Sally Cowan, Back the Build campaign cabinet member; Auxiliary volunteers Charlotte Harrott; Jennie Kenny; Ken Kish; Kim Harrington; Beth McConnell; Janet Daubney and Barbara McConnell, PECMHF chairperson. Seated at front, from left, are: Auxiliary Volunteers Eugenia Venchiarutti; Sally Margueratt; Pam Strachan, manager of the Second Time Around Shop; Pauline Smith and Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation. Briar Boyce photoStarting today, all new gifts to the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation (PECMHF) to help purchase medical equipment will have double the impact.

The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary has generously offered to make a 1:1 match on all gifts donated by the community for medical equipment needed at the County hospital, up to a total of $150,000. For every dollar raised, the auxiliary will donate a matching amount from now until Jan. 31, 2023.

“We’re delighted and incredibly grateful for the generosity,” said Barbara McConnell, chairperson of the hospital foundation. “Having access to a well-functioning hospital nearby is a benefit of living in this community. The auxiliary’s matching donation will have a tremendous impact on the thousands of people who turn to our hospital every year for high-quality medical care and x-ray services. We thank the Auxiliary and the community for its on-going, incredible support.”

One of the equipment items this matching initiative will help purchase is a new $595,000 x-ray machine. The diagnostic imaging device will be used in the current hospital and will transition into Prince Edward County’s new hospital in 2027.

At PECMH, the x-ray machine is used daily. The team of radiologists and medical radiation technologists (MRT) rely on the current x-ray machine to perform more than 8,800 exams each year.

“After more than 14 years and over 120,000 pictures, the current x-ray machine is showing signs of aging and must be replaced,” said Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation. “Digital imaging equipment has seen great advances in recent years, and we want to see our hospital stay on top of that technology. The hospital staff also don’t want to have to send our patients to another facility if our equipment breaks down,”

X-rays are critical devices that help radiologists, family doctors, orthopaedic and general surgeons. The device allows medical professionals to look into patients’ bodies to determine the cause of an injury, an illness, or to confirm a diagnosis, like cancer or heart issues.

“Making an impact that is meaningful to Prince Edward County residents and visitors is what encouraged the Auxiliary board of directors to make this 1:1 matching donation to help purchase the x-ray machine,” said Cathy Starkey, president of the PECMH Auxiliary. “The Auxiliary is excited to partner with the foundation and support equipment needs for this year. We are deeply committed to providing exceptional health care for the hospital, staff, and our community.”

“Members of our community continue to look for unique ways to support our hospital in meaningful and creative ways. It is exceptional and inspiring,” said Coull. “We are so grateful.”

For more information, or to double your impact by making a gift, visit our website at www.pecmhf.ca or call 613-476-1008 ext. 4502. Donations may also be mailed to PECMH Foundation, 403 Main St., Picton, ON K0K 2T0. When making your gift, please indicate it is for the x-ray machine.

The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to raising funds to advance health care for the patients of the hospital and the people of Prince Edward County.