Important equipment on Picton hospital’s Christmas Wish List

PECMH Foundation has recently mailed its Christmas Appeal “Wish List” out to 12,000 homes in the community of Prince Edward County.
There are two vital pieces of equipment  needed at Picton hospital. The first is an ultrasound machine. My understanding is that the new machine is already on order as the present machine is one that has been borrowed from the ultrasound company. The cost of this ultrasound machine is $250,000.
As many of you are aware, the Ministry of Health does not fund any new equipment and traditionally Hospital Foundations organize the fundraising. In 1985 newly hired Radiologist Dr Andrew Jamieson introduced ultrasound to our local hospital and the PECMH Auxiliary helped to fund the first ultrasound machine.
We as a community were indebted to Dr. Jamieson as our residents no longer had to travel to Belleville for ultrasound examinations. Ultrasound has advanced significantly in the last 25 years and has proven to be a very valuable non invasive diagnostic tool that produces superior images more quickly.

The other piece of equipment the PECMH Foundation is raising funds for is a Digital Mammography machine. The cost for this machine is $500,000. Once again it is not funded by the ministry. In 1987/88 Dr. Jamieson, being a very progressive radiologist, introduced mammography to our local hospital. The first machine purchased was a previously used machine from Belleville General Hospital. Around 1994 PECMH with the help of the Foundation and Auxiliary purchased a new mammography machine. This was pre the Ontario Breast Screening Program. Digital Mammography is far superior and has many advantages over the present mammography machine.
PECMH Foundation, with the help of QHC, has printed a pamphlet titled “Campaign For Digital Mammography” which states numerous facts and statistics about Breast Cancer and explains why digital mammography is a vast improvement in early detection. As the old, analog mammography equipment at our hospital is 17 years old, replacement parts are becoming obsolete.

QHC CEO Mary Clare Egberts recently stated, “Through QHC’s strategic planning we again heard very clearly that having access to healthcare services in Picton is a key priority to the people in this community. This is one way that we can respond to this feedback.”

I realize that these are very difficult economic times but hopefully many of you may be able to help fund these two important pieces of equipment for Picton hospital.
By the way, our community has had a 90 year history of working together to keep our hospital viable. The PECM Hospital Auxiliary has already pledged $250,000 (one third of the funding). The Auxiliary has an amazing core of dedicated volunteers. Last year approximately 200 volunteers worked 21,000 hours to help fundraise for our local hospital.
The PECMH Foundation can be reached at 613-476-1008 ext.4503 or 4425. Anna Marie Ferguson or Briar Boyce would be pleased to speak to individuals, small groups or organizations who are interested in helping out with or donating to this fundraising appeal.
Since 1999 the Foundation has purchased more than $3.2 million worth of medical equipment for PECMH. Please help to support YOUR LOCAL HOSPITAL.

– Fran