It Takes a Community to Build a Healthy Tomorrow Each year for the Vital Signs Campaign, a list of priority medical equipment is identified and approved by the Medical Advisory Board.  This year the list of needed medical equipment totals $970,210. Because PCH requires this new equipment to continue providing quality care to Islanders, the hospital foundation will need the help of the communities PCH serves. PCH has been serving Islanders for nearly a century. For many years now, raising funds for new medical equipment has been and continues to be, the exclusive responsibility of our communities. The generosity extended each year throughout our Island communities has enabled the Foundation to ‘bring good health to life.’  Last year alone, many generous supporters helped raise funds for another hefty campaign goal, a large part of which were new high definition scopes, which are now in place and operating at PCH.  This year in the Vital Signs Annual Equipment Campaign the PCH Foundation is raising funds for new Portable Ultrasound equipment. According to ER physician Dr. Steven MacNeill, “Emergency department bedside echosonography is revolutionizing the way we practice emergency medicine in Canada.  It is the stethoscope of the 21st century, and with … Continued

Red Sands owner Ella McCormick centre, joins Red Sands golf pro Richard Larwood and Golf Classic committee member Yolande Richard, right, in preparations for the Prince County Hospital Foundation’s third annual Women’s Golf Classic Presented by McInnes Cooper.  This unique event will be held on September 24th at Red Sands Golf Club in Clinton, a major sponsor of this tournament.  All funds raised from this tournament will go towards the purchase of new heart related equipment at PCH including echocardiogram equipment, fetal heart monitors, and cardiac monitors.

The 2010 Nessie Bowden Memorial Bursary has been awarded to Lori Sonier, centre, a RN at Wedgewood Manor in Summerside.  The Nessie Bowden Memorial Bursary is awarded by the PCH Auxiliary every year to a health care professional, to help cover expenses of their further education. Sonier is joined by PCH Auxiliary members Jan Lockhart, left and Mary Cameron Morneau, right.

Jim Ross, left, the Provincial President of the PEI Command of the Royal Canadian Legion presents Ralph Thompson, board member of the PCH Foundation with a donation of $4,000.00.  The gift will be directed to the Prince County Hospital Foundation’s Vital Signs annual equipment campaign.

Donors, board members, staff and interested parties gathered in the PCH cafeteria May 19th for PCH Foundation’s Annual Meeting.  The purpose of this event is to recap the year that was 2009 and to thank those that made it such a successful year for the Prince County Hospital Foundation.  The evening’s program was presided over by current Foundation volunteer President Bill Thompson and it began with Chelsea Mills, President of Youth Who Care, who recapped a very successful year for their board.  Also, Arlene Gallant Bernard brought remarks on behalf of PCH and its administration.  PCH Auxiliary president Georgene Enman brought greetings on behalf of her organization and reminisced on what a great fundraising year they’d had in 2009, donating nearly $50,000 to the PCH Foundation.  Remarks were also given by PCH Chief of Surgical Services, Dr. David Bannon “I am a living, breathing example of how your efforts have helped healthcare delivery.  You, as a foundation and community, put the tools into our hands,” said Dr. Bannon.     “There’s a lot to do.  We all know that healthcare costs are going to increase.  Technology becomes more sophisticated and it doesn’t become cheaper.  We very much appreciate that this community has … Continued

When the train tracks on P.E.I. were removed Carol Evans thought to herself, “I’d love to walk the whole thing someday.”  Well, it has been many years, but “someday” has come.  This summer, Carol and many other participants will “Take a Hike…for the Health of It!”  Her Hike for Health idea came to Carol as a way to live her dream, celebrate her 60th birthday and raise needed funds for the Prince County Hospital Foundation. What Evans really wants to communicate is that her new event is about getting people moving.  In an interview at PCH, Carol expressed, “It’s my thought that we have to get people out there walking and looking after their own health, because if we don’t, no one is going to do it for us.”  The event will be an 8 day trek for Carol across PEI via the trail system, beginning on August 25th and ending on September 1st.  Other participants are encouraged to join Carol for days 4, 5 and 6; a span which stretches from Charlottetown to Ellerslie.  Currently, Carol is looking for more people to sign on to this fundraiser. There is a registration fee $60 per day of the event.  Participants … Continued

From The Guardian – theguardian.pe.ca   Instead of going from tip to tip on P.E.I., as they say, Danny Murphy plans on going from Tim’s to Tim’s. The owner of D.P. Murphy Inc. and the lucrative Tim Hortons empire on Prince Edward Island will lace up his sneakers on Monday, May 17, to walk across the province in an effort to raise money for Island hospitals. The walk will begin in O’Leary at Community Hospital and finish in Montague at the Kings County Memorial Hospital and it ties into the 30th anniversary of Murphy’s company.“We wanted to do something to give back because of all the support Islanders have shown our business,’’ Murphy said at a news conference on Thursday at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital where he was joined by representatives of all seven Island hospitals. He starts walking every morning around 7:30 a.m. and will go as far as he can until about 5 p.m. that same day. The walk resumes the next morning from where Murphy left off the day before. He’ll keep going until he reaches Montague’s hospital.Of course, it’s all about raising money. Islanders are being asked to donate to the Walk for Island Hospitals campaign. … Continued

We are very pleased to announce that pchcare.com placed 3rd nationally in the website category at the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy/HYGEIA awards! Congrats to our team and our developers Revolution Media.  This is a highly competitive category with applicants coming from all over Canada.  We are very pleased to place in the top three and being the only contender to place from outside of Ontario and Quebec. HYGEIA Awards

Tickets are on sale now for the 4th Annual Harley Elimination Draw sponsored by Re/Max Harbourside Realty. Tickets are $100.00 and can be purchased at the Prince County Hospital Foundation office in the lobby at PCH and from Re/Max representatives. Draw date is June 26th. Motorcycle and Prizes provided by Red Rock Harley Davidson The prize motorcycle this year is a 2010 Road King Classic

Darlene Arsenault, left, Mary Cameron Morneau, second from left, President Gerogene Enman, and Yanira Greener, far right; of the Prince County Hospital Auxiliary share a laugh while perusing books for the auxiliary’s book sale.  Join the PCH Auxiliary for a Gently Used Book sale on May 3rd from 9 Am to 4PM and 4th from 9AM to 2:30PM in the St. Lawrence Room at Prince County Hospital.  Paperbacks are $1 and Hardcover books are $2. Monday – May 3 9AM – 4PM Tuesday – May 4 9Am – 2:30PM Come browse through tables of bargains and treasures!  

Darlene Arsenault, co-owner of RE/MAX Harbourside Realty, left,  presents PCH Auxiliary treasurer Jan Lockhart, right, with a gift of $8419.42 raised through RE/MAX’s annual Harley Draw.  The Auxiliary will use the funds to help the PCH Foundation to purchase priority medical equipment for the Prince County Hospital.

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Kelly Arsenault, left, on behalf of Prince County Hospital Foundation accepts a gift of $4,200 from Steven Reeves representing Amalgamated Dairies Limited.  ADL’s gift will help to purchase items from the annual list of needed medical equipment at Prince County Hospital.  For more information about the PCH Foundation please visit pchcare.com.

Sandy Rundle, left, Prince County Hospital Foundation treasurer is joined by Steven Arsenault, centre, of Penncorp, and Silver Fox Curling Club president Ralph Yeo.  Penncorp is the title sponsor for the annual Mardi Gras Funspiel held at the Silver Fox this year from February 24th – 28th.  Entry is 100.00 per team of 4.  There are 2 divisions this year, “Mixed Division” (2 men, 2 women) and the “Fun Division.”   At least one member of each “Fun Division” team must be an inexperienced curler.  Contact the club at 436-2153 by February 20th to enter.  $25.00 from each team registration is donated to the Prince County Hospital Foundation equipment fund. Entry fee includes:  Steamed Mussels (Thursday and Friday nights), Bad Hat Day – Saturday (Prizes), Acadian style meal – Saturday evening , and a dance Saturday Night, Draw for 40″ LCD TV (All participants eligible, but must be present at draw), Three $100 Gift Certificates for 2010/11 memberships (only inexperienced curlers eligible).

Lisa McCarville , RN in Maternal Child Care Unit, left, demonstrates a new blood pressure machine campaign on Norine Sharkey.  Over the past 4 years, Norine has been selling mini chocolate bars and chips from her desk in the Rebates Division at the Summerside Tax Centre.  Over time the sales have really added up.  And periodically she gathers up the profits and donates to the Prince County Hospital to ensure that needed equipment is being purchased at PCH.  This year, Norine came by with a gift of $3000 for the Maternal Child Care Unit to be used towards the purchase of a blood pressure machine. “I’ve done this 3 or 4 times now,” said Sharkey of her past donations. “It’s always to the hospital because there’s always something needed.”

The Prince County Hospital Foundation raised $1,133,939 during its 2009 “Vital Signs” annual equipment campaign, surpassing its goal.  Managing Director Heather Matheson said they were delighted to exceed the goal in a year following such a large 2008 campaign. “In a year of economic uncertainty, the success of this campaign indicates the communities’ sincere interest and support of their hospital,” she said.  “We continue to have faith in our communities and they came through, as they always have.” Ambulatory Care unit at Prince County Hospital was a focal point on the 2009 campaign with equipment needs exceeding $240,000.  The department was the first of its kind on P.E.I. Trends for day procedures, many of which are performed in Ambulatory Care, have increased to the point where much equipment purchased for the hospital over the past three years has been devoted to this unit — over $530,000 worth since 2006. The majority of the equipment listed in the 2009 campaign has arrived and is in use, the remainder being on order.  Amongst the pieces that have recently arrived is the high resolution endoscopy equipment (4 scopes valued at $125,000 total), as well as the Vacuum Assisted Closure Wound Therapy equipment ($30,000).  … Continued

The 15th Annual Lights for Life was held on Wednesday December 2nd in front of over 1500 people at PCH in Summerside.  As announced by PCH Executive Director, Arlene Gallant-Bernard, $171,602 was raised through Lights for Life this year and every cent will go toward the purchase of new medical equipment for Prince County Hospital.  It was a beautiful, crisp evening for those in the community who came out to honour and remember those they love.  Throughout the month of November and early December, people were able to purchase and dedicate a light or display in honour or memory of a loved one.  Prince County Hospital Foundation is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for the purchase of new medical equipment for PCH.  It is through integral events like LFL that they are able to achieve their goals each year.  This year alone, the goal is to raise $753,800 for PCH.  Lights for Life this year will go a long way in helping to reach that lofty goal. The evening’s emcees were Marina Trainor (PCH Foundation Board of Directors) and Chris Pride (of Gold Sponsor C102.1 Spud FM).  Entertainment was provided by a very talented choir composed of staff … Continued

Join the PCH Foundation tonight for the 15th Annual Lights for Life. Time: 6:30 PM Place: In front of PCH Parking:  at Superstore and Wal-Mart.  Shuttle services at 5:45-6:15 PM and after the event. Free admission, apple cider, hot chocolate and cookies.  The Lights for Life Book will also be handed out.  After tonight, you will be able to pick up the book in the foundation office and at the front desk of PCH. As always, we will come together to remember special loved ones and celebrate the coming holiday season. All funds raised from Lights for Life are used to help purchase the medical equipment needed at PCH this year.  Donors can dedicate a light or beautiful display, in honour or in memory of someone special and help to buy needed medical equipment at the same time.  

Terry Shea, left, General Manager with PEI Mutual Insurance Company delivers a cheque to Lights for Life Co-Chairs Elaine, centre, and Roger Caseley.  Since 2002, PEI Mutual has been dedicating the Grand Arch of Lights Display for $5000.00 and is recognized as a Gold Sponsor of the event.  In these difficult economic times it is more important than ever that the PCH Foundation receives support such as this to ensure that we can continue to raise funds for priority medical equipment at Prince County Hospital.  We are very thankful that the PEI Mutual Insurance Company is able to help Lights for Life now and in past years.  Their gift ensures that Lights for Life can offset costs and thereby ensure that 100% of the gifts the public makes in memory and honour of loved ones goes directly to the purchase of priority medical equipment

Returning as Silver Sponsors for Lights for Life, the Journal Pioneer provides much needed awareness for Lights for Life.  Through the donation of print ads running through the month of November we are able to reach their audience with our message “Remember Someone You Love.”  In these difficult economic times it is more important than ever that the PCH Foundation receives support such as this to ensure that we can continue to raise funds for priority medical equipment at Prince County Hospital.  We are very thankful that the Journal Pioneer is able to help Lights for Life now and in past years.  Their gift ensures that Lights for Life can offset costs and thereby ensure that 100% of the gifts the public makes in memory and honour of loved ones goes directly to the purchase of priority medical equipment (L-R): Paul Ramsay, Director of Advertising with the Journal Pioneer and Co-Chairs Roger & Elaine Caseley