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 $753,800. 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 us to bring good health to life here at PCH Foundation. Last year alone, many generous supporters helped raise the largest campaign goal in our history, a large part of which was a new Digital mammography Unit, which is now in place and operating at PCH.
This year in our Vital Signs Annual Equipment Campaign we are raising funds for new scopes for the Endoscopy Unit in Ambulatory Care. Both colonoscopes and gastroscopes are needed at a total cost of $125,000. Over 3500 patients were received endoscopy procedures last year alone. As Marilla Millar will attest, scopes save lives. The new scopes will present images in High Resolution Endoscopy. Much like your new television at home, it presents pristine high definition images. This will help diagnosticians to see more and with better resolution.
For years Marilla Millar has been the one giving exceptional care. The Ellerslie foster parent has been responsible for the lives of 128 children since 1974. In fact, she was recognized with a honourary degree this spring at UPEI for her dedication to foster parenting. But it is the exceptional care she received at Prince County Hospital that resonates with Mrs. Millar.
Two years ago this very special woman suddenly found herself extremely ill. She was rushed to PCH for medical attention. To determine what was ailing Marilla, a colonoscope was performed in the Ambulatory Care Department at PCH. The results of which were less than desirable…it was cancer. She was diagnosed in May and surgery was performed on June 1st to remove part of her bowel. Two weeks later she began an intense six months of chemotherapy. “The girls in the treatment centre were marvelous,” says Marilla, speaking of staff in the Oncology Unit at PCH. “They explained everything they were doing. My experience at the hospital was the best of care,” she stressed. She also stressed the importance of a positive attitude. “They told me that if I hadn’t had this (procedure) done, I would have had 2 years (to live). But, I went in with a positive attitude and I came out with a positive attitude.”
Marilla Millar still receives her regular check ups and can boast that she’s doing just fine. Thanks to her care at PCH and her positive attitude, she continues to care for young children as she did throughout her treatment.
While they are major pieces of our annual equipment campaign, scopes are only part of the priority equipment needs identified. Maternal Child Care requires 3 fetal heart monitors. Valued at $105,000, these essential pieces of equipment record trends in a baby’s vital signs prior to delivery. These key pieces and a host of others are all part of our annual campaign needs and your gift will be a great help.
Prince County Hospital treats many thousands of Islanders annually and the help of each and every donor matters to all of them. Help is needed to raise the $753,800 required for medical equipment this year. Monthly giving is available, or and gifts can be made securely online at www.pchcare.com. Whatever the gift and however you make it, we thank you! Remember, that at Prince County Hospital it’s Our Health, Our Hospital…Our Future.
For a more comprehensive list of equipment needs please visit www.pchcare.com and click on current needs, or visit the Foundation office in the lobby of PCH.
Photo: Beckett Woodacre is featured in this year’s Vital Signs brochure, delivered to over 7,000 Island homes this year. Beckett was born at PCH this July. Prior to his delivery his vital were recorded by a fetal heart monitor. Last year, more than 450 babies were born at PCH.
