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). According to Dr. Bill Walker the new scopes are state of the art technology that gives a clearer picture at a higher resolution, allowing diagnosticians to see a wider field of view and presenting new options such as “narrow band imaging.”
The foundation will announce the 2010 goal and equipment highlights in the near future. Equipment requirements continue as some items reach the end of their life cycle, new technologies are created, and departments like Ambulatory Care continue to see growing patient numbers.
“Medical needs are continual. Without the support of the generous people throughout our communities, we would not be able to provide PCH with the priority medical equipment its patients need,” said Matheson.
According to new Prince County Hospital Foundation president, Bill Thompson, “Improvements to PCH equipment and services are ongoing. There are several key projects on the horizon including dialysis treatment coming to PCH and the potential replacement of the CT Scan machine in the next few years, that will ensure the patients and staff at PCH will have access to the best possible medical equipment.”
Photo: Dianne Hamill, RN in Endoscopy, holds one of the scopes replaced in the 2009 Vital Signs campaign. The new high-resolution scopes can see a wider range and the images produced have better definition. Four scopes were needed (totaling $125,000).
