Each year for the Vital Signs Annual Equipment 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 $1,118,512. Because the Prince County Hospital 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 supporting 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. There is no other source of funding for priority medical equipment on PEI.
Last year alone many supporters helped raise funds for another large campaign goal; a goal that included items such as a portable ultrasound unit for the ER and an echocardiogram unit for Diagnostic Imaging. All of the items from the 2010 campaign have been purchased and are in use helping people from all over PEI.
This year in the Vital Signs Annual Equipment Campaign the PCH Foundation is raising funds for many integral pieces of medical equipment. And in addition to raising funds to provide new and replacement items for existing departments at PCH, the Foundation is also tasked with raising over $240,000 to outfit the new dialysis unit currently under construction at PCH. Presently housed at Summerset Manor, dialysis service in Summerside is being replaced with a larger and more contemporary unit at PCH.
According to Dr. Bruce Jones, Nephrologist and advocate for dialysis in Prince County, “Hemodialysis is a bridge to kidney transplant. The endgame is always transplant if the patient is suitable. If the patient is not suitable, it’s dialysis for as long as dialysis will last.”
Garth Schurman and his family have seen more than their fair share of kidney troubles over the years. They truly understand the importance if dialysis treatment. In 1990, Garth lost one kidney to cancer. At that time, it was determined his remaining kidney was operating at 50% and would deteriorate over time. That time came five years ago, and Garth has been on dialysis at Summerset Manor ever since.
But, the family’s kidney issues didn’t limit themselves to Garth. Garth’s daughter, Tara has also had kidney troubles. Tara’s kidneys stopped developing at a very young age. She eventually found out they were undersized, and, in time, she would need a transplant. With little notice, last year Tara joined her father in hemodialysis at Summerset Manor. But, her cloud had a silver lining. As luck would have it, her mother, Sharon, was a match. In October 2010, mother and daughter shared a kidney transplant.
Garth spoke to the PCH Foundation recently about the new unit and dialysis service on PEI. He said of the move to PCH, “It’s a great convenience. If anything happens to you, you’re right there.” He continues, “The new unit will be great. I hope it gets up and running soon. It will be a lot better for patients and staff. The community really needs to know what dialysis is all about, because it (kidney disease) is life-threatening. Dialysis is the reason a patient like me is living. That’s how I’m living. If I decide to stop…that’s it.”
While it is a major project, equipping the new hemodialysis unit is only part of the priority equipment needs identified for 2011. Every week dental procedures are performed at PCH. The equipment needs for dental procedures encompasses a wide variety of instruments used in treatments such as fillings or tooth extractions. The Secondary Stroke Prevention Clinic, a pilot project of the Health PEI, is new at PCH this year. Stroke is the 3rd leading cause of death in Canada and is the leading cause of severe adult disability. The Impax clinical image viewer used in this unit will allow clinicians to access imaging information securely. These key pieces and a host of others are all part of the annual campaign needs.
Prince County Hospital treats many thousands of Islanders annually and the help of each and every donor will make a difference in their lives. Help is needed to raise the over $1.1 Million required for medical equipment this year. Monthly giving is available and gifts can be made securely online at www.pchcare.com. The Prince County Hospital Foundation is very grateful for the support of its many donors, as the Foundation’s campaign theme states “Together, we are strong.”
