Honda donates half a million dollars to SMH Foundation

Stevenson Memorial Hospital Foundation's, 'Here's to Your Good Health!' Capital Campaign goal to raise $5 million will get its first significant boost this afternoon when Honda Canada Mfg presents it with a donation for $500,000.

The ceremonial cheque presention is scheduled for 1 pm this afternoon at the hospital, according to the Foundation's press release.

"Honda of Canada Mfg. has demonstrated exceptional leadership in our community, and we are extremely grateful for their generosity, according to Foundation chair Marilyn Holmstrom. "This gift is a tremendous vote of confidence in our Hospital, and a significant boost to our dream of enhancing services at the Hospital. The $5 million Capital Campaign is designed to improve the quality of care, provide greater access to emergency services, and bring high tech scanning close to home. The needs are there to be met through the Campaign."

The Stevenson Memorial Hospital Foundation began seeking financial support for the Capital Campaign in December of 2004.

"We began by finishing what we started," noted David Sadleir, Fundraising Chair of the Stevenson Memorial Hospital Foundation. "Early and ongoing support helped facilitate upgrades to the Dialysis Unit, major enhancements to Ophthalmology services, acquisition of key equipment for Cardiac Care and replacement of the roof."

Strong community support and the promise of more has also enabled the Foundation to provide early funding for aspects of Diagnostic Imaging, including two state-of-the-art digital ultrasound machines, two computed radiography digital units, and support for implementation of a Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS), now in progress.

The Campaign continues with an emphasis on three key areas; Diagnostic Imaging, essential supporting information technology and mechanical and electrical infrastructure, and redevelopment of the Emergency Department facilities. All of these reflect the priorities established by the Hospital, and are designed to better meet the needs of our growing and aging population including:

Emergency Department Redevelopment: This facility, originally designed for 6,500 people, now receives more than 31,000 visits annually. The Emergency Department needs to be completely renovated in order to effectively accommodate the increased demand and the types of illnesses that are associated with an ER visit. The Emergency Department will be totally reconfigured. This will provide separate entrances for walk-in patients and ambulances, take care of the ever expanding patient base, allow medical staff to be in visual contact with all incoming patients to monitor their status, offer more privacy to day surgery patients, and provide modern isolation areas for infectious diseases.

Diagnostic Imaging: This project will provide our first PACS (Picture Archiving Communications System). PACS permits x-rays, ultrasounds, CAT scans, and other critical scans to be sent online electronically to any specialist at any other Hospital for consultative diagnosis. This network along with modern digital, scanning devices will enhance the Hospital's ability to offer diagnostic services closer to home, to rapidly and more precisely identify trauma implications, to identify disease at an early stage, and to better support patients and the community in all stages of care. Imagine the life-saving power of this technology for an accident victim or a person who has just suffered a stroke.

Infrastructure: Underpinning the redevelopment of Emergency and the implementation of PACS, is the urgent need to upgrade the Hospital's infrastructure: a) Information Technology Network: to support and accommodate PACS and high tech scanning devices. b) Mechanical & Electrical Retrofit: to upgrade the entire heating and air conditioning system to support isolation rooms, meet new infectious disease protocols and to upgrade the Hospital's power supply.

"We have been a part of this community for over 20 years, and our relationship with Stevenson Memorial Hospital has been important for our business in terms of providing vital services to our Associates and to this community," according to Joe Sperduti, Vice President, Honda of Canada Mfg. as quoted in the release. "I think we can all agree that high quality health care is a critical requirement for a strong community," Sperduti added. "Ultimately, both a company and a community are built on the strengths and commitment of its people. As a result, supporting Stevenson Memorial Hospital in their efforts to strengthen their health care capabilities for this community, was a good fit with our corporate donations philosophies and priorities. We hope that this donation assists the Foundation with its efforts to get the capital campaign off to a strong start."

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