January 2 2009
Island’s Largest Hospital receives Major Boost for Medical Equipment - Care Today for Tomorrow Capital Campaign for QEH Exceeds Goal
Chair Jim Casey announced today the Care Today For Tomorrow Capital Campaign for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital has surpassed its private sector goal by $2 Million, raising $11 Million for much needed medical equipment. This exciting announcement came at the beginning of 2009, after a very strong fundraising campaign which brought 2008 to a close.
Following Casey’s $11 Million announcement, Premier Robert Ghiz was pleased to announce that the Provincial Government will match the private sector commitment.
“Our government had previously committed to match the private sector goal of $9 Million. In light of the tremendous success of the Capital Campaign, we have agreed to match the additional $2 Million raised,” says Premier Ghiz. “This investment constitutes a significant step toward our goal of providing high quality health care to all Islanders, and our government is pleased to partner with the Capital Campaign to make this a reality.”
This exciting news has allowed the Care Today For Tomorrow Capital Campaign to reach an unprecedented fund raising effort of $22 Million for new medical equipment for Prince Edward Island’s major referral hospital.
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Foundation began planning for this capital campaign in the summer of 2006. In order to fully capitalize on the government’s pivotal infrastructure investment, the QEH Foundation launched its most comprehensive fundraising effort in hospital history – an $18 Million campaign –Care Today for Tomorrow - to raise vital resources to ensure the hospital has not only a modern infrastructure, but that it is also equipped with modern and efficient medical equipment.
“It was not our intention to over achieve by $2 Million, but one thing is for sure; the Queen Elizabeth Hospital needs it and then some,” says Mr. Casey. “Medical equipment is costly and the demands are great. While this campaign has certainly exceeded our expectations, if it was twice as much, the hospital could certainly put it all too good use. The community and the provincial government certainly showed their support by making exceptional gifts.”
Many of the capital gifts are pledged over the next two to three years, which will allow the hospital to purchase medical equipment required for Phase 1
Redevelopment, which includes the completion of the expanded Emergency Department, PEI Cancer Treatment Centre, Day Surgery and now the new Ambulatory (Same Day) Care Centre.
Minister of Health Doug Currie says construction is on schedule and phase one redevelopment will cost approximately $56 Million.
“The redevelopment project, along with today’s exciting announcement, will result in enhanced health care services for Islanders, and an improved and more efficient flag ship hospital to take us into the future,” says Minister Currie. “We need to ensure the QEH has access to state-of-the-art equipment not only to aid in the treatment of medical conditions, but also to help attract and retain health care professionals.”
While addressing the redevelopment needs, the campaign also helps to close the gap in medical equipment and technology needed to sustain the day-to-day hospital services for Islanders.
“This campaign has allowed our staff and physicians to not only plan for the updated infrastructure, but also plan for the medical equipment requirements of Redevelopment and meets the needs of Islanders at the same time,” says Rick Adams, Executive Director to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. “The Queen Elizabeth Hospital is over 25 years old, and as with any hospital structure, the medical equipment really needed an upgrade as well. Over the years the needs of patients have changed, and it’s important for us to expand in order to meet those needs.”
“Over the next three years, the $22 million will be cash flowed to the QEH, and at the same time, allows the QEH Foundation to continue with its Annual “Friends for Life” Campaign and the Eastlink/QEH 21-Hour Equipment Drive to address the pressing day-to-day ongoing medical needs,” says Barbara Smith, Chair of the QEH Foundation. “It’s certainly a great day for healthcare on Prince Edward Island and a wonderful start to 2009.”
For more information contact Helen Chapman, QEH Development Officer
W 894-2432, H 569-5075, hpchapman@ihis.org
PHOTO: Campaign chair Jim Casey and Premier Robert Ghiz
October 22, 2008
Irving firm donates $750,000 to QEH
Master Packaging Inc. Invests $750,000 in Digital Mammography Equipment for QEH Foundation Care Today for Tomorrow Capital Campaign
Charlottetown, October 21, 2008. Master Packaging Inc. has pledged a leadership gift of $750,000 to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Foundation Care Today for Tomorrow Capital Campaign. The donation will fund a digital mammography machine that will enhance the provincial breast screening program.
“On behalf of Master Packaging’s Master Foundation, I am proud to present you with a donation of $750,000 for a new digital mammography unit,” says Mary Jean Irving. “An investment in new digital mammography equipment will allow the Queen Elizabeth Hospital to significantly increase the capacity of screenings it is able to provide to Island women and will reduce wait time. Another application for this technology is for the detection of cancer in women under 50. Early detection is vital and I am pleased to support the tremendous work of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital with this investment in new diagnostic technology,” concludes Irving.
“The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, alone, does over 7,400 screening mammograms a year,” states Dr. Kim Hender, QEH Radiologist. “The benefits of this new unit will also mean improved overall patient care by reducing anxiety because digital mammography minimizes the need for patient recalls. This technology produces enhanced multi-views; a radiologist is able to manipulate the image on a computer desktop.”
“The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Foundation Care Today for Tomorrow Campaign applauds this generous gift from Master Packaging’s Master Foundation,” says Spencer Campbell, Care Today For Tomorrow Campaign Deputy Co-chair. “This donation assists the campaign in meeting the challenge of closing the gap in medical equipment and technology needed to sustain day to day hospital services for Islanders.”
PHOTO: Mary Jean Irving, left, representing Master Packaging Inc., donated $750,000 to the Queen ElizabethHospital Tuesday that will be used to purchase a digital mammography machine. Dr. Kim Hender, centre, a radiologist at the QEH, said a new machine means more women can be tested and the test results will be produced much quicker. Also pictured is Barb Smith, chair of the QEH Foundation.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
QEH, the heart of healthcare on the Island receives good news
At a news conference this afternoon at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Premier Robert Ghiz and Minister of Health Doug Currie brought good news to Prince Edward Islanders by announcing a substantial pledge towards the purchase of new medical equipment for the Island’s Major Referral Hospital.
QEH Foundation Chair Barbara Smith told the crowd the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Foundation is undertaking a very special and critical capital campaign, and only the second one in its history.
“It’s called the “Care Today For Tomorrow” Capital Campaign and our goal is $18 million,” says Mrs. Smith.
She stated the capital campaign will help the hospital meet its two greatest challenges: to close the gap in medical equipment and technology needed to sustain day-to-day hospital services for Islanders; and to provide new medical equipment for Phase 1 Redevelopment, which involves the emergency, ambulatory care and day surgery departments.
She also announced they have a wonderful team of campaign cabinet volunteers, with Jim Casey as Campaign Chair.
“We have representation from one end of the Island to the other, and our volunteers have made a commitment to help raise $18 million to purchase medical equipment for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital,” she said.
Premier Robert Ghiz said health care was a top priority for his government and they were pleased to follow through with the $56 Million for the construction of the Redevelopment for the Emergency, Ambulatory Care Centre and expansion to the PEI Cancer Treatment Centre facilities.
"I am very pleased to announce that the province has contributed $9 million dollars to the QEH Foundation’s fundraising campaign, Care Today for Tomorrow," said Premier, Robert Ghiz. "This funding will support the campaign by pledging half of the $18 million dollar campaign goal."
Spencer Campbell, Campaign Deputy Co-Chair, thanked Premier Ghiz and stated that this significant contribution will go a very long way towards improving the health of all Islanders through the purchase of urgent and critically needed medical equipment.
“This is a very important announcement because essentially what is happening is that for every dollar we raise in the private sector toward this campaign, government will match dollar for dollar,” said Mr. Campbell.
Mr. Campbell stated the private sector’s goal is $9 Million and they have already received a number of gifts including a pledge of $800,000 from the QEH Auxiliary, the lead donor to the QEH. They have committed to raise funds toward one of two state-of-the-art digital mammography machines needed at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
“Many of our donors to this campaign have made their gift through a gift of transfer of shares. It’s certainly been the “gift of choice” for this campaign. Our volunteers are now busy making visits and asking for donations for this important campaign. I know we will have great success,” says Mr. Campbell.
Minister of Health Doug Currie joined Premier Ghiz on his commitment to support the QEH in its challenge to deliver on its promise of excellent health care to Island families.
"The Queen Elizabeth Hospital is the flagship facility for health care on Prince Edward Island. It was built as a critical care facility more than 25 years ago. Over the years the needs of patients have changed and it’s time to update the facility to meet those needs," said Minister of Health, Doug Currie. "It is important to ensure Islanders have access to state-of-the art medical equipment and technology. These new technologies will speed up diagnosis, allow for treatment of more serious conditions as well as help attract and retain health care professionals."
Minister Currie said, with its array of specialized services, the QEH was the central hospital on Prince Edward Island.
"It’s the site of the Provincial Cancer Treatment Centre, the Provincial Laboratory, Rehabilitation Services, and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. These are services that can not be found anywhere else across the province." said Minister Currie.
Last week, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital received national accreditation from the Canadian Council on Health Services. Mr. Currie congratulated all QEH staff, physicians and volunteers for their dedication to providing high-quality health care and for achieving this accreditation.
Dr. Ethan Laukkanen, QEH Radiation Oncologist, said the PEI Cancer Treatment Centre is fortunate to receive a second Linear Accelerator as part of the government’s announcement today.
“The Linac, as is it sometimes called, is a radiation therapy machine used mostly for cancer patients, and it can treat any part of the body, including very small areas, “ says Dr. Laukkanen. “ The provision of a second linear accelerator will provide the assurance to enable Islanders to consistently receive their cancer treatment in a timely and meaningful fashion that meets or exceeds national standards.”
He says the Linac complements the cancer planning system the Foundation purchased a few years ago for the PEI Cancer Treatment Centre. All of these tools work together to allow the radiation therapy team to deliver the safest dosage that can be delivered to the tumour while sparing the healthy tissue.
“We are having considerable success in treating curable cancer with the excellent equipment that has been provided,” concluded Dr. Laukkanen.