Year in Review: the Health Foundation

Ross Fisher, executive director of The Health Foundation of East Central Saskatchewan, submitted this Q&A as an update on the charitable organization's activities in 2011 and its plans for 2012. The Health Foundation is an independent group that raises funds to enhance healthcare in the Sunrise Health Region.

Was this a successful year for The Health Foundation?

We've been very busy and yes, I'd say it's been successful. For us, being successful means that we were able to put equipment in place that provides expanded services or new services locally, eliminating some travel to Regina for tests and procedures. We helped Sunrise start four new services this year so for us that's very successful.

We also expended some programs and upgraded equipment in the operating rooms, and in addition began the conceptual planning campaign for a new regional hospital. So it has been a busy year, but I think a very productive year as well.

Of course, we can only have a successful year if people decide to support the projects we undertake and make donations. So we were successful this year because we enjoyed really great support from individuals and businesses throughout the health region.

What were the new services that The Health Foundation helped Sunrise put in place?

1. The Cardiac Rehabilitation Program -This program is designed for individuals who have had a heart attack or are living with heart disease.

In Canada, every seven minutes someone dies from a heart attack or stroke. Participation in a Cardiac Rehabilitation program can reduce mortality rates by 26 percent. Before we started this program, patients were referred to Regina. We bought the equipment and Sunrise puts on the program.

2. We completed buying the equipment for the stroke rehab program and for the stroke clinic; both new services here that are pilot projects for the province. There are hundreds of people using these programs.

3. We bought patients controlled pain management pumps. These pumps have been the standard of care for 10 years and it's time we had them. Better pain control helps the natural healing process and decreases anxiety in the patient. These pumps are used for post-operative pain management, and for end-stage cancer patients. During a trial period it was determined that 6 pumps were needed, and 6 pumps were purchased.

4. We purchased a lymphedema pump system which is used by breast cancer survivors. Radiation therapy often destroys lymph glands and that can cause fluid to build up - that fluid needs to be drained. Many breast cancer survivors need to go to Regina two or three times a week for the treatment. We have ordered the equipment and the program will be in place for the New Year

How many people would use those new services?

All of them are different. There are 12 to 15 people who will use the lymphedema system this year, but that number is expected to grow. The cardiac rehab program will be used by 125 to 150 patients a year. The stroke rehab and therapy program and the Stroke Clinic will see about 300 patients a year. Usage of the pain management pumps will vary, but it is likely that 50 to 100 patients will use them each year.

None of those were the really big projects you had on the go this year. Weren't you raising money for surgical equipment early in the year?

Yes, we were raising money to upgrade some of the operating room equipment at the beginning of the year. That fundraising was carried over from last year and we successfully finished it in the spring, and all the equipment was ordered. Having new and current equipment makes a better work environment for our doctors and nurses.

One of the things we were doing with that program was buying more tools for cataract surgery. We need those additional tools to increase the number of cataract surgeries normally done by Sunrise Health Region. This was the second year in a row Sunrise was able to negotiate an agreement with the government allowing close to an additional 400 cataract surgeries to be done in the year. This is a terrific program for us because it brings our wait times way down. We raise the funds to purchase the equipment to allow the increase in cataract surgeries and the government pays for the extra staff time and the procedures.

What everyone is talking about these days is the possibility of a new regional hospital. Where are you with raising the money for the conceptual plan?

We are right on track, actually. The way we planned this campaign, we wanted to have 100 businesses from many of the different communities in this health region make a donation to help pay for the plan. The business community has been very supportive and very much in favour of planning a new hospital. We have nearly 90 businesses that have made a donation now and hopefully 100 will have donated by the time the report is submitted to the government.

So what does The Health Foundation have planned for 2012?

Next year is going to be a busy year. We have all of our regular events coming up: the lottery, the radiothon, the Charity Golf Classic, the Road Race and the Gala. Of course, once the conceptual plan report is presented to the government there we will need to develop a good dialogue with the business community and communities in this region to make sure everyone knows what is going on.

I think next year is also going to be a very busy year. Our region is growing and we need to make sure we are thinking ahead so that we can accommodate some of the new demands that will be placed on our health services.