The Health Foundation: 2014 Year in Review
This was an important year for the Health Foundation of East Central Saskatchewan because we needed to show the government we could raise money for a new regional hospital, and still do what it normally does.
The Foundation was able to do that because it had a lot of help, especially from the farm community and the Yorkton farm implement dealers. As well, more than 5,000 donations were made to The Health Foundation this year, which means people strongly supported its work.
During the year, $538,000 was spent to purchase equipment and support staff education, and another $340,000 was set aside for the new hospital.
A successful year
The purpose of the foundation is to improve and expand the healthcare services that are available locally. The year 2014 was successful because it was able to buy equipment that provides new and improved service to the people of this region, and that means it was able to make a difference in local healthcare.
The Foundation undertook three highly successful major projects this year, in addition to supporting education and raising funds for a new regional hospital.
Sunrise Health & Wellness Centre
This is an exciting new service for the residents of east central Saskatchewan. The new Centre is a pilot project the Sunrise Health Region is conducting with the provincial government, aimed at improving the care available to patients with chronic medical conditions and women’s wellness issues.
The province paid for the costs associated with new medical staff and construction of the building; The Health Foundation raised the funds to buy the new medical equipment.
Residents’ bus for the Yorkton and District Nursing Home
The new bus is used for a wide range of purposes, all of which enhance the quality of life of the residents in the nursing home and individuals who use the day wellness program.
It is used for recreational outings for residents throughout the year -- everything from shopping at the mall at Christmas time to supper in the field or going to a baseball game.
Bedside monitors
These monitors are an exciting new technology that ensures the latest information about the patient, including nursing assessment, laboratory tests, X-rays and exam results are available to the physician when they are talking to the patient at their bedside.
The doctor can review those test results with the patient and the patients’ family, if that is the patients wish. When not being used by doctors or nurses the monitors can be used as a TV or as a computer by the patient.
Those three major projects – the Health and Wellness Centre, the bus and the bedside monitors – cost $422,386. The Foundation also purchased smaller pieces of equipment costing another $86,149, items like cardiac monitors, vital signs monitors, physiotherapy equipment and items for the intensive care unit and palliative care.
Much of this was spent in facilities outside Yorkton. The Foundation raises funds for every facility in Sunrise Health Region.
Another $30,982 was awarded in education scholarships in 2014, to assist nurses and therapists who want to improve their clinical care skills so they can look after patients to the best of their ability. Sometimes when it has been difficult to recruit people for positions, The Foundation has provided funds so nurses or medical technicians can take additional training.
How funds are raised
The Health Foundation raises funds by asking businesses, organizations and individuals for donations. Generally, if people can see there will be a clear benefit by providing a new service, they are willing to make a donation.
It also raises funds from events like the Charity Golf Tournament, Airwaves for Health Radiothon, Road Race and Gala. The golf tournament and the road race involve the public in a large way, because the runners and golfers raise pledges in the community.
Volunteers are important
Volunteers are critical to the success of the events held each year. Each event has a committee of volunteers that organize the event, and then there are many more people volunteering on the day of the event.
The Foundation also operates the Gift Shoppe at the hospital, where more than 40 people volunteer every week to work in the shop. It is open about 80 hours a week, and staffed completely by volunteers.
