Cumberland Health Care Foundation
Help us “Light the Way!”
this 2011 Holiday Season
Dear Friend of the Foundation,
This is the 14th holiday season that will see us “Light the Way!” We’re inviting you, along with family and friends, to join with us in making this a very special and memorable occasion.
“Light the Way!” is a meaningful campaign which allows us to remember those who are no longer with us or to recognize others for their contributions in our lives at this very special time of year.
You are invited to participate by naming a light, wreath or angel in memory or in honour of someone special to you. In some cases you need no other reason than “just because.”
These lights and ornaments will be lit in a special ceremony on Wednesday, November 30th, 2011 at the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre starting at 5:30pm.
An animated musical light show is planned in addition to performances by local choirs and musical guests. There will be children’s activities, lots of warm hospitality, and refreshments! The main lighting show will occur in the courtyard between the Auxiliary Café and the Cafeteria. Patients and their families will be able to view the show from the windows inside, or if family members and friends so choose, the show can be watched outdoors. Free parking will be available for the event. A rumor has it that Mr. & Mrs. Claus will also be coming!
As in previous years, the lights will remain lit throughout the holiday season in honour of your contribution to the Cumberland Health Care Foundation. This will also enable hospital patients and their families to enjoy the lights and music during the entire holiday period.
Proceeds from this year’s event will assist the Cumberland Health Care Foundation in helping to fund the replacement Vital Life Signs Monitoring System at the regional hospital in Cumberland. It was one of the few critical systems transferred from the former Highland View Regional Hospital and although functional considering the age of the equipment and minor upgrades made to it over the years, its replacement was a top priority and a requirement in order to provide top-line care for at-risk patients in departments such as the intensive care, emergency, and surgical units.
The monitor component of the system is most visible at the bedside in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) where it records and displays a patient’s current health indicators and alerts staff when a critical situation arises such as a plummet in heart rate or blood pressure.
The centralized monitoring station is located within the first-floor ICU where ICU medical staff can directly respond quickly to critically ill patients within the unit due to being alerted immediately when vital signs begin to change. For patients being monitored elsewhere within the healthcare centre, such as the second floor Surgical In-Patient Unit and the Emergency Department, the ICU staff also alert and initiate immediate follow-up care when critical issues are sensed by the monitoring system.
For hospital patients who are on the road to recovery but must remain in the hospital until a full recovery is made, a light-weight, portable vital life signs monitoring unit can be attached so they can move about the healthcare centre with visiting loved ones. The portable unit allows medical staff to continue to watch over them and be alerted if health conditions change.
To date, the “Light the Way!” campaign has proven to be the most successful fundraising event for the Foundation and with your continued support we will be able to continue to provide new and replacement equipment for the regional hospital.
We encourage you to invite friends and family members from inside and outside of the County to participate in this event!! It will help to spread the spirit of hope for patients and their families of being able to return home while also honouring those most special to you
– please consider helping us “Light the Way!”
On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Cumberland Health Care Foundation, warmest wishes for a holiday season filled with peace, love, and happiness. All the best for a healthy and prosperous 2012!
Many thanks for your support.
Sincerely,
Gwen Kerr, Interim Managing Director
Cumberland Health Care Foundation
PS: Your gift is important to current and future patients and their families. Please consider helping this holiday season by “lighting the way!”
