2006-2007 Annual Report

The Cumberland Health Care Foundation has its activity base at the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre. The foundation is dedicated to high standards of health care for all residents of Cumberland County.

What is a "Hospital Foundation"
Hospitals and other healthcare organizations face tough economic challenges: rising costs, less government money for programs and capital equipment, technological advances - the list is endless. Hundreds of hospital foundations have been established all across Canada and the US to deal with these challenges. The Foundation is the fundraising arm of the hospital and coordinates the support of the community for programs, equipment and services not provided with government funds.

$4.2 Million in healthcare donations
AMHERST, NS (September 7, 2007) – Since the $7.5 million “Above and Beyond” campaign in 1997, which helped to bring a new regional hospital to the County, the Cumberland Health Care Foundation and the Cumberland Health Care Auxiliary have worked on providing additional funding to continually improve healthcare to County residents. The Cumberland Health Care Auxiliary through the years have held their annual Spring Fling, run raffles, community events, a gift shop and café to raise, and donate close to $1.2 million since 1978. The Auxiliary has purchased items from birthing beds and blanket warmers to their most recent purchase of of a Holter monitoring system for cardiac patients. “We’re extremely proud of the work done by the hospital auxiliary, actually all hospital auxiliaries in the county, said Bob Janes, current Auxiliary President. “You have a group of extremely dedicated volunteers working towards a common cause – a good cause – to help people in the community. You couldn’t ask for a better group of people to be involved with.”

From annual golf tournaments, dinners, and Holiday campaigns, the Cumberland Health Care Foundation has worked on raising an additional $3.3 million for equipment and programs and has provided funding for a wide range of hospital departments from Palliative Care to Pediatrics. (A listing of equipment and services funded by the Foundation since the original $7.5 million campaign to build the regional acute care centre for Cumberland is provided at the end of this article).

“As a charitable Foundation involved with helping to ensure the best medical service possible be available for County residents now and in the future, you have to realize that it wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support of people who care” said David Wood, Foundation Chair, “we live in an area where people realize that helping out the Foundation and the Auxiliary directly benefits their community, their families, and others in need. We can’t thank them enough for helping to save and enhance the lives of so many in our community”.

The Cumberland Health Care Foundation’s is currently working on raising the final $260,000 to purchase a new ultrasound machine for the regional acute care centre. The Routine Ultrasound machine will benefit patients undergoing investigation for abdominal and breast cancer, examinations of extremities for blood clots, thyroid conditions, and of course, pregnancy. The improved technology will also enable the ability to spot bowel and stomach cancer earlier. Digital imaging equipment upgrading also helps to improve the patient experience as patients are able to have the processes done quicker, helping to potentially reduce wait times.

Donations to the “Growing Care” campaign can be made at the Cumberland Health Care Foundation office located at the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre, by calling 902 667-5400 ext. 6210 or by visiting the website www.chcfoundation.com.

The Cumberland Health Care Foundation is a registered Canadian not-for-profit charity dedicated to enhancing the provision of a high standard of health care within Cumberland County by raising funds and supporting new and improved services, programs, equipment and facilities.

1998-2002 Purchases: Resuscitaire $20,510; Defibrillator $11,870; Video Gastroscope $27,432; Warming Cabinet $5250; Vita Signs Monitor $5755; BiPap System $9,400; Centrac Unit $9427

2003-2004 Purchases: Ultrasound Machine $196,172 (Diagnostic Imaging); Ventilator (ICU) $41,409; Portable Pediatric Scale (Emergency Dept) $5,476; Volunteer Services $25,000; Portable Ultasound Sonosite (Diagnostic Imaging) $37,726; Infrared Spectrometer (Laboratory Services) $19,226; King of Hearts Reading Station (ECG) $13,675; Plasma Thawer (Laboratory Services) $6,400; Wireless Fetal Monitor $11,588 (Maternal/Child); Baby Picture Board & Digital Camera (Maternal/Child)

2004-2005 Purchases: Obstetrical Equipment $144,000; Volunteer Services $25,000; Cumberland Health Care Career Bursary Program $11,500; Two Syringe Drivers (Palliative Care) $21,724; Two CADD Pumps $18,932; Two Glidescopes (OR / ICU) $15,000; Diagnostic Imaging Education $1,747; Two free standing oxygen cylinder holders (Palliative Care) $174; Three Spanko mattress Pads (Palliative Care) $783; Two pair Spanko booties (Palliative Care) $70

2005-06 Purchases: Volunteer Services $25,000; Cumberland Health Care Career Bursary Program $11,500; Invacare Matress (Palliative Care) $6095; Levitan GLS Optical Scopes $6,121; Patient & Family Recliners (Palliative Care) $1800; Three PM-50 Pulse Oximeter $1335 (Palliative Care); Diagnostic Imaging Education $5,128; TV-DVR/VCR & Entertainment Stands (Palliative Care) $1720; Wireless Fetal Monitor/Avalon Transducer (Maternal/Child) $11,588

2006-07 Purchases: Volunteer Services $25,000; Cumberland Health Care Career Bursary Program $11,500; Diagnostic Imaging Education $3,359; Infant Incubator (Maternal/Child) $27,697; Plasma Thawer (Laboratory Services) $6400; Ophthalmology Scope $46,071

Currently: The Growing Campaign seeks to raise $2.5 million for third operating suite and equipment, echocardiogram machine, flat panel technology for x-ray machine, and new ultrasound.