ESTEVAN — The St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation invited local supporters and donors for a visit to the hospital on June 4.
About 45 people, who've designated funds to the hospital and its various projects lately, had a chance to tour the facility and see what's been done from 2019-2024.
"With your support, we were able to commit over $2,784,380 worth of equipment, upgrades and doctor recruitment for our hospital in the last five years," the foundation's funding report said.
Lori Gervais, the foundation's executive director, noted they used to organize such visits regularly prior to the pandemic, and they decided it was the time to bring it back.
"It's important to show the community and the people donating their money what their money is buying," she said. "On behalf of the St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation, thank you for choosing us out of all the worthy causes in the world that you could donate to, you've chosen us and for that, we're honoured. Thank you for supporting health care right here at home."
She added that with health care, technology improves fast, and hospitals have to stay up to date, so a lot has changed at St. Joe's over the past five years.
Estevan MLA Lori Carr, Mayor Roy Ludwig and head of Emmanuel Health Corey Miller also joined the tour. The guests were split into two groups led by director of patient services Cheryl Harrison and one of the nurse managers Kristie Walker. The guides pointed out all the upgrades and changes that have been done, thanks for the financial support from the community, and answered questions.
From 2019-24, the long-term care home saw $241,709 in improvements, including new windows and installation, a blanket warmer, blinds, Bingo machine, enhanced dining equipment, furniture, iPads, trayline steam table and equipment, TVs, courtyard renovations and more.
Unit A had $288,429 spent on various projects, including mattress supports, bedside tables, bed pan disinfectors, vital sign machines, mini-fridges, shower chairs, wheelchair scale, a PlayStation, telemetry monitors, medicine cart, a Foundation Family Room makeover, the Cecilia Smith Team Room and Allan and Lynn Senchuk Palliative Family Room renovations, and the Radiothon Unit A upgrade.
The Emergency Department received $292,762, which helped to cover the expenses of vital sign machines, 10 IV pumps, 10 wheelchairs, stretchers, an ultrasound probe, a ventilator, a Lucas machine (chest compression system), ER bedside tables, a bladder scanner, ER critical care monitors and more.
While the obstetrics unit is currently not open, as the hospital is working with the province to meet the requirements for a consistent operation, there were $264,461 in upgrades made in the department over the past five years. Obstetrics received new delivery carts, an infant warmer and resuscitator, delivery room procedure lights, a Broselow Hinkle set, vital sign machine, Venpro machine, bassinet, stretcher, family room upgrade and stable course education.
The lab saw $101,258 worth of improvements, including a cell washer, pass-thru, sliding door and blood bank fridges, centrifuge, phlebotomy chairs, hematology machine, Holter monitor, microscope, lab Ergotron computer station, cytofuge and lab label printer.
The outpatient centre saw $370,180 in work and projects. Their latest upgrades included procedure lights, capnography monitors, blinds and a cart, cabinets, hysteroscopes, infusion room chairs, curettage and fluent systems, scope disinfection machine, stretchers, furniture, endoscopy equipment and unit renovations.
The operating room had $118,066 worth of upgrades, including three new washers/sterilizers, OR instruments, bed repairs and headrest extension, new procedure lights, vital signs monitor and stirrup replacements.
The dietary space saw $148,421, which allowed them to purchase a new mixer, boilerless stacked steamers, natural gas range, Hobart slicer, slow cook and hold oven, Vulcan convection oven and a large soup pot, and also do some facility renovations.
Other major expenses included work in the addictions recovery centre ($646,251), chemo/pharmacy ($66,415), environmental services ($47,402), the Dustin Pratt Kid's Corner ($15,099), spiritual/palliative care ($19,007) and central supply room ($7,729).
Miller also talked to the guests about the plans for the MRI and showed the diagnostic imaging area, where it will be located.
The foundation's latest fundraising effort, the Radiothon for Life to help bring an MRI to Estevan, attracted a record $185,000-plus on June 5 and was another success for the hospital, and even more so for the community. The sum will be added towards the fundraiser goal of $6.5 million, which included Elaine Walkom's $2 million donation that launched the campaign.
