The Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Foundation has launched the public phase of a $60-million fundraising campaign — the largest ever in the hospital’s history — in response to system-wide health care challenges.
PRHC Foundation president and CEO Lesley Heighway announced the campaign at an event at the hospital on Tuesday morning (June 25), which was attended by donors, foundation and hospital leadership, and dignitaries including Peterborough mayor Jeff Leal and Peterborough County warden Bonnie Clark.
With the tagline “reImagine. Health. Care.”, the campaign for PRHC is an effort to position the hospital to meet the demands of the changing health care system, including a growing and rapidly aging population, increased patient volumes, an increasing need for complex care, and increased rates of chronic disease and mental illness — all of which will require continued investment in PRHC, which itself is more than 15 years old.
“Our hospital is at a crossroads,” Heighway said. “Our hospital and the communities we serve are facing serious problems. We need creative, inspired, efficient solutions to tackle them. Without advancements in technology and increased capacity, we risk leaving our patients behind. Today, we choose to design our health care future.”
Led by a volunteer council that includes local philanthropist and PRHC donor David Morton and patient Jennie Ireland as campaign ambassadors, the campaign aims to empower a world-class standard of care at the hospital that allows people to continue to receive care close to home, to fuel innovation including new life-saving services, to attract top health-care professionals to work at PRHC, and to inspire and support solutions to critical challenges facing the hospital.
The focus of the campaign is to raise funds for substantial investments at the hospital in the areas of cardiac care, cancer care, minimally invasive surgeries, interventional radiology, and mental health and addictions services, as well as a physician-driven “innovation accelerator.”
According to PRHC president and CEO Dr. Lynn Mikula, the support of donors is critical to the success of the campaign’s goals.
“PRHC is a thriving organization that’s home to incredibly dedicated and compassionate professionals, but the present and future are not without their challenges,” Mikula said. “We simply can’t move forward without the partnership of individuals, families, and organizations who share our vision for this hospital and what we can achieve together.”
Dr. Heather Cox, PRHC vascular surgeon and a member of the PRHC Foundation board, also emphasized the importance of donors to the campaign’s success.
“Your generosity fuels innovation, enabling us to redefine patient care and bring cutting-edge treatments to our community,” said Cox, speaking on behalf of the hospital’s health care professionals. “By supporting our hospital, you keep patients closer to home, easing both financial and emotional burdens.”
“Your commitment not only enhances patient care with faster recoveries and personalized treatments, but also attracts top medical talent, enriching our ability to serve. Most importantly, your contribution is a catalyst for progress — a symbol of hope and dedication to improving health care for everyone we care for.”
For the past four years, the PRHC Foundation has been quietly working with donors to garner support for the campaign, with these efforts already raising an astounding $45.5 million.
“We’re thrilled to announce that, thanks to donor generosity, we have already achieved 75 per cent of our $60 million goal,” Heighway told the event’s attendees.
The funds raised to date have already supported completed projects such as upgraded cath lab suites, state-of-the-art CT scanners, a second MRI machine, the new Scotiabank Youth Eating Disorders Day Treatment Program, and ongoing renovations to enhance patient care facilities.
Future plans for funds raised through the campaign include projects such as expanding the hospital’s cardiac labs to include the introduction of electrophysiology, making improvements to the emergency department’s crisis response unit, establishing a hybrid operating room to treat vascular disease, and introducing digital pathology to expedite cancer diagnosis.
With another $14.5 million to raise during the public phase of the campaign, Heighway thanked existing campaign donors for their commitment to PRHC and the future of health care in the region.
“As we move into the public phase of our campaign for PRHC, your generosity will inspire others to join us,” Heighway said. “Together, we will confront health care challenges head-on, building on the momentum you’ve generated as we reimagine health care at PRHC and create a healthier, stronger community for all.”
For more information about the campaign and how to provide support, prhcfoundation.ca/the-campaign-for-prhc/.
