Contributions - Windsor Regional Hospital

NEWS FROM THE WINDSOR REGIONAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATIONVolume 15, Number 1 December 2009 • www.wrhfoundation.caJoin “Friends of Windsor Regional Hospital” on FacebookOur Valued ContributorsWindsor Regional Hospital Foundation Board ofDirectors, Professional Medical Staff, Front LineStaff and Volunteers extend Holiday Greetings toeveryone, a time when family and friends gettogether and share the best that life has to bringincluding good health and prosperity.WESTERN REDEVELOPMENTPROJECT:Construction Well On Its WayAlthough our region has been challengedeconomically, its people are resilient and trulyremain optimistic for a better and brighter future.The Foundation expresses its appreciation to a verygenerous community for supporting the hospitalthrough the last edition of Contributionsnewsletter. We had an enthusiastic response for anew Greenlight Laser System that assists withprostate procedures. The Emergency Departmentis grateful for a Transport Monitor and theLaboratory for a new Microtome which assists withdiagnosis of cancer. Complex Continuing Care wasable to acquire additional Hi Lo Beds and theRehabilitation Program received commodes. TheUrology Program was also grateful to receivesurgical telescopes.The Board of Directors of Windsor RegionalHospital Foundation express their deepappreciation to all donors for assisting to improvepatient care at the Met and Western Campuses.Season’s Greetings and Best Wishes in the comingNew Year!Construction progress on the new Mental Health Hospital at theWestern Campus of Windsor Regional Hospital is well on its way.Bondfield Construction continues to meet its commitment toemploy up to 90% local workforce. As well, the $122 million totalproject cost is on time and on budget.“As a LaSalle resident and having worked around the world, itsgreat to work on world-class projects like this right here at home”stated Electrician, Albert Van Derhoek.The new facility is nearing the ‘topping off’ portion which allowsfor enclosure of the exterior walls, permitting interior work tocontinue through the winter months.The 65-bed mental health hospital will provide state-of-the-artunits for individuals being treated with severe, persistent, mentalillness and the complexities of dual diagnosis, concurrentdisorders and psychogeriatrics. Although mental health illnesseshave long endured a negative stigma, statistics indicate that theprevalence is growing. Mental health illness accounts for 40percent of disability claims and sick leaves in Canada.The new Mental Health Hospital should reach completion in early2011 when work will begin on the Tower Building for refurbishingthe Regional Rehabilitation Program.OUR VISION: A fully engaged community supporting Windsor Regional Hospital

Essex County SupervisorsSupport Cornerstone ofCaring CampaignThe Western Redevelopment Project’s Cornerstone of Caring campaignreceived a boost recently with a $25,000 donation from theEssex County Municipal Supervisors Association. The funds wereraised from a Trade Show held in June of this year in Leamington,Ontario.Essex County MunicipalSupervisors AssociationPresident, Bob Gilboeand 2009 Trade ShowChairperson, LyleMorris present a $25,000donation to Kim Willis-More, Manager ofPhilanthropy forWindsor RegionalHospital.The three regional hospitals in Essex County all received equalsupport as a result of the successful trade show.Transition To BetternessDedicate Patient Rooms onOncology UnitSeveral families and businesses were honoured by Transition toBetterness (T2B) when 18 Oncology patient rooms were rededicatedthrough months of work to refurnish them at the MetCampus of Windsor Regional Hospital.Transition to Betterness formed in 1996 when two individuals metat Windsor Regional Hospital during a time when each of theirmother-in-laws were afflicted with cancer. Doris Lapico andTania Sorge wanting to improve the look and feel of patientrooms, approached the hospital inquiring about next steps. Theyultimately changed the world for families affected by cancer byfundraising to renovate rooms, adding comfort and compassionthrough soft colours, accommodating furnishings and otheramenities that were soothing to the environment. The Board ofDirectors and Committees of T2B have raised almost $4 million toassist several initiatives in Windsor and Essex County.A dedication ceremony was held on November 6 where theOncology rooms were unveiled after being completely renovatedby Scott Woodall and Tyler Becket of STC Construction anddesigned by Jerry Kavanaugh and Steven Berrill of ArchitecturalDesign Associates (ADA). The cost totaled $360,000 achievedthrough Transition to Betterness fundraising efforts.Some of the familiesrecognized byTransition toBetterness tour theupdated donor walllocated at the entranceof the Oncology Unitat Windsor RegionalHospital.Photo by Dan Janisse, The Windsor StarLocal Dragon Boat EventsBoost Future Patient CareThe International Dragon Boats For The Cure organizedby Gerry Orum and Beth Noakes made a significantcommitment to cancer patient care by pledging $850,000for a new state-of-the-art Fluoroscopy X-Ray System andDigital X-Ray System to be available at Windsor RegionalHospital.Reorganizing in 2009 and establishing a new permanentlocation for the Dragon Boat Races at Tecumseh’sWaterfront Park, a major initiative was announced toassist with fundraising goals. A Circle of Life recognitionmonument will be erected in the park along with a largegranite dragon, symbolizing hope and strength for thosebattling breast cancer.Beth Noakes and Gerry Orum, organizers of the Annual InternationalDragon Boats For The Cure admire a new ‘pink dragon’ decal placedbetween the two full-field digital mammography suites in the BreastHealth Centre of Windsor Regional Hospital.The future Fluoroscopy Unit will permit real-timeimaging for invasive procedures such as insertion ofcentral lines that allow cancer patients and others toreceive intravenous treatments in a timely manner. Thenew system will also permit insertion of gastric tubes fornutrition of patients with cancer who cannot swallow,injection of chemotherapy into the spinal canal, allow forthe insertion of drainage tubes into the kidney for patientswith bladder cancer and will allow the performance ofstomach and colon x-ray procedures for detection ofcancer.The Digital X-Ray System for ER allows for quicker, moreefficient imaging and processing of cancer patients. Theincreased processing speed of the system will expediteany medical interventions, reducing wait times in theEmergency Department.The 2010 Annual Dragon Boats For The Cure weekendwill be held next July 9th to 11th in Tecumseh’sWaterfront Park.2 | Contributions • December 2009

CURRENT NEEDSWindsor Regional Hospital Foundation provides the following essential medical equipment list to assist with improvingpatient care. Please complete the enclosed donor card and place in the convenient pre-stamped envelope enclosed. Note anew option is available to donate through direct deposit or by credit card on a monthly basis.An official tax receipt will be issued promptly. If you have any questions regarding the Contributions Newsletter, pleasecontact Ron Foster, Vice President, Public Affairs, Communications and Philanthropy at 519-254-5577 ext 52003 orron_foster@wrh.on.ca. Thank you for your continued support.Ultrasound Machine(ICU)Portable specialized x-rayequipment (ultrasound) todiagnose patients moreefficiently and effectivelydirectly in the IntensiveCare Unit and CardiacCare Unit.Bladder Scanner(Rehab)A portable noninvasiveultrasound instrument thatquickly and accuratelymeasures the level within thebladder to assist physicianswith diagnosis.02 Oximeter(Surgical Program)Medical device used tomonitor vital signs (oxygenlevels) for post-operativepatientsGeri Chairs(Complex Continuing Care)Specialized geriatric chairused for older adults whohave limited mobility whenout of bed.Stretchers(ER)Essential for the Emergency Department tocare for and transport patients to and from theER tests and proceduresGreenlight Laser System(Urology)Specialized medical equipment to assistwith removal of problematic tissue relatedto enlargement of the prostate.A planned gift to the Windsor Regional Hospital Foundation canbe one of the easiest, most fulfilling ways to support the Hospitaland ensure that quality health care services are provided in ourcommunity. Several options are available that could help yougive more than you thought possible while still achieving yourpersonal financial goals.For more information about Planned Giving opportunities,contact Kim Willis-More, Manager of Philanthropy at519-254-5577 ext 52458 or kim_willis-more@wrh.on.caOUR MISSION: To promote public awareness and encourage philanthropy in support of Windsor Regional Hospital | 3

Windsor RegionalHospital FoundationBoard of Directors are volunteerswho give of their time and havefiduciary responsibility related to allmatters of the Foundation on behalfof their community.Board of DirectorsArya ArvindMary BocianJulie BonenfantAlan Defoe, Vice PresidentCameron Dickie, TreasurerAmanda Gellman, PresidentFae GillespieIlias KiritsisRobert LeschynaDavid MacleodFamilies Unite For A Common CausePeter Naccarato and Mario Petretta began a friendship in 1966 which evolved into acaring and respectful relationship based on a mutual love of family, a close bond offriends and sharing of many of life’s events. In 1989, with the encouragement andorganization of his good friend Pete, Mario initiated the first Petretta ConstructionInvitational golf day.The yearly event continued as a fun event for family and friends until 1993 at which timePeter was diagnosed with mylofybrosis, a rare blood disorder. After receiving severalblood transfusions, Peter wanted to show his gratitude to Windsor Regional Hospital andthe Laboratory Blood Bank staff for the care he was being given. He expressed this wishto his friend Mario and it was decided that the golf tournament which was already set upwas the best venue to reach out and it became the first in which donations were raised tobenefit the ‘Blood Bank’ or Transfusion Medicine Program.After Pete’s passing in 1996, the event was renamed the Pete Naccarato Memorial GolfTournament with sons, Angelo, Michael and Dino continuing the tradition. With theuntimely death of friend, Mario in 2003, it was decided to honour the lifetime friends andtherefore, the Naccarato boys, along with Mario’s son, Davide, established the Pete andMario Memorial Golf Tournament which has become an annual event.Last year, the passing of Angie Naccarato added yet another dimension to the annual golfevent. “The history of the tournament is a tribute to two friends who shared a great partof their lives together and whose love and respect has not ended with their passing butcontinues with their children who share the same feelings for each other as Peter, Angie,Mario and I did” stated Pia Petretta, a Windsor Regional Hospital Foundation BoardMember.David Musyj, SecretaryPia PetrettaElaine SnadenNoah TeppermanLynne WattsSean WhiteBeth YehCommunity MembersMargaret CorioAllison HawkinsTheresa HumphreyAnita ImperioliJohn JedlinskiRobert K. LittleRobert ReidThe Naccarato and Petretta families share in the success of the 2009 Pete and Mario MemorialGolf Tournament held at Dominion Golf and Country Club last September,Over the last fifteen years, this event has raised approximately $180,000, supporting theTransfusion Medicine Program (Blood Bank) at the Met Campus. Equipment obtainedthrough the proceeds include a computer, micro typing system for incubator andcentrifuge processing, cell washer, plasma thawer and platelet rotator to preventclumping. Through recent funds donated, a specialized Blood Analyzer is now on orderto assist with efficiencies in the Laboratory.4 | Contributions • December 2009