The importance of giving to your hospital

It may come as a surprise that the government does not provide additional funding to ensure we have the right equipment to service our patients.

Funding is received for operating costs and we work very hard to make sure that every dollar is spent appropriately to maximize patient care and ensure we have enough doctors, nurses and staff to accommodate demand. Our operating budget does not cover the cost of buying state-of-the-art medical equipment or remodelling and updating various departments.

Although our financial situation has improved over previous years, we have limited dollars available for capital purchases. Our current needs across Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare total more than $7.7 million.

Fortunately, we have the help of the hardworking staff and volunteers at the Huntsville District Memorial Hospital Foundation (HDMHF) and the South Muskoka Hospital Foundation (SMHF). These foundations fundraise throughout the year and combined with the generosity of donors, we have been able to purchase needed equipment for our two hospitals.

These foundations are the driving force in securing funding for essential equipment that helps us improve our quality of care. Recently, funds raised by the SMHF have been used to purchase new ultrasound equipment, and a state-of-the-art infant isolette for the Family Care Unit at South Muskoka Memorial Hospital. Last year, the hospital was fortunate to receive a new urology imaging table from the Foundation. Without these, patient care would have been impacted.

The Huntsville Hospital Foundation has donated enough money to purchase new equipment in the Diagnostic Imaging department and is currently raising funds to update the vital signs monitors and replace the CT Scanner. With the support of the Huntsville Foundation and its valued donors, the Dialysis Unit will also be getting a big facelift later this year.

Giving to either one of these Foundations benefits the entire community. The equipment purchased and upgraded services allow us to provide better care to our patients and we are very grateful to both our donors and the Foundations for all of their hard work.

To find out how you can help or to make a donation online, please visit their websites at www.hdmhfoundation.ca or www.southmuskokahospitalfoundation.ca.

Colin Miller, Executive Director of the South Muskoka Hospital Foundation,
and Debi Davis, Executive Director of the Huntsville Hospital Foundation