MORE THAN A THOUSAND YEARS OF CARING!

MORE THAN A THOUSAND YEARS OF CARING!

Dec 30, 2018

AGH HeatherJoan Scott and Heather Clement grew up on neighbouring farms, and never thought they’d end up working at the same place – for 45 years! But they did. Joan and Heather were recently recognized at the annual Employee & Physician Long Service Awards dinner for Almonte General Hospital, Fairview Manor and Lanark County Paramedic Service.

“Who would have thought that would have happened?” says Joan Scott. “I’ve been very blessed to have had a job I like for so many years.” Joan worked at the hospital for 30 years before moving over to the Paramedic Service in 2003. She is retiring in the new year and says it’s going to be quite a change. “I’ve never not worked in my whole life.”

AGH JoanHeather Clement graduated from the Ottawa Civic School of Nursing and always knew she’d come back to her local hospital in Almonte. “This is my community and I love the spirit of a community hospital and I love working with my colleagues,” she says. “What I’ve seen is that you not only look after the patient, you also care for their family. We take the time to do that.” Heather has worked in several departments, but her favourite is Obstetrics.

At the ceremony, 69 staff and physicians were recognized. Together, they have provided more than 1,000 years of care to patients, residents and families.

“This event is one of my favourites because we celebrate our colleagues, significant milestones in their careers and the incredible work they do every day to care for patients, residents and our local communities,” sums up Mary Wilson Trider, President and CEO. “Our Mission statement speaks to quality care and personal attention and these honorees exemplify this commitment.”

Thank you from Hospital and Manor staff, volunteers, patients and residents

Thank you from Hospital and Manor staff, volunteers, patients and residents

Dec 26, 2018

A holiday message from the residents, patients, staff and volunteers for all our wonderful supporters.
Give the Gift of Healthcare

Give the Gift of Healthcare

Dec 10, 2018

Give the Gift of Healthcare for Christmas and Support the Almonte General Hospital FoundationThis holiday season, why not give the gift of quality health care close to home. We all have family members, friends, neighbours, or special people in our lives for whom buying just the right gift is difficult. Many of them probably don’t want for anything, other than to know that you’re thinking of them because you care.

As a meaningful gesture that is literally priceless in value, why not make a donation to the Almonte General Hospital Fairview Manor in someone’s name. We’ll send them a card letting them know that your very personal gift to them is quality health care close to home.

For more information, please contact the Almonte General Hospital Fairview Manor Foundation team at 613-256-2500 ext. 2296

Holiday Tribute Form

Donor Dollars well spent – new operating lights on the Obstetrical Unit

Donor Dollars well spent – new operating lights on the Obstetrical Unit

Dec 6, 2018

When Grayson Cybulski decided to make his entrance on Monday, Dec. 3, mom Lauren McGonigal and dad Josh rushed to the Almonte General Hospital from their home in Arnprior not knowing what the next few hours would hold.  After several hours on the Obstetrics Unit, staff determined that Lauren needed to have a Caesarean section. 

Nurse Heather Clement, Josh Cybulski, Lauren McGonigal and Grayson Cybulski

With Dr. Elliot Cohen handling the operation, Dr. Heather Abramenko looking after anesthesia and nurses Heather Clement, Sherry Scissons and Brooke Guthrie assisting, Grayson was brought into the world safely at 6:24 p.m. The first child for Lauren and Josh.

What the proud parents didn’t know until everyone was safe and well looked after was that they had just become the first family to benefit from the brand new  Surgical Lighting System that had just been installed in the Obstetrics (OBS) operating room.  According to Maureen McLeod Frazer, the Manager of OBS, as well as the Emergency Department and the Operating Room, the 15-year-old lighting system it replaced was beginning to present challenges for the staff.

“The only way to dim or brighten the lights,” said McLeod Frazer, “was for the circulating nurse to do it with switches located on the wall, nowhere near the patient.  The doctor couldn’t do it, which was frustrating.  We had tried to have repairs done but were not successful.  On top of not being able to adjust the brightness, the arm was difficult to lock down so it would occasionally start to shift during the procedure.”  Although these things never compromised the safety of the mother or baby, it was less than optimal for an OBS unit that did over 120 C-sections in 2017.

The new system provides bright, consistent light, adjustable by the physician, and is easier and stable to position.

Mom Lauren remarked that the lights were nice and bright after staff mentioned that it had been their first usage.  “They would have been perfect for a selfie had I not been so busy,” said Lauren jokingly.  As a first time father, dad Josh said he hadn’t noticed at the time.  “I was completely focused on Lauren and the baby.”

The new lights cost almost $28,000 provided through general and Mississippi Mills River Walk and Run donations to the Foundation.  Now that’s donor dollars well spent.

Alliance Banknote ‘In The Picture’

Alliance Banknote ‘In The Picture’

Dec 4, 2018

Pennies from heaven came pouring in thanks to Alliance Coin & Banknote. Sean and his staff collected $1250 worth, even though they have now been out of circulation for six years. Sean said, “Having the hospital in our town is important because it takes care of you from birth to the end, and everything in the middle. Just like the power of pennies adding up, so can our donations in making sure the doctors have the equipment they need because the government does not fund the equipment.”

From all of us at the Almonte General Hospital Fairview Manor Foundation, thank you Sean for making cents of quality health care close to home.