News Release
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
AGH launches $4-million Put Yourself in the Picture campaign to ensure patients have access to the best in diagnostic imaging
(Mississippi Mills, ON) “Put Yourself in the Picture” is what representatives of the Almonte General Hospital-Fairview Manor Foundation are asking community members to do in an effort to raise $ 4 million for new diagnostic imaging equipment at the Hospital.
“AGH counts 100 percent on funding from the Foundation to ensure our staff has reliable, up-to-date equipment with which to treat our patients,” said Mary Wilson Trider, President & CEO. “We have recently purchased two new digital ultrasound machines, a new portable, digital X-ray machine and a new digital X-ray suite, all of which cost the Hospital $1.8 million. We are now counting on the Foundation to pay off loans for these vital tools as quickly as possible to minimize our borrowing costs.”
The Hospital moved to purchase the new equipment because both the old ultrasound machine and the old X-ray equipment were more than 10 years old. Finding replacement parts was becoming increasingly difficult and wait times for ultrasound were becoming too long. Plus, the new equipment is better for the patients. “The image quality in digital machines provides better diagnostic accuracy,” said Dr. Chris Deschenes, Chief of Staff at AGH.
AGH also intends to purchase a CT scanner, subject to the approval of the Champlain Local Health Integration Network (CLIHN) and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Part of the approval process depends on confirming a funding source. The AGH-FVM Foundation has committed to raising $2.2 million to pay for this new and urgently needed diagnostic tool.
AGH currently does not have CT scanning so patients requiring a CT scan are sent to another hospital.
Long-time Almonte residents Paul and Rhonda Virgin were announced as Put Yourself in the Picture campaign co-chairs. They were then presented with three cheques:
- The staff, volunteers, board members and physicians at AGH and Fairview Manor have raised $100,000 to date through a “Family” or internal campaign.
- Long-time Hospital and Manor supporters Art and Helen Levi presented the Virgins with a cheque for $250,000 as lead donors to the campaign.
- Representatives of the Foundation including Bob Brouillard, current Vice Chair, and Al Lunney, past board chair, gave $600,000 from the Foundation’s reserve, bringing the campaign to $1 million so far.
“Quality health care is part of what makes a community a place to put down roots and raise a family,” said Co-Chair Rhonda Virgin. “We can never take our quality of life for granted and must continuously work together to maintain and enhance it”.
“That’s why we are asking individuals, businesses, groups, schools and community organizations to join us and to ‘put themselves in the picture’,” said Co-Chair Paul Virgin.
For more information on the Put Yourself in the Picture campaign which will run until the end of 2019, please contact the AGH-FVM Foundation at 613-256-2500, ext. 2297 or visit: www.almontehospitalfoundation.com.