Jul 25, 2018
When asked why they decided to ‘put themselves in the picture’ to support the AGH FVM Foundation’s diagnostic imaging campaign, Al Lunney was quick with an answer.
“I have to give to the Almonte Hospital,” Al said, “I was born there!” Although it is only part of the reason that Jeri and Al Lunney are strong Hospital supporters, it is a reason that Al is happy to prove. They still have the bill that Al’s mother, Elizabeth, was given to cover her stay, the delivery and the baby’s stay too. The total was $29.10 paid by cash to the Rosamond Memorial Hospital on Jan. 11, 1941.
Jeri and Al have supported the Hospital in many different ways since making Almonte their home in the 90s. Jeri served on the Hospital board for several years, and Al volunteered for the Hospital Foundation board including being the chair.
“We have always been really happy with the service we’ve received any time we’ve needed the Hospital,” said Jeri. “We rely on the staff and doctors because they give really good care.” Jeri also expressed pride that she was part of the Hospital board that recruited current President and CEO Mary Wilson Trider. “She has been excellent in her job and we are very lucky to have her here.”
The Lunneys’ appreciation of the Hospital also stems from an episode that happened in December 2014 while attending a joint board Christmas social. Al jokes about it now but Jeri still remembers how scary it was. Al was speaking with a group of other guests and the next thing he remembers, he was in an ambulance arriving at the emergency department. Part of the humour Al recalls in the incident is that one of the people he was talking to was Ed McPherson, Chief of the Lanark County Paramedic Service. “If you’re going to have a medical emergency, having the Paramedic Chief nearby can be very helpful,” laughs Al. “They got me to the Hospital in record time!” Thankfully he was well taken care of.
Like many campaign supporters, Al & Jeri have ‘put themselves in the picture’ because they feel that having a well-resourced hospital and manor are vitally important to the quality of life that residents enjoy living here in Mississippi Mills.
To find out how you can join the Lunneys and ‘put yourself in the picture’, please call the AGH FVM Foundation at 613-256-2500 ext. 2297 or email aroberts@agh-fvm.com
Jul 25, 2018
Barbara and Joe Reis had lived a number of different places including North Bay and Bob’s Lake before settling in Almonte 11 years ago. Barbara always worked at home raising their five children while Joe was involved in running his own business, Reis Equipment Centers. They also spent several years living on a farm just outside of Carleton Place where they grew sweet corn and soya beans.
In April of 2017 Joe had a mini stroke. In retrospect, he thinks he should have known it was coming because he’d been experiencing classic symptoms. Barbara and Joe now retired spend time in Florida during the winter and part of their daily routine is walking. Joe remembers now that he was experiencing shortness of breath that spring, which was uncharacteristic for the robust octogenarian.
“Two days after we got home,” said Joe, “I had the stroke.” He remembers being in the ambulance at AGH’s emergency and Dr. Franz Ferraris was telling him he’d be OK, and that they were sending him on to the Heart Institute.
Thankfully for Barbara and Joe, he received excellent care including a valve replacement and was back home within a few weeks.
Joe and Barbara decided to ‘put themselves in the picture’ to support both the Almonte General Hospital’s diagnostic imaging campaign, and also the Day Hospital and Physiotherapy Clinic because of Joe’s experience with the Hospital. He participated in a Day Hospital program for about six weeks, attending twice a week. Joe and Barbara couldn’t say enough good things about the therapists he worked with during that time who helped him build back up his strength on his left side.
For more information on how you can join Barbara and Joe and ‘put yourself in the picture’, please call 613-256-2500 ext. 2297 or email aroberts@agh-fvm.com
Jul 25, 2018
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.
Jul 3, 2018
Roger Geoffrion, Regional Sales Manager, Canada Life, Paul Virgin, Campaign Co-Chair, Betty Prestion, Foundation Director, Rhonda Virgin, Campaign Co-Chair, Mary Wilson Trider, Hospital President, Gord & Bonnie Pike, Campaign supporters, Jesse Lowe, Foundation Director, Dave Perley Hospital Director, Rob Scott, Foundation Chair, & Art Levi, Campaign Supporter.
Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life today announced a $20,000 donation to the Almonte General Hospital-Fairview Manor Foundation in support of the ‘Put Yourself in the Picture’ campaign.
The $4 million campaign, which launched in May 2017, has allowed the Hospital to purchase two new digital ultrasound machines, a new digital X-ray suite and a new portable digital X-ray machine. The Hospital also plans to acquire CT scan machine at a cost of $2.2 million, subject to approval by the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care. This generous donation brings the campaign total to approximately $1.7 million to date.
“We’re proud to support the Almonte General Hospital to help ensure families have access to the care they need, right here at home,” said Roger Geoffrion, Regional Sales Manager, Canada Life. “Our employees and financial advisors have a deep connection to this community, and we believe these new diagnostic tools will go a long way toward improving the health and well-being of patients at Almonte.”
“Rhonda and I are honoured to accept this donation from an organization we’ve been proud to work with in the past, and that my father worked with before us,” said Paul Virgin, Co-Chair of the ‘Put Yourself in the Picture’ campaign. “Almonte General Hospital relies on support from the community to ensure our staff has reliable, up-to-date equipment with which to treat our patients. Donations like this go a long way in helping us fund the new ultrasounds, X-rays and now a new CT scan too.”
The Hospital moved to purchase the new equipment because both the ultrasound machine and the X-ray equipment were more than 10 years old. Finding replacement parts was becoming increasingly difficult when the equipment needed servicing. With only one ultrasound, wait times were also too long.
The new digital machines are faster and easier to use, which has helped reduce wait times down to a few weeks as opposed to months. The new X-ray machines also emit far less radiation, and according to Chief of Staff Dr. Chris Deschenes, offer better image quality that can lead to better diagnostic accuracy.
About Almonte General Hospital
AGH is a 52-bed emergency and acute care hospital serving the Mississippi Mills region as well as West Carleton, Lanark, Carleton Place, and West Ottawa. With more than 15,000 emergency visits per year and nearly 450 births per year, diagnostic tests like ultrasound, X-ray and CT scan are vital for high quality patient care close to home.
In 2017, X-ray staff conducted 6,696 examinations and Ultrasound staff conducted 4,266 examinations. The new portable X-ray machine was used 140 times. Currently AGH patients requiring a CT scan are transported to another hospital.
About Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life
Great-West Life is a leading Canadian insurer, focused on improving the financial, physical and mental well-being of Canadians. Together with our subsidiaries London Life and Canada Life, we serve the financial security needs of 13 million people across Canada.
As an Imagine Caring Company supporting the principles of corporate citizenship and benchmarks for community investment established by Imagine Canada, our companies contribute at least one per cent of pre-tax profit in support of the communities where our employees and customers live and work. In 2017, we contributed $13.5 million to communities. To learn more, visit Greatwestlife.com.
