HAGERSVILLE — The West Haldimand General Hospital and Hospital Foundation (WHHHF) has announced its plans for the gigantic $1,448,767.95 donation received from Hagersville’s historic Catch the Ace fundraiser earlier this year.
“The impact this gift will have on patient care is nothing short of momentous. I cannot thank the Hagersville Rocks Committee, the Hagersville Lions, the Hagersville Chamber of Commerce, the Hagersville Legion, and all of the wonderful volunteers enough,” said Lisa Hostein, Executive Director of WHHHF. “Thank you for your time, commitment, dedication, and compassion over 45 weeks that brought province-wide attention to our community. Thank you Hagersville Rocks Committee for this historic donation to our hospital.”
Plans for the funds will allow for upgraded clinical patient equipment throughout the hospital, enhanced and expanded services, and new state-of-the-art medical equipment. The donation will support five key areas at WHGH, including Diagnostic Imaging, Emergency Department, Inpatient Unit, Pharmacy, and Laboratory Services.
The biggest purchase is an X-Ray Suite valued at $650,000 to replace current equipment that has reached its end of life. According to a press release, the new technology is safer and has higher quality images.
Hospital staff note that demand for the X-Ray service is up 25% from pre-Covid, with approximately 1,100 exams performed in the room each year.
Next, $150,000 will be invested in upgraded mammography equipment, which WHHHF describes as “the best way to detect breast cancer early, when it is easier to treat and before it is big enough to feel or cause symptoms.”
The new equipment increases local access, convenience, and the amount of available screens, and is an “essential service for maintaining a healthy community,” offering 3D Tomosynthesis, a novel imaging technology that captures three-dimensional images of the breast, increasing cancer detection rates. WHGH currently performs approximately 1,400 of these exams per year.
New state-of-the-art pharmacy equipment and technology – Omnicell’s Central Pharmacy Manager (CPM) and XT Controlled Substance Manager (CSM) – will enhance medication tracking and management in WHGH’s pharmacy, optimizing staff workflows and strategic purchasing. An additional Omnicell Automated Medication Dispensing System in the Inpatient Unit will increase nursing efficiency and patient care speed. Omnicell’s Anywhere RN Remote medication software will also integrate a new IntelliGuard system, which uses infrared tags to transform medication kit management, automate content checks, track expiries, and ensure efficient stock rotation, while new Medication Management software will cut nurses’ first medication access time by 57%, aiding vital cross-verification. The new equipment and systems come with a combined $353,500 price tag.
Remaining funds will go toward supporting the “highest priorities inside of the Emergency Department, Inpatient Unit and the Laboratory,” said the press release.
“This historic contribution enables us to forge ahead with much needed patient care equipment. It has not only changed lives but has also touched our hearts in ways beyond expression. The unwavering community support has been truly remarkable, and we are immensely grateful,” said Todd Stepanuik, WHGH President & Chief Executive Officer.
“When asked about Catch the Ace, I’m amazed at how far we came,” said Tanya Ribbink, Hagersville Rocks Music Festival Co-Chair. “What started out as a weekly social event at the Legion turned into a history making fundraiser for our town. Being a part of the Hagersville Rocks Music Festival has been extremely rewarding, but never so much as when we were able to present that giant cheque to the Foundation. We wanted to support our local hospital because it is the ‘heartbeat of Hagersville’.”
She concluded, “To be able to step up and help maintain the level of excellence that is provided by the staff at WHGH is a feather in our cap for sure! We are beyond thrilled at the success we saw with Catch the Ace and equally thrilled to be able to pass those proceeds on.”
