$326,204 Raised

Family First

Radiothon 2008

You made it happen! Thanks to your generous support the 2nd Annual 800 CHAB and Moose Jaw Health Foundation's Family First Radiothon has been a huge success. Your gift will now go towards the purchase of urgently needed equipment in the Intensive Care Unit and the renovation of the ICU Family Room. Thank you to every person... Every Business... Every Sponsor... Every Dollar made a difference.

A special thanks to the Kinsmen Foundation for their lead donation of $150,000 to begin the revitalization of the ICU with the establishment of the first dedicated isolation room in the history of the Moose Jaw Union Hospital.

One in four people in Moose Jaw and surrounding area use the Moose Jaw Union Hospital every year. Last year, over 600 people received specialized treatment in the ICU

This year, with your help, we raised $326,204!

The Family First Radiothon was broadcast live on 800 CHAB from the Town n' Country Mall. A bank of phones was run by community volunteers. Over 200 volunteers committed their time to make this event an outstanding success. In addition, patients and their families who received specialized care at Moose Jaw Union Hospital told their inspirational stories. Thank you to every donor, business and service organization who helped make a difference in the life of an ICU patient

Evelyn McLean pictured above sewing while wearing her Philips Lifeline Alert necklace.

Lifeline Saskatchewan and the Moose Jaw Health Foundation Form Partnership to Help Reduce the Fear of Falling for Seniors

Each year hundreds of seniors in Moose Jaw suffer falls in their home. The fear of falling is on the rise. One study indicates that as many as 61% of all Canadian seniors experience some degree of fear about falling. Being concerned is natural and healthy, but when the fear is all consuming, the risk of falling increases.

The Moose Jaw Health Foundation and Philips Lifeline Saskatchewan have formed a partnership to help seniors reduce this fear with state-of-the-art technology.“ The Foundation is so pleased to help promote this service to residents in Moose Jaw and surrounding area. The technology is so innovative and affordable that this will provide seniors with the peace of mind knowing that if they suffer a fall – help is only a push of a button away.” states Kelly McElree Executive Director of the Moose Jaw Health Foundation.

A senior in fear of falling will avoid everyday activities by staying home and doing less in order to prevent a fall. This leads to loss of strength, reduced muscle tone, and loss of co-ordination and balance which puts a senior more at-risk. Similarly someone anxious about falling tends to modify their gait and balance control, further increasing the risk.

Philips Lifeline Saskatchewan , a medical alert service, is designed to reduce the risk of living alone and can also help to manage the fear of falling at home. With the press of a waterproof button, appropriate assistance is sent by a professionally trained Lifeline Associate, 24 hours a day. Using 2-way voice communication, Lifeline Associates quickly assess the situation and send help - whether it is a neighbour, family member or emergency service.

“Because Lifeline provides instant access to help, it can save lives and dramatically improve outcomes in the event of a fall or emergency,” explains Terri Berglund of Lifeline Saskatchewan.“ It is an essential component of any Falls Prevention Program.”

Moose Jaw resident Evelyn McLean knows first hand the benefits of this service. “I feel very safe having Lifeline. It gives me and my family peace of mind knowing I can have help quickly at the press of a button.”

To find out more information on the difference the Lifeline Service can make for yourself or a loved one, please call the Foundation office at 694-0373 or Lifeline Saskatchewan today at 1-800-856-0599 or visit www.lifeline.ca.

2nd Annual

Family First Radiothon

Focusing on the ICU

800 CHAB's Lorie Dean, Nurse Director of the ICU Diane Ireland and Moose Jaw Health Foundation Board Member Ken Hawkes announce the 2nd Annual Family First Radiothon

The airwaves of Moose Jaw will soon be filled with poignant stories that come straight from the heart. Patients and their families from Moose Jaw and surrounding areas will share their touching experiences about overcoming their life threatening health challenges in the Intensive Care Unit of the Moose Jaw Union Hospital during the 2nd Annual Family First Radiothon.

Their stories will be highlighted as the 2nd Annual Family First Radiothon hits the airwaves on 800 CHAB May 1 st and 2nd. The Radiothon will be broadcast live from the Town ‘N' Country Mall from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday.

On 800 CHAB Craig and Lorie along with Moose Jaw Health Foundation Board Member Ken Hawkes, Executive Director Kelly McElree and the Nurse Director of the Intensive Care Unit, Diane Ireland officially announced the upcoming Radiothon on the Morning Show.

The second annual Family First Radiothon will raise funds to help purchase new state-of-the-art equipment to help medical professionals save lives every day in the ICU such as special care beds, emergency crash carts, patient call units, medical carts etc…; and create a new Family First room to provide patient families a place to rest and regain their strength, so they can help their loved one overcome their health challenge.

Moose Jaw Health Foundation Board Member, Ken Hawkes who is coordinating the volunteers for the event, and a former ICU patient himself, commented, “One in four people in Moose Jaw and surrounding area use the Moose Jaw Union Hospital every year. In the last two years, Intensive Care has seen an 18% increase in patients at our community hospital. Chances are – you, your family or someone you care about will need medical services only available within the Intensive Care Unit at the Union Hospital. With your help will we be able to keep this essential medical service close to home.”

Last year's Radiothon raised over $115,000 for the Paediatrics department and the Foundation along with 800 CHAB is hoping to surpass last year's goal. Each and every dollar raised for the Radiothon will stay in Moose Jaw to help patients in the ICU.

Nursing Scholarship Awarded

Bethany Driedger full-time second year SIAST Nursing Education program student becomes the first recipient of the Moose Jaw Health Foundation's Tom Joseph Memorial Award scholarship established by friends and family who knew Tom Joseph, who was a dedicated and respected nurse in the Five Hills Health Region. Presenting the scholarship to Bethany are Moose Jaw Health Foundation Executive Director Kelly McElree (left) and Moose Jaw Health Foundation Board Member Gerry Westgard (right). Bethany plans to specialize in the area of diabetes and live and work in Moose Jaw upon graduation.

Thank You Moose Jaw!

Festival of Trees 2007

$225,000

Raised for the Moose Jaw Health Foundation's Critical Care Monitors Campaign

On Saturday, November 24th more than 400 guests attended the premier gala event of the Christmas Season – the Moose Jaw Health Foundation's – Festival of Trees. A record $225,000 was raised during an evening featuring a lavish meal, auction and dance.

The Moose Jaw Health Foundation would like to express its heartfelt gratitude to everyone who generously contributed and purchased auction items, volunteered their time, and made cash donations. All of the proceeds from the auction will go towards the purchase a new state-of-the-art Critical Care Monitors to be used in the Moose Jaw Union Hospital's Intensive Care Unit, Surgery and the Emergency Department.

A special thanks to the Festival of Trees Committee Chair Laurie Kosior, Randee Waldo, Alana Belik, Angela Currie, Bernie Doepker, Sherryn Boszak and Darlene Geib of the Heritage Inn for their countless hours in the preparation of Festival of Trees.

Aspen Dental

Extreme Makeover of Rotary Villa

Each year hundreds of families enjoy the secure and comfortable accommodation at Rotary Villa. This steady stream of patients and families results in the need for continuous upkeep, and the need for regular maintenance. Today, Aspen Dental has stepped forward and is rolling up its sleeves to help the Moose Jaw Health Foundation renovate a suite at Rotary Villa to help recovering patients and their families.

Each year Aspen Dental picks a project in our community where employees donate time and money to help a local charity, this year Aspen Dental chose to renovate a suite and landscape the Moose Jaw Health Foundation's Rotary Villa.

Rotary Villa was a gift to the Moose Jaw Health Foundation in 1993.  There are 11 suites dedicated to providing temporary and short term accommodation for day-patients, out-patients and family members of patients receiving medical treatment and related services in Moose Jaw and area.  These suites are fully furnished and include a kitchen unit, bathroom, telephone, linen, dishes and cutlery as well as a complementary laundry facility.  Rotary Villa is conveniently located only one block east of the Moose Jaw Union Hospital at 631 Fairford Street East.  Each unit at the Villa has its own exterior access and provides patients with affordable accommodation close to the hospital.

Kelly McElree, Executive Director of the Moose Jaw Health Foundation expressed his gratitude, “When patients go through their health challenge and they live outside of Moose Jaw, they need to be close to the hospital and the caring medical professionals at the Moose Jaw Union Hospital. When a fantastic organization steps forward to renovate a room – this helps the healing process for patients and their families during their health crisis. The Foundation deeply appreciates Aspen Dental's commitment, hard work and dedication to enhancing direct patient care.”

Hospital Expansion - Update

MLA Glenn Hagel, right, talks with Dr. George Miller after a planned rally at the Moose Jaw Union Hospital on Tuesday, with presentations on how much the hospital is in need of an expansion Shelby Parker photograph and story by Ron Walters

Against the backdrop of a mural depicting historical progress of Moose Jaw hospitals since the 1880s, Dr. George Miller once more described the immediate need for provincial funding to build a new hospital wing.

The message was polite, but boiled down to keep those phones to MLAs ringing until a commitment is forthcoming. The new hospital wing has a commitment from the city for $40 per property annually for a 30 per cent municipal share of the $26 million original cost and support of both local government MLAs.

“But (the MLAs) were unable to convince cabinet to  commit to the project,” Miller told a rally in Moose Jaw Union Hospital foyer Tuesday.   “Costs are escalating,” said Miller, chairman of the health district committee advocating expansion.  “The original cost was around $26 million. Our last estimate is unknown as we have no funds for planning.” Miller hopes Moose Jaw doesn't have to wait 17 years for the project as Swift Current did.

Specialists and surgeons need proper space to work with patients and introduce new technologies, said Miller.   “If we lose facilities, we lose specialists. If we lose specialists, we lose family doctors and that's the simple formula.”   Miller urged more public support for the project, noting the local MLAs' phone number (694-1001) is on a poster distributed by the committee.

“The urgency is the political (election) cycle we're in at the present time. This is a time when we can put the most pressure on politicians who are in office, and who are presently pending election, so we can get a commitment,” he said.   The existing hospital was out-of-date when renovations to the 1954 wing were completed in 1995, he said.   “The surgical unit was too small from the moment it opened. It's now handling five times the capacity it was designed for,” Miller said.  The 1995 renovations were akin to  “a new dress for an old girl” with most of the work involving fire code regulations and a sprinkler system, he said. Mental health unit safety, patient flow, patient privacy and patient protection from medical errors are compromised by the old wing, he said.

“We can stumble around for a few more years, said Miller. “If the money magically appeared tomorrow it will take seven years until it is built.”   Miller and hospital supporters will be in the public's face for some time to obtain provincial support for the project.   Supporter Keith McEwan, recovering from a recent Union Hospital surgery, commended the staff for working under these conditions.   “The operating room looks rundown, like it needs work,” said McEwan. “Don't wait for an election to announce funding.”

Moose Jaw Health Foundation's

13th Annual Concerts in the Park

The bands have put away their instruments for another successful year of Concerts in the Park. This year through the generous donations of audience members raised over $8,000

This year funds from Concerts in the Park will go to the purchase of a new Ultrasound Unit for the Foundation's “Ultrasound Plan for the Future” Campaign.

Volunteer Chairman of the Moose Jaw Health Foundation Robert Fielding expressed his gratitude, “Each year this event continues to grow because it is a wonderful event that everyone in our community can enjoy, plus each dollar raised saves and enhances the lives of patients at our hospital. The Foundation Board and the staff at the Moose Jaw Union Hospital greatly appreciate every dollar raised.”

Mammography Matters at RBC

Maggie Sinclair Branch Manager RBC Royal Bank, Kelly McElree Health Foundation Executive Director, Alberta Richards, Sheila Getzlaf and Diane Therrian celebrate the completion of the RBC Fit-A-Thon

Over 70 women from all over Moose Jaw joined in the first RBC Fit-A-Thon held at Vanier Collegiate to raise funds for the Moose Jaw Health Foundation's Mammography Matters Campaign to purchase a new mammography unit for the Moose Jaw Union Hospital. For 3 hours, participants did salsa, hip-hop, line dancing, yoga, and low impact aerobics in an evening of fitness and friendship.

Each participant was asked to raise a minimum of $25 in pledges for the evening, but by the end of the night an incredible total of over $8,300 was raised to purchase the new enhanced mammography unit. Maggie Sinclair, Branch Manager for RBC Royal Bank main branch commented on the evening, “The team at RBC really came together to make this fabulous evening happen. We wanted to do something special as a part of RBC's 100 th Anniversary in Moose Jaw, and cancer has touched the life of many RBC employees, their families and our customers. By partnering with the Moose Jaw Health Foundation, we can make a difference that will help save and enhance the lives of mothers, daughters, and loved ones for years to come with the purchase of a new mammography unit that will aid in the early detection of breast cancer.”