Donor-funded digital pathology will be a game-changer for cancer care at PRHC

Powered by the PRHC Foundation’s $60 million Campaign for PRHC, our regional hospital will bring critical advancements like digital pathology to our region, keeping Peterborough Regional Health Centre at the forefront of medical innovation.

With the help of donors, PRHC is committed to transforming the future of healthcare in our community, and digital pathology is a key part of that vision. “Almost everyone will be impacted by cancer at some point in their life,” says pathologist Dr. Katie O’Reilly, PRHC’s Medical Director of Laboratory Medicine and PRHC Foundation ambassador for digital pathology. “If we don’t make a strategic decision now to digitize the pathology lab, we and our region’s patients will be left behind.”

Dr. O’Reilly is often asked what pathology is. Many people are unaware of the laboratory or what they do there, but it’s essential to many areas of care, including cancer care.

“If you come to the hospital for cancer care, there’s going to be some decision made in our laboratory in some way,” says Dr. O’Reilly. Pathology plays a vital role in cancer diagnosis and treatment planning. Digital pathology can speed up the process. Instead of relying on traditional glass slides, high-resolution digital images can be shared electronically between laboratories and pathologists, no matter where they’re located, making collaboration easier.

Right now, there’s a shortage of pathologists everywhere and cancer rates are on the rise – there were over 23,000 cancer care visits last year at PRHC. In addition, PRHC’s laboratory provides support for ­four partner hospitals. In total, 2.3 million tests were run through the laboratory in the last year.

Dr. O’Reilly believes this innovative technology will be a game changer for patient care in our region. “There’s more work than there are pathologists, so we’re hoping digital pathology can help us do more with less,” says Dr. O’Reilly.

Bringing digital pathology to PRHC will have many benefits, including:

  • Faster test result turnaround times for patients and physicians
  • Quicker diagnoses and treatment decisions for patients
  • Ability for pathologists to share and consult digitally
  • Improved accuracy

With continued investment from donors, the PRHC Foundation’s $60 million Campaign for PRHC will help bring this state-of-the-art solution to our regional hospital.

“Donor support is essential to making digital pathology a reality at PRHC,” says Lesley Heighway, PRHC Foundation President & CEO. “Our donors are the driving force behind this campaign, helping us bring vital advancements in healthcare to our region.”

Dr. O’Reilly believes now is the time to bring this essential technology to PRHC and she knows it can’t be done without donor support: “Every bit of our work is possible because of the generosity of donors. Thank you so much.”

For more information or to donate, please call 705-876-5000 or click here.

Joe and Ashley’s gift of health

Joe Curry describes his family’s decision to donate a life insurance policy in support of PRHC:

“I often think of Peterborough Regional Health Centre as the beating heart of our community. We’re so fortunate to have such a world-class regional hospital here in Peterborough.

When my wife Ashley and I think about the future, and the legacy we want to leave behind, PRHC is always top of mind. After all, Ashley’s a labour and delivery nurse at PRHC – which happens to be where both our boys were born.

The hospital is a constant, comforting fixture – both in our family and in this community. That’s why, when Ashley and I started thinking about our estate plans, we knew we wanted to include PRHC. As a ­financial planner and advisor, I knew there were plenty of ways to do this.

We settled on a life insurance policy, then immediately donated it to the PRHC Foundation. When Ashley and I are no longer here, the bene­fit will be paid to the Foundation. We still pay the premiums every year, but because the Foundation owns the policy, we receive a charitable donation receipt.

For my family, we can’t think of a better gift than the gift of health. That’s why we’ve chosen PRHC, so the people we love – and the people they love – will be able to get the best healthcare possible when they need it most.”

For more information on legacy or planned giving, or to share your donor story, please call 705-876-5000.