An update on PRHC: Realizing a truly regional health centre

A doctor performs a minimally invasive interventional radiology procedure.

Our donors often tell us that Peterborough Regional Health Centre sometimes feels like two hospitals in one. On one hand, they say the personalized, compassionate care provided today by PRHC’s healthcare professionals reminds them of the hospitals where their children were born.

On the other hand, the outstanding calibre of care, sheer scope of service, continuous introduction of new and innovative treatment options, and arrival of world-class experts, tells a different story.

We’re not just Peterborough’s hospital anymore. And that’s good news for everyone.

Becoming a Hub Hospital

The PRHC of 2022 is a significant player in provincial healthcare delivery. A fully regional health centre with an annual operating budget of $320 million, PRHC now supports regional referrals from five smaller partner hospitals within our catchment area, including Ross Memorial Hospital, Campbellford Memorial Hospital, Northumberland Hills Hospital, Minden Hospital, and Haliburton Highlands Hospital.

In fact, PRHC was recently designated by Ontario Health East, our regional health authority, as a fully integrated “hub” for care, similar to Kingston General Hospital, Lakeridge Health, and Scarborough Health Network. That means our hospital is now a peer of GTA facilities like North York General, Humber River Hospital, and Southlake Regional Health Centre.

These leaps forward did not happen by chance. They were realized thanks to the world-class care being provided by an outstanding healthcare team – care made possible by the state-of-the-art tools they’re able to use every day thanks to donor investments.

Accolades and Adversity

We’re very proud of the care being delivered at PRHC. This spring, the hospital achieved the highest possible Accreditation Canada results, receiving the designation “Accredited with Exemplary Standing” for the second time in a row.

Recently, PRHC was also awarded Stroke Distinction in Acute and Inpatient Rehabilitation Stroke Services by Accreditation Canada for the second time, indicating national leadership in the provision of high-quality stroke care.

These accolades would be amazing accomplishments in a normal year. They’re nothing short of exceptional during an ongoing crisis.

PRHC’s leadership and staff continue to respond to the tremendous challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. They’re also working hard to address the difficulties presented by the current healthcare human resources crisis, rising wait times, and external issues like the ongoing shortage of family doctors.

Donors are helping shoulder these burdens, giving PRHC’s healthcare professionals hope that with donor support, we can meet any challenges that come our way.

At the same time, we’re keeping our eye on the future. The need for care in our region is only increasing as our population grows and ages. We can’t lose sight of the investments that must be made now in order to respond to future needs.

Interventional Radiology: Tiny incisions with extraordinary impact

Interventional radiology is used to diagnose and treat a wide range of emergency and chronic health conditions – without major surgery. Because it involves only a small incision and no general anesthetic, it results in less pain and shorter hospital stays.

To treat a much wider range of patient conditions and to pave the way for new, lifesaving therapies in the near future, we’re working with donors to invest $6 million into expanding PRHC’s two existing Interventional Radiology suites, building a new step-down unit, and furnishing all with the latest technology.

Cancer Care: Expert treatment, compassionate care

With your support, we’re also investing $13 million in excellence in cancer care so we can serve more patients, support earlier diagnosis, and ensure safer and more effective treatments. This includes technology like a second MRI, to allow for an additional 5,000 procedures a year (representing a 53% growth in volume), so our oncologists can help more cancer patients who have no time to wait.

A Bold Vision

PRHC has a bold vision for the future: to be the go-to large acute care hospital for patients between Kingston and the GTA. But to get there, we need you by our side.

We hope you’ll consider supporting our hospital this holiday season. Together, we’ll shape the future of healthcare in our region.

New $3.55 million donor-funded Cardiac Cath Lab is keeping all our hearts here

Dr. Warren Ball, PRHC Interventional Cardiologist and Head of Division, Cardiology

We’re very happy to share that PRHC’s Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory reinvestment is now complete!

The two existing Cath Lab suites have been entirely renovated and upgraded, and began functioning at full capacity this fall. In the first month that both suites were operational, there were 324 Cath Lab visits, including 279 angiograms and 117 cardiac stenting procedures – some actually performed while a heart attack was taking place!

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Dr. Andrew Kelly joins the Cardiac Cath Lab team

Dr. Andrew Kelly, PRHC Interventional Cardiologist

PRHC was pleased to welcome Dr. Andrew Kelly earlier this summer. An interventional cardiologist, Dr. Kelly joins Dr. Warren Ball, Dr. Phong Nguyen-Ho and Dr. Katy Shufelt as the newest physician on the Cardiac Cath Lab team.

Dr. Kelly completed his medical degree at Ross University and went on to do residency training at the University of Connecticut for Internal Medicine and McMaster University for Cardiology, followed by a Fellowship in Interventional Cardiology at McMaster University.

Donor investment in new state-of-the-art Cath Lab facilities was critical to PRHC’s ability to bring Dr. Kelly to our hospital and reflects the growth of this vital regional service. Thank you!

Community events helping to fund world-class cancer care

Group of Dragon Boat paddlers with giant cheque

Through your support of incredible community events like Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival, Couture Candy’s recent sweet treat fundraiser and the upcoming “Cancer Takedown 2022”, you’re investing in world-class cancer care at PRHC, helping your hospital to serve more patients, support earlier diagnosis, and ensure safer and more effective treatments.

This includes investments like a second MRI, to allow for an additional 5,000 procedures a year (representing a 53% growth in volume), and robotic preparation of chemotherapy medications – the same chemotherapy preparation system found at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, and the next logical step for our Centre of Excellence for Cancer Care.

Last month, Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival announced that they beat their goal and raised an amazing $202,268.41! And just recently, the team at Couture Candy PTBO donated a spectacular $16,700 raised through “Supporting Cancer Care is Sweet”!

Next, local celebrities Kate Suhr, Melissa Payne, Linda Kash, Megan Murphy and friends will present “Cancer Takedown 2022”. Please join them November 16 at Market Hall for an evening of song, story and solidarity in support of cancer care at PRHC. Tickets are available by phone at 705-775-1503, at the Market Hall box office (140 Charlotte Street – 3rd floor, Monday-Friday 12-5pm), or online.

Because of the inspiring hard work and generosity of event organizers and the participation of wonderful people like you, cancer patients from across our region can receive the expert, specialized care they need, close to home – instead of having to travel. Thank you!

Donate your empties in support of your hospital

Cheers and thanks to The Beer Store!

Throughout 2021, Beer Store employees, customers, and communities worked hard to raise funds for worthy causes across the province. Last year, The Beer Store supported over 100 local hospitals and foodbanks and raised $258,843.

This year, from July 4th-August 28th, The Beer Store is thrilled to be supporting local organizations again. With your help, The Beer Store is proud to support local charities within the community – including PRHC Foundation. Please visit The Beer Store to support by making a monetary donation or donating your empty returns.

Donations made at Peterborough and area The Beer Store locations below will help fund the equipment and technology the hardworking healthcare workers at Peterborough Regional Health Centre use to provide outstanding patient care.

• Store 4701 – 570 Lansdowne St. W., Peterborough, K9J 6Z8

• Store 4702 – 139 George St. N., Peterborough, K9J 3G6

• Store 4703 – 1154 Chemong Rd., Peterborough, K9H 7J6

• Store 4705 – 882 Ward St., Bridgenorth, K0L 1H0

• Store 4709 – 102 Queen St., Lakefield, K0L 2H0

• Store 4710 – 1900 Lansdowne St. W., Peterborough, K9J 3K7

Supporting cancer care is sweet

Couture Candy PTBO – where the motto is #BeingKindIsSweet – has launched a fundraiser called “Supporting cancer care is sweet” to do just that: support cancer care at Peterborough Regional Health Centre!

Inspired by her many customers who come to Candy Couture PTBO looking to send a treat to someone impacted by cancer, owner Lisa wants to give back to the community.

From now until October 3rd, the shop will donate a portion of the proceeds from over 10 of their most popular products to the PRHC Foundation.

But that’s not all, during the shop’s ice cream fundraisers throughout the summer, everyone who donates at checkout will get their name on an exclusive donor card displayed in the front window of the store!

Visit them in person seven days a week in downtown Peterborough at 386 George St. N. or online.

Thanks to Lisa and her Couture Candy PTBO customers for being so sweet!

Impact Spotlight: Donor-funded ED equipment is helping save patients’ sight

A doctor examines a patient's eyes using a slit lamp

Last year, more than 76,000 patients visited Peterborough Regional Health Centre’s Emergency Department (ED) in search of urgent, expert healthcare. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, it’s historically one of the busiest EDs in the province.

Throughout the year, emergency physician Dr. Aidan Cunniffe and his colleagues use an ophthalmology microscope known as a slit lamp up to 2,000 times to diagnose urgent eye health issues and help save patients’ sight. This essential equipment many of us have encountered during a scheduled eye exam includes a binocular microscope and a strong, concentrated light.

Used so often, the slit lamp wore out last year and was replaced – not like-for-like – but with more advanced equipment funded by PRHC Foundation donors. The new technology is more reliable and instead of incandescent light bulbs that regularly burn out, features powerful, long-lasting LED light.

Dr. Cunniffe uses the lamp to examine a patient’s eyes and get a clear, 3-D look at what is happening in and around them. By adjusting the light, he can look at different parts of the eyes and face, including the skin around the eye, the eyelids and lashes, the surface and other layers of the eye, and the retina. The lamp helps him spot foreign bodies, abrasion of the cornea, signs of impact or detachment of the retina, and infection.

“Occupational injuries are a common emergency eye health issue we see in the ED,” says Dr. Cunniffe. “Recently a patient who had been injured at work came in with a lacerated cornea – a cut into the eyeball. He’d lost his vision. The slit lamp helped me diagnose the injury quickly, expediting an emergency eye surgery to save his sight.”

It’s crucial that PRHC’s emergency doctors, nurses and staff have the technology necessary to diagnose patients and get them the best treatment as soon as possible. Because the government doesn’t fund equipment, PRHC counts on donors to fund the lifesaving and life-changing tools the hospital’s healthcare providers need – essentials like the slit lamp.

“Thank you, donors,” says Dr. Cunniffe. “Because of your generosity the new slit lamp is helping me provide vital care to patients from across the region.”