Equipment spotlight on… Cardiac Electrophysiology (EP)

Imagine suffering a cardiac crisis and being rushed to a hospital far from your family and friends. Right now, patients at PRHC who are dealing with heart rhythm issues (arrhythmia) must travel to Kingston or Toronto for treatment. But with your support, Peterborough Regional Health Centre will change that with a new Cardiac Electrophysiology (EP) Lab where experts will be able to address electrical conditions of the heart.

Supported by the Foundation’s $60 million Campaign for PRHC, our hospital is committed to expanding its cardiac services by building a state-of-the-art Cardiac EP Lab. Having this lifesaving equipment and technology will mean patients can get vital tests and procedures in our region, saving them stress, time, and the financial burden of travelling long-distances for care. By investing in the EP Lab, you’ll also be helping PRHC attract new, top medical experts who can diagnose and treat complex electrical conditions of the heart.

Thanks to donor support, PRHC recently renovated its two Cardiac Cath Lab suites, where expert teams fix cardiac blockages, restore blood flow, and even stop heart attacks while they’re happening. Now, we need your help to take PRHC’s world-class cardiac care a step further with electrophysiology. Your gift today will help make sure everyone’s heart stays in good hands – right here at home.

You can make a donation online, or for more information, please call 705-876-5000.

How you’re helping keep PRHC a great place to work

Peterborough Regional Health Centre has been recognized as one of Canada’s best employers. In January, PRHC earned an impressive spot on Forbes’ list of Canada’s top employers, ranking among the top 20 healthcare and social services employers nationwide.

One of the things that helps set our regional hospital apart is the incredible support from donors. Your generosity plays a pivotal role in helping PRHC attract and retain top-tier healthcare professionals. By supporting state-of-the-art equipment and cutting-edge technology, donors are helping create an environment that fosters excellence in healthcare delivery, where the best and brightest want to work.

At a time when healthcare faces numerous challenges, including staff shortages, PRHC is making great strides in recruitment, especially in nursing. Your regional hospital welcomed 250 nurses last year alone. There are now over 1,600 on staff – a compassionate team of dedicated professionals. Led by a strong leadership group, their skills and expertise play a vital role in delivering exceptional patient care at PRHC.

Did you know…?

  • PRHC has been piloting a nurse mentorship program where clinical nurse mentors are scheduled in addition to the existing nursing complement and are specifically available to mentor new and existing staff who may require additional clinical support
  • PRHC supports internationally educated nurses through a ministry-funded program, helping them get licensed in Ontario – many become permanent PRHC nurses
  • PRHC participates in a provincially paid program for clinical externs – most of these students are nurses, gaining valuable hands-on experience and many go on to become PRHC employees

With your support, strong leadership, and a growing team of nurses, our regional hospital is set to continue providing exceptional care for years to come.

“PRHC is developing a five-year nursing strategy to help nurses grow their careers and make the hospital a top place to work. It will be one of the first community and regional hospitals to take this approach.” -Noel Bennett, PRHC CNE, Vice President, Clinical Services

Executive Assistant

Due to an internal promotion, we’re looking for a new Executive Assistant – the next great member of our team. Is it you? If you believe as we do that reimagining healthcare at Peterborough Regional Health Centre has never been more important than it is right now, read on!

Continue reading

Heart of Healthcare – Episode 5: reImagining the future of mental health care at PRHC

More people are seeking mental health care than ever before, with waitlists at Peterborough Regional Health Centre growing. To meet that increasing need and support the higher standard of care expected today in mental health spaces built more than 16 years ago, it’s crucial to make changes now so patients receive the best care possible.

Continue reading

Better care for breast cancer patients

Earlier this year, PRHC introduced exciting, new donor-funded technology for breast cancer patients called breast seed localization. As PRHC general surgeon Dr. Brie Banks explained at the Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival donation presentation in June, the technology is already making an impact on care. 

Essentially, breast seed localization is a tiny radioactive seed, about the size of a grain of rice, placed directly at the site of a patient’s tumour. It helps surgeons locate the tumour more precisely during surgery. 

This process is a big improvement from older methods, which were less comfortable, more invasive and stressful for patients. And the best part? Because of this donor-funded advancement, PRHC can perform more breast cancer surgeries every day. That means more patients are getting the care they need, faster.

“Having breast seed at PRHC has dramatically increased access to state-of-the-art surgery for breast cancer patients. Not only are we able to look after more patients in the day, but the process is much less difficult for them. Seed localization is more comfortable and convenient,” says Dr. Banks. “I want to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to all the donors who made this advancement possible.”

Our hearts are on the line – let’s bring new cardiac services to PRHC

“You never expect it to happen to you until it does,” says Nick Beamish.

It was Christmas time in 2018, when Nick started feeling ‘off’. An athletic guy, who coached high school sports, Nick was used to pushing his limits, so when he began experiencing extreme exhaustion, he chalked it up to stress. But as the days went on, it became harder to ignore.

With a nudge from his wife, Nick went to the emergency department at Peterborough Regional Health Centre. There, doctors hooked him up to an electrocardiogram (ECG) to test his heart. Within minutes, alarm bells started going off. “Doctors were rushing over with carts, with paddles to shock me,” he says.

Doctors discovered he had a life-threatening issue with his heart rhythm. PRHC didn’t have a Cardiac Electrophysiology – or EP – Lab to provide the necessary treatment, so Nick was rushed to Kingston for care. He spent Christmas in the ICU there, far from home and family. “It was tough and a mental struggle,” says Nick.

Since then, he hasn’t had any issues with his heart. But Nick worries it could happen again – to himself or someone else. That’s why he’s become a donor, volunteer and ambassador for the PRHC Foundation’s $60 million Campaign for PRHC, supporting bringing lifesaving electrophysiology to our region.

With donor support, an advanced Cardiac EP Lab at PRHC will bring new, world-class cardiac treatment and therapies to our region for the first time, eliminating the need for patients to travel far from home for care during an already stressful and urgent time.

“It’s important to be able to get care closer to home. Donors can help make that happen,” says Nick.

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

Hair by Fusion fundraiser supporting pediatric cancer care at PRHC in memory of Sofie Roberts

Sherri Wilfong, owner of Hair by Fusion, was inspired to host her “Blow-dry For a Cause” fundraiser in memory of Sofie Roberts, the daughter of her friend and former salon sales representative Brooke.

All proceeds from blow-dries and select sales at Hair by Fusion up until December 14th will be donated in support of pediatric cancer care at PRHC – inspired by the care Sofie received at the Health Centre.

Plus, those who make a $20 donation to the fundraiser – either online or in-store – will have their name entered to win one of four gift baskets filled with salon products (including $1,000 worth of products donated by Redken). 

The gift basket draw will take place at a special birthday party event on December 14th at 4pm, two days before what would have been Sofie’s tenth birthday.  

Thank you to the team at Hair by Fusion, and the Roberts family, for choosing to honour Sofie in this way. Donations raised will directly support an expanded, purpose-built pediatric cancer care space designed for the expert delivery of care close to home for vulnerable, young patients. 

Together we thank on Giving Tuesday

December 3rd is Giving Tuesday—a global movement that started in 2012. It’s a day to encourage kindness, generosity, and doing good. Over the years, it’s grown into something incredible, inspiring millions of people around the world to give back and make a difference.

Here at the PRHC Foundation, we see the power of generosity every single day. From donations to volunteering to spreading the word about the $60 million Campaign for PRHC, our supporters never stop rallying around Peterborough Regional Health Centre. We can’t thank you enough for all the ways you’re helping us reimagine healthcare for the 600,000 people who rely on our regional hospital.

“Together, we’re shaping the future of healthcare and making a difference in people’s lives—right here at home,” says PRHC Foundation President & CEO, Lesley Heighway. “Thank you for your kindness and for your continuous support.”

As we enter the holiday season, we’re celebrating the generosity of our community with a new initiative: the Sharing Tree.

The tree is traveling around Peterborough, stopping at local businesses and organizations, where people are invited to share their stories, memories, or words of thanks about PRHC by writing them on ornaments. It’s been amazing to see the tree fill up with heartfelt messages that highlight just how much this hospital means to so many people.

When the tree returns to PRHC in time for Christmas, it’ll spread warmth and encouragement to everyone who sees it.

If you’d like to help decorate the tree, we invite you to share your stories or messages on the Sharing Tree webpage.

To donate to the PRHC Foundation’s $60 million Campaign for PRHC, please click here.

Your support is helping shape the future of healthcare in our region. Thank you!

PRHC Foundation volunteers bring Sharing Tree project to life to connect the community and support PRHC

The PRHC Foundation reImagineers, a group of ambassadors passionate about their community, regional hospital and the Campaign for PRHC, have launched a heartwarming project called the Sharing Tree.

This holiday season initiative invites community members to rally around our regional hospital by sharing their connections with PRHC – whether it’s a story of exceptional care, a cherished memory, or a message for PRHC’s doctors, nurses, staff and patients.

“We hope that by sharing our own stories, we can inspire others to reflect on their connections with the hospital,” says Lisa Couture, a reImagineer, donor and owner of Couture Candy PTBO. “Each message on the Sharing Tree serves as a reminder of the care, compassion and support that bring us all together.”

The project launched Saturday, November 23 at Lisa’s shop in downtown Peterborough. The idea is simple but powerful: anyone with a connection to PRHC is encouraged to write down a message, story or words of encouragement on an ornament, which will then be placed on the Sharing Tree. Lisa celebrated the launch of the tree with her own fundraiser in support of the PRHC Foundation: from now until December 24, 2024, $1 from each $19.99 mixed candy bag will be donated towards the Campaign for PRHC.

“We’re grateful for the dedication of the reImagineers and their work to connect the community and hospital in such a meaningful way,” says Lesley Heighway, President & CEO of PRHC Foundation. “The tree will spread warmth and encouragement through the community, then bring cheer to the hospital over the holiday season, while supporting the Campaign for PRHC.”

The Sharing Tree will travel to locations around the region and will come ‘home’ to PRHC in time for Christmas. The heartfelt messages will be on display in the hospital where doctors, nurses, staff and patients can find inspiration from each shared story. There’s also an online version of the tree, making it easy for everyone to take part. As the tree makes its physical journey around the area, website visitors can add their messages digitally.

“Help us decorate the tree with hope, warmth and gratitude,” says Nick Beamish, a reImagineer, grateful patient and donor. He and his fellow reImagineers are committed to supporting the PRHC Foundation’s $60 million Campaign for PRHC. They’ll continue to develop initiatives throughout the campaign that will engage and inspire the community to think about their connections to the hospital and give in support. PRHC serves a population of up to 600,000 and relies on community donations to fund the tools needed to save and change patient lives.

To see an ongoing list of locations where the tree will be stopping this holiday season, visit the Sharing Tree webpage and stay tuned to our social media for updates. Thank you to our Sharing Tree partner locations and all participants for contributing to our Campaign for PRHC efforts!

Photo: From left, PRHC Foundation President & CEO Lesley Heighway, Matt and Lisa Couture, Susan Dunkley, Noah Crowley, Nick Beamish and son Luke, Jess Crowley and son Theo, and Darryl Porter. In front is PRHC Foundation Manager, Community Giving & Engagement Jane Lovett with son Sam.