Cobourg resident was first patient at PRHC to receive new cancer treatment

Grateful patient Stuart Morley stands in front of the hospital

Two years ago, Cobourg resident Stuart Morley became the first PRHC patient to receive life-changing cancer treatment by interventional radiology radiofrequency ablation for a tumour on his kidney.

The amateur photographer tells how interventional radiologist Dr. Kebby King put a metal probe through a small cut in his skin and using a CT to guide her, found the tumour and dissolved it with radio waves. “It was amazing. I felt no pain and I was able to go home later that afternoon,” he says. “Now I’m back taking photos and looking forward to travelling the world again.”

Interventional radiology is often described as ‘the future of medicine.’ It’s used to diagnose and treat a wide range of emergency and chronic health conditions such as cancer and other illnesses, with less pain and risk, and shorter hospital stays.

Grateful for the great care he received and determined to help pave the way for new ground-breaking therapies to be offered at PRHC in the near future, Stuart donated to the PRHC Foundation.

He knows the need for interventional radiology is growing in our region. A $6 million investment in state-of-the-art equipment, upgraded suites, and an expanded recovery room are essential to meeting that need – so more patients, with more complex conditions can be diagnosed and treated close to home.

For more information on this exciting investment, please click here.

2023 Peterborough Petes Pink in the Rink supports cancer care at PRHC

Pink in the Rink
Pink in the RInk

The Peterborough Petes’ Pink in the Rink returns to the Peterborough Memorial Centre as they take on the Oshawa Generals Saturday, February 4, 2023 at 7:05pm.

After raising a total of $900,000 over the past 13 years, the Petes announced that this year’s fundraising goal is $50,000, moving the team one step closer to $1 million dollar raised to fight cancer in Pink in the Rink’s history.

Proceeds from the 14th Annual Pink in the Rink will support expert, compassionate cancer care at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC). Lesley Heighway, PRHC Foundation President & CEO, says that with cancer volumes on the rise, donors are essential to the hospital’s ability to serve more patients, support earlier diagnosis, and ensure safer, more effective treatments, close to home.

“The number of patients from Peterborough and the surrounding area who rely on PRHC to support their cancer journey continues to climb,” said Heighway. “It’s events like Pink in the Rink and organizations like the Peterborough Petes – along with the people and businesses who support them – that fund the tools our experts need to save and improve lives. With your help, we’ll continue investing in vital technology upgrades like our Interventional Radiology suites, where cancer is just one of the conditions treated, and experts perform minimally-invasive biopsies, install intravenous chemotherapy ports, and even offer precise, targeted cancer treatments – safely and quickly so patients can go home sooner.”

“On behalf of PRHC’s patients and everyone who loves them, thank you,” Heighway added. “Together we’re ensuring our hospital remains a trusted place of healing and hope for you, your family and our entire community, now and always.”

The 14th annual Pink in the Rink game will also celebrate and honour hockey moms who have been affected by cancer. You can meet the 2023 Pink in the Rink Hockey Mom Ambassadors and learn more about why fundraising to support cancer care at PRHC is important to them through their video spotlights.

Purchase tickets online or at the PMC Grant Thornton Box Office using the promo code PINK and $4 from every ticket purchased will be donated to the Petes Pink in the Rink campaign in support of PRHC Foundation.

Find out more here.

Congratulations, Dr. Mikula!

Dr. Lynn Mikula

Congratulations to Dr. Lynn Mikula on her selection as Peterborough Regional Health Centre’s new President & CEO when Dr. Peter McLaughlin retires this spring. Dr. Mikula will begin in the role at the end of March 2023.

Dr. Mikula is currently Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Executive, and is the former Chief of Surgery and former Chief of Staff. She brings with her a vast wealth of knowledge, experience and strong personal and professional connections with both the Health Centre and our community.

I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with Dr. Mikula since she joined the PRHC surgical department in 2011. She’s a great supporter of the PRHC Foundation’s efforts and we look forward to continuing our close relationship with her as we move forward with a shared vision to support world-class patient care at PRHC today, while shaping the future of healthcare in our region tomorrow.

Warm wishes,
Lesley Heighway, President & CEO
PRHC Foundation

For more information, please read the hospital’s full announcement here.

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!