Did you know…? Vascular disease is the leading cause of preventable death and disability in Canada

The vascular system is one of the most important systems in the body. It’s a highly trained network that connects all the organs and all of our tissues so that we can function. The network includes the arteries, the veins and the lymph nodes, from head to toe. It allows for the flow of all of the nutrients that we need to think, to speak, to move, and to feel well.

In Canada, vascular disease is the leading cause of preventable death and disability. It happens when there are issues with how blood flows through the body—whether that’s in the arteries, the veins or even with the blood itself.

Vascular patients tend to have multiple life-threatening conditions that require complex, time-sensitive care. If that care has to happen in a traditional operating suite, they will have one surgery, recover, have another surgery, recover, and so on. But that traditional process extends the length of treatment a lot longer than necessary and many patients aren’t strong enough or don’t have time to endure multiple procedures and their recoveries.

A solution exists. A hybrid operating room allows specialized clinical teams to perform diagnostic imaging, minimally invasive procedures, and complex surgeries on one patient, in one room, during one surgical session.

This groundbreaking approach offers safer and more seamless care, leading to better patient outcomes, and ensuring patients experience…

  • Less pain
  • Fewer complications
  • Faster recovery time

Currently, PRHC’s operating suites don’t support hybrid care. To create a hybrid OR at PRHC for the first time, $6 million in donor support is needed. The PRHC Foundation is committed to making this a reality and reimagining surgical care for thousands of patients from across our region.

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

Ready, set, dough! Smile Cookie is coming back to PRHC April 28-May 4

We dough-n’t know about you, but we’ve been crumbling with excitement waiting for this sweet week! From Monday, April 28 to Sunday, May 4, Smile Cookie returns to the Peterborough Regional Health Centre cafeteria’s Compass Canada Tim Hortons location.

These aren’t just any cookies—they’re cookies with a cause! 100% of the proceeds from Smile Cookie sales at the PRHC location will be donated to the PRHC Foundation, helping fund the equipment and technology that support life-changing care at our regional hospital every day.

Thank you to Compass Canada Manager Warren and his team who make this fundraiser a success every year. And of course, a massive thank you to all the cookie lovers and supporters who keep the smiles going strong!

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.

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.

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.

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