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NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
March 22, 2007
Donor Support raises $1.6 million for new ICU at Royal Columbian Hospital
New Westminster, BC, March 22, 2007 — Thanks to the generosity of individuals, businesses and organizations in the community who donated $1.6 million, a new state-of-the-art Intensive Care Unit (ICU) will soon improve patient care and increase family support space at Royal Columbian Hospital (RCH).
Critical illness or injury can strike anyone at any time. As the population in B.C. grows and ages, the number of patients who need critical care is increasing and stretching the limits of the current, aging ICU at RCH. As the regional centre for major trauma, cardiac and neurosurgery for 1.5 million people from Burnaby to Boston Bar, the hospital has been challenged to provide highly-specialized, one-on-one medical care to severely ill and injured patients in its current 29-year-old ICU.
Currently, only two of 14 ICU beds are located in private rooms, which can increase the risk of cross-infection between patients. Tight quarters also limit privacy for patients and their families, and affect the staff’s ability to maneuver around beds and access equipment. Last fall, the Fraser Health Authority committed $6 million to help fund the new ICU at RCH. When rising construction costs boosted the cost of the ICU, the RCH Foundation pledged to work with the community to raise an additional $1.6 million to help purchase leading edge equipment for the new unit.
The RCH Foundation successfully raised the funds that will ensure patients across the region will have access to the most advanced critical care. “Our donors are truly lifesavers,” says Adrienne Bakker, President and CEO of the RCH Foundation. “Thanks to the generous support from people and businesses in the community, we can better equip the new ICU with specialized ceiling-mounted booms and provide RCH patients with more private rooms and dedicated family waiting areas to offer their loved ones the privacy they need during times of crisis.”
In addition to several leadership gifts from members of the Foundation’s Chairman’s Circle and other individual donors, major contributions to the $1.6-million campaign were also presented to the RCH Foundation by several companies and organizations, including $500,000 from Labatt Breweries of Canada; $60,000 from TB Vets; $20,000 each from the Burnaby Firefighters Charitable Society and RBC Foundation; and $10,000 from Strand Equity VII Ltd. Several $5,000 contributions were provided from numerous others such as Wesgroup Income Properties and the Sapperton Merchants Association.
Construction began in November on the 10,000-square-foot ICU, which is double the current area and will accommodate more patient beds, family rooms, a conference room and space for storage. Slated to open in late May 2007, the ICU will accommodate 16 private rooms designed to reduce infection through better containment. The new unit will open with 14 beds, with two more available for expansion, depending on resources. The unit will also house 16 state-of-the-art ceiling-mounted equipment booms for better patient treatment and access, four private family waiting rooms, five new ventilators to help patients breathe and 16 infusion pumps to deliver vital fluids and medication.
On March 12, 2007 New Westminster Mayor Wayne Wright and City Councilors toured the new ICU, which is 90 per cent complete. “This new ICU is a welcome addition to Royal Columbian. It will increase critical care capacity and help the dedicated team of physicians and nurses provide even better care to patients in our community and from other regions. This level of caring speaks to the commitment of local donors who support our hospital and want the very best care for patients at RCH.”
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About Royal Columbian Hospital (RCH) Foundation
RCH Foundation is an independent charitable organization that raises millions of dollars every year to fund priority equipment needs and enhancements to patient care at Royal Columbian Hospital. Approximately 1.5 million people from Burnaby to Boston Bar depend on Royal Columbian to provide highly specialized care for major trauma emergencies, cardiac and neurosurgery, renal treatment, high risk maternity and newborn intensive care. For more information about the RCH Foundation or to make a donation, please call 604-520-4438 or visit www.rchfoundation.com
Media Contact:
Ingrid King
Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation
Ph: 604-777-8340
Fax: 604-520-4439
E-mail: Ingrid.King@fraserhealth.ca
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