PICTON, February 10, 2023 - As the need for priority medical equipment never stops, Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital (PECMH) is grateful for its partnership with the Royal Canadian Legion.

Diane Kennedy, president of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 78 in Picton presented members of the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation (PECMHF) with a gift of $8,500 on February 10. The funds were awarded through a grant from the Royal Canadian Legion Ontario Provincial Command Branches and Ladies Auxiliaries Charitable Foundation.

The hospital foundation is raising over $1,000,000 for equipment by March 31, 2023. Of that, $11,662 is designated for a Centrella Smart bed for the inpatient unit at PECMH. The Legion’s $8,500 grant will offset the purchase of this bed.

Last year, there were 832 inpatient visits with the average length of stay being between five and six days. The Centrella Smart bed is adjustable with electronic controls. Raising or lowering the bed makes it easier to get into or out of, reducing the risk of a fall and further injury. Patients are more comfortable in these new beds which offer a supportive and therapeutic surface to optimize healing. The mattress is designed to reduce the incidence of pressure injuries and is built with a high weight capacity. The bed also offers easy-to-understand verbal safety prompts such as, ‘the care team has been called’ or ‘brake not set’. The USB port also makes charging electronic devices more accessible to the patient.”

 “We are especially grateful to the Royal Canadian Legion Ontario Provincial Command Branches and Ladies Auxiliaries Charitable Foundation for this gift to help us buy this Smart bed to help aid in a patients healing journey,” said Monica Alyea, director on the PECMH Foundation Board. “It’s vital for our community to continue to ensure our County hospital is equipped with the latest devices to keep our patients healthy. We are also proud to announce with this gift, Ontario Command’s cumulative giving total to our hospital over the past 17 years has surpassed $78,000.”

Philanthropic support has always been at the heart of our County hospital. The foundation is responsible for funding all the medical equipment needed to care for patients, including new hospital beds.

“Our mission is to advance health care to our patients, and it is only through the support of our community that we can help ensure veterans receive the care they need and are treated with the respect they deserve,” said Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMHF. Over the years, our four local Legion branches, Picton, Wellington, Consecon and Deseronto have contributed to excellent care at PECMH. We are pleased to know their contributions and this one from Provincial Command are not only helping ensure the best care for veterans but for everyone in Prince Edward County.”

“The Legion provides financial assistance and support to veterans, including Canadian Armed Forces and RCMP, and their families in need,” said Kennedy. “We are thankful to everyone who supports the fundraising endeavours the Legions undertake. Because of you, we are able to help veterans living in this community, and patients at the hospital have access to a good night’s rest.”

“Every area within the hospital – from Emergency to Day Surgery and beyond – has unique bed requirements,” said Janice Deal, team leader and registered nurse on the PECMH Inpatient Unit. This Smart bed offers many safety features for both patients and staff and will provide comfortable rest and recovery this hospital can offer. Beds might not sound exciting, but they are so important both to the care provided and our patient’s experience.”

“When thinking of a patient in the hospital and all the medical equipment used to provide care, it’s not likely a hospital bed comes to mind,” said Coull. “But a bed is a very important part of the recovery process for patients and we want to make sure the safest and best beds are available to our patients.”

Thanks to strong partnerships with the various levels of Legion governance, the PECMH Foundation has on several occasions been the beneficiary of such funding. In the last 20 years, the foundation has been the recipient of over $128,000 in donations from local Legion branches, Ladies Auxiliaries and the Provincial Command Charitable Foundation. These donated funds come largely through poppy fund sales.

“Community support is important because the government does not fund medical equipment. It is the responsibility of the foundation, through the generosity of our donors, organizations and community partners, like the Royal Canadian Legion, that we can meet our obligation to purchase vital medical equipment needed across our region. This helps to ensure our hospitals’ Care Champions can continue to deliver great care, close to home,” said Alyea.

The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to raising funds to advance health care for the patients of the hospital and the people of Prince Edward County.

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Pictured on the inpatient unit at PECMH from left: Kristie Bilodeau, registered nurse at PECMH; Diane Kennedy, president of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 78; Monica Alyea, director on the PECMHF board; Tom McCaw, Branch 78 vice president and poppy fund chairperson; Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation and Briar Boyce, senior development officer of the PECMHF.

Photo: Abi Sampson