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Brockville General Hospital |
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News Release |
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NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, May 4, 2009 Cardiovascular Program opens at Brockville General Hospital BROCKVILLE – Brockville General Hospital’s Cardiovascular Program officially opened with the snip of a ribbon on Monday. Officials, dignitaries, doctors, heart patients and hospital staff gathered for the official opening of a new centre that is receiving the generous support of the people of Leeds-Grenville. To date, $425,000 has been donated or pledged toward the program, BGH President and CEO Ray Marshall announced to a crowd of about 100 people. “The citizens of Brockville and District really help causes,” Mr. Marshall said. “This is tremendous.” Dr. Jay Bhatt, an internist and one of the driving forces behind the creation of the program, praised the community for its help. “This is what we do in our community,” he said. “We are all one.” He stressed the need for future donations to continue to help local patients with cardiovascular rehabilitation following heart attacks or other heart trouble. Dr. Bhatt’s patient Ken MacDonald spoke during the ceremony to underline the need for a cardiovascular centre locally. Four days following his heart surgery in 2007, he came home to Brockville but had no local cardiac rehabilitation clinic. “For my wife it was a very scary situation, because she is not a nurse,” he recalls. “Thanks to Dr. Bhatt’s tireless efforts, we now have this facility. I wish we would have had this facility two years ago.” Dr. Bhatt pointed out, “These patients are acutely ill. They are terrified when they are sent home.” The official opening came just days after a very successful Wine Tasting Fundraiser, held Thursday at BGH. More than 200 people paid $50 a ticket to taste wine and special foods donated for the occasion, organized by a group of dedicated volunteers. On Monday, Sherri Hudson, the committee chairperson, officially donated the $10,153 raised Thursday night. Gifts from Bob Scott, Mary Hewitt and others this year combine to total $85,733. Jennifer Birchall-Creighton surprised the hospital foundation with a cheque for $5,000 on Monday. George Tackaberry and Sons Construction has pledged $10,000, which will match an earlier gift from Knapp’s Paving and Landscaping Ltd. “The community has supported this, and that’s important,” stressed Brockville City Councillor Jeff Earle. Brockville Council has pledged $50,000 over five years for the program. New pledges have come from Kensington Pharmacy ($25,000), Pharmasave ($5,000) and Seaway Valley Pharmacy ($1,500). Bonnie Rogers, chairperson of the raffle committee, donated the $11,903.25 raised through raffle tickets by volunteers. The raffle winners were Lynn Walker of Brockville, who receives a $2,500 travel gift certificate donated by Howard Travel, and Mary Dier of Westport area, who wins a VIA weekend getaway to Toronto with 2 nights at the Royal Meridian Hotel. The new centre includes treadmills, exercise bicycles and other equipment. Director of Critical Care Margriet de Bruyn explained that the program will be open three days a week, serving three classes of 10 people each over 12-week periods. The program includes monitored individual exercise sessions, psychosocial counseling, nutritional counseling, stress management, vocational training, group education and support groups. BGH’s multidisciplinary team includes internists, a cardiologist, physiotherapists, a dietitian, nurse, respiratory therapist and pharmacist. The program is supported entirely through donations; contact the Brockville and District Hospital Foundation at 613-345-4478 to help.
Dr. Jay Bhatt, an internist and the driving force behind the creation of the Brockville Cardiovascular Program, poses on an exercise bicycle Monday alongside a donor, Bob Scott. To date, $425,000 has been donated or pledged toward the new program, which opened this week.
Committee members Denise Grant, left, and Sherri Hudson donated $10,153 raised last Thursday during the Brockville Cardiovascular Program Wine Tasting Fundraiser to Kevin Tackaberry, Chair, Brockville and District Hospital Foundation. Another $11,903.45 was raised by the raffle committee, headed by volunteer Bonnie Rogers. - 30 - (More photos available on request)
Christine Endicott Healthy People ~ Outstanding Care
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