Stories

• We Are Donors, Too!

  

  At Woodstock Hospital (WH), we are incredibly proud of our staff, who go above and beyond their professional roles to become donors to the WH Foundation. One such inspiring donor is a seasoned nurse who has dedicated over three decades to WH.

  Nikki (Nicole) Peterson began her nursing career at WH in 1991 and has worked in nearly every unit, specializing in Intensive Care for 23 years. In 2022, she transitioned into a full-time education role after completing a certificate in nursing education from the University of Toronto. Now, as a Clinical Coach, Nikki mentors new nurses and supports seasoned nurses, ensuring they have the guidance and resources they need to excel.

  Her dedication to WH extends beyond her professional responsibilities. She has been a loyal donor to the WH Foundation, motivated by her work experience and personal connection to the hospital as a resident of Oxford County.

  “I recommend this hospital to anyone who asks, and I’ve had family use our services,” Nikki said. She added that contributing to the Foundation through payroll deductions is easy. She has chosen not to direct her donations to specific programs or patient care initiatives, as she wants her donations to be used where they are needed most.

  “The advancement of Woodstock Hospital’s technology, in my opinion, surpasses that of larger hospitals around us,” shared Nikki. “Donating allows our organization to stay current, which draws a workforce that is proud to work here,” she explained. “I wear my dedication to WH on my sleeve every day. This organization has been my sole employer as a nurse, and I am pleased to say I will retire with that same admiration!”

  For the WH Foundation’s 2024 Staff Giving Campaign, staff pledged to collectively donate $20,000 to the hospital over the next year.

  We are grateful for the unwavering support from our dedicated staff, like Nikki, which enables us to continue our mission of delivering exceptional healthcare. Together, we are making a difference in the lives of our patients and the community.

  If you want to support the WH Foundation with regular donations, you can sign up to be a monthly donor here.

  Pictured: Nikki (left) in her element teaching a Skills Day

• Monthly Donor Spotlight

  

  For Cheri and David, their connection to Woodstock Hospital runs deep. “All three of our children were born in the old hospital, and we have greatly benefited from our hospital’s excellent care. We have always been impressed with the wonderful nurses, doctors, and staff caring for us,” Cheri explained.

  Beyond their personal experiences, Cheri also served on the Woodstock Hospital Foundation Board of Directors for nine years. “I learned a lot. We are so fortunate to have a generous community that supports essential equipment.”

  When asked what inspired them to become monthly donors, Cheri said, “We were usually scrambling at the end of the year to donate to the hospital and other organizations we support. There were also competing expenses at that time of year. We decided that a recurring monthly donation would work the best for us, as it would have a small impact on our monthly budget. It also meant that we would donate more annually to the Hospital Foundation to benefit the hospital.”

  Cheri and David know their contributions will be used where they are needed the most.

  “A monthly donation is a donation that can be counted on! It can help with purchasing crucial equipment the hospital needs throughout the year. I hope others will consider recurring donations if they can.”

  We are incredibly grateful to Cheri and David for their support and dedication. Their generosity, in the form of recurring monthly donations, significantly improves the quality of care we provide to our community, enabling us to enhance our operations and services.

  To become a monthly donor today visit https://whfoundation.ca/donate-now/ or contact the Woodstock Hospital Foundation at 519-421-4226.

• An Un-fore-gettable Tournament!

  

  On June 12 we hosted our 26^th annual Woodstock Hospital Foundation Charity Golf Tournament at Craigowan Golf Club. This year we introduced a new, double shot gun format and had 228 golfers join us for a day of golfing and giving.

  We had our first shotgun start at 8am and a second one at 2pm. Golfers from the morning and afternoon were able to enjoy a shared lunch. This new format allowed us to have more golfers join us and for a second year in a row, we had a sold out tournament.

  This year the tournament raised an incredible $84,000 to support the purchase of important software for our IT Department called Beyond Trust PAM Solution. This software will help strengthen our cyber security to keep our vital information safe.

  Thank you to all of our sponsors, golfers, and volunteers for helping us have a tee-riffic day.

• A Gouda Dairy Capital Run

  

  On May 25, we hosted the 28^th Dairy Capital Run at Discovery Farm Woodstock. It was our second year at Discovery Farm Woodstock, but this year with new race routes. We had a fabulous day planned for participants, but unfortunately, the weather did not co-operate. Lightning forced us to cancel the event part way through.

  Before the weather forced us to cancel, our 5K participants embraced the wet conditions and ran in the rain. Despite the stormy conditions, we still had a good morning raising funds in support of Woodstock Hospital.

  This year the Dairy Capital Run raised $22,000 to improve patient care at Woodstock Hospital. Proceeds will go towards the purchase of two fetal monitors for our Maternal Child Department. These monitors are used to continuously record the heart rate of the baby and the contractions of the mom in labour. They help our physicians and nurses ensure a healthy and safe delivery.

  Thank you to everyone who supported this year’s Dairy Capital Run!

  Thank you to Graham Case Photography for capturing this photo.

• Woodstock 50/50: A Chance to Win Big While Supporting Patient Care

  

  The Woodstock Hospital Foundation’s monthly online 50/50 raffle helps ensure that Woodstock Hospital can provide services to patients using modern, high quality medical equipment and technology. Proceeds from the 50/50 are specifically allocated for equipment needs in the hospital’s Diagnostic Imaging (DI) Department.

  The success of the 50/50 since its launch in 2020 has led to major advancements in our DI Department. We have been able to contribute towards the purchase a Mobile Fluoroscopy Camera, a General Ultrasound, a CT Scanner and most recently additional Ultrasound Units.

  Proceeds from our current 50/50 draw are going towards two Mammography machines. 1 in 8 women in Canada are diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives. It is well known, that early diagnosis saves lives.

  The need for new machines increases each day. In October of this year, the minimum age for self-referral for routine screening mammograms is dropping from 50 to 40. Woodstock Hospital already conducts approximately 5,000 mammograms annually. With the change in screening guidelines the volume of patients requiring a mammogram will increase significantly.

  Your support of our 50/50 means we will be able to purchase new mammography machines, preparing for the significant increase in the volume of patients requiring a mammogram. The new machines will have better imaging capabilities which enhances our ability to detect abnormalities earlier and improve patient outcomes.

  Tickets for our 50/50 can be purchased online only at www.woodstock5050.ca.

• Innovative Equipment to Enhance Cleaning

  

  Our 2023 Charity Golf Tournament raised $53,000 to support the purchase of a robotic floor scrubber for our Housekeeping Department.

  Using artificial intelligence and a robotic technology platform, the scrubber works alongside our housekeeping team to assist with efficiencies and maintain a high standard of cleaning through hospital hallways.

  With walk-behind scrubbers, employees are tethered to the machine and cannot complete other tasks simultaneously. The robotic scrubber does not replace housekeeping staff, instead it enhances their efficiency. While the robotic machine is cleaning floors, the employee overseeing it can tend to other high value tasks.

  The floor scrubber has an app that allows staff to view and track the machine’s status and will push notifications to the user’s phone to signal if it has completed its route, needs assistance, or is starting a new route. If the machine notices an obstacle blocking its path, it will send a notification, through the app, asking for assistance.

  Thank you to everyone who supported our 2023 Golf Tournament and helped raise money for this new floor scrubber.

• Relieving Pain with PCA Pumps

  

  With the help of our donors, Woodstock Hospital purchased twenty-four new Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA) pumps this year, replacing older equipment. With these pumps, patients can self-administer doses of pain medication as needed. The pumps are used for palliative and post-surgical patients. Additionally, we use Patient Controlled Epidural Analgesia (PCEA) pumps for labouring mothers.

  The pumps deliver pain medication at safe intervals, providing consistent pain relief around the clock. This helps patients feel more in control of their pain and provides a more compassionate experience. Patients who self-administer their pain medication tend to get out of bed and start moving sooner, promoting circulation, healing and recovery.

  Every day, we witness the positive impact of the PCA pumps made possible by you – our donors. We would not have been able to invest in this critical equipment worth $86,000 without your generous contributions.

• Bridging the Gap in Care

  

  Thank you to everyone who supported our 2023 appeal for a MRI compatible ventilator for our Critical Care Unit (CCU).

  When a patient in our (CCU) is ill, their care team relies on diagnostic images to guide their treatment and prognosis. In the past, patients on a ventilator, were unable to have an MRI because the strong magnetic field of the MRI would interfere with the ventilator’s function.

  In December we raised money for a MRI compatible ventilator that is designed to withstand the static magnetic field. The special ventilator makes it possible for us to position it within the MRI suite and give patients the necessary ventilation they require during their scans. Having this ability will improve our Critical Care Team’s ability to obtain diagnostic images to guide the treatment and prognosis of ventilated patients.

  Thank you again to everyone who made a donation towards the ventilator.