Hospitals of Regina Foundation is fortunate to have the support of many community-minded organizations. Their generous support of local health care provides a major boost to the Foundation’s fundraising efforts, and provides the inspiration for the Foundation’s efforts to provide health care professionals in Regina’s hospitals with the tools they need to improve and often save lives.

The partnership with Farm Credit Canada (FCC) is a shining example of the impact created by working together. Since 1995, FCC has contributed more than $765,000 to Hospitals of Regina Foundation in support of initiatives that have improved the quality of health care in southern Saskatchewan. Some initiatives include Pediatric Services, the Rawlco Centre for Mother Baby Care and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the Wolfe Stroke Centre, the Breast Assessment Centre and the Prostate Assessment Centre.

“It’s important for us to invest back into the communities where our customers and employees live and work,” said Carla Warnyca, Manager, Community Investment at FCC. “Our support of Hospitals of Regina Foundation benefits our many employees in Regina, and also our staff and customers right across southern Saskatchewan. We’re proud to demonstrate our commitment by working with the Foundation on initiatives that improve lives.”

In 2016, FCC made a major contribution of $120,000, over three years, towards the purchase of a life-saving piece of equipment; a new $1.2 million Cardiac Fluoroscopy System for the Kinsmen Foundation Electrophysiology (EP) Lab at Regina’s General Hospital. The EP Lab treats patients who suffer from an irregular heart rhythm called arrhythmia. It is a potentially life-threatening condition that can result in blood clots, heart attacks or sudden death. The Cardiac Fluoroscopy System captures live, high quality moving pictures inside a patient’s heart. It even allows doctors to see the heart’s pumping action while they are performing surgeries.

Before Hospitals of Regina Foundation invested in the new technology, the old system frequently broke down and the image quality was deteriorating, making the results less and less reliable. Eventually, the equipment would have simply stopped working, leading to a shutdown of the EP Lab for an extended period. That would have resulted in an increased risk of heart failure or stroke for patients.

“We understood the need for the new equipment for the EP Lab, and were excited to lend our support to such an important initiative,” Warnyca explained. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to support the important work being done by Hospitals of Regina Foundation. Who wouldn’t want to support an organization committed to making lives better?”

“Our partnership with FCC is greatly impacting the quality of cardiac care in southern Saskatchewan,” said Lisa Green, vice-president, development, Hospitals of Regina Foundation. “We are proud to work with all our corporate partners to invest in quality health care for the people of our community, right here at home.”