The Sandra Schmirler Foundation is a valued, long-time partner of Hospitals of Regina Foundation, and together we have made great strides in advancing quality care provided in our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), in the Rawlco Centre for Mother Baby Care, at the Regina General Hospital.

Every year, about 500 babies across southern Saskatchewan are born prematurely, have complications during or after birth (such as respiratory distress or cardiac problems) or arrive as part of a multiple birth and require specialized care in Regina’s NICU. With its highly trained medical staff and outstanding financial support from our community, it is no wonder our NICU is recognized as one of the best facilities in Canada.

Last year, the Sandra Schmirler Foundation helped the Foundation deliver on a top priority for our NICU, an amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) monitor, to help premature babies at risk of seizures. While not all seizures pose an immediate risk to the baby, they are critical indicators of underlying issues that need immediate attention such as infections, brain injury or brain bleeds. Seizures are difficult to recognize in neonates by simple observation even by trained medical professionals, a fact that makes this technology a critical one for our NICU.

The Sandra Schmirler Foundation's gifts totalling $63,000 meant we were able to invest in this technology to help our medical teams improve diagnosis and monitoring of seizure activity in our NICU babies. This is the second aEEG monitor funded by the Foundation in recent years and demonstrates a growing need for this important technology.

“The Sandra Schmirler Foundation shares our vision and commitment to a strong NICU in Regina, and we will continue to support the delivery of quality care for our children, right here at home”, says Lisa Green, senior vice-president, Hospitals of Regina Foundation.