West Haldimand General Hospital and Hospital Foundation announces $1.4 Million Donation: Largest in WHGH history

The West Haldimand General Hospital and Hospital Foundation are celebrating a monumental milestone in the Foundation’s history. The Foundation has received the single largest gift ever recorded—an incredible donation of $1,448,767.95.

The historic donation to West Haldimand General Hospital (WHGH) was made possible through the Hagersville Catch the Ace Draw, which spanned an impressive 45 weeks.

This remarkable achievement is a testament to the hard work, commitment, and enthusiasm of our amazing partnerships and community members who came together to make this event a resounding success.

“Today is an incredible day for everyone who lives in our community,” said Lisa Hostein, Foundation Executive Director. “The impact this gift will have on patient care is nothing short of momentous. I cannot thank the Hagersville Rocks Committee, the Hagersville Lions, the Hagersville Chamber of Commerce, the Hagersville Legion, and all of the wonderful volunteers enough. Thank you for your time, commitment, dedication, and compassion over 45 weeks that brought province-wide attention to our community. Thank You Hagersville Rocks Committee for this historic donation to our hospital.”

These proceeds provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to upgrade clinical patient equipment within our hospital. With these funds, we will be able to enhance and expand our services, invest in state-of-the-art medical equipment, and improve patient care at WHGH. The donation will make a significant difference in the lives of our patients, their families, and the wider community we serve.

The $1.4 million donation will support five key areas at WHGH, including Diagnostic Imaging, the Emergency Department, the Inpatient Unit, Pharmacy and Laboratory Services.

• New X-Ray Suite ($650,000) – This X-ray equipment will replace existing equipment that is end-of-life. New digital technology is safer, provides better quality of images and enhances overall patient care and experience. The turnkey solution will provide a complete refresh of the space. Volumes have increased 25 percent from pre-COVID demonstrating the community need. Approximately 1,100 exams are performed in this room per year.
• Upgrading Mammography Equipment ($150,000) – Mammograms are the best way to detect breast cancer early, when it is easier to treat and before it is big enough to feel or cause symptoms. Having this equipment increases local access and convenience, increases overall screens and is an essential service for maintaining a healthy community. The new equipment will also offer 3D Tomosynthesis. This is a novel imaging technology that captures three-dimensional (3D) images of the breast. This will increase cancer detection rates. WHGH performs approximately 1,400 exams per year.
• State of the art pharmacy equipment/technology ($353,500 combined) – Omnicell’s Central Pharmacy Manager (CPM) and XT Controlled Substance Manager (CSM) will enhance medication tracking and management in WHGH’s pharmacy, optimizing staff workflows and strategic purchasing. An additional Omnicell Automated Medication Dispensing System in the Inpatient Unit (IPU) will increase nursing efficiency and patient care speed. Omnicell’s Anywhere RN Remote Medication Management software will cut nurses’ first medication access time by 57%, aiding vital cross-verification.
• Intelliguard pharmacy kit and tray system and Intelliguard anesthesia station –WHGH is also integrating IntelliGuard, using infrared tags to transform medication kit management. IntelliGuard automates content checks, tracks expiry, and ensures efficient stock rotation, aligning with WHGH’s dedication to care and efficiency.

The remaining funds will go towards supporting the highest priorities inside of the Emergency Department, Inpatient Unit and the Laboratory.

Todd Stepanuik, WHGH President & Chief Executive Officer, expressed heartfelt gratitude for the transformative impact of the Hagersville Catch the Ace Lottery’s support.

“We are honored to be the recipient of this monumental gift and thank Hagersville Rocks for its extraordinary generosity. Their partnership speaks to the pride and commitment in preserving services at WHGH. This historic contribution enables us to forge ahead with much needed patient care equipment. It has not only changed lives but has also touched our hearts in ways beyond expression. The unwavering community support has been truly remarkable, and we are immensely grateful. This incredible gift has paved the way for us to further enhance our state-of-the-art equipment, aligning with WHGH’s unwavering commitment to deliver excellence.”

WHGH thanks the community and our partnerships for their unwavering commitment and dedication to West Haldimand General Hospital. Together, we will continue to strive for excellence and provide outstanding healthcare services to our community in the years and decades to come.

“When asked about Catch the Ace, I’m amazed at how far we came,” said Tanya Ribbink, Hagersville Rocks Music Festival Co-Chair. “What started out as a weekly social event at the Legion; turned into a history making fundraiser for our town. Being a part of the Hagersville Rocks Music Festival has been extremely rewarding, but never so much as when we were able to present that giant cheque to the Foundation. We wanted to support our local hospital because it is the “Heartbeat of Hagersville”. To be able to step up and help maintain the level of excellence that is provided by the staff at WHGH is a feather in our cap for sure! We are beyond thrilled at the success we saw with Catch the Ace and equally thrilled to be able to pass those proceeds on to the Foundation.”