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| Burnaby Hospital Foundation |
| MRI TECHNOLOGY COMES TO BURNABY HOSPITAL |
| Date : - 17/03/2009 |
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BURNABY – Burnaby Hospital will now be able to offer Burnaby and area residents magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) services, thanks to the fundraising efforts of the Burnaby Hospital Foundation’s $4.85-million “Because Life Can’t Wait” MRI campaign.
The new MRI department will officially open on April 1, but the foundation, Burnaby-Willingdon MLA John Nuraney, Burquitlam MLA Harry Bloy, Burnaby North MLA Richard T. Lee, and representatives from Fraser Health were on hand today to celebrate the successful fundraising campaign and tour the new facilities.
“There are now 23 MRI machines available to patients all across the province – an increase of 155 per cent from 2001,” said Health Services Minister George Abbott. “Medical advances like MRIs are allowing us to provide unprecedented levels of care to British Columbians.”
In 2001, there were only nine MRI machines throughout the province, and with each new machine thousands more patients have access to these valuable diagnostic tools.
“MRI is a much-needed service that will support many physicians and departments at the hospital,” said Nuraney. “Adding MRI services will increase provincial capacity, and provide a great convenience to Burnaby patients, who currently travel to the other hospitals in Fraser Health for diagnosis.”
The Burnaby Hospital Foundation worked in partnership with the Province, through Fraser Health, to establish the new MRI department. Fraser Health contributed $2 million to renovate the space needed for the machine and will provide operating funding. The foundation raised the funds to purchase the MRI machine.
“It is wonderful that our foundation is committed to helping Burnaby Hospital become the best it can be,” said Cathie Heritage, executive director, Burnaby Hospital. “The funding we receive ensures that members of our community benefit from leading-edge health care technology. The response to the ‘Because Life Can’t Wait’ campaign is a reflection of what we can achieve when we all work together.”
Keith Beedie, founder of the Beedie Group, served as the campaign’s honorary chair and, along with his wife Betty through the Keith and Betty Beedie Foundation, provided $1.35 million in matching funds to kick-start the fundraising efforts. More than 75 community donors contributed an additional $1.5 million to the foundation over the course of the campaign. Robert Bosa, founder of Bosa Properties, provided campaign leadership.
“This campaign’s success came about due to the exceptional support we received from the community and through our blessing of having two of Burnaby's finest families, the Beedies and the Bosas, lead the campaign through their generosity, dedication, and commitment,” said Rahim Rajan, chair of the Burnaby Hospital Foundation. “Their matching gift was truly transformational and was the catalyst in inspiring our community to give.”
“The leadership of Robert Bosa, our campaign’s chair, along with his sons Colin and Dale was exemplary,” said Cheryl Bosley, president of the Burnaby Hospital Foundation. “The success of this campaign to raise the funds needed for our first MRI was truly a community effort and with the Bosas as a partner in our quest to bring MRI home to Burnaby Hospital, we were destined for success.”
The new department is expected to care for approximately 2,500 patients each year, providing
them with state-of-the-art diagnostic testing. The MRI department has been designed to maximize patient comfort. The waiting area is spacious, featuring a flat-screen TV and MRI education material. In addition, the MRI examination room features a simulated skylight, making the diagnostic experience more enjoyable for the patient.
Burnaby Hospital Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Burnaby Hospital. The foundation was established in 1982 to raise financial resources needed for life-saving diagnostic, surgical, and medical equipment, innovative tools for patient care, and other community health-care needs.
Better access to health care has meant a 285 per cent increase in the number of MRI exams being done in Fraser Health over the past seven years (from 4,068 in 2001/02 to 15,680 in 2007/08).
Since 2001, British Columbia has acquired 14 new MRI scanners for hospitals for a total of 23,in addition to any replacements. As a result, approximately 98,000 MRI exams are expected to be completed in 2008/09, an increase of about 163 per cent from approximately 37,000 in 2001/02.
Contact:
Bernadette Murphy
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Health Service
250 952-1887 (media line)
250 213-9590 (cell)
Fraser Health Media Pager
604 450-7881
Cheryl Bosley
President
Burnaby Hospital Foundation
604 431-2847
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| Reference : - www.bhfoundation.ca/ |
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