Getting advanced medical equipment is a challenge that doesn’t come cheap, but that doesn’t make it impossible. With fundraising contributions from all over the Rainy River District and beyond, Riverside Healthcare is now about $150,000 away from its $1.6 million goal and expanding its diagnostic care in the region with its “Lights, Camera, DIAGNOSIS!” campaign, Holly Kaemingh, director of fundraising at Riverside, said.
The price point for MRI machines, one of the pieces Riverside is planning to add to its diagnostic arsenal, ranges from $1 million to $3 million new. Used machines are more affordable, but still sit anywhere from over $100,000 to $1 million, depending on the model. Operating and maintenance also add thousands to the monthly cost after purchase. All in, it would massive financial burden on a healthcare facility in a small town that doesn’t necessarily have the excess funds to throw around, making fundraising a crucial part of this effort.
“Right now, we are fundraising for updated digital radiography units, which are X-ray machines for this hospital here, La Verendrye, and Rainy River Health Centre,” Kaemingh said.
“They’re each getting new machines. Rainy River’s is almost 30 years old, and the one here is almost 20 years old. They’re going to have the same machine at both locations. They’re way more efficient, have lower radiation dosages and improve staffing abilities with the same machine across both locations. We’re also fundraising for an MRI here in Fort Frances.”
Housing the new MRI unit will also require Riverside to construct a new addition to La Verendrye Hospital. Fortunately, the provincial government has also committed approximately $12 million in funding, which will go towards both equipment and construction costs. The construction contract will go to tender by the end of April, with construction planned for the summer.
The new MRI machine has now been ordered and will bring high speeds and efficiency, allowing faster appointments and more patients to be seen in a day, Kaemingh said.
“It’s a very impressive machine,” she said.
“It’s amazing what they can do, and the speed and efficiency of them is amazing. They’re saying a scan that on an older model would take 45 minutes can be done in as little as three to five.”
Kathryn Pierroz, Riverside’s communications coordinator, said being in an area with a small population makes the fundraising efforts completely different from those of a metro area.
“There’s a big difference between a larger centre and a smaller centre,” Pierroz said.
“Our fundraising base is different — we’re in a smaller population. If you look at something like Toronto or even Thunder Bay, the social economical background of our district is lower than it is in the city. So when somebody is making a donation, of course, every donation really makes a huge impact.”
“$1,000 is a lot to somebody where starting donations in a larger centre might be a $10,000 range,” she said.
“It sometimes takes longer to fundraise. Although we’ve come a long way in a year. Historically, fundraising related to purchases for the hospital have always gone well past the one-year mark.”
Having the MRI equipment up and running in Fort Frances will make a drastic change for the district. Kaemingh noted that many people in the area cannot make it out to the nearest municipalities, which have the equipment. “There are so many people here who don’t have the ability to get to Thunder Bay,” she said. “But this MRI here, it’ll drastically change that.”
Other places in the region are installing this equipment as well, according to Pierroz. Kenora got its MRI machine up and running last September, while Sioux Lookout recently had the MRI delivered and is planning to have it running by Fall.
While Riverside is still about $150,000 away from its goal, they get closer and closer with help from organizations and individuals in the community. Donations can be made in person at the hospital, by mail or online at riversidehealthcare.ca/donate.
People in the Rainy River District can also support and potentially win something back for themselves by purchasing tickets for Riverside’s 50/50 draw. 100 per cent of the proceeds from this draw are currently going towards the Lights, Camera, DIAGNOSIS campaign and can be purchased at www.rhc5050.com.
