Partnership between two hospital foundations will improve care for children and youth in Grande Prairie
EDMONTON — The Grande Prairie Regional Hospital Foundation and the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation announced a partnership at the annual Festival of Trees in Grande Prairie on Saturday. The two-year sub-campaign is part of the Grande Prairie foundation’s $20-million Key to Care campaign that will see the Stollery foundation raise and invest $1.5 million for new pediatric equipment, a youth mental health unit and family-centred care programs at the state-of-the-art hospital under construction in Grande Prairie.
“We’ll never be the Stollery and provide the same programming or services but the idea is to get our children and youth back into the community sooner,” says Keith Curtis, executive director of the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital Foundation. “We’re so removed from the major centres and direct access to that kind of health care, so bringing that knowledge into our region through this partnership is something we’d like to see more of.”
The Stollery foundation plans to invest in key innovations like hi-fidelity training mannequins, giraffe incubators, brain wave monitors for newborns and robot-patient teaching tools. In addition, the foundation will help to fund a multi-purpose youth mental health lounge and youth/family consultation space.
“Last year alone, the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton responded to 737 patient visits from Grande Prairie, 121 from High Prairie, 93 from Valleyview and 44 from Beaverlodge,” says Mike House, president and CEO of the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation. “Our partnership with the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital Foundation will bring the Stollery level of care closer to home, improving patient outcomes and reducing travel, stress and cost for families from backyards across northern Alberta.”
While the Stollery Children’s Hospital will still perform major pediatric surgeries, the number of follow-up appointments, medical tests and mental health support visits to Edmonton from Grande Prairie region families will likely decline.
To learn more visit stollerykids.com/grandeprairie.
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About the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital Foundation (supportyourhospital.ca)
The Grande Prairie Regional Hospital Foundation is the fundraising arm of the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital and Grande Prairie Regional Hospital. Through the support of our donors, we enhance the quality of health care in our community and play a critical role in funding essential specialized equipment, major projects, patient care programs and education. Our donors entrust us with the stewardship of their valued contributions as we strive to match the wishes of our donors with the hospitals’ priorities.
About the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation (stollerykids.com | @stollerykids)
The Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation advances children’s health care right in your own backyard by funding excellence at the Stollery Children’s Hospital: specialized equipment and facilities for pediatric care; sub-specialty education to train the brightest medical minds; research to discover new treatments and cures; and specialized pediatric programs that improve family-centred care and patient and family outcomes. Together, we can give the sickest kids the best chance, anywhere in the world, to live a long and healthy life.
Media contact:
Martin Schuldhaus
Vice-President, Marketing & Communications
Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation
780.616.8473 | martin.schuldhaus@stollerykids.com