For the last three years, the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation has been raising $101,890 to cover the costs of a picture archive system for their Endoscopy Department. Thanks to a generous donation of $7,500 from the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 78 Picton through the Ontario Provincial Command, that goal has now been realized.

Legion members and members of the Foundation were on hand to celebrate the donation and the closure of the picture archive system fundraising campaign on Friday. The system is currently in use in the Endoscopy Unit at PECMH.

Since the Endoscopy Unit at PECMH screens for cancer, Quinte Health Care was required by Cancer Care Ontario to install a specialized picture archive system. The Endo Works picture archive stores images captured during endoscopic or gastroscopic procedures from specific regions within the body. Those images can then be shared and used to confirm diagnoses.

“We are grateful to the Royal Canadian Legion for helping us complete the purchase of the picture archiving system, which is in use at PECMH,” said Barbara McConnell, chairperson of the Foundation. “It’s vital for our community to continue to ensure our County Hospital is equipped with the latest technology to keep it state-of-the-art. We hope our stakeholders will see this as another sign that we’re committed to providing exceptional care while building a vibrant future for Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital.”

The low-risk endoscopy centre for Quinte Health Care provides a regional service and draws 3,500 patients annually traveling to Picton from across Southeastern Ontario for screening and scope procedures so obtaining and installing this new system was vital.

“The generosity of individuals, organizations and community partners, like the Royal Canadian Legion, means we can continue to advance health care for our patients by purchasing vital medical equipment needed at our hospital,” said Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation. “This helps to ensure our caregivers can continue to deliver great care, close to home. Over the years, the four local Legion branches, Picton, Wellington, Consecon and Deseronto have contributed to excellent care at PECMH. We are pleased to know their contributions and those of Provincial Command are not only helping ensure the best care for veterans, but for everyone in Prince Edward County.”

Since 2005 PECMHF have received nine grants from the Royal Canadian Legion Provincial Command totaling $65,000.

The PECMHF is a charitable organization whose mission is to raise money to advance health care for the people of PEC.

For more information on the hospital or to donate please visit pecmhf.ca