Health care in Portage la Prairie is getting a boost in the arm through the efforts of the Portage District General Hospital Foundation.

Executive director Tara Pettinger says they're able to provide equipment to both the hospital and the Douglas Campbell Lodge.

"Each year, the Portage District General Hospital and Douglas Campbell Lodge (DCL) put in their requests to the Hospital Foundation, and we just kind of take a look at what money we're able to give out that year and the requests and their needs," says Pettinger. "And this year, we were very successful, despite all that's going on. We were really excited to be able to provide them a significant amount of funding to purchase, as you can see, a large list of equipment. And that equipment varies. Some of it is new. It allows them to further the care and do some different things they maybe weren't able to do. Some of it is to replace older, outdated and obsolete equipment, and just kind of keep up with the times and have the best equipment possible. Their goal, as is ours, is just to provide that highest quality of care when people are coming in."

She explains the foundation observes the request list submitted by the facilities in great detail with the director of the hospital.

"Basically, the items that we've approved for the Portage District General Hospital are totalling $300,000," notes Pettinger. "And for the Douglas Campbell Lodge, just over $20,000 thanks to our community of Portage la Prairie and then the surrounding communities that have stepped up for different fundraisers, or just donated."

Pettinger says those who donated may have personally received care or had a family member who benefited from their service, while others simply see the importance of such a need and want to help out.

"We're going to continue to work because purchasing this equipment is so incredibly important for our community and those that are seeking health care," adds Pettinger. "Despite what continues to go on, we'll keep going with fundraising efforts, and you will see, coming up in the spring, another cash calendar. Everyone can keep their eyes peeled and then, hopefully, we can just keep this momentum moving forward so that we can keep approving this stuff for our wonderful hospital staff and DCL staff as well."

Here's a list of what specific items were provided:

PDGH Equipment Request Approvals: ($300,000)

  • 25 - IV Poles – all units
  • 2 - Covered Linen Carts – Surgical
  • 1 - Commode – Critical Care
  • 3 - Clickline Bowel Grasper Kit – the Operating Room
  • 28 - Wheelchairs – variety of sizes and uses for all units in the hospital
  • 1 - Overnight Oximeter (youth and adult-use) – Respiratory Therapy
  • 9 - Vital Signs Blood Pressure Machine – Operating Room & Surgical/Obstetrics
  • 1 - Gyne Stretcher – Obstetrics
  • 1 - Sinuscope 3mm – Operating Room (ENT)
  • 1 - Sinuscope 4mm – Operating Room (ENT)
  • 1 - Masimo (oximeter) – Critical Care
  • 1 - Stretcher with ability to weigh people – Dialysis
  • 3 - Stretchers – Operating Room
  • 1 - Mobile cart workstation – Critical Care
  • 1 - Glidescope – Critical Care
  • 4 - Patient Monitoring Systems – Operating Room

 DCL Equipment Request Approvals: ($20,200)

  • 1 - Bariatric Specialty Mattress
  • 1 - Bariatric Bed
  • 1 - Small Linen Cart with cover
  • 1 - AtmosAir APod Specialty Mattress
  • 1 - Smart TV for recreation programming
  • 1 - Sensory Cart & Fiber Optic Light – for residents with dementia
  • 1 - Fridge
  • 1 - Dementiability Supplies