THUNDER BAY – Big-ticket items tend to get most of the attention when hospitals unveil their latest pieces of equipment.
MRIs, CAT scan machines and the introduction of cardiac surgery units are splashy and of interest to the entire community.
But sometimes it’s the small equipment that can make the biggest difference.
On Wednesday, staff at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre helped the Health Sciences Foundation showcase the results of this year’s Family Care Grants, given to support 66 staff-driven projects designed to improve patient experience at the hospital.
Among the projects awarded, part of the $123,417 in 2024 funding is going to the Neo-natal intensive care unit, which received $2,076 to purchase 10 Zaky Hug position aids to help replicate the touch of a parent’s hand for infants.
The MRI department got $1,696 to purchase an arm-board for injections and $120 for MRI safe-hearing protective earmuffs, and the occupational therapy and rehab departments received $12,586 to purchase four manual wheelchairs.
Other successful applicants include Laboratory Services, which received $2,617 for a turbidity metre and $1,599 for a drying oven, and labour and delivery, which got $192 for a CODE OB backpack and $1,276 for seven cooling fans.
Annette Klement, the cultural safety educator at the hospital, said the Family Care grants have a tremendous, positive impact on the patient experience.
“Sometimes when we think about fundraising for hospitals, we think about big items. You’re thinking MRI, you’re thinking ultrasound – big, big machines. But sometimes we really, really need those smaller, tangible items as well. The Family Care Grant really allows us to provide some of these smaller items.”
Klement’s department was awarded $3,427 for backless quarter benches, to provide space for Indigenous patients and staff to hold ceremony, meet and take a load off their feet.
“To be able to provide these tangible personal items really goes a long way with our patients and our families. It just gives them a sense of comfort . . . a sense of a personal place to go.”
Barry Streib, a director on the foundation's board, said Family Care Grants are always important to announce. They deliver the type of equipment staff need to provide quality health care throughout the hospital.
“For families and patients, we have the ability to provide funding to make that job a little easier for health-care workers,” Streib said.
“The importance of the smaller things, that’s why this kind of touches my heart a little bit. It is the smaller things that allows (staff) to do the job better, if you will. They really appreciate it. And when you have the number of applications coming forward from staff, they’re telling us this is what we need to provide the best patient care.”
This year 101 applications were received for Family Care Grants and 66 were awarded.
Streib said it’s not easy determining which projects to fund, as all represent a need in some area of the hospital.
