Community Update “Where Service Is Our Commitment to Excellence” 519-273-4564 SHOWROOM: 380 LORNE AVE., STRATFORD Proudly Supporting Our Community for a Better Tomorrow 125 Ontario St., Stratford 519-271-7581 More than just a drugstore. 1-211 Ontario St., Stratford 519-271-8600 GERALD E. FRANCIS Agent 186A Ontario Street Stratford, Ontario N5A 3H6 Bus. 519 271-7175 Fax. 519 271-7193 STATE FARM INSURANCE COMPANIES CANADIAN HEAD OFFICES: SCARBOROUGH, ONTARIO 11 HURON STREET MITCHELL, ON 519-348-8481 CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP DEALER 519-271-2220 Because We Care A heartfelt thanks to our donors Andrea Page, Executive Director 272-8210 ext. 2627 Gary Schellenberger, MP Perth-Wellington Stratford: 273-1400 www.schellengerger.ca Remedy’sRx ™ The Local Drug Store West End Pharmacy 150 Huron St., Stratford 519-273-7200 FREE DELIVERY! No Charge Delivery of Medications Jenny Trout Centre 519-272-0888 Seniors Discount Everyday: 10% Off* Regular Prices *does not apply to prescription medication 342 Erie St. (at West Gore) Avon Family Medicine Centre Tavistock Community Health Inc. O’Loane Medical Building Just picture how an MRI could Make a Real Impact on your life… • Quicker, easier access to life-saving technology • It’s the most effective tool we have to help diagnose a multitude of dis- eases and conditions • Reduced waiting times for scans, with no need to travel to London, Owen Sound or other locations • Ability to scan pediatric patients • “Large Bore” design provides extra space to accommodate larger patients, those with physical challenges or claustrophobia • Ability to attract new physicians, technicians and other healthcare professionals to our region The countdown to MRI has begun It’s what we all want for Christmas . . . the gift of health Farmers make a real impact A time to remember Randy Pettapiece, MPP Perth-Wellington 519-272-0660 1-800-461-9701 November is a time to remember our veterans and what is important to our communities. Poppy Chair and 1st VP, Ken Albert (left) and President, Jim Millar of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch # 8 were on hand to present a cheque for $5,000 from the Poppy Fund to Jeff Kerk, Program Director of Medical Imaging/MRI Project Lead. The funds will make a real impact on access to an MRI for veterans and the community at large. There are over 2800 farms in our local catchment area. Also, 90% of the land in Perth County is classified as prime agricultural land. Farm life can have its many dangers and potential injuries. John and Nellie Van den Hoven wanted to send a message that they know how important an MRI is to the rural communities and that they hope their gift will encourage other farmers to support this life saving technology too. Their tremendous donation of $50,000 will name the MRI Patient Preparation Room. The patient prep room will contain a stretcher and IV for patients. About 30 percent of patients will require a special injected contrast medium which gives clearer images of certain parts of the body, helping radiologists interpret the scan more accurately. We can never say thank you enough to John and Nellie Van den Hoven for their generous commitment to healthcare! It’s perhaps the single most important piece of life-saving diag- nostic equipment in a modern day acute care hospital. There’s no doubt that in the years ahead it will touch the lives of thousands of people throughout our region—your friends, neighbors, even your family. And we’re about to get one! The MRI is set to arrive at Stratford General Hospital on Decem- ber 6th—just in time for Christmas. What’s more, the MRI will be patient-ready by early January, giving people from Stratford, Huron, Perth and beyond quicker, easier access, to this tre- mendous life changing/life saving technology, when they need it most. Construction of the MRI suite is progressing rapidly—two weeks ahead of schedule in fact. Various rooms of the MRI suite—including the Control Room, Patient Interview Room and Patient Prep room—have recently been wired, inspected, and dry walled as the December 6th arrival date draws closer. But perhaps the most eye-catching construction feature in the past month is the gleaming copper sheeting that covers the walls, ceiling and floor of the “Magnet or Exam Room” where the MRI will reside. “It’s a very large magnet—much stronger than those mag- nets that pick up cars in the junk yard”, explains Jeff Kerk, program director, Medical Imaging. “Copper acts as a filter, ensuring the MRI’s magnetic field or Radio Frequency stays inside the Magnet Room and doesn’t affect anyone in the surrounding area.” All wiring for the MRI—which must itself be insulated against the effects of the magnet—passes through a small hole that’s specially constructed in the copper shielding. Another interesting feature is the external wall that will actually be knocked out to allow the 7-ton MRI to be hoisted into its resting place. While it will be weeks before patients see the inside of the MRI, staff—including two new full time x-ray technicians and two new full time radiologists—will be busy testing the mag- net, getting new protocols in place, pouring over manuals and familiarizing themselves with the complex, new technology. “We’ve already gone to some of the ‘gold standard’ MRI hospital sites in Ontario and we’ll implement a number of their best qualities into our service,” explains Jeff. “We’re tremen- dously excited, and we’re going to have a very solid MRI pro- gram.” Celebrations are planned to mark the arrival of the MRI on Dec. 6th. The MRI will arrive by truck at Stratford City Hall where the celebration will kick-off with speeches, refresh- ments and announcements. A parade, led by Santa, will weave its way to the Hospital where the 7-ton machine will be hoisted up by crane and maneuvered into place. In about a month after that, the MRI will be patient ready. “We’re tremendously excited by the MRI’s arrival,” saysAn- drea Page, Executive Director of the Stratford General Hospi- tal Foundation. “We hope everyone will join us to celebrate this healthcare milestone for our community and region.” L to R: Andrea Page, Executive Director SGHF; Nellie and John Van den Hoven; Andrew Williams, CEO HPHA.