Chemotherapy & Pharmacy Renovation Proceeds with the Stroke of a Pen
January 12, 2023
It’s not often a stroke of a pen plays a role in improving healthcare, but several were put to good use signing a construction contract bringing a new Chemotherapy Unit and Pharmacy a step closer to completion at the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance (HPHA) Stratford General Hospital site. The event held on January 12, 2023 marked the official construction start of a renovation project which will have an impact on thousands of chemotherapy patients along with hospital inpatients that rely on HPHA’s pharmacy to provide superior medication management.
The signing of the construction contract takes the project from years of planning, input from staff, patients and patient partners to the next level, from paper (blue prints) to reality. This $13 million project is part of the Stratford General Hospital Foundation’s
In Our Hands campaign.
“The Stratford General Hospital Foundation launched the In Our Hands campaign at an event attended by 150 donors and a special countdown with astronaut Dr Roberta Bondar in June 2022 with a goal of $30 million,” says Paul Roulston, In Our Hands Campaign Co-Chair. “Right now, through incredible generosity of donors we are at $23 million in cash and pledges. Since we receive no funding from the provincial government for medical equipment every dollar vested into essential equipment and funding for special projects like the Chemotherapy and Pharmacy renovation has been given by those who care about our hospital, our patients and our healthcare team.”
There are currently more than 2,000 patient visits for chemotherapy at the Stratford General Hospital each year. The Chemotherapy Unit is an integral part of cancer care for patients in Stratford and area, providing top-notch care closer to home, thereby eliminating the anxiety of receiving treatment in an unfamiliar setting, reducing the time and expense of travel, and providing the opportunity to develop close relationships and a support system with other local residents.
“The Chemotherapy program has experienced steady growth in patient volumes and these trends are expected to continue,” says Ryan Itterman, Director Diagnostics and Regional Pharmacy & Chemotherapy. “Co-location of the Chemotherapy and Pharmacy programs will help ensure efficient use of resources, specifically in sterile preparation locations and delivery of chemotherapy medications.”
Expected occupancy for the Chemotherapy Unit and Pharmacy is Spring/Summer 2024. A simulated virtual tour is available on the
In Our Hands campaign website. “We can never say thank you enough! Our donors have always been there for us and we know that they will help us raise the remaining $7 million to help make an incredible difference at our hospital,” adds Andrea Page, Stratford General Hospital Foundation Executive Director. “From new ultrasounds, to the completion of the Chemotherapy and Pharmacy renovation; a new MRI to new youth mental health initiatives, every dollar counts and we can’t do it without our community.”
Those interested contributing to the In Our Hands campaign can visit the Stratford General Hospital Foundation’s website or contact the foundation office directly at 519-272-8210 ext. 2626 or sgh.foundation@hpha.ca.
L to R: Andrew Williams, President & CEO; Ryan Itterman, Director Diagnostics, Regional Pharmacy & Chemotherapy; Becky Lau, Supervisor Regional Pharmacy & Chemotherapy; Dr. Janis MacNaugton; Dr. Janis Nicholson; Andrea Page, Stratford General Hospital Foundation Executive Director; Paul Roulston, Stratford General Hospital Foundation In Our Hands Campaign Co-Chair; Amir Shenouda, S.E.M. Construction President; Francesco Sabatini, Manager Facilities Management Projects; Steve Hearn, Board Chair