The Bringing Hearts Home campaign has received another big financial gift.
Bill and Elizabeth Yuill have donated $5 million through the Yuill Family Foundation.
The campaign aims to improve cardiac care across southern Alberta, and this latest donation will directly benefit services at the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital and help bring the Southern Alberta Centre for Cardiac Excellence to life.
The centre is part of the collaborative campaign driven by the Chinook Regional Hospital Foundation, in a team-up with local health foundations and Alberta Health Services and is led by Dr. Sayeh Zielke.
“When we learned that cardiac mortality in our region is 26.6 per cent higher than the rest of Alberta, we knew we had to act,” said Bill Yuill. “We were moved by the clarity of the vision and Dr. Zielke’s commitment to meaningful change.”
Funded enhancements from the Yuill’s gift include:
- A new state-of-the-art Echocardiography Lab and Cardiac CT scanner, which will help reduce the needs for patients to travel for their diagnostics;
- Cardiac Intensive Care Unit beds and equipment to treat patients who are critically ill at the local level.
“Families will now have access to enhanced cardiac care right here in Medicine Hat,” said Dr. Zielke. “This generous gift allows us to respond more quickly to emergencies and support patients in their recovery at home, where they feel strongest.”
Officials note that $2 million of the $5 million donation is set aside for new community-based initiatives in cardiac prevention. Projects will help detect any issues early, educate the community and support lifestyle changes that help reduce the risk of heart disease.
“Bill and Elizabeth understood that great cardiac care begins long before a crisis,” Dr. Zielke added. “This investment will help people live longer, healthier lives.”
A UNIFIED PARTNERSHIP
The cardiac care project is guided by the Southern Alberta Cardiac Sciences Advisory Cabinet, which includes the mayors of both Lethbridge and Medicine Hat, physicians, and community leaders in business, agriculture, education, and emergency services.
“This is an extraordinary moment for our community,” said Heather Bach, executive director of the Medicine Hat Health Foundation. “The Yuill family’s generosity will leave a lasting legacy of better health for generations.”
“Sometimes you get the chance to help start something that will matter for generations,” adds Bill Yuill. “We believe this is one of those moments.”
READ MORE: Fundraiser for cardiac care centre receives $1 million donation
More information on the Bringing Hearts Home campaign is available on the Chinook Regional Hospital Foundation website.
READ MORE: ‘Bringing Hearts Home’ campaign gets support for the Chinook Regional Health Foundation
