A rendering of the new patient care tower when completed, which is set to open in summer 2022.
Image Credit: Submitted/Royal Inland Hospital Foundation
April 22, 2021 - 4:30 PM
Royal Inland Hospital Foundation's 'Together We Rise' campaign marks the largest fundraiser ever launched by the foundation.
By 2023, the RIH Foundation aims to raise $35 million in donations, with $15 million already in the pot, according to a recent media release.
The campaign was officially launched on Wednesday, April 21, when invitees were given a virtual tour of the Patient Care Tower.
"We are off to a great start thanks to the incredible efforts of the community and business leaders on our campaign committee. The amount raised so far, which has just been in the soft launch stage, is very encouraging," RIH Foundation CEO, Heidi Coleman, said in a statement.
The new facility is projected to cost $417 million, with $202 million from the province, $23 million from Interior Health and a $172 million contribution from the Thompson Regional Hospital District.
The foundation's contribution will be split, with a goal of $20 million towards the tower and the remaining $15 million slated for equipment costs and special projects, according to the release.
“Our healthcare region is vast, with RIH at the centre of a large geographical region that includes over 225,000 citizens. At some in point in time, it’s likely that everyone will require healthcare services, either within their communities, or at RIH. We want to ensure that the care received is the best it can be for all patients," volunteer campaign committee chair Jim Reynolds said.
A few of the new tower's additions to RIH include over 100 private patient rooms, a helicopter landing pad, youth and mental health units and a new surgical floor.
"The new tower will not only have a significant impact for the people we serve, but for the entire healthcare team," clinical operations executive director at RIH, Tracey Rinnie, said in a statement. "The whole healthcare team will benefit from the new, larger spaces with the required equipment so they can continue to provide excellent quality care. This is an exciting time for RIH.”
The patient care tower is scheduled to open next summer. The next phase, renovations to the existing hospital, will begin after the tower opens.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Levi Landry or call 250-819-3723 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.
News from © iNFOnews, 2021