St. Thomas, Ont. - Bob and Janet McCaig made a truly inspirational $1 million gift supporting both the St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital and London Health Science Centre strengthening the partnership between STEGH and LHSC, enhancing the delivery of care for patients in the region today and enabling the hospitals to work together to further transform health care.
St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital is an award winning community hospital that provides outstanding patient care in the city of St. Thomas. London Health Sciences Centre is a referral centre for patients, providing complex and specialized care for patients throughout Southwestern Ontario. This means doctors at STEGH can consult specialists at LHSC and refer patients when needed, while the patient has the comfort and convenience of receiving as much of his or her care as close to home as possible.
"LHSC and STEGH share the same goal; to provide an excellent patient care patient experience. Our facilities and services are mutually supportive in executing this mission and now, with this truly inspirational gift, we can continue to transform care for our shared community," explains Paul Collins, President & CEO, STEGH.
The McCaig's donation supports the Great Expansion of STEGH with $500,000 and the highest-priority-needs of LHSC with another $500,000. Highest-priority-needs include the purchasing, updating or replacement of critical equipment and facilities, support to vital research - especially proof-of-principle or "catalyst" research that can lead to medical breakthroughs - and to support important programs that do not typically receive many donor-directed gifts because they work in the background supporting care (like Laboratory Services) or because they have a smaller patient-base than programs like cancer care or cardiac care that affect many more people.
"Bob and Janet McCaig's focus upon, and commitment to a coordinated, patient-centred system of care captures the future of health care in Ontario and is a wonderful example of community leadership at its best. We can't thank them enough," says Dan Ross CEO, London Health Sciences Foundation. "It both validates and encourages the spirit of cooperation and collaboration between two outstanding hospitals."
Both hospitals agree that donors are essential in continuing to move the current standard of health care forward.
"On behalf of our hospital, I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Bob and Janet for the difference that their generosity will make in helping ensure families in our region receive the very best patient-centred care, in the most appropriate location, with the right level of support," says Laurie Gould, Chief Clinical and Transformation Officer, Patient Centred Care, LHSC.
The continuing collaboration between these two hospitals helps ensure patients within Southwestern Ontario receive the best care.
"Donors, like Bob and Janet McCaig are true health care heroes as they understand the importance of quality health care. We thank them for making this gift to the future of health care in our community," adds Collins.
To view Bob and Janet McCaig's "Why" video click here.