Saskatchewan Blue Cross Supports Patient Care Through Financial Assistance to Rural Hospital Foundations
Saskatoon, SK – September 11, 2023 | Rural hospital foundations play a key role in ensuring that residents have access to the care they need, when they need it. As part its Community Investment Program, Saskatchewan Blue Cross, a leading provider of health and wellness benefits solutions, is pleased to announce that it will be supporting six of these foundations to provide lifesaving equipment and technology, upgraded facilities, and medical training that improves the quality of patient care.
The goal of this program is to enable health care facilities in rural areas to provide the best possible care by facilitating small projects or equipment purchases that could significantly benefit patient care. These foundations were encouraged to apply for funding by August 15th, 2023, to assist with specific needs and projects based in rural Saskatchewan.
“Saskatchewan Blue Cross is proud to provide this support to rural hospital foundations, which will enable them to enhance the level of services they provide. These foundations create positive changes in the lives of people throughout the province,” said Kelly Wilson, President and CEO of Saskatchewan Blue Cross.
The following rural hospital foundations received funding this year: Dr. Noble Irwin Regional Healthcare Foundation, Weyburn & District Hospital Foundation, Nipawin Region Health Foundation, Humboldt & District Hospital Foundation, Battlefords Union Hospital Foundation, and the Kipling and District Health Foundation.
The funding will be used to support a variety of projects including:
- A Thulium laser for use in the urology department
- New stethoscopes
- Wheelchair accessible van
- An inpatient bed
- Pyxis Medstations
- And a four-person wheelchair accessible table.
Rita Dash, Chair of the Kipling and District Health Foundation, said the funding is instrumental in providing healthcare services that are often overlooked. “This year we will be purchasing a four-person accessible table that will enable all residents to sit at a table regardless if they use a wheelchair, Broda chair or a conventional chair,” she said.
Ross Fisher, Chair of the Health Foundations Network of Saskatchewan, said it’s important to have a program designed specifically to make donations to rural hospital foundations. “Saskatchewan Blue Cross has already made donations to six healthcare foundations and have said they will fund more rural projects. To do this they are receiving a second round of applications this fall, and plan to make more contributions to assist rural healthcare. I look forward to being able to inform our members of this funding opportunity,” he said.
Rural hospital foundations are invited to apply for the second round of funding through the program, which is now accepting applications from September 1st to October 31st, 2023. To request funding, please visit the following link: https://sk-bluecross.sponsor.com/. The questionnaire provided on the application page will help identify the specific needs and projects that could potentially receive funding. For any inquiries or assistance with the application process, please reach out to Saskatchewan Blue Cross at community@sk.bluecross.ca
To learn more about Saskatchewan Blue Cross and the Community Investment Program, please visit the Community Impact webpage.
About Saskatchewan Blue Cross
For more than 75 years, Saskatchewan Blue Cross® has been committed to delivering exceptional health and wellness benefits, travel insurance and life insurance solutions to Saskatchewan residents and employers. A locally based, not-for-profit organization, it’s recognized as one of Saskatchewan’s Top Employers, one of the Top 100 Companies in Saskatchewan, one of Canada’s Top 100 Brands (as part of the Canadian Association of Blue Cross® Plans), and proudly supports the wellbeing of more than 200,000 members. With a mission to empower communities on their journey to whole health and wellness, and a vision for a future of lifelong health and wellbeing for every person in Saskatchewan, this team is committed to advancing and benefiting the communities they call home. Learn more at: www.sk.bluecross.ca.
Media Contact
Cheryl de Villiers
Director, Marketing & External Affairs
media@sk.bluecross.ca