Representatives from the hospital's Pharmacy Services Department and the BUH Foundation. (Submitted photo/BUHF)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

Largest fundraising campaign

BUHF reaches $916,000 capital goal to purchase Pyxis MedStations

Jan 29, 2024 | 4:43 PM

Battlefords Union Hospital (BUH) Foundation has managed to reach a huge fundraising goal in half the time members expected it would take.

The foundation hit the goal of $916,000 in one year of fundraising instead of two.

Executive Director Leanne Ducommun said the BUHF announced its capital campaign Medication Matters in March of 2023 to raise the sum to purchase Pyxis MedStations for all departments at the BUH.

“It was the largest capital campaign the foundation has ever taken on, just shy of one million dollars,” she said. “We thought realistically we should be able to reach this goal in two years… Now here we are. We have officially completed this capital campaign. Isn’t that exciting? Everyone who participated in our fundraising events, who supported our 50-50 [draw], who supported our lotteries, who gave donations and who gave donations in memory of — it all mattered.”

Ducommun said all the Pyxis MedStations will be installed throughout the hospital later this spring.

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“We’re the first hospital in Saskatchewan that’s going to have a Pyxis MedStation in every department in the hospital,” she said. “We are the leaders. Is that not something to be proud of? We should be so proud of ourselves in the Battlefords and area. We come together and this is what we do. We make great things happen.”

The BUHF noted proceeds from the 2023 Ladies’ Night, Wayne Pruden Memorial Golf Tournament, $100,000 Cash Lottery and Festival of Trees all supported the “Medication Matters” capital campaign. The final year of birdhouse sales from JRs Designer Birdhouses contributed, and in May 2023 the On Air: for Healthcare Radio-thon dedicated 12 hours to talking about Pyxis MedStations and this technology’s importance and impact to healthcare, in the Battlefords and also in the service area of north west Saskatchewan.

The foundation acknowledged the support of Edward Urbanowski, Barry and Donna Svenkeson, Stromberg Family, Taco Time, River Valley Eye Care, Cenovus, Eternal Memories Funeral Service and Crematorium, Saskatchewan Blue Cross, Kinsmen Telemiracle Foundation, and the Estate of Gladys Milman for their significant contributions they made towards the campaign.

“We are grateful for the support we have received from the foundation for medication delivery in the Battlefords and north west Saskatchewan,” said Sarah Lynds, manager of pharmacy services for the North West, in the media release. “BUH will be one of the only hospitals in the province with Pyxis MedStations integrated into every patient-care setting, and they will help improve safety, save time and reduce staff hours spent on inventory and delivery of medication. I am very excited to begin the process and see the impact Pyxis MedStations will have on Pharmacy Services and patient care.”

The Pyxis MedStations increase the efficiency of medication delivery and allow healthcare workers to have more time to spend at patients’ bedsides.

Replacement units will be installed in the emergency department, medical and surgical wards and in palliative care, where the former units have reached their end of life. New units will be installed for the intensive care unit, ambulatory care clinic, women’s health and birthing centre, chemotherapy, dialysis, the operating room and surgery department and Battlefords Mental Health Centre.

The official grand opening for the new Pyxis MedStations is expected to take place this June or July.

“It is wonderful to see things happening so quickly and to be so far ahead of the original projected schedule. We are proud to be a part of the new Pyxis MedStations and enrich healthcare for our communities in this manner. Thank you to everyone who supported “Medication Matters” and made the new Pyxis MedStations possible,” BUH Foundation board chair Cheryl Mitchell said.

– With files from Nic Fransoo

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angela.brown@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @battlefordsNOW