Sometimes it can be hard to express gratitude adequately, and those two little words – thank you –seem to fall short of conveying the depth of our appreciation for your support and continued generosity.

In this very difficult year, you stepped up to help us, the Smiths Falls Community Hospital Foundation, purchase critical pieces of equipment to enable our hospital to serve the community with excellence through the challenges of COVID-19.

Your generosity has meant that we have been able to respond quickly to the hospital’s request for a portable ventilator and an equipment sterilizer. THANK YOU.

As you probably know, the province does not fund the equipment that is so critical to our doctors’ ability to address patient needs. That is what we do as a hospital foundation:

We fill in the gap between what the province funds – doctors, nurses and bricks and mortar – and the
equipment that is needed to diagnose, and treat each patient who arrives at the hospital.
Our hospital’s equipment needs are ongoing as new technologies and medical advances continue to
evolve.

As donors, you contribute immeasurably to the success of our hospital. We just want you to know that we value your contribution. Your caring means so much to us as a foundation board, and to the wonderful staff of our hospital.

We can never say THANK YOU enough.
Each and every one of you is OUR hero.

Everyone here at the Smiths Falls Community Hospital Foundation sends you best wishes for happiness, health and prosperity throughout 2021.

Sincerely,
Sean Lawrence, Wendy Martin, Alan Loucks, Irv Mazurkiewicz,
Gillian Gray, Heddy Sorour, Frank Healey.

For Immediate Release – Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Smiths Falls, ON: COVID-19 continues to impact our lives. The upcoming holiday
season is no exception. In order to continue the hospital’s well thought out and
measured efforts to keep our patients, staff, physicians and environment safe, the
Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital (PSFDH) will continue to limit what can be
brought into the hospital for in-patients during the holiday season.

This holiday season, PSFDH asks that no food or care packages (gifts, treats, or
flowers) be delivered for patients. It is essential that areas remain clutter-free to allow
for appropriate cleaning.

PSFDH staff may not accept any items, such as gifts, snacks, drinks, shared home
baked treats, or other home baking.

Please know that this is a difficult decision but one that is necessary to ensure the
ongoing safety measures put in place for our patients and staff.

As a reminder, here is the list of essential items that are permitted at this time:

• Glasses
• Hearing aids, Hearing Aid Batteries
• Dentures, Denture Adhesive, Denture Cleaner
• Medications
• Shoes for rehabilitation and Socks
• Clothes on the day of discharge (no earlier)
• Communication device such as iPad, tablet, laptop, cell phone or similar (items
  that staff can wipe down) [Don’t forget the charging cord]. PSFDH has WiFi
  connection for the patients to use.
•  Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Shampoo
• Electric Shaver
• Pen
• Comb or Brush
• Walking Aids
• CPAP Machines

Please note that the items brought to patients must be “wipe-able” to support our
stringent infection control practices. This is to keep the patients and the staff safe.

Other holiday suggestions to keep in mind:

• Virtual visits are encouraged and welcomed. Patients and families can
  connect online using their personal communication devices (phone, tablet,
  etc.).
• Anyone (such as a grateful patient or family member) wishing to honour a
  staff/physician/volunteer/team is encouraged to make a donation to the
  Foundations of the Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital. Information on
  how to make a donation can be found at https://psfdh.on.ca/foundations.
• You can also send an online greeting to an inpatient this holiday season via
  the PSFDH website: https://psfdh.on.ca/sendgreetings .
• Any commercially prepared and individually wrapped donated food items
  (from local business) should be coordinated via coviddonations@psfdh.on.ca.
  Thank you to the community for your patience, understanding and adherence to our
  guidelines. Please note that our visitor guidelines and practices will continue to be
  monitored and change as the hospital continues to implement a carefully thought out
  and planned approach focusing on safety and quality of care.

People are reminded that if you require urgent/emergent care, please go to your
nearest Emergency Department or call 911.

Have a safe and happy holiday season!

About PSFDH:
The Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital (the “Hospital”) is a fully accredited acute care
health care organization located on two state-of-the-art sites. The hospital is situated in the
heart of the Rideau Canal region and proudly provides health services to more than 60,000
people in the surrounding communities. The hospital delivers a broad range of primary and
secondary services and programs such as emergency care, diagnostic imaging, obstetrics,
general and specialty surgical services, dialysis as well as laboratory and infection control
services.

For more information contact:
Dr. Barry Guppy
President & CEO
Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital
613-283-2330 ext. 1110
www.psfdh.on.ca

With the colder winter weather upon us, we have moved the Covid-19
Assessment Centre (CAC) inside the Main Entrance of the Smiths Falls site of the Perth and
Smiths Fall and District Hospital. This entrance is located on Elmsley Street North. To enter
the Covid-19 Assessment Centre for your appointment, drive up to the Main Entrance, park
your vehicle, and follow the directions to enter the building wearing your mask. You are then
directed to the designated testing areas after sanitizing your hands at the door. Infection
control precautions are followed. Testing is safe, timely, and warm.

Please note that the front (main) entrance is not for public access/entry to the hospital at this
time. The only point of entry to the hospital is the Emergency Department entrance located at
60 Cornelia Street West which can be accessed via the municipal sidewalk along Elmsley
Street and Cornelia Street or behind the hospital via the Emergency Department parking lot.
COVID-19 testing continues to be done by appointment only. For an appointment, please
call 613-283-2330 ext. 1401 and leave one only message. The message should clearly
state your name, date of birth, and a contact telephone number. Our staff will return your
call. The telephones are answered from 8AM to 6PM Monday to Friday and from 10AM to
4PM on Saturday. You will receive direction on how to access your results during testing. The
The emergency entrance screening desk does not have access to your results.

In the event that you have significant symptoms and are worried about a delay in an
appointment for assessment and testing at the CAC, you may contact:
The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit at 1-800-660-5853 ext .2222
Or Telehealth Ontario (toll-free) at (866) 797-0000 or Toll-free TTY at (866) 797-0007.
Further information is available at https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-medical-advice-telehealthontario.
Public members of the community can also call their own Family Physician or Nurse
Practitioner for advice and guidance. If you have an urgent medical situation or an emergency
(such as difficulty breathing) you should dial 911 or immediately go to the nearest Emergency
Department.

Imagery © 2020 Maxar Technologies, Map Data © 2020

About PSFDH:

The Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital (the “Hospital”) is a fully accredited acute care
health care organization located on two state-of-the-art sites. The hospital is situated in the
heart of the Rideau Canal region and proudly provides health services to more than 60,000
people in the surrounding communities. The hospital delivers a broad range of primary and
secondary services and programs such as emergency care, diagnostic imaging, obstetrics,
general and specialty surgical services, dialysis as well as laboratory and infection control
services.

For more information contact:
Dr. Barry Guppy
President & CEO
Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital
613-283-2330 ext. 1110
www.psfdh.on.ca

Over the past months, our communities have worked closer together than ever before. It has challenged us to think of new ways to support patients with excellent care, closer to home. We are pleased to share an exciting milestone for the future of our hospital.
In the spirit of supporting patients, the Boards of Directors of the Smiths Falls Community Hospital Foundation and the Great War Memorial Hospital Foundation have decided to amalgamate and join as one legal entity. To be in place by early 2021, the new Foundation will be called the Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital Foundation and will represent the volunteer passions of both Boards of Directors.

Please know that donors will continue to be able to direct their donations, and the Foundation will maintain an office at both hospital sites.

This announcement does not affect the two hospital auxiliaries. They will continue to raise funds for much-needed hospital equipment at the Perth and Smiths Falls sites, respectively.

We look forward to continuing the vital work of raising much needed philanthropic dollars for our community hospital, its equipment, and the amazing people that work there. Donations will continue to be gratefully received.
Thank you for your continued support and generosity!

Sean Lawrence
Chair, Smiths Falls Community Hospital Foundation

 Dr. Kathy Wickens
Chair, Great War Memorial Hospital Foundation

(Perth, Ont.)  There were cheers in five separate locations around the Ottawa Valley last Thursday night (October 15^th) as the second Lake 88 Radiothon ended with more than $98,000 dollars raised for local hospitals in communities throughout the radio station’s coverage area.  That total rose to $102,767 on Monday as even more donations came in from local businesses and residents.

Instead of gathering in one common call centre as last year, COVID-19 meant that the event was run at the four ‘distanced’ hospital foundation offices in Almonte, Carleton Place, Perth and Smiths Falls and connected to the station online and by phone.

The 12-hour on-air fundraiser ran from 6 am until 6 pm and featured interviews with dozens of healthcare professionals, doctors, nurses and administrators, along with patients and volunteers from the four partner hospital foundations.   

Brian Perkin, who owns Lake 88 with his wife Jennifer, stated, “The pandemic forced us to develop some pretty unique ways of getting everyone on the air from each of the foundation offices using ‘Zoom’ and the phone lines.  We also ‘distanced’ our staff at the station by creating separate little studio areas.  But it all worked very well.  Everyone was scattered throughout Lanark County, but they all manned the donation lines, shared the information, got folks on the air and kept it going.”

“Our goal was to raise awareness of the work our local hospitals do in providing great healthcare in our smaller towns and rural areas.  We also wanted to highlight the fact that hospitals don’t get provincial funding to cover all the costs of medical equipment.  That help only comes through local donations. ”

Perkin explained that the list of needs is long and varied, and includes items as expensive as a CT scanner for the Almonte General Hospital/Fairview Manor Foundation ($2.2 million).  The Perth Great War Memorial Hospital Foundation and the Smiths Falls Community Hospital Foundation are looking to fund an electrocardiogram (ECG) to test heart rhythm ($26,000), an obstetrical bed ($21,757), a fetal heart monitor ($36,382) and bedside monitors for Perth and Smiths Falls emergency rooms ($105,752), among other items.  The Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital Foundation is undertaking a $3 million Comprehensive Campaign for their new emergency department wing.

Organizers thank listeners, residents and the numerous local businesses and sponsors throughout the area who made donations ranging from $10 to thousands of dollars, many in memory of loved ones.  The Radiothon also received a $4,000 donation from the Land O’ Lakes Tunis Shriners, a $5,000 donation from St. Francis Masonic Lodge 24 in Smiths Falls, and $3,200 from 8-year-old Kayla Hasan of Almonte who raised the money by making and selling COVID-19 masks.

Perkin added, “It was very gratifying to top the $100,000 mark in donations again.  It went beyond what we imagined we might collect during the pandemic.  It’s humbling and also encouraging to see our local communities provide such generous support.  It’s a tremendous investment in our local hospitals – one that benefits us all.”

_______________________________________________________

For more information, contact the following Radiothon Partners:

Almonte General Hospital/Fairview Manor Foundation – Al Roberts:  aroberts@agh-fvm.com
Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital Foundation – Robyn Arseneau:  rarseneau@carletonplacehosp.com
Perth Great War Memorial Hospital Foundation – Margo Hallam:  mhallam@gwmfoundation.com
Smiths Falls Community Hospital Foundation – Lise Smith:  lise.sfchfoundation@bellnet.ca
Lake 88.1 Radio – Brian Perkin (613) 264-8811 or email:  brian.perkin@lake88.ca

Media Release
For Immediate Release: Friday, September 18, 2020

Wait Times at the Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital
COVID-19 Assessment Centre

The COVID-19 Assessment Centre (CAC) located at the Smiths Falls Site of the Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital is currently experiencing the largest increase in the number of residents seeking COVID-19 testing since the start of the pandemic in March of this year.

As has been the case over the last several months, the CAC is currently adjusting the operation of the CAC to better meet the community’s needs and has modified its hours of operation. The CAC will now be open from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., seven days per week. Please note that, priority is being given to residents who have symptoms that may be related to COVID-19 when booking appointments in the CAC. The Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital is requesting patience from the public at this time as the CAC addresses the current surge in requests for testing and asks that you call only one time to the CAC phone line so as to minimize volume and demands to respond. Testing is still by appointment only.

Please call 613-283-2330 ext. 1401 and leave one message clearly stating your name, date of birth and a contact telephone number. Our staff will return your call.

PSFDH is also asking that no pets be brought with you while you attend your appointment. If a support animal is required, we ask that they are restrained to ensure the safety of both you and the CAC staff member.
In the event that you have significant symptoms and are worried about a delay in an appointment for assessment and testing at the CAC, you may contact:

The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit at 1-800-660-5853 ext .2222
Or Telehealth Ontario (toll-free) at (866) 797-0000 or Toll-free TTY at (866) 797-0007

Further information is available at https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-medical-advice-telehealth-ontario. Public members can also call their own family physician or nurse practitioner for advice and guidance. In the setting of an urgent medical situation or an emergency, public members should go to one of the Emergency Departments.
The CAC is located outside the Main Entrance on Elmsley Street North, Smiths Falls. Patients will drive up to the Main Entrance and remain in their vehicle while an in-vehicle assessment is completed.

The CAC is NOT a public entrance. The current patient drop-off/pick up areas remain in place at the Smiths Falls Site. Patients can continue to be dropped off and picked up at the Smiths Falls Site Emergency Department entrance located off of Cornelia Street.

About PSFDH

The Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital (the “Hospital”) is a fully accredited acute care health care organization located on two state-of-the-art sites. The hospital is situated in the heart of the Rideau Canal region and proudly provides health services to more than 60,000 people in the surrounding communities. The hospital delivers a broad range of primary and secondary services and programs such as emergency care, diagnostic imaging, obstetrics, general and specialty surgical services, dialysis, as well as laboratory and infection control services.

For more information contact:
Dr. Barry Guppy President and CEO
Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital 613-283-2330 ext. 1110
www.psfdh.on.ca