July 11, 2024
Representatives from Hearts for Healthcare, Imperial Cold Lake, AHS Allied Health, Cold Lake Primary Care Network and the Cold Lake Healthcare Centre recently gathered to recognize new iPads donated to Hearts for Healthcare by Imperial. The iPads will benefit healthcare services throughout the community. In rear, from left, are: Iliana Lopez Perez (Imperial), Torie Stacy, Sharon Winik, Kari Leiper, Drew Donovan (Imperial) and Marcella Dybaylo. In front, from left, are: Wendy Campbell, Holly Weir, Danielle Verge and Stephanie Delorme. Photo supplied.
Story by Amelia Schofield
COLD LAKE — A significant donation of iPads and stands to Hearts for Healthcare is benefitting healthcare services throughout Cold Lake.
This gift, made by Imperial Cold Lake, will support the delivery of acute care, recreation therapy for long-term care residents, mental health and addiction support programs, primary care and Indigenous health in the community.
“The donation stems from a request we received from the Primary Care Network Cold Lake (PCN) last fall. Then in January, our Hearts for Healthcare office was unfortunately broken into, and our iPads and monitors were stolen,” says Kari Leiper, executive director, Hearts for Healthcare.
“Imperial Cold Lake heard about the break-in and reached out to us. They said they had a surplus of equipment and happened to have iPads and monitors they could donate. They began by donating three iPads and three monitors to Hearts for Healthcare. A few weeks later, they let us know they had several more available. We then reached out to our contacts and learned that several areas of healthcare could benefit from this donation.”
Thanks to this generous gift, iPads and stands were donated across the community to Cold Lake Healthcare Centre, Cold Lake Community Health Services, Community Addiction and Mental Health, PCN Cold Lake and the Cold Lake First Nations Health Centre. The donation will also support Hearts for Healthcare in their daily operations which includes holding fundraising events.
Sharon Winik, area manager, Allied Health Services, shares how long-term care residents will benefit from the donation of iPads to the recreation therapy program.
“The iPads will help us provide programming for residents that supports their cognitive function, including our Around the World Program and different activities, games, and puzzles. It also supports our residents in accessing spiritual services, music programs, and have virtual visits with their families.”
Danielle Verge, site manager, Cold Lake Healthcare Centre, says: “The addition of an iPad at the Cold Lake Healthcare Centre will support our physicians in placing physical orders and charting through Connect Care, which will benefit our patient care.”
Mary Obstfeld, nurse practitioner, Cold Lake First Nations Health Centre, adds: “We plan to use the iPads for patient health information kiosks and to assist patients in gaining access to MyHealthAlberta. These iPads will be helpful in both our main Cold Lake First Nations Health Clinic and the Dene Wellness Clinic.”
“Imperial is a longtime supporter of Hearts for Healthcare and the important work they do,” says Iliana Lopez Perez, community relations manager. “When we heard about the break-in we knew right away we wanted to help. It warms our hearts to know the iPads will make such a big difference to people and organizations that support our community.”
Leiper adds: “We can’t thank Imperial enough for their donation of these iPads and stands. Not only to we appreciate their gift to Hearts for Healthcare, but also their generosity to healthcare throughout the community. This donation will have a significant and far-reaching impact, and we are so grateful for their support.”
Learn more about Hearts for Healthcare.
