New intensive care unit at The Moncton Hospital to provide substantial benefits, supporting better care for patients

August 16, 2012- The Moncton Hospital (TMH) will continue to focus on providing high-quality critical care but in a vastly-improved environment thanks to a $3 million dollar contribution from the Friends of The Moncton Hospital Foundation. The Medical Surgical Intensive Care Unit (MSICU) has officially opened on the main floor of the hospital in an area formerly occupied by the Emergency Department.

Nancy Parker, the Executive Director at TMH says the MSICU will provide our critical care team with a state-of-the-art facility to treat our most ill patients. "All the staff and physicians who've worked in the current dated MSICU are very excited to have this new, spacious and bright unit now available to them.  With private rooms for all of our patients, this updated work space will facilitate improved patient care and infection control practices.  We know our  MSICU staff do an excellent job; this modern  unit will allow them to go that  extra mile  for our patients  in a wonderful new  environment," says Parker.

In addition to its close proximity to the new Emergency/Trauma Centre, this modern ICU is located adjacent to the Operating Rooms and a very short distance from the Medical Imaging Department and various clinics. This will alleviate the transport of critically ill patients who may require emergency surgery or special tests. (The old MSICU has been located on the 5^th floor of the Hospital.) The new unit features ten glass-fronted patient rooms with a centralized desk that allows for staff to attend to emergencies immediately. Equipment will be stored just steps away from the patients and worried family members will have more space to sit by their loved ones, as well as a comfortable family room which will allow relatives and friends to be close to their critically ill family member at all times.

Friends' Chair David Holt says strong critical care services in our region are vital, especially given the growth and development that we have seen in recent years."The Friends contribution to the enhancement of the ICU recognizes the important role our hospital plays in delivering quality acute care to families in our region," says Holt.

In 2005, the Friends of The Moncton Hospital Foundation, the Sackville Memorial Hospital Foundation and the Bennett and Albert County Health Care Foundation together launched theHealthy Returns - La santé notre richesse capital fundraising campaign. While the goal included projects for the two rural facilities, over $7 million of the total $7.5 million raised was earmarked to purchase much needed equipment for the new Emergency/Trauma Centre at The Moncton Hospital, clinics in the Irving Ambulatory Care Centre and new laboratory, and for the relocation and redevelopment of the Medical Surgical Intensive Care Unit (MSICU).

TheHealthy Returns - La santé notre richesseCampaign was chaired by Robert Irving. During the campaign, the Friends Foundation received two $1 million gifts, the first from the Irving Group and the second from Jon and Leslie Manship. The Ambulatory Care Centre was named to honour the Irving contribution and during the official opening on August 16, the ICU was dedicated in honour of Leslie Manship's mother, Sharon E. Harrison, a former nurse at The Moncton Hospital.

"On behalf of Horizon Health Network, I thank our Foundations, The Irving Group and Jon and Leslie Manship for their generous contributions," says Donald J. Peters, President and CEO of Horizon Health Network. "An efficient and innovative health care system is an important priority for our organization, and this new intensive care unit reflects a unified commitment to quality patient care."

Patients will begin receiving care in the new MSICU in September.

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For more information, please contact:
Julie Thebeau
Senior Development Officer
Horizon Health Network,MonctonArea
Julie.thebeau@horizonnb.ca

506-870-2699