Carleton Place hospital receives $1M gift from Cavanagh family
The project to build a new emergency department at an eastern Ontario hospital received two major boosts last month.
The Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital (CPDMH) announced that it had received approval from the Ministry of Health on stage 3.2 of its submission for the project. That stage focused on detailed physical planning documents, furniture and equipment lists, as well as updated cost estimates and project schedule. The hospital can now proceed with stage 4 of the work, which is the pre-construction phase.
“Planning during a pandemic has not been easy, but it has also provided us with valuable information,” said Randy Shaw, the hospital’s integrated vice president of corporate support services and capital projects. “During our focus groups with staff and physicians, we discussed the impact of COVID-19 and refined our plans based on these learnings.”
For example, new infection prevention and control technologies have been incorporated such as the use of ultra-violet light for sterilization, an updated water treatment system, and new off-set drain sinks to help reduce aerosol droplets.
“We hope to never see a pandemic like this again, but if we do, we will be prepared,” said Chief of Emergency Dr. Marcia Spooner. “Enhanced infection prevention and control measures will be the norm in our new space.”
The new emergency department will be linked to the hospital and will address current space challenges and enhance infection control standards. It includes 11 treatment spaces, which is an increase of five over the current facility. The new department is also being designed to improve patient flow for walk-in patients as well as those arriving by ambulance.
As a further boost to the project, on August 28, the family of the late Tom Cavanagh—a local business magnate and the founder of Thomas Cavanagh Construction—announced a posthumous donation of $1 million in his honour. The donation had been planned before Cavanagh’s death in December 2019.
“On behalf of the community and all the patients who are benefitting from this wonderful, amazing support, thank you so much to the Cavanagh family for making this a reality,” said CPDMH Foundation executive director Robyn Arseneau. “We can’t wait to see the building constructed and to see Tommy’s name on the building.”
Earlier in the day, the CPDMH Foundation kicked off the public phase of its $4-million capital campaign. With the Cavanagh donation, the foundation has now raised $3.4 million.
Featured image: Cindy McSkimming, Kay Cavanagh and Lori Cavanagh present the $1-million Cavanagh family cheque. (Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital Foundation)