As part of their ongoing commitment to making Headwaters Health Care Centre an even better facility in which to receive high-quality medical care, Joan and Paul Waechter have committed $1 Million to support the Hospital and the Headwaters Health Care Foundation.
Joan and Paul are long-time Headwaters supporters and have contributed annually since 1987. Why make such a significant commitment now? Joan explained, “We have been long-time residents and engaged members of this community and have benefitted from the care provided at Headwaters. The time was right for us to help Headwaters, ensuring the best possible care close to home and we hope the community will jump on board in support of our local hospital”.
This generous donation will be used to support several significant areas including the Hospital’s current Lobby/Main Entrance Renovation, new and replacement equipment needs and the Hospital’s investment in new and innovative clinical software.
Increasing Safety and Accessibility - Main Entrance Renovation: Headwaters patients and their families will experience a new one-stop shop with respect to arrival, registration and bill payment, supported through self-service kiosks and centralized registration. The Lobby will include a new, more accessible entryway, a new information desk, expanded waiting areas, a therapeutic and fully accessible outdoor space, re-designed gift shop and cafe and a new, safer and more accommodating central staircase. The space will also be home to wheelchairs for patient transport and the parking machine.
New and Replacement Equipment: Each year the Hospital prioritizes over $2M in specialized medical equipment, facility upgrades and infrastructure needs. These urgent priorities are independent from other special projects and are integral to keeping the Hospital’s programs and clinics running and providing great care close to home.
Clinical Information Technology Project: Headwaters Health Care Centre is among the more than 2,300 institutions worldwide who use MEDITECH's fully integrated electronic health record software to provide health care to the communities they serve. Headwaters has been using the same electronic health record for over a decade. While the first-generation product was leading edge at that time, it has now become antiquated in terms of its usefulness for doctors, nurses and patients. The
new generation of MEDITECH, called Expanse, is a powerful, web-based tool that brings all a patient’s medical information into one unified health record and gives clinicians the full picture about a patient’s health and medical history anywhere, at any time and on any device. It is by far the biggest opportunity for our hospital to make care better, safer and more connected.
Stacey Daub, President and CEO of Headwaters Healthcare Centre reacted to the news with awe and appreciation, “Joan and Paul are some of Headwaters’ most committed supporters, they give their time and their finances, and they are invested in our success. The fact that they chose to support us with a gift of this magnitude is simply inspiring.” Stacey added, “In June we launched our new Strategic Plan,
One Community, Caring Together – thank you to Joan and Paul for putting these words into action.”
In recognition of this gift and the Waechter’s cumulative giving, the renovated Lobby and Main Entrance of the Hospital will be named the
Joan and Paul Waechter Welcome Centre.
Foundation Executive Director, Dora Boylen-Pabst added, “this is a critical time in the Hospital’s and the Foundation’s evolution, the size and scope of our community as well as their needs have changed and grown. None of these projects receive government funding, and as an organization, the hospital is dependent on the support of our community. Joan and Paul saw an opportunity to lead by example, and for that we thank them wholeheartedly.”
About Headwaters Health Care Centre (HHCC)
HHCC, is an innovative, community centred medium-size hospital serving residents of Dufferin-Caledon. Headwaters offers acute and complex continuing care with 24/7 Emergency Department coverage as well as extensive outpatient services in a newly built Ambulatory Care Centre and is accredited with Exemplary Standing by Accreditation Canada. Please visit www.headwatershealth.ca for more information and a full list of services.
About Headwaters Health Care Foundation
Headwaters Health Care Foundation is the fundraising organization of Headwaters Health Care Centre. The Foundation raises funds for medical equipment, infrastructure and continuing education. For more information or to donate, visit
hhcfoundation.com. All three of the priorities detailed still require community support.
For more information, please contact:
Dora Boylen-Pabst, CFRE
CEO
Headwaters Health Care Foundation
dboylenpabst@headwatershealth.ca
519.941.2702, ext. 2205