Hospitals are a wise investment for future
When it comes to planning and leaving legacies, hospitals by their nature are a wise investment, says Tracy Boyle, Director of Major and Planned Gifts for Saskatoon City Hospital Foundation.
“As health care and hospitals continue to evolve so does the need to support them with current and legacy gifts,” she says, adding that Saskatoon City Hospital has seen usage grow from 100,000 to 170,000 patient visits annually in just the past few years. “Populations often trend upward in centres where hospitals are located; this leads to increased demand for hospital services and places stress on existing infrastructures, services and technology.”
Technology is another reason to invest in hospitals, Boyle continues. “Technology is rapidly changing in all areas of life and this affects how medical services are delivered. New procedures in areas such as scoping, surgeries and anesthetics are more effective but less invasive, resulting in shorter hospital stays and faster recovery times. We’re seeing vast improvements in how we detect and treat cancer or other diseases; in how eye disorders are diagnosed and remedied, and in the overall approach to rehabilitation.
“The message we hear and pressure we feel from medical professionals is that there’s a great need to stay abreast of technological change in order to provide the best care possible and deliver optimal outcomes for patients.”
Valerie Stacey is someone who understands the needs of the hospital very well. That’s why she amended her will to include Saskatoon City Hospital Foundation with a specific allocation to the Breast Health Centre.
Her decision was in remembrance of her parents as well as her own health experiences. “My dad died from emphysema, which developed because he was exposed to mustard gas in World War One. I lost my mom to pancreatic cancer. I’ve had a malignant melanoma twice and breast cancer. I had surgery five years ago but was blessed because I didn’t need chemo or radiation.”
The legacy is also the result of Val’s lifelong connection with the hospital. She was born at Saskatoon City Hospital, completed her nursing training there and then worked in its emergency department for several years, eventually becoming assistant manager.
“It was my home away from home,” she says of her training. “In those days, students lived in the residence. I made friends that are still friends today. Thanks to the Nurses Alumnae, I’m in touch with many of them.
“I enjoyed my years working there, too,” Valerie adds. “It was known as a community hospital. After graduating, I wanted to stay at City Hospital and was assigned to emergency. I was a general duty nurse for a year and a half, then the assistant head nurse for 17 years. I eventually became head nurse for a year.
“The health care aspect of my life was very important to me,” Val says of the legacy donation. “I thought I should do what I could now for health care.”
“Valerie’s legacy is an example of gifting with a specific cause or purpose in mind,” Boyle says. “Donors can also choose to allocate their gift to where it’s needed most at the time the bequest is made.”
Gifts have enduring impacts, she adds, noting the Ludwig & Olga & Constance Kaye Pediatric Ophthalmology Endowment. “Olga and the late Ludwig Kaye created this fund in 2002 as a tribute to their late daughter, Constance, in recognition of the care provided to her at Saskatoon City Hospital’s Eye Care Centre. An additional gift of life insurance from Olga will ensure the longevity of this fund.
“The Kaye Pediatric Endowment remains a lasting legacy and has, for 15 years, funded an annual lecture series. It provides ophthalmologists, residents, orthoptists, and students with the opportunity to hear about current trends. Visiting lecturers come from across North America to present the latest information and methods related to treating eye diseases and disorders, with a particular emphasis on pediatric eye care.”
Boyle adds that numerous options for planned giving allow donors to create gifts that are meaningful for them. For more information, call Saskatoon City Hospital Foundation at 306-655-8489 (1-800-6034464) or visit bit.ly/SCHFlegacy.