QEII Foundation raises $4 million to bring Atlantic Canada’s first hybrid OR to the QEII

Within one year, the QEII Foundation – in collaboration with the Maritime Heart Centre – has raised $4 million towards Atlantic Canada’s first hybrid operating room (OR) at the QEII Health Sciences Centre.

The announcement, which was unveiled at the QEII Foundation’s Heart Heroes event on May 15, 2019, revealed that all of the technology and equipment within the new leading-edge operating suite will be completely donor-funded.

At Heart Heroes, Danny Chedrawe, who is a longtime supporter of the QEII Foundation and Honorary Trustee, and Stewart E. Allen, who made a $1-million gift in support of the hybrid OR, were both honoured with Heart of Gold awards for their visionary support of heart health care.

A hybrid OR is one of the most technologically-advanced operating suites available today – allowing surgical care teams to perform diagnostic imaging, minimally invasive procedures, and complex, open surgeries all in the same room, at the same time.

This is especially important when treating trauma patients like car accident victims or if an emergency situation arises in the OR, as patients will no longer need to be transferred to other units or care teams for imaging procedures.

“By establishing Atlantic’s Canada first hybrid operating room, the QEII will be a leader in eliminating the physical divide between the operating room and essential diagnostic imaging,” says Dr. Gerald MacKean, the QEII’s division head of vascular surgery. “The technology funded by QEII Foundation donors will be paramount to delivering the most innovative and effective care for patients.”

Thanks to donors, the region’s first hybrid OR will be fully outfitted with state-of-the-art surgical and imaging technology, which will ultimately drive more complex and cutting-edge procedures, smaller incisions, less stress on the heart, and shorter recovery times for patients.

“Ensuring Atlantic Canadians have the most innovative and advanced care in our region is what inspires our donors to support projects, like the hybrid OR,” says Lydia Bugden, vice chair of the QEII Foundation’s Board of Trustees and chair of the heart campaign.

The QEII is one of the top 20 health centres in Canada and one of 17 academic teaching hospitals across the country.

According to Lydia, access to a hybrid OR will allow the QEII and its world-class teams to continue to elevate heart health care and help set standards from coast-to-coast.

Government has approved $32.2 million for the construction and renovation of the third and fifth floors at the QEII’s Halifax Infirmary, which includes the addition of the new hybrid OR. With the QEII Foundation contributing $4 million to fund all of the advanced technology to bring the surgical suite to life, the impact for QEII patients and their families will be significant.

Construction is currently underway on the new hybrid OR, which is slated to open and treat its first patients in fall 2020.