Bethesda Foundation considers standalone hospice facility

A standalone hospice facility is in the tentative plans for Bethesda Foundation in Steinbach.

A registered charitable organization whose mission is to enhance health services in the Bethesda area, the Foundation has disbursed $17 million over 44 years.

Those projects cover a wide range including a CT scanner, construction of Bethesda Place, CancerCare Centre, surgical equipment palliative care services support, chaplaincy services, ER expansion, crisis stabilization unit, Bethesda Primary Care Centre, Stonebridge Wellness Centre, healing garden refurbishment, van to transport cancer patients, Eden Health, expansion of Rest Haven Care Home and ongoing equipment needs at the office.

At a Feb. 11 strategic priorities committee meeting, board members met with city councillors to share their accomplishments, discuss ongoing projects and share their dreams about the future.

One of those dreams was for a hospice facility.

“We know there’s a large need and desire to have dignity in dying for people,” board chair Chris Goertzen said.

Other priorities include working together with the RHA on supporting the growing region, increasing mental health supports in Steinbach in partnership with Eden Mental Health, and creating training opportunities locally for health-care related jobs in partnership with MITT (Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology).

Goertzen also shared the current projects they are involved in, including the hospital expansion currently underway.

That expansion includes a new dialysis unit, a new and expanded surgery department, 15 new patient rooms, two isolation rooms, clinical support spaces, a patient and visitor lunge, spiritual room, new lab and pharmacy area and palliative care enhancements.

The foundation committed $8 million to this project.

“It’s the most we’ve ever committed to a project as a community, but we thought it was important to get done.”

The surgery expansion updates an over 60-year-old room. It will include three new operating theatres, a pre-operative consult room, 12 patient care spots for pre/post operative care, reception and waiting area for patients and families, an expanded lab, new spiritual room and expanded space to support physician and resident services including three on-call sleep rooms.