The Brightshores Foundation has launched their new holiday fundraiser, the Shining Star campaign.
Brightshores Foundation CEO Amy McKinnon explained that the new fundraising initiative can be used to honour family, or recognize staff.
“People can honour a loved one who lit up the sky for them, put the spotlight on a staff member who provided exceptional care, be a guiding light with a supportive message for staff an patients, or whatever is meaningful for you.”
The stars will then be displayed around the hospital for staff, patients, and visitors to see.
This year’s Shining Star campaign is aimed at raising money for six new automatic dispensing units (ADUs) for the Owen Sound hospital.
The machines are for the storage and distribution of medications.
The ADU machines work like vending machines that are stocked like vending machines. Medical professionals are able to access the machines using their fingerprint, hen input the name of the patient, and the correct medication is dispensed.
The six new machines will be installed at the Emergency Department, one for the Crisis Support Program, one for the rehab unit, inpatient mental health, inpatient surgery, and the medicine floor.
The price tag for the six ADUs have a price tag of just over $1 million, which includes the necessary software upgrades. While the new equipment streamlines the medication dispensing process, they are not funded by the government.
The dispensing units are considered the safest, simplest way for nurses to quickly and accurately access medications.
Each year, the central pharmacy at Brightshores Owen Sound dispenses 1.5 million doses of medication.
The Shining Star Campaign replaces the previous Guardian Angel fundraiser, which had raised millions of dollars for the hospital foundation over the decades.
You can donate online here.