“It’s time to bring it home”

Help bring advanced medical imaging technology to KGH

Every Donation Will be Matched

KELOWNA, BC, May 10, 2023 – The KGH Foundation’s annual KGH Day of Giving, a one-day call to action for the community to come together in support of excellence in health care right here at home, is coming up this Wednesday, May 17.

This year, all funds raised are dedicated to advancing clinical and surgical excellence at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH), and specifically, the acquisition of a state-of-the-art, brand new 3T MRI machine.

Thanks to the generosity of local families, all funds raised on KGH Day of Giving, up to $250,000, will be matched dollar for dollar until 11:59 p.m. on May 17.

“MRI is an absolutely critical diagnostic technology in medicine today,” says Allison Young, CEO of the KGH Foundation.  “The fact that KGH currently only has one machine – the oldest in BC – is no longer acceptable. As our community continues to grow, thousands of Central Okanagan patients wait too long for MRI, which in turn, delays their care team’s ability to diagnose and treat what is ailing them.”

The addition of the 3T MRI machine promises to nearly double KGH’s imaging capacity and significantly reduce wait times for MRI, which can be upwards of eight months for some patients.

On April 4, the KGH Foundation announced a massive commitment to support the needs of health care locally in the Central Okanagan and more broadly in the southern interior of BC. The commitment to raise $40 million includes advancing clinical and surgical excellence at KGH, and a $5 million commitment to fund the interior’s first 3T MRI machine – the gold standard in MRI.

“We couldn’t be more excited about the prospect of bringing 3T MRI technology to KGH,” says KGH Radiologist, Dr. Michael Partrick. “In many cases, a patient’s diagnostic journey will begin with medical imaging. Scans contain important information about what is (or isn’t) present in the area of concern.”

KGH currently has a single 1.5T MRI machine which is operational 147 hours per week and is at the end of its life cycle. The province recently announced funding to replace the existing 1.5T machine at KGH, which is welcome news. But this alone will not help us get to where we need to be.

“Despite being in operation 147 hours per week, the demand for MRI far exceeds what can be accommodated with the current machine,” says Dr. Brenda Farnquist, Department Head of Radiology at KGH. “We don’t just need to replace the MRI machine we have. We need a second machine.”

The KGH Day of Giving will help raise the funds required to bring the advanced technology of 3T MRI to Kelowna General, in service to the thousands of patients who need MRI each year in the Central Okanagan.

When asked about the benefits of the 3T MRI, Dr. Partrick explains, “3T is faster and produces clearer scans. It allows for more precision in the diagnosis and treatment of a multitude of issues, including brain tumours, strokes, aneurysms, multiple sclerosis, cancers and more.”

Adds Dr. Farnquist, “Acquiring 3T MRI at KGH will allow for increased capacity for vital, potentially life-saving diagnostic scans, impact waitlists, and reduce the anxiety patients and families often experience while waiting for and during an MRI. From cancer to cardiac, neurology, orthopedic surgery, and more, acquiring 3T technology will assist care teams across multiple specialties and impact care in myriad ways.”

To learn more, tune in to local Bell Media radio stations Virgin 99.9, Move 101.5 and Phil Johnson’s morning show on AM1150 on May 17. “We will be sharing stories and learning first-hand from doctors and hospital staff about the impact 3T MRI will have and also about the innovations and exciting advancements in patient care that this technology will enable,” says Johnson.

“People of this community deserve excellence,” says Young. “There are actions we can take right now to impact the care that’s being delivered where it matters most – it’s time to bring it home.”

There are several ways to give on May 17:

• By phone at 250-980-6123
• The drive-thru donation station (*new location) Rose Ave and Pandosy St (under the hospital overhang), from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Online at com
• If you’re stopped at the lights at Rose Ave and Pandosy St, drop some change (cash is welcome too!) in the buckets of our incredible Sprott Shaw College Change Bandits.

Since its inception seven years ago, Day of Giving has raised over $3.8 million in support of KGH and community health care. The ongoing success of the annual fundraiser is a testament to the care, enthusiasm and generosity of the community, businesses and frontline caregivers to come together in support of a shared goal.

To make a gift or learn more about the KGH Foundation’s Day of Giving, please visit kghfoundation.com/day-of-giving.

Since 1978, the KGH Foundation has worked with a generous community to raise funds to support world-class healthcare close to home for a growing and diverse population in the interior of B.C. Today, the KGH Foundation is the lead fundraising organization for Kelowna General Hospital and its associated facilities, JoeAnna’s House, and Central Okanagan Hospice House.

Media Contact:
Shauna Nyrose
Senior Director, Brand & Communications
KGH Foundation
p| 250-862-4300 ext. 7058
c| 250-801-0886
e| shauna.nyrose@interiorhealth.ca