Patient Comfort Needs
“Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”
Over the Years
Since the Saint John Regional Hospital opened in 1982, we have donated over $6M to fund a multitude of projects. Patient Comfort is at the core of what we do, from huge renovations, to equipment purchases to providing basic, everyday comfort to the patients here at the hospital. Click below to see just a few of the projects we’ve been apart of.
Here are some of our on-going initiatives:
Joan Smith Memorial Garden
The Oncology Garden was established in 1993; however, under the direction of Auxilian Joan Smith, in 2001, it was made into the beautiful oasis it is today. It currently receives care and attention from the Moms In Gear team, a local group of generous volunteers.
The Garden can be viewed from the Oncology waiting room and from the Chemo Room chairs, offering a beautiful distraction from the reality of the environment. Patients and their families can access the Garden in the spring and summer and enjoy the comfortable patio seating that was recently installed.
Tops for Tots
Volunteers interested in creative activities bring thousands of items into the hospital each year for use by patients. Some of those items include:
- Over 2,000 hand-knit baby hats for newborns donated annually
- Special Baby Kits for the families who have experienced a stillbirth
- Toe socks for patients receiving foot and leg casts
- Chemo hats for patients receiving chemotherapy
- Finger puppets for the children in Specimen Collection, Emergency and Ambulance Services
- Heart monitor sacks for Cardiac Services.
Clothing Cupboard
Often times, patients end up in the hospital without anything except the clothes they came in wearing. We are proud to be able to offer these patients an outfit to wear, making their stay here at the Saint John Regional Hospital a bit more comfortable, while also maintaining their dignity, which is something we always strive to do.
“As there are low income families that access our services and cannot afford the cost of a bus the clients end up missing vital appointments.
It is amazing to know that when our patients were unable to make it to their medical appointments, we are able to offer a bus token to aid with transportation.”
- Staff member, Saint John Regional Hospital
Patient Transportation
We are happy to provide bus tokens and taxi vouchers to some areas of the hospital where patients need transportation assistance getting to and from important appointments here in the hospital.
“I want to thank you immensely for the hot coffee, juice and nutritious snack on your cart in the OR waiting area. As a family member who has been in that waiting room numerous times, not wanting to leave in case the doctor came out, your cart was greatly appreciated.”
- DD, family member of a patient
Coffee Cart Program
Coffee, tea, juice and snacks are provided in the Oncology and Surgical waiting areas to patients and their families awaiting treatment or waiting for a loved one to come out of surgery. Thank you to our Coffee Cart Volunteers for taking on this important role.
Active Living Program
Our Active Living Program supports elderly, capable patients, who are awaiting transition to a nursing home, in maintaining dignity and a healthy lifestyle by providing funding for feel good activities such as outings, music, dance, exercise, crafts, holiday and birthday celebrations and equipment to help them stay active. Our goal is to make them as comfortable here as they would be in their own home. Some of our funding initiatives include:
Daily activities, birthday celebrations, crafts, etc.
Seasonal outings
Comfortable furniture to enable patients to be as mobile as possible