The Hôpital du Suroît in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield had been struggling recently to supply enough wheelchairs at its entrance. The hospital has hundreds of visitors each day, including many with mobility issues that require them to use a wheelchair. Not having access to such chairs can be a threat to the safety and comfort of these patients.
The Fondation de l’Hôpital du Suroît was made aware of this issue and was eager to fix it as quickly as possible, working with Equipement Medical Du Sud-Ouest (EMSO), a company which specializes in medical supplies. Since 1994, EMSO has been providing adapted equipment in the region. This project has led to 29 new wheelchairs being made available in the hospital’s lobby. Of these wheelchairs, 26 are regular and the remaining three are bariatric. They also have a variety of spare parts to ensure longevity.
However, these are not just regular wheelchairs; they’re pink! Karl Savary, the chairman of the foundation’s board of directors, says, “Pink is the emblematic color of the Fondation de l’Hôpital du Suroît, and with this unique feature, we think users and healthcare/support professionals will recognize the fact that we are here for them.”
These wheelchairs can be found at the entrance of the hospital and are free for patients to use. They have also been adapted to prevent theft.
This project has also been made possible by a collaboration between the stretcher department, security guards, hospital activities management, the complaints commissioner’s office, and the Suroît Hospital Patients’ Committee.
All in all, the foundation invested a total of $50,345 in the project. (CF)