30 YEARS
1996
Life-saving innovation, close to home
In 2013, donors helped open the Interventional Trauma Operating Room (ITOR) at Foothills Medical Centre— only the second of its kind in the world at the time. By combining advanced imaging technology and a fully equipped operating suite in one space, the ITOR transformed how trauma care is delivered. The impact has been profound. It is estimated that the ITOR has saved a life every month since opening. At Foothills Medical Centre, donor support has also strengthened care for patients with severe burns through transformational investments in the Firefighters Burn Unit, the only burn treatment unit in Calgary and the primary referral centre for southern Alberta, southeastern British Columbia, and southwestern Saskatchewan. The unit cares for approximately 140 patients each year with serious burns and complex soft tissue injuries, and supports an additional 850 outpatients with less severe burn conditions. Donor-funded equipment and enhancements ensure patients facing some of the most painful and life-altering injuries receive highly specialized care when they need it most. The Calgary Firefighter Burn Treatment Society has been one of our long-term partners and has raised over $8 million for burn care and survivor support through Calgary Health Foundation since 2005. In 2018, donor funding introduced Calgary’s first Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) therapy program, a non-invasive option for individuals with treatment-resistant depression. For patients who have not responded to medication, rTMS offers new hope by using targeted magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells and improve symptoms. Demand quickly outpaced capacity. In 2022, donors again stepped forward to expand the program, creating dedicated treatment spaces at both Rockyview General Hospital and Foothills Medical Centre. Because of this support, twice as many patients struggling with severe depression now have access to an evidence-based therapy that can help them reclaim their quality of life. Providing hope for patients with limited options
A patient receives rTMS therapy
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CALGARY HEALTH FOUNDATION
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