Dartmouth General Hospital; Jack Morse

The Dartmouth General Hospital Foundation received a $3 million donation today.

The gift was made by the J&W Murphy Foundation and was the largest in the hospital’s history.

The donation comes as the DGH officially launches its new ‘Lean On’ campaign. The campaign is intended to reduce patient wait times and improve healthcare outcomes by funding new programming and innovation.
The DGH announced the donation today at a ceremony held at the Delta Dartmouth.

The gift will go directly to the following initiatives:

• The African Nova Scotian Healthcare Bursary Program will fund annually three renewable bursaries to encourage and support African Nova Scotian and Indigenous learners who wish to pursue careers in healthcare, with the goal of building a workforce that is more representative of DGH’s community and the people it serves.
• The Geriatric Care Nurse Practitioner ER Pilot Program will help facilitate care for ER patients aged 75 and older. Nurse Practitioners who are skilled in geriatric care will monitor and expedite care for seniors waiting in the ER by ensuring preliminary diagnostics such as bloodwork, blood pressure, and other key tests are performed while seniors wait.
• Upgraded Palliative Care Unit will better serve patients and families who are experiencing an end-of-life journey at Dartmouth General Hospital. Up to 10 rooms will be retrofitted to meet the unique needs of patients requiring palliative care, including convertible furniture for friends or family members who wish to spend the night, mini-fridges and microwaves for storage and heating of favourite meals, and soft bedding and linens that help create a home-like atmosphere.
• Investment in Medical Equipment – This gift will help support the purchase of Dartmouth General’s first MR, which will help to reduce wait times across the province and will improve efficiencies in care for DGH patients. The MRI will be equipped with a special orthopedic package that will benefit patients undergoing joint replacement surgery at The Fred Smithers Centre for Orthopedic Care at DGH. Other equipment being funded includes the Thulium Laser for Urology and a Surgical Tower for the new Pelvic Health Suite.
• Investment in Dental Surgical Equipment for patients with special needs and patients on the autism spectrum. Much of the equipment being used by Dr. Albert and the O.R. Dental team is over 30 years old and in need of updating. This investment will help serve a historically underserved community and is highly anticipated by Dr. Albert and his colleagues.

“When you meet the team at the Dartmouth General, one of the first things you notice is the wonderful sense of community and collegiality that exists amongst all team members. Everyone works so well together to pursue the shared goal of continued innovation and patient-centred care. I was amazed and impressed to see this teamwork in action when I met Dr. Cheng and her talented and capable colleagues at Dartmouth General Hospital.”
-Lisa Murphy, J&W Murphy Foundation

“One of the things that impressed me the most about Dartmouth General Hospital is the spirit of innovation that is embraced by everyone who works there. It’s incredible to see the hard work and ingenuity displayed by the exceptional staff and physicians who are working diligently every day to drive patient-centred innovation. We are proud to support the work and problem-solving solutions happening at Dartmouth General and are honoured to give to the Lead On campaign.”
– Karen Spaulding, J&W Murphy Foundation

“At Dartmouth General Hospital, we are proud to be at the leading edge of innovations that are improving healthcare for our patients. This collaborative and future-focused work requires the proper resources and investment to create long-term impact. We are grateful to have the support of The J&W Murphy Foundation and our many other supporters, who pave the way for transformational healthcare.”
-Dr. Natalie Cheng, Site Lead, Dartmouth General Hospital

“We are so thankful for this strategic and thoughtful investment from the J&W Murphy Foundation which will have a profound impact in every corner of our hospital. With so many Nova Scotians focused on healthcare resources, the Lead On campaign comes at a critical point in time, where we are coming together to create solutions for improving the health and well-being of our communities. It is exciting to work with donors who want to be a part of the solution.”
– Stephen Harding, President & CEO, Dartmouth General Hospital Foundation