Whitby Free Press, Wednesday, October 12, 1994 , Page 19 Donations .ensu re,'tree shalhgoing By John Dujay The new symbol' for Whitby General Hespital is a tree, symbolizing growth- and development, according te Marc Kealey, vice president Of community relations. In thoefront lobby, there is a* giant bronze andglass plaque, about 12 foot by eight foot in the shape of a tree. There are plaques situated around the outside with the naines of donors engraved. Also each leaf has a space. for more names. Se far, there are 400 names engraved. The tree. is* an impotant symbol of WGH's future growth, says Kealey. Ho says tbat al residents of Whitby must "share in the responsibility" by donating funds for capital needs such as new equipment. While most of' the fuýdîing* cornes from the. provincial government, funding for new equipment __ such as ultrasound --has te corne fromn local donations. 'We have te, go to the cemmunity for that," he says.. In 1989, the First Class campaign raised $85 million in pledges for an ambulatory care expansion. However, the provincial government decided to put this on bold while the acute caestudy was begun. Today, some of the pledges bave not been bonoured because of the study's recommendations. Kealey says as. much as $1.6 million bas -béen witbheld by varieus individuals and compaâmes. COMMUNITY RELATIONS and Development vice president Marc Kealey sits by a giant bronze and glass tree which recognizes donors ta the hospital.PhtbyMkRosWlbyFoPrs Each year, be says $600,000 must corne from the community to help fund new equipment purchases. Provincial government guidelines cail for most of the capital costs of ail hospitals to corne from the communities they serve. Kealey's wisb is for each of Whitby's 68,000 residents to donate just $10. If this happens, there will be $68 million in the bank which will last for 10 years. "We can. do some wonderful things," he says of such a fund. .Communication is- his main function at the hospital.- This is the key to educating residents as te what is happening inside the hospital walls, he says. He says that Ontarians have te start thinking about heatth care from a regional perspective: 'We have te 'go outside our (town) borders. "There needs te ho an education process "so that residents are constantly aware of what is happening in their hospital. "Ail you have te do te overcome your fear is talk." He urges residents to ask questions whonever they are flot fully aware of any activities. Whitby's hospital, which he doscribes as a 'littie jewel," is an institution that does not have long lineups and four-heur waits that characterize bigger hospitals. "These are real achievemonts that maybe we could be mnaking the community more aware of,." he says proudly. There are a number of no'w, and-raising initiatives in place, such as memoriazu donations and a igrateftil patient program' in which chief of medical staff Dr. Brian Roed sends a personalized letter te patients after their stay. In it hie asks for & donation of funds to continue the higth level of service that is giveni atWGH. In the next few years, Kealey 18 excited about the transformation in Durham's health care plan. Ho implores the community te "embrace these changes. "It's not' what it's being made out te bep" lhe says of the consultant's report, prepared for the Durham Region District Healtb Couneil, that recommends convertingz Whitby General into a rehabilitaton treatinent centre servng aIl of Durbam.. He stresses that acute care will be 'a part of the .bospital's continuing mandate, no matter what happons. "I'm optimistic that we're poised for grwth,." ho says. Kealey h as a diverse political background which includes 12 years of service with various former governments. "Public service has become part of my life," hoe says. Ho b as boon a Whiitby residenit for eight yoars, and has beon in -bis current position for two years. While Kealey beleves that it would ho good for the hospital te bocome a rebab centre, lie doesn't want to see the total elimination of acute care services. Ironically, Kealey says that a siga that used te ajppear on bis office door bad a telling message: 'Change or'die.'