Guest blog: Sharlene Rutherford is president and CEO of the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation in Edmonton, Alberta

Caring for Communities:   It’s a statement that acknowledges how corporate focus and the power of partnerships can radically improve outcomes.  In the case of healthcare delivery, a collaboration between the business community and a hospital foundation can purchase additional equipment or introduce brand-new technology that drastically improves health outcomes for tens of thousands of people.

Most people don’t know this, but in Alberta, this is most often—almost exclusively how new technology in patient care is integrated into our health system: through a funding partnership with a generous donor.  

In Edmonton, we’re truly fortunate to have committed philanthropic families and a robust corporate sector committed to improving healthcare outcomes for all Albertans. Often, hospital foundations will turn to these donors first.  And make no mistake, these are the donor dollars that have the greatest power – because they have the potential to transform.

MHCare Medical is quickly establishing itself as one of those donors.  A strong corporate citizen making significant contributions across our city, MHCare Medical is a relatively new company – but it’s important to note that right out of the gate, the corporate structure here included a purposeful and proactive approach to caring for communities.  This approach serves as a strong example for others to follow and is one that its employees proudly endorse – I’ve seen it myself.

A corporate statement is easy to draft and position as a boilerplate at the end of the day. But when a company like MHCare Medical actively pursues opportunities to make a real difference, demonstrates giving in ways that help improve patient care, and when its own employees are enthusiastically engaged with the charities supported, the sky is the limit.  

The winners, always, are the patients in our hospitals and the staff and physicians who care for them.

Thank you, MHCare Medical, for your support of growing excellence in healthcare.  You are, through your actions, caring for communities.

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