GIFT FROM ROGERS FOUNDATION WILL HELP SAVE YOUNG LIVES

Expanded Paediatric Transport Program to be named after Canadian business icon

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Dec. 2 /CNW/ - A $250,000 donation from the Rogers Foundation will establish the Ted Rogers Paediatric Transport Program for the benefit of sick and injured children across Ontario, the Ornge Foundation announced today.

The program, which has been operating since 2009 from the Ornge Ottawa base, provides specialized quality medical transport services to critically ill and injured children up to 18 years of age.  It will be expanded early in 2011 with a new team operating from the Ornge base in Markham, allowing Ornge to reach children in more locations across the province.  The donation from the Rogers Foundation will be used to purchase life saving equipment and to provide specialized training for crews.

"Out of the more than 20,000 patients Ornge transports each year, children are among the most vulnerable," said Dr. Christopher Mazza, Ornge President and CEO.  "Transporting paediatric patients safely and effectively requires particular equipment and expertise.  The unparalleled generosity of the Rogers Foundation will help enhance patient care for Ontario's youngest citizens."

Paediatric teams, made up of both nurses and paramedics, have extensive knowledge in paediatrics and transport medicine.  Operating 12 hours a day seven days a week, they provide safe and effective stabilization and transport of critically ill children via medically-equipped helicopter, fixed wing aircraft or land vehicle. 

"Our Foundation feels strongly about ensuring that children have access to high quality healthcare," said Martha Rogers, Chair of the Rogers Foundation.   "We are proud to support this program and the Paediatric Nurses and Paramedics as they perform such vital work."

"On behalf of our frontline staff, I would like to express our thanks to the Rogers Foundation for its contribution," said Kathryn Bickerton-Smith, Program Manager for the Paediatric Program.  "This donation will ensure we have state-of-the-art tools to provide excellence in care."

The Ornge Foundation was established in 2008 as a charity to support and promote improvements made by Ornge in Ontario's transport medicine service.  Its work includes raising funds to purchase medical equipment for aircraft and land vehicles, educating paramedics and advancing research efforts needed to care for and sustain the life of Ornge patients. 

ABOUT ORNGE
Ornge is Canada's leading innovator in the emerging field of transport medicine. The organization operates from a number of bases across the province of Ontario and performs approximately 20,000 admissions annually. It coordinates all aspects of Ontario's aero medical transport system, the new critical care land transport program, and the authorization of air and land ambulance transfers between hospitals. Ornge is dedicated to the provision of high quality patient care through innovative transport medicine.

For further information:

James MacDonald
Ornge Media Relations
416-531-7577