Shortly after Fraser Health restricted visitors to essential visits only at all sites, including Peace Arch Hospital, Peace Arch Hospital Foundation began brainstorming how we could assist local patients in staying connected with loved ones and healthcare services.  

Although many patients have their own phones or portable electronic devices that they can use to communicate with those outside of the hospital, we knew there was still a large population of people who don’t have such devices, or don’t have the skills to connect virtually with friends and family.  

In early April, the Foundation began contacting donors and community members to help supply used iPads for patients at Peace Arch Hospital. Our community quickly mobilized and donated 50+ used iPads to be re-purposed for our hospital campus. “It’s been so inspiring to see our community coming together to support their local hospital with iPads,” says Ashleigh Morriss, Special Events Officer at Peace Arch Hospital Foundation. “And with the added support of our COVID-19 Emergency Fund, we were also able to allocate additional funds to purchase brand new iPads, too.”  

New iPad for Peace Arch Hospital’s Hogg Pavilion, generously funded by local donors.

Peace Arch Hospital’s Hogg Pavilion and Fraser Health’s Mental Health System are both recipients of the new iPads. This will ensure that our most vulnerable and fragile patients in long-term care and psychiatric units can virtually communicate with their loved ones or medical staff while physical distancing is required during COVID-19.  

Using FaceTime, Zoom, and other internal platforms, these iPads will enable face-to-face conversation, ensuring residents and patients maintain crucial connections of love and support during these uncertain times. Various teams including social workers, religious care providers, recreational therapists and volunteers are helping to make iPads available to patients and family members throughout the day.  

New iPad for Peace Arch Hospital’s Hogg Pavilion, generously funded by local donors.

 The Foundation has received many messages of support regarding the new iPads at Peace Arch Hospital:

“I just wanted to reach out and let you know how much it meant to my sister and to me to have the opportunity to FaceTime with my father today via an iPad….I cannot describe to you what a relief it was to see my father’s face today during that call! Having the opportunity to see our father, and to reassure ourselves that he truly was okay, has been one of the best things that we have had happen in over a month….Thank you for finding new solutions to help connect families and their loved ones.” – Anonymous  

“The impact of these iPads has been so great,” says Stephanie Beck, Executive Director at Peace Arch Hospital Foundation. “We’re committed to continuing to support Peace Arch Hospital’s patients, staff and surrounding community however we can.”  

If you would like to make a gift towards our COVID-19 Emergency Fund, please visit: www.pahfoundation.ca/covid-19  

If you would like to donate an iPad, please get in touch with Ashleigh Morriss via email at ashleigh@pahfoundation.ca