May 26, 2004

Battlefords Union Hospital Foundation and Volunteer & Spiritual Services have announced the launch of a new electronic well wishes program for patients of Battlefords Union Hospital.

The new program, established through the Foundation’s Internet website and called "E-hugs", is designed to provide family and friends with convenient access to patients of Battlefords Union Hospital by using e-mail to send get well messages.

If you would like to send a message to a loved one or a friend, please go to www.buhfoundation.com.  Click on the "E-hugs" teddy bear in the top right hand corner and it will take you to a new screen.  Complete the form and the final step is to click on "submit."

E-hugs will be checked at 10am, Monday to Friday, except for statutory holidays, and will be hand-delivered to patients before 11am by volunteers.  Messages received after 10am will be delivered the next business day.  E-mail received after the intended recipient has been discharged, will not be delivered.

All E-hugs will be handled confidentially.  Upon receipt, the E-hug will be printed, placed in a special envelope, sealed and delivered to the patient’s room.

This program has been designed for well wishes only.  Any other type of communication or messages will not be delivered and will be deleted from the system.

"We are truly excited about this new program," commented Executive Director Janice Sander.  "Everyone has a friend or loved one in the hospital at one time or another.  With the shortened hospital stays, sometimes it’s not always possible to visit them or by the time you send a card through the mail, they have already returned home."

"E-hugs will enable family and friends to keep in contact with patients through e-mail.  We’ve set it up so that it’s very ’user friendly’ and can be used by the most novice of internet users."

"It is our hope the E-hugs we deliver will bring smiles and warm feelings to the patients."

Darlene Kingwell, Manager of Volunteer & Spiritual Services for Prairie North Health Region, commented on the new joint program.  "Our Battlefords Union Hospital greeter volunteers deliver the e-mails.  This is a perfect match for the E-hugs, because the volunteers further personalize the delivery of the cards and have the opportunity for a short visit with the patients.  This further reduces the stresses of illness and hospitalization.

"Our greeter volunteers are there to help direct and escort patients and clients throughout Battlefords Union Hospital for meetings, clinics and hospitalization.  It’s connecting community and hospital!"