McDougall Brown Insurance donates $3,000 to KDH to replace missing wheelchair

KEMPTVILLE, ONTARIO, July 7, 2023 –  When a valuable wheelchair went missing from Kemptville District Hospital (KDH), the hospital’s Chief Financial Officer and VP Operations Brittany Rivard reached out to KDH’s insurance provider, McDougall Insurance Brokers Limited, about making an insurance claim. Account Executive Megan Schooley quickly confirmed that KDH’s deductible was too high to justify submitting a claim. Then, unbeknownst to Rivard, she approached McDougall’s managing partners about the unfortunate situation. Without hesitation the partners, including Allister Brown of McDougall Brown Insurance Brokers, responded with an offer to donate the cost of a brand new wheelchair.

Pictured (left to right): Megan Schooley, Account Executive, McDougall Insurance; Margret Norenberg, KDH Foundation Board Chair; Allister Brown, Managing Partner, McDougall Brown Insurance; Brittany Rivard, KDH CFO & VP Operations.

Rivard explained that the hospital’s Rehab Department was very saddened by the loss of the wheelchair. Valued at approximately $3,000, the specialized wheelchair had been acquired just a few months previously.

KDH Occupational Therapist Sarah Moffat elaborated. “At KDH, our rehab department has a small supply of specialized wheelchairs to support the diverse patient population admitted to hospital. The loss of even one wheelchair significantly impacts our ability to meet patients’ specific needs. This wheelchair in particular was used for patients who needed a lightweight frame for self-propulsion, tall seat height, and specialized cushion for pressure injuries.”

KDH Foundation Board Chair Margret Norenberg gratefully received the cheque for $3,000 from McDougall’s Allister Brown and Megan Schooley.

Norenberg expressed the Foundation’s appreciation for the gift. “Because of your generosity we will be able to replace this key wheelchair in the KDH Rehab Department’s ‘fleet’ of mobility solutions,” she said. “Your gift will hugely benefit patient care and the ability of our Rehab staff to provide customized interventions for their patients.”

Norenberg noted that McDougall Insurance and McDougall Brown Insurance are long-time supporters of the KDH Foundation.

Allister Brown, who previously served on the KDH Foundation Board of Directors for more than a decade, stated that the managing partners’ decision to donate the cost of the new wheelchair was a ‘no-brainer’. “As a firm we have a commitment to give back to our communities,” he said. “We want to make a difference.”

ABOUT THE KEMPTVILLE DISTRICT HOSPITAL FOUNDATION

The Kemptville District Hospital Foundation was established in 1979 to raise funds for KDH. Since that time, the Foundation has raised over $13,000,000 that has been used to purchase medical, surgical and diagnostic equipment, and fund large capital projects such as the new ER/OR expansion 15 years ago. Most recently, the foundation disbursed $800,000 to the hospital to build new space for the Hospital’s many clinics. The Foundation, under the leadership of a of passionate group of volunteers continues to raise funds to ensure our community has the best in care, close to home. None of this would be possible without the incredible support of our community members and local business.

For further information contact:

Kristy Carrière, Foundation Coordinator

613.258.6133 x 157 | kcarriere@kdh.on.ca

ABOUT KEMPTVILLE DISTRICT HOSPITAL

Kemptville District Hospital (KDH) is a 40-bed acute care hospital located in the rapidly growing Eastern Ontario municipality of North Grenville, 40 minutes south of Ottawa. We provide 24-hour emergency care, inpatient care, advanced orthopaedic surgery (as a satellite of The Ottawa Hospital), Convalescent Care, Interim Long-Term Care, Day Surgery, Diagnostic Imaging, an ever-growing list of outpatient clinics, and education and wellness programming including Diabetes Education and Support. Committed to advancing our mission of helping to build healthier communities, we are an integrated health services organization with deep partnerships in our community and region. With our partners in the Ottawa West Four Rivers Ontario Health Team, we are collaborating on a new model of health care delivery that puts patients, families and caregivers at the centre of the health care system.

For further information contact:

Jenny Read, Communications Officer

613.258.6133 x 223| jread@kdh.on.ca