The Portage District General Hospital Foundation is preparing for major transformations as it readies for the transition to its new healthcare facility. With the hospital’s construction still on track to be completed at the end of next year, the foundation is laying out a clear plan to align with the evolving healthcare landscape in the region.
Executive Director Tara Pettinger says the shift isn’t just about a new building, it’s about defining a new direction.
“There’s going to be lots of change with the move to the new facility,” notes Pettinger. “We just wanted to be prepared and have some solid direction and foundation for where we're going and what this looks like moving forward.”
A new chapter
The rebranding is one of the most noticeable elements of the foundation's plan. Once the move is complete, the Portage District General Hospital Foundation will become the Portage Regional Healthcare Foundation, reflecting both the modern facility and the broader services.
“With the new facility, it’s a new face, a new building, and now to be Portage Regional Healthcare Foundation, once we move into that facility, is exciting for us.”
Although the foundation won’t make the move for some time, Pettinger explains the decision to announce the new name in advance.
“We’ll hang on to the new name while we're in the old hospital, but I wanted to get it out now, so when they see that name in the future, they recognize us and know that we're the same group.”
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Upgrades underway
With the strategic plan in motion, the foundation is already fielding requests for the new facility and funding projects that impact staff and patient experiences. One of the first contributions will be gym equipment for a new on-site staff gym.
“It enhances the staff experience and wellness, which is important to us,” adds Pettinger.
Patient comfort is also a clear focus. The foundation is upgrading dialysis and chemotherapy chairs designed with heating and ergonomic features to improve long treatment sessions.
“When people are receiving that treatment, they're in there for many hours, and making that journey a little bit more comfortable is important to the foundation,” says Pettinger. “We wanted to be part of.”
State-of-the-art equipment
Beyond comfort, the foundation is prioritizing the modernization of hospital equipment. All beds and stretchers in the new hospital will be brand-new, replacing outdated gear from the current location.
“There was budgeting for some beds and stretchers to be in there and then some to move from the current hospital if they were in good enough shape, but after some thought, we wanted to be a part of putting a new stretcher or a new bed in every room, so they will all be brand new and we're thrilled about that.”
Another modern addition will be a portable X-ray machine equipped with a digital imaging plate, offering immediate bedside diagnostics.
“With this new equipment, there's no going back to the X-ray room to look at the image and then come back to the patients,” says Pettinger. “Diagnosis and treatment can happen instantaneously, which is a huge enhancement for that team and the patients.”
Countdown to completion
As 2026 approaches, excitement is building not just for the structure itself, but for the leap forward it represents in local healthcare.
“It's been quite amazing how they've stayed on the timeline. It's getting very exciting.