The Cause

Perinatal care: the heart of Sainte-Justine’s mission

The Young Leaders Circle of the Sainte-Justine UHC Foundation has decided to dedicate all donations received during a period of three years (2008–2010) to perinatal healthcare, which is at the very heart of the Sainte-Justine mission. This focus is shared by both the hospital management and the Young Leaders Circle in the form of real and attractive fundraising projects, which will guarantee long-term support for healthcare and research.

Perinatal care is one of the six focus points of excellence identified as critical by the Sainte-Justine University Hospital Centre. One focus point is on excellence in the field of specialized medical practice, for which Sainte-Justine is recognized as one of the Top 10 institutions worldwide. Perinatal healthcare involves all aspects of the health of mothers and children, from pregnancy to immediately after birth.

Briefly, perinatal carte at Sainte-Justine is:

• 3,500 deliveries each year of which 40% are treated by the high-risk-pregnancy team
• A perinatal diagnostic unit unique in Quebec, dealing with everything from fetal cardiology to genetics
• A women’s hemostasis clinic to manage coagulopathies during pregnancy
• A fetal therapy program (transfusions, laser, surgery)
• 57 intensive neonatal care incubators always filled to capacity. This capacity will be increased to 80 beds between now and 2011, making Sainte-Justine the largest specialized neonatal centre in North America
• A team of internationally recognized, high-caliber researchers

Current goals :

• Continual improvement in care with the introduction of the very latest in leading-edge technology
• Strengthen existing medical teams through the creation of grants for clinical instructors
• Research development to improve prevention of specific diseases and to discover new maternal and fetal treatments