Meet Olive: Why Guelph General is Replacing an Entire Fleet of IV Pumps

Every day at Guelph General Hospital, a quiet but essential piece of technology works around the clock to keep patients safe. Large Volume IV Pumps — the devices that deliver fluids, medications, and blood products directly into a patient’s bloodstream — are among the most relied-upon tools in the hospital. Nearly every inpatient, and many outpatients, depend on them at some point during their care.

Whether someone is recovering from surgery, managing a chronic condition, fighting an infection, or receiving cancer treatment, an IV pump is almost always part of their journey. These devices ensure they deliver every drop of medication or fluid with pinpoint accuracy, protecting patients when they are at their most vulnerable.

A decade ago, donors like you made that possible. Our community generously funded the current fleet of IV pumps back in 2015, and after ten years of dedicated service, those pumps have now reached the end of their expected service life.

That’s where Olive comes in.

This Spring, The Foundation of Guelph General Hospital is launching an appeal to fund the replacement of nearly 400 IV pumps — and we’re telling the story through the eyes of Olive, a fictional IV pump who is ready to retire. Olive’s letter is being mailed to donors across the community, sharing what it means to serve at the bedside of patients through some of the most important moments of their lives, and why it’s time to pass the torch to a new generation of smarter, safer technology.