How to Send an E-Hug Through the Battlefords Healthcare Foundation

Updated

The Battlefords Healthcare Foundation (BHC Foundation) offers an online E-Hug feature that lets you send a short get-well-soon or thinking-of-you message to someone staying in the hospital. It's designed for simple, heartfelt notes—not for medical questions or urgent matters. You submit your message through the foundation's website, and it's meant to help patients stay connected with loved ones and brighten their day.

What an E-Hug Is (and Isn't)

An E-Hug is a written message of encouragement delivered to a patient. According to the foundation, it's "a heartfelt way to stay connected with a loved one while they're in the hospital." Common uses include:

  • A get-well-soon message
  • A simple note to let someone know you're thinking of them
  • A short message of encouragement to bring a smile

It is not a channel for medical information, care instructions, or emergencies. If you need to reach a patient about something time-sensitive or clinical, contact the hospital directly instead.

How to Submit an E-Hug

  1. Go to the foundation's website at bhcfoundation.ca.
  2. Find the E-Hug section. The site presents it under the heading "Send an E-Hug Today," with the prompt to "Share a little love with someone who needs it most."
  3. Open the submission form by selecting the "Submit E-Hug Message" option.
  4. Write your message. Keep it brief and warm—a get-well-soon wish or a note that you're thinking of them works well.
  5. Send it. Your message is submitted through the site so it can be passed along to the patient.

The exact fields on the form (such as the patient's name and your message) aren't detailed in the available site information, so fill in whatever the form asks for and make sure the patient's name is accurate so the message reaches the right person.

What to Keep in Mind

  • Keep it short and kind. The feature is built for brief, encouraging notes rather than long letters.
  • Confirm the patient's name. Since messages are matched to a patient, spelling the name correctly matters.
  • Don't include sensitive information. Avoid sharing private medical, financial, or personal details in a message that passes through a third party.
  • It's one of several ways to give support. Beyond E-Hugs, the foundation accepts one-time gifts, memorial donations, monthly giving, an Employee Giving Program, corporate sponsorships, fundraising events, legacy gifts, and volunteerism.

Why the Foundation Offers It

The BHC Foundation, founded in 1992 (formerly the BUH Foundation), funds life-saving medical equipment, patient care, and healthcare education across Battlefords Union Hospital, Battlefords District Care Centre, primary care, long-term care, mental health and addictions services, and Battlefords Region Home Care. The E-Hug feature fits that mission by supporting patient comfort and connection—an easy way for people across the Battlefords region and beyond to show someone in the hospital that they're not alone.