Foundation spotlight series: Nicola Valley Health Care Endowment Foundation

State-of-art equipment helps emergency doctors

Medical imaging is the eyes of the medical profession, looking below the surface. Without it, doctors can’t see inside a patient and must rely on their ears, touch and clinical knowledge.

Having modern equipment that provides the highest image quality is an invaluable asset.

Two new, state-of-the-art pieces of medical equipment donated recently by the Nicola Valley Health Care Endowment Foundation (NVHCEF) are already improving care for patients and making life a little easier for hospital staff, says Dr. Duncan Ross, chief of staff for Nicola Valley Hospital (NVH).

NVHCEF, a registered charity dedicated to raising funds for health care in the Nicola Valley, donated approximately $150,000 including a mobile ultrasound machine for the NVH emergency department and a portable X-ray machine. NVHCEF also donated funds for food carts at Gillis House.

Dr. Ross says the ultrasound machine is used every day by emergency department doctors at NVH. It helps them detect blood clots, organ damage, and causes for shortness of breath or chest pain. It’s vital in trauma situations where patients present with acute abdominal, pelvis or scrotal pain. It can help detect appendicitis in children, acute deep venous thrombosis and collapsed lungs.

The ultrasound machine is particularly important in a facility that doesn’t have a CT scanner, and gives the doctors a first, crucial insight into what’s going on with a patient.

The digital portable machine is important in other ways.

“While our previous portable (and current fixed) machines are perfectly serviceable, the difference between them and the digital equipment is like between an iPhone and an old flip phone,” notes Dr. Ross. “They both do the job, but the digital portable does it much faster. This not only makes the department much more efficient, it’s also fantastic in trauma situations. The digital portable machine takes the image at the bedside and pops up on the machine within seconds, meaning the doctor can see it immediately, without having to interrupt what they’re doing and leaving the patient to go to a computer to view it.”

Dr. Ross says staff are using the digital portable machine in at least 70 per cent of call cases that come through the x-ray department, which has allowed them to increase patient volume.

“Another huge benefit is the ease with which the new portable machine can be moved around. Our old equipment is stiff, clunky and difficult to move, and the repetitiveness of the movements has caused shoulder and back strain in all the x-ray technologists,” says Dr. Ross.

“Since the addition of the new machine, our backs and shoulders feel a lot better!” 

Foundation members thrilled to support hospital

Mark Bagabuyo, manager of clinical operations for NVH, says they are all so thankful for the Foundation’s support.

“This state-of-the-art equipment will revolutionize diagnostic capabilities and enhance care for patients across Merritt and the Nicola Valley,” says Mark, noting the devices will benefit thousands of patients annually, particularly those in underserved areas.

Richie Gage of the NVHCEF says Foundation members are thrilled to support the hospital in this way.

“We volunteer because we know all the money we raise through donation is spent in the Valley,” says Gage, adding that Foundation members are happy staff are so pleased with the latest donations.

Helping the health-care needs of the community

Jean Perog is the president of the NVHCEF and has served in that role for the past three terms.

Jean says she’s motivated to give back through the Foundation due to her own experience of regularly accessing the system as she lives with a chronic disease called Wilson’s disease.

“It affects me personally, so I want to help,” says Jean, who’s recovering after suffering a stroke while camping at Sheridan Lake last summer. She credits a quick response with saving her life.

Jean has called the Nicola Valley her home since 1989 and has seen the Foundation raise almost $3 million in donations for the community since that time.

Over the years Foundation funding has assisted with various health-care needs as well as the purchasing of medical equipment for the hospital.

“We have a very generous community,” she shares. “We want to be able to help the community of Nicola Valley with their health-care needs.”

All money donated to the Foundation stays local. The Foundation accepts applications from any charity in the community who has a health-care need as well as requests for medical equipment from the hospital.

Visit Nicola Valley Health Care Endowment Foundation's webpage for more information.

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