Royal Columbian Hospital has even more tools on hand to save lives, thanks to an anonymous donor.
After recent media coverage about the need for a mobile extracorporeal life support stretcher for the hospital, the anonymous person came forward with $85,000 to buy the stretcher, as well as monitors and other supplies.
A press release notes that Royal Columbian is the only hospital in B.C., and possibly in Canada, with a mobile extracorporeal life support (ECLS) response team that can transport critically ill adult patients back to the hospital for surgery or advanced intensive care.
The ECLS serves as a modified version of a heart-lung machine that artificially takes over the function of the heart and/or lungs while a patient is being transported to hospital.
The team had created its own life support stretcher - a makeshift solution that had already saved lives, including that of Linette Ho, whose story was profiled in the Sept. 6 Record.
The donation will allow it purchase a professional version of the life support stretcher that is now being manufactured with design assistance from the RCH team.
A second donor also came forward with a $40,000 pledge to help the mobile ECLS team.
"There isn't a higher-risk transport than when a patient is on ECLS," said Dustin Spratt, who leads the mobile ECLS team along with Dr. Derek Gunning. "We have had 100 per cent success rate on all of the transports we have done. ... This vital service saves lives."
The Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation is continuing to raise money for its $1.5 million equipment campaign this year. Check out www.rchcares.com or call 604-520-4438 to find out more.
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Life just got a little bit easier for pregnant women in the Fraser Health region.
Fraser Health just announced the launch of its Best Beginnings website, bestbeginnings.fraserhealth.ca, which gives women easy online access to prenatal registration, as well as a host of other information about pregnancy and parenting.
A press release notes that all pregnant women are encouraged to register for the Best Beginnings program early in pregnancy - once registered, prospective parents get a package of information about preparing for a healthy pregnancy, labour and birth, along with breastfeeding, health services and other resources.
Extra support is made available for women and families who are more vulnerable due to their circumstances.
"The Best Beginnings website is an excellent resource for new and expectant mothers and families," said Dr. Victoria Lee, the executive medical director for population health. "All pregnant women should visit the website to register in the prenatal system and to access valuable insights, tips and information that supports healthy pregnancy and healthy child development."
Right now, about 60 per cent of women use good old-fashioned paper to complete their prenatal registration. The option will still be available for those who so choose or who can't register online.
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Interested in lending a hand to Royal Columbian Hospital?
The Royal Columbian Hospital Auxiliary is holding its general meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 1 at 1 p.m.
The meeting is in the Neil Russell Room of the hospital, at 330 East Columbia St.
The hospital auxiliary has been serving the community since 1902, as the Fraser Health website notes. The men and women of the auxiliary donate their time to a range of services that help the hospital's patients, including the library cart, crafts, gift shops, lottery booth, the New to You thrift shop and more.
For more information, call Barbara at 604-526-9041.
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Do you have an item for the Medical File? Send ideas of health-related interest to Julie MacLellan, [email protected]. You can also find her on Twitter, @juliemaclellan.
