Recent History – 2003
January 29, 2003, By Kelly Harris, Daily News Staff
Dawson Creek and District Hospital has received a dose of help from the Hospital Auxiliary in the form of cash for new equipment.
More than $25,000 has been pumped into the hospital thanks to the auxiliary. That equates to three pieces of equipment needed to make the hospital more efficient.
“We’re celebrating some of our volunteers who help us everyday,” said Beth Kidd, of the Dawson Creek and District Hospital. “With their fundraising they have helped us with equipment.”
Earlier the hospital was able to purchase a bedpan sterilizer, which is already in use in the hospital. Most recently two more machines used to aid health care in Dawson Creek have been acquired.
The hospital was able to buy a Capture R Antibody Investigation System. This machine enables the hospital lab staff to test a patient’s blood to find the best match possible in preparation for surgery.
The machine is automated, and takes out the guess work lab staff was accustomed to with the previous blood-washer and adds to the amount of blood that can be analyzed at one time.
“It’s much more sensitive methodology,” hospital lab worker Lita Cumming said. “Before we could done one or two at a time, now we can do 20 at once.”
The hospital’s physiotherapy department was also the recipient of new equipment from the auxiliary, with the purchase of an Interferential machine used in the treatment and control of pain.
The machine uses electrodes to stimulate the surface of the patients skin and penetrates to reduce the amount of pain a person is experiencing.
The interesting thing about the new machine, said Anne Craig manager of the hospital’s physiotherapy department, is the current the machine emits runs though a persons entire body.
“It is a more effective way to treat pain,” Craig said.