We found last year that while the pandemic made it more difficult to raise funds our work became even more important. Government is focused on Covid-19 and has directed virtually no money to purchase equipment to maintain and enhance our healthcare services.
With the support of our donors we were able to step into that funding gap. We purchased new surgical equipment, lab equipment, critical care beds, ventilators, and completely upgraded the telemetry/ patient monitoring systems in the Yorkton hospital. We bought equipment that added new services so patients did not have to travel to Regina and Saskatoon.
This year will again be a challenging year, as in addition to a number of smaller items we have two significant pieces of equipment for which the health authority has asked us to raise funds.
These are a GeneXpert system for the lab, and a new medication dispensing system for every department in the Yorkton Regional Hospital.
Our current lab equipment does not allow for sufficient volume of testing to meet increasing demand and it does not allow molecular PCR testing – this is done in Regina and Saskatoon. The new GeneXpert system will increase our testing on Flu A/B, Covid, Influenza (respiratory viruses) from 16 diagnosis per eight-hour shift to 128; an eightfold increase.
It will allow testing to be done locally and significantly increase the time a diagnosis can be provided. In addition we will be able to do molecular testing locally. Earlier diagnostic results across these tests will improve management of outbreaks for Covid, Flu, C-Diff and TB. While flu has not been an issue this past year because of travel restrictions, it will be once those restrictions are relaxed.
The new medication dispensing equipment has a variety of benefits for patients and has become the standard across Canada. Some 80% of Canadian hospitals and virtually 100% of emergency departments in regional or larger hospitals in Canada utilize these systems. We are the only regional hospital in Saskatchewan without such a medication dispensing system. It is an upgrade we need to make.
During this difficult time The Health Foundation will continue to support the community and buy equipment to help maintain local services.
We know this is a challenging time for many of us, but if you are able, now is a good time to consider a donation.
The Health Foundation will not be holding events this year – the Charity Golf Classic, Rhythm & Ribs, and Charity Road Race are cancelled. If you usually pledge a golfer or runner or if you attend Rhythm & Ribs, you might consider making a donation directly to The Health Foundation.
Donations large and small are always appreciated, and help us reach our vision, which states that we aspire to be "the leaders in continuously improving and expanding the quality of healthcare and medical services in east central Saskatchewan."
Please join with by making a donation.
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The Health Foundation of
East Central Saskatchewan Inc.
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