Once again the community has rallied, bringing the Critical Care Campaign (CCC) to a close five months ahead of schedule and $178,000 over its half million dollar target.
The Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital (KBRH) Health Foundation's campaign launched in July 2013 with a goal to deliver high quality sustainable care to critically ill patients, thereby reducing the need for transport to facilities outside the region.
The $500,000 drive was expected to span two years but following a very successful KBRH Pledge Day in December, the campaign exceeded its goal within 19 months.
“Our communities should all be very proud,” said Lisa Pasin, director of development for the health foundation, adding, “over the 26 years of the KBRH Health Foundation's operations, we have raised over $13.3 million to improve healthcare in the Kootenay Boundary.”
To mark the end of Critical Care Campaign, the health foundation is hosting a public celebration and donor wall unveiling Thursday at 3 p.m. in the hospital lobby.
Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP Debbie O'Genski, the foundation's administrator, at 364.3424 or debbie.ogenski@interiorhealth.ca.
A unique aspect to this campaign was patients treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Emergency Room (ER) or by the High Acuity Response Team (HART) benefitted from donor dollars as the funds accumulated.
New equipment was ordered as the CCC progressed, meaning pain and stress of certain procedures was lessened for many, long before the campaign goal was reached.
“The foundation saw great value in this campaign for several reasons,” said Pasin, mentioning the regional focus and its positive impact to individuals and families throughout the Kootenay Boundary.
“Second, the three critical care departments work seamlessly together to provide a high standard of care for patients in our communities.”
She said HART works closely with BC Ambulance, nurses, respiratory technicians and physicians as they focus on inter-facility transport of highly acute patients in outlying, rural and remote centres to and from Trail or Kelowna.
“HART transports patients of all ages and supports all communities across the Kootenay Boundary,” she added. “Once the patients have arrived (at KBRH) and are admitted through the ER, ICU may be the next stop for care.”
The hospital's six-bed ICU is the only regional unit providing advanced level of care, so purchasing specialized equipment enables the medical team to provide care similar to larger city centres.
“And with that, more patients will be able to remain closer to home for the duration of their treatment and recovery,” Pasin said.
CCC equipment upgrades totalling $280,000 are currently on site. Those include a bedside ultrasound called a Sonosite, two ECG defibrillator monitors, a trauma stretcher, infusion pumps, a glidescope, a high-end mechanical ventilator, an IV warming pod, and telemetry monitoring packs.
A further $203,000 of new equipment is on order, including a portable cardiac monitor, a high end portable ventilator and specialty beds.
“The Critical Care team is working systematically to ensure the highest priority equipment is ordered across all three Critical Care departments,” noted Pasin.
The KBRH Health Foundation recently launched its new Urology Campaign. A new urologist, Dr. Micheal Robinson is arriving in July, and the foundation is committed to raising $400,000 to purchase new equipment to support his arrival.
Expanding surgical services at KBRH through investment in the Urology Campaign, will benefit men and women across the Kootenay Boundary who require urologic assessment and care.