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Creston Valley Hospital laboratory will be powered through Starlite

Creston Valley Hospital is in need to replace their coagulation analyzer and a chemistry analyzer.
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Most people are not aware that our medical laboratories supply 70% of the information that guides patient screening, diagnosis, treatment, and eventual outcomes. You may not immediately think of diagnostic lab work when you think of saving lives. Medical Laboratories in our hospitals and health care centres really are the heartbeat of our healthcare system. Currently, there is over $1,000,000 in laboratory equipment needs in the East Kootenay. This includes the lab at the Creston Valley Hospital.

The Creston Valley Hospital is in need to replace their coagulation analyzer at a hefty price tag of $62,553.00 and a chemistry analyzer at a cost of $82,000.

Dr. Launny Lowden, Pathologist at the East Kootenay Regional Hospital, believes that acquiring new and updated diagnostic equipment will drastically improve patient care throughout the East Kootenay Region. “The life expectancy of most lab equipment is 4-7 years, but much of ours is pushing 15-20 years. Huge advances in laboratory medicine have been made in this time, with vast improvements to diagnostic instruments. Just think how far your cell phone has come in 15 years! Equipping our labs with state-of-the-art technology will significantly impact the healthcare of thousands of East Kootenay residents. Rapid processing and increased automation will allow for better efficiency and faster results, so your loved one can get the care they need when they need it. Expanded test menus will mean finding the right answers for complex conditions such as autoimmune disorders, and smaller sample sizes will mean less blood is needed from vulnerable populations such as children and seniors. Leading-edge tools will allow us to maintain the highest diagnostic standards, so you can sleep soundly when your doctor says, “The tests came back normal, everything looks fine”.

It is imperative that our labs are up to date. The East Kootenay Foundation for Health’s 2018 Starlite Campaign is focused on updating our labs but they need your support. Please join the East Kootenay Foundation for Health on December 14th in raising funds for the Creston Valley Hospital Laboratory. The Foundation will be at the Creston Valley Hospital from 1 pm – 4 pm accepting donations. There will be live music, hot apple cider and holiday goodies. And then in the Evening Juice FM will be holding a “Holiday Jam” in Spirit Square from 6pm-9pm with live music, a concession put on by Pealow’s, and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus! Please call 250-489-6481 or go online to ekfh.ca for more information on the East Kootenay Foundation for Health. All funds will stay in Creston. The EKFH would like to thank all of their past and current donors and they look forward to having a successful 2018 Starlite Campaign.