Foundation raising $444k for cardiac monitors

By Glen Mazza
Editor

The purchase of vital new monitoring equipment is the goal of a new fundraising initiative declared by the Rocky Health Foundation.

A formal announcement was made on Nov. 21 at Pine Hills Golf Course and it drew representatives from the health care community, Town of Rocky, Clearwater County, the Indigenous community and local businesses and organizations.

The initiative is called Heart of the Community and it has a fundraising goal of $444,000.

“The new cardiac monitoring equipment will be used by all patients who have unstable vital signs while in the hospital,” explained Health Foundation co-chair Shirley Hope.

The monitoring equipment will be for emergency room, in-patient unit and for women in labour and delivery stages. This is an upgrade on the current monitors that are outdated and they will have connectivity so readings can be viewed remotely.

“This will help physicians access cardiac information with speed which will improve response times, advance patient care and enhance patient safety.”

Health Foundation treasurer Dale Shippelt had praise for the community’s support over the years.

“Thank you so much to the community and everybody here, and all those people who are the unsung heroes. We have so many people who give donations who don’t want to have any kind of mention or any kind of accolades, which is sometimes, for me, hard, because when I deposit a check in the bank and I know somebody who’s given that check to me, and I can’t say anything to the community, it’s so hard,” expressed Shippelt.

He urged everyone to check out the foundation’s new website. It has information about the organization, the initiatives and ways to donate.

Operating Room update

“Recently there has been some strong communication between facility providers in the central zone ... thankfully that strong communication got groups together to solve problems and we have been reassured through Alberta Health Services, the Government of Alberta and local healthcare community that we are getting a new surgeon to our community very soon. So, the concerns have been clarified and addressed and we’re promised smoother sailing coming forward,” said Hope.

She said that renovations are promised in 2025 to upgrade the old operating room for pre- and post-operation procedures.

“It will be used primarily for endoscopy, but there will be a second operating room.” noted Hope.