Campaign for cardiac equipment gets a Zumba-boost

CHEERS! to Zumba-thon participants who helped raise about $1,000 for Picton hospital. More than 25 people got their heart rates racing in the second annual B & R Promotions event that has raised over $3,700. CHEERS also to local businesses who were event sponsors and those who donated raffle and silent auction prizes. Proceeds will be directed to the telemetry unit upgrade of the cardiac monitoring equipment at the hospital.

The community centre in Picton was “rocking”under certified Zumba instructor Wanda Anderson’s instruction.

More than 25 people who got their hearts racing in a Zumba-thon exercise event were the most recent contributors to help gain up-to-date cardiac equipment at Picton hospital.

The telemetry campaign by the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation is now three-quarters of the way to its goal and the foundation is appealing for  support to put it over the top to begin plans for installation.

“An update to the telemetry unit on the inpatient unit is urgently needed,” explains Don Koval, division head for medicine at PECMH. Last updated in 1999, replacement parts are now obsolete.

Telemetry, which is the constant monitoring of your heart rhythm, benefits a variety of patients at PECMH. Currently, there are three designated inpatient beds where patients can be attached to a stationary cardiac monitor, as there are four portable units. At any given time there are usually two to four patients being monitored and sometimes all seven monitors are in use.

“Having up-to-date cardiac monitoring equipment allows the physicians of PECMH to manage patients we would otherwise need to transfer to another hospital directly from the emergency department,” said Koval. “With this equipment, we can safely monitor their cardiac condition, send them onto Kingston within the next day or two for further assessment, and often return them to PECMH or directly to home. The majority of their stay is therefore with familiar caregivers and closer to home.”

“The Foundation recognizes the enormous impact this disease has on the lives of our community members,” said Hazel Lloyst, interim director of the development for the PECMH Foundation. “Not only will this updated cardiac monitoring equipment benefit those living with heart disease, it will also monitor patients admitted with heart attacks, angina, congestive heart failure, drug overdoses, arrhythmias and those before and after heart surgery.”

Fundraising began in mid-November with the launch of the Foundation’s annual Christmas appeal. It will cost $237,282.39 to bring this new equipment to Picton.

“Heart disease affects us all; be it a loved one, a friend, a co-worker, a neighbour or a visitor to our County,” said Lloyst. “This cardiac monitoring equipment is vitality important to the residents of Prince Edward County. Your support will help put us over the top so we can celebrate the arrival of this new equipment to our hospital. The Ministry of Health and Long Term Care does not pay for capital equipment. This is delegated to the Foundation to acquire through fundraising efforts.

“The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation is very proud of our hospital and its staff. We have always known the health care team at PECMH provides the highest standards of patient care.  The work the Foundation does to raise funds for the medical equipment, such as telemetry to support patient care at our hospital is worth every dollar that is donated. We thank the people of Prince Edward County for their donations and ask that you give generously to help us keep superior patient care here in the County, close to home.”

Drop into the Foundation office to make your donation, call 613-476-1008 ext. 4425 or go to www.pecmhf.ca and click ‘Donate Now’.