Battlefords Union Hospital Foundation received $125,339.59 from BATC Community Development Corporation recently to enrich health care in the Battlefords.
Some of the funds will go to the education lab to purchase a SimBaby training package. Funds will also go toward the purchase of a urine analyzer for the medical lab.
“We are always grateful for the support received from BATC CDC," says Brenda Sparrow, BUH Foundation board chair. "Their generous contributions have purchased many pieces of equipment that have touched lives within our community."
Sparrow said there is equipment that would not have been made available at BUH without the support of BATC CDC.
"We are truly grateful to them for recognizing the value enriched health care has to our family and friends and we thank them for their support.”
The SimBaby training package includes a mannequin simulating a baby under 12 months and the medical equipment to practice real life scenarios on it. It joins the adult and junior simulators already available in the BUH education lab and will allow staff to practice and perfect their skills in a risk-free environment.
The education lab provides training from routine care to critical emergencies for the first and second year students of family medicine at BUH, as well as doctors and nursing staff in the emergency department, intensive care unit and obstetrics.
The new urine analyzer replaces the current system at BUH laboratory that has reached its end of life. The replacement unit is one of the first of its kind in Canada.
The laboratory at BUH provides services to all of the Battlefords and area, including Saskatchewan Hospital, long-term care facilities, clinics, home care and the primary lab services centre. It is also the backup regionally should any of their instrumentation go down.
At present, BUH laboratory performs approximately 1,050 urine tests a month by a manual dip test. Urinalysis is one of the most common tests used for medical diagnosis and the new urine analyzer will allow for a quicker turnaround time and faster results, reduce the risk of contamination or error and free up staff hours to perform and complete other laboratory tests.
“On behalf of the BUH staff and physicians, I would like to extend my thanks and appreciation to BATC CDC for the continued support to our facility with respect to equipment such as the urine analyzer and the training equipment that we are so very fortunate to have," says Shelly Horsman, BUH's director of acute care services. "These contributions continue to provide opportunities to enhance the care that we provide to the members of our community and surrounding area and for this we are so grateful.”
BATC CDC has supported BUH Foundation since 2007. They have provided more than $730,000 in support of healthcare and have assisted in the purchase of infant warmers for the Women's Health and Birthing Centre, pediatric cribs for WHBC and the surgery unit, a transport ventilator for the emergency department and a bronchoscope for the intensive care unit, among others. BATC CDC is also a sponsor and participant of BUH Foundation's Festival of Trees.
“On behalf of the BATC CDC board of directors, I am pleased that we are able to financially support BUH Foundation in their purchase of new equipment for Battlefords Union Hospital," says Neil Sasakamoose, chair. "The purchase of new equipment for the hospital means optimal care for the patients, who are our family, friends, colleagues and community members.”
BATC Community Development Corporation (CDC) was created in 2007 and includes membership of Ahtahkakoop, Moosomin, Red Pheasant, Saulteaux, Sweetgrass, Stoney Knoll and Mosquito First Nations. BATC CDC is responsible for administering and managing 25 per cent of the Gold Eagle Casino profits through a fair and equitable process that is accountable and transparent to the members, through full disclosure of grants.
