Rick Stiebel
B次元官网网址 Gazette staff
The Victoria Hospitals Foundation is looking for funding to provide the best equipment for treating patients dealing with a number of neurological conditions.
The fundraising goal of $405,000 would add 23 pieces of new equipment to the neurology and rehabilitation divisions at Victoria General and Royal Jubilee hospitals to assist people with conditions including stroke, epilepsy, MS, ParkinsonB次元官网网址檚 and AlzheimerB次元官网网址檚 disease, said foundation chair Steve McKerrell.
B次元官网网址淓very year, the neurology and rehabilitation divisions at both hospitals diagnose and treat thousands of patients affected by life-changing conditions that require sophisticated care,B次元官网网址� McKerrell said in a media release. B次元官网网址淲e are asking our community to help ensure our medical teams have the best possible tools to ensure patients can reach their highest level of function.B次元官网网址�
VGH is the neurological referral centre for all of Vancouver Island. Treating such a wide variety of conditions requires state of the art equipment, noted Dr. Kristen Attwell-Pope, head of neurology for Island Health. B次元官网网址淗aving the best tools at our disposal makes all the difference to patient outcomes,B次元官网网址� she said.
Former patient Paul Thompson can attest to that following his treatment for a stroke. B次元官网网址滽nowing our local hospital is well equipped to provide emergency care to people like me is very reassuring,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲ith timely treatment using the best tools, a complete recovery is possible. I am incredibly grateful for the care I received during and after my stroke.B次元官网网址�
Dr. Paul Winston, medical director of rehab and transitions for Island Health, spoke about the role of his team in redefining what is possible in patientsB次元官网网址� day-to-day lives. B次元官网网址淚n all the care we provide, we have the same goal, to maximize potential and restore function,B次元官网网址� he said.
New equipment on the wish list includes two new swallow and voice imaging systems, used by speech pathologists to assess patients suffering from functional voice disorders, at a cost of $77,300 per unit. ThereB次元官网网址檚 also an electrocardiogram software upgrade that quickly diagnoses the source and severity of a stroke, listed at $75,000, and a radio frequency ablations machine used by specialists to reduce back and neck pain, for $50,000.
Last year the Victoria Hospitals Foundation raised almost $7 million for new equipment and special projects at the regionB次元官网网址檚 two major hospitals.
You can donate online at victoriahf.ca/redefiningpossible, by calling 250-519-1750 or by mail to the Wilson Block, 1952 Bay St., Victoria V8R 1J8.
