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Jun 02
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Meet Legacy Donor Cynthia Crawford

By Medical Equipment, Memorial Tributes, News, Thank You!

Cynthia Crawford is a legacy donor of the Nanaimo District Hospital Foundation. In 2016, while on a cruise, her husband Larry was experiencing shoulder pain, and the GP on board advised them to return home so Larry could receive an MRI. Once home, Larry was diagnosed with Stage 4 Prostate Cancer. His GP attempted to schedule him for an MRI at Nanaimo General Hospital however, the wait time was extensive. Faced with little options, Larry chose to pay for a private MRI.

While undergoing cancer treatment, Larry recognized medical imaging equipment was greatly needed at the Nanaimo General Hospital, and decided to leave a legacy to fund more equipment. Larry’s cancer subsided, but he suffered other medical conditions – one of them being Congestive Heart Failure. Sadly, Larry passed away in 2021.

When Larry’s will was read, Cynthia realized the medical imaging equipment had been purchased and that the new ICU that Larry had been making donations to was nearing completion.

Cynthia chose a Planned Gift as a way of funding the NDHF to acquire new equipment, improve facilities, aid medical research and education to further patient care. She wants to inspire others to give if they can as “we need to ensure the quality of the hospital in our community.”

She chose to leave her legacy to the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital’s Heart & Stroke Care thematic area, in hopes of supporting a future Cardiac Catheterization Lab, after reading about it in the NDHF “Vision 2030 and Beyond”. The Lab is intended to perform non-invasive procedures for cardiac patients to improve patient health outcomes.

Cynthia’s dedication to the NDHF through her donations and volunteer work is a testament of the impact one person can have on their local healthcare system.

 

Feb 22
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New Mannequin for O.R. Department

By Medical Equipment, News

After serving NRGH well since 1985, the time has come to replace “Annie” – the CPR training mannequin used to train the life-saving technique. The new mannequin, yet to be named, was funded by the Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation.

The O.R. Department team members are excited about the new mannequin’s features which will provide more advanced training options. Some of the many benefits are:

  • Proper airway anatomy such as vocal chords, esophagus and epiglottis for more realistic simulations
  • Unlike “Annie”, it isn’t limited to just CPR training. The new mannequin can be used to practice a number of airway management techniques
  • It can be used for inter-professional simulations. Cardiac arrest, intubations and other emergency situations can be practiced individually or as a group including surgeons, anesthesiologists and nurses
  • It can be used to demonstrate and practice the use of new equipment

In addition to the Hospital Foundation, the O.R. department would like to give thanks to Life Safe Medical Training who helped acquire the mannequin.

Photo Below: “Annie”

Feb 21
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New Bladder Scanner for Eagle Park

By Medical Equipment, News

Thanks to support from Newman’s Own Foundation, staff at Eagle Park Health Care Facility have a brand new bladder scanner! In the past, they did not have access to this diagnostic tool at Eagle Park, a 75 bed long term care facility in Qualicum Beach. With the new scanner, staff will be better able to care for their elderly residents and potentially prevent transfers to the Emergency Room or urgent care facilities.

About Bladder Scanners

A bladder scanner is a noninvasive, portable ultrasound device that provides a virtual 3D image of the bladder and the volume of retained urine. Bladder scans are commonly utilized in acute care, long-term care, and rehabilitation environments, as well as in physicians’ offices.

Without the use of a bladder scanner, urinary retention is assessed by performing an invasive “in and out” urinary catheterization. This procedure can be uncomfortable and increase a patient’s risk of infection. Bladder scanners are the safest option for patients.

Photo: Cindy Illerbrun, Carol Allen and Betty Piotrowska

Feb 20
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Cardiac Equipment Arrives at NRGH

By Medical Equipment, News

Due to the support of generous donors, including a $1 million donation, the $1.8 million cardiac campaign goal has been reached months in advance! As a result, the Hospital Foundation immediately funded $500,000 of medical equipment which just arrived at NRGH.

Dr. Nataranjan, one of the cardiologists at NRGH, is pictured with one of the new echocardiography ultrasound units. At a cost of $138,000 each, these incredible machines have the most advanced software and imaging capabilities available. These units are true workhorses that can do all the different tests cardiac patients may need.

With cardiac ultrasound exams alone expected to exceed 10,000 in 2019, and all cardiac exams totaling over 40,000, these units are a much needed addition to the hospital.

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