Countdown to Vic Hospital Radiothon: time to get rid of archaic pharmacy equipment

Nov 29, 2017 | 3:00 PM

The community can play a major role in replacing archaic and inefficient pharmacy equipment at Prince Albert’s Victoria Hospital.

The 12th Annual Give a Little Life Day radiothon – Bringing Good Medicine – runs from 6 a.m. till 6 p.m. Friday across all three Jim Pattison stations: CKBI, XFM and Power 99.

The fundraising goal of the hospital foundation is $400,000 to replace the antiquated pill counting and packaging system.

“Oh my Lord, we have do something about this,” foundation executive director Sherry Buckler said after a recent tour of the old equipment. “The best thing we can do for our pharmacists is free them up, because we need them.”

Currently pharmacists are preparing medications for thousands of patients across the health region but the process is taking too long. That means pharmacists are not spending enough time with doctors and their patients.

”The pharmacists serve not only all the patients in our hospital and two long-term facilities, but also the other primary care sites in our region and there are 13 of those,” Buckler said.

The Give A Little Life Day – Bringing Good Medicine is aimed at buying an automated pill packaging system that will dramatically increase volume, speed, and safety in the entire process.

As the final countdown to Friday’s big day continues, Buckler is reflecting on the huge impact the annual event has had on the hospital. Many departments have been directly impacted in a positive way thanks to the generosity of the community.

“Our maternity and pediatric departments, emergency room, laboratory, operating room, our entire endoscopy suite, our mammography and intensive care… the list just goes on,” Buckler said.

Buckler is hoping the community will once again step up to provide the funds to make this year’s goal a reality.

The public can give or pledge by phone, online or in person at the Victoria Hospital on Friday. The new phone number for pledges is 1-855-816-LIFE, or donate online at www.helpthevic.ca.

 

glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow