Pictured left to right: Kendra Oliphant, Clinical Resource Nurse and Megan Wiese, Clinical Nurse Educator with the Dual Chamber External Pacemaker in the Fluoroscopy Room at BUH. (Submitted photo/BUH Foundation)

By Martin Martinson

Making a difference

New BUH life-saving equipment made possible through donations

Jun 11, 2021 | 5:00 PM

A new dual chamber external pacemaker has been purchased and is saving lives at Battlefords Union Hospital (BUH) because of the generosity of donors to the BUH Foundation.

The new pacemaker was purchased using surplus funds raised from the 2020 $100-thousand Cash Lottery “Ask” line; an annual event that provides ticket buyers the opportunity to make a charitable donation to support the purchase of equipment in the Emergency Department (ED) at BUH.

Manager of Clinical Services, Lauren Stade said via statement the equipment has already made a real impact in the community with the potential to help save many more lives in the future.

“This is an essential piece of equipment required for those patients suffering from heart abnormalities,” Stade said. “Having this unit available on site for our ED physicians means those suffering from heart conditions and requiring a pacemaker will receive the most optimal care here at BUH.”

A dual chamber external pacemaker can be used to treat patients suffering from symptomatic bradycardia (slow heart rate) or tachyarrhythmia (fast heart rate). It provides temporary electrical cardiac stimulation through wires inserted into the heart chambers and stabilizes a patient’s heartbeats.

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Once stable, patients can then be safely transported to a tertiary hospital where a cardiologist is available for further care and a permanent pacemaker may replace the external unit.

It had been a number of years since BUH had the equipment to perform the temporary external pacemaker procedure. In prior years, a cardiologist would have to be flown in with the equipment to help assist with the procedure, and then safely transport the patient.

Now however, ED physicians at BUH are trained to complete the procedure and, with the support provided through the Foundation, have access to the equipment required.

BUH Foundation executive director, Claudette McGuire said having the training and equipment readily available means treatment can be initiated immediately without time delays, and lives can be saved, which is of the utmost importance.

“In many ways it appears to be such a simple piece of equipment, but it is so important and has a huge impact for patients,” McGuire said. “We are pleased that we can be there to match the donors with the needs and make a difference for others.”

Every dollar raised by the BUH Foundation stays within the community. For further information on the foundation or their fundraising projects, call the Foundation office at 306-446-6652 or email claudette.mcguire@buhfoundation.ca.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1