| Canmore & Area Health Care Foundation was created by regional health authority to raise funds to maintain and enhance health care for the people of the communities served by the regional health authority in the Canmore area and, in particular, to finance or assist in the financing of the construction, equipping, and support of those healthcare facilities, programs and services forming part of the regional health authority.
The Foundation serves the geographic area of Canmore and the surrounding area, including Harvie Heights, Exshaw, Seebe, Kananaskis, Lac Des Arcs, and the Municipal District of Bighorn.
In 2004, the Foundation identified that the purchase of $250,000 in endoscopy equipment would be the objective of its fundraising efforts. This equipment is used by the staff at the Hospital for the early detection and treatment of diseases such as cancer. Thanks to the success of the 2004 and 2005 Golf Tournaments, the 2005 Casino fund-raiser, the Hospital Ladies Auxilary, and some additional capital funds from Calgary Health Region, all the necessary endoscopy equipment has been purchased! The Canmore Hospital is now well-equipped to maximize the skills of the local surgeon to diagnose and treat diseases using the new endoscopy equipment!
The Foundation focused its attention on raising funds for Cardiac Equipment in 2006 and 2007. The Hospital staff identified over $290,000 in cardiac equipment needs for the Canmore community, which included equipment for many aspects of cardiac care ranging from the management of acute episodes of illness, rehabilitation, diagnosis, testing and self care in the community. A brief description is provided below for each of the pieces of equipment that was purchased:
Cardiac Stress Testing $10,000 - Purchased from proceeds of Murrieta's Golf Tournament!
This combination of treadmill and computer provides accurate information for doctors related to the reaction of the heart and various vital signs during a period of supervised exercise on the treadmill. This equipment is helpful in diagnosing the extent of existing heart disease, progress of rehabilitation after heart attack, diagnosis of heart and respiratory problems in adults and children as well as exercise capability for recovery periods after heart attack.
Telemetry System $150,000 - Purchased from proceeds of 2006 Golf Tournament at SilverTip, 2006 Canmore Connection Golf Tournament, Buy a Brick purchases, and General Donations!
Telemetry is a technology which allows the remote measurement and reporting of vital signs such as heart rate, heart rhythm and blood pressure. Telemetry is used for patients who are at risk of abnormal heart activity and for patients who have experienced a heart attack. Patients are outfitted with light weight measuring, recording and transmitting devices and the information is sent to central monitoring located where nurses can view the information at all times. An alerting function and alarm can summon nurses if the patient is suffering from an acute or dangerous condition. This piece of equipment is helpful in diagnosis and monitoring and provides the patient with continuous monitoring – even when the nurse is not in the room.
Echocardiography machine $126,000 - Purchased from proceeds of 2007 SilverTip Golf Tournament and an anonymous donation of shares!
An echocardiogram uses high frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to create a moving picture of your heart as it works. Depending on the type of test the doctor can learn about the size, shape and movement of your heart muscle. An echocardiogram also shows how the heart valves are working and how blood flows through your heart, giving your doctor valuable information about your arteries. This machine also has the capability to send a digital picture to a cardiology specialist in the city to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of complex cases.
Spot vital signs monitor $8,000 - Purchased by Canwest Flooring from their donation of $100 from every home goal scored by the Canmore Eagles during the 2005-2006 AJHL hockey season!
This piece of equipment is a small compact monitor that monitors pulse, blood pressure and oxygen saturation. This is particularly helpful for home care nurses who are monitoring the progress of individuals who have heart disease and are managing at home with support from nurses and physicians. This monitor is easily transported and durable so that it can be taken to the home setting by the community nurses for accurate monitoring of cardiac patients.
Propaq monitor $20,000
This monitor is a specialized piece of equipment that is used in the ER and Acute Care setting to monitor vital signs of patients who are experiencing chest pain or shortness of breath. It has the capability to provide information related to heart rate respirations, temperature, oxygen saturation and blood pressure. Alarms can be set to notify the nursing staff of any untoward events. There is an automatic recording mechanism for accurate documentation of patient monitoring.
Pulse oximeter for overnight recording $2,000 - Purchased by Canmore Hospital Ladies' Auxilary!
A pulse oximeter measures the percentage of oxygen concentration that is currently in the person’s system – i.e. 100%, 85%, 75%. Sometimes it is critical to know what the overnight measurements are to determine the need for oxygen support in the home to maximize physical functioning. This piece of equipment allows for continual overnight measurement for accurate assessments. With a local program providing this service it eliminates the need for clients to travel to Calgary and spend the night being assessed and supports the cardiac rehabilitation in the home and in the community.
For a complete list of equipment on the Canmore Hospital "Wish List" click here.The Foundation is considering a number of other health care initiatives to raise funds for. Click here for information on these potential initiatives. If these appeal to you, and you would like to assist in our fund-raising for these initiatives, please contact us.
Fund-raising initiatives include:
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