Most people are not aware that our medical laboratories supply 70% of the information that guides patient screening, diagnosis, treatment and eventual outcomes.

You may not immediately think of diagnostic lab work when you think of saving lives. Medical Laboratories in our hospitals and health care centres really are the heartbeat of our healthcare system. Currently there is over $1 million in laboratory equipment needs in the East Kootenay. This includes the three laboratories in the Elk Valley.

The Elk Valley Hospital and Sparwood Health Care Centre both need a coagulation analyzer at a hefty price tag of $62,553 for each machine. The Elkford Health Care Centre is in need of an ECG Analyzer at $23,094. Both Sparwood and Elkford need Chemistry analyzers at $30,000 each. These are just a few of the items needed in our labs.

Dr. Launny Lowden, Pathologist at the East Kootenay Regional Hospital, believes that acquiring new and updated diagnostic equipment will drastically improve patient care throughout the East Kootenay.

“The life expectancy of most lab equipment is four to seven years, but much of ours is pushing 15-20 years. Huge advances in laboratory medicine have been made in this time, with vast improvements to diagnostic instruments. Just think how far your cell phone has come in 15 years!

“Equipping our labs with state-of-the-art technology will significantly impact the healthcare of thousands of East Kootenay residents. Rapid processing and increased automation will allow for better efficiency and faster results, so your loved one can get the care they need when they need it. Expanded test menus will mean finding the right answers for complex conditions such as autoimmune disorders, and smaller sample sizes will mean less blood is needed from vulnerable populations such as children and seniors. Leading- edge tools will allow us to maintain the highest diagnostic standards, so you can sleep soundly when your doctor says, “The tests came back normal, everything looks fine.”

It is imperative that our labs are up to date. The East Kootenay Foundation for Health’s (EKFH) 2018 Starlite Campaign is focused on updating our labs but they need your support. You are invited to make a holiday gift to the EKFH and “Power our labs with Starlite!”

Call 250-489-6481 or go online to ekfh.ca. All funds will stay in the hospital or health care centre of your choice. The EKFH would like to thank all of their past and current donors and they look forward to having a successful 2018 Starlite Campaign!

Lead image: Dr. Launny Lowden and Dr. Rocke Robertson, Pathologists for the East Kootenay. Photo submitted

EKFH

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