Lights are going up on the 100 Mile and District General Hospital in preparation for this year's Starry Nights Campaign.
While the official light-up is still over a month away, Danielle Sabiston, the South Cariboo Health Foundation's public relations and fundraising co-ordinator, said they have already begun to accept donations for Linking Lives – Healthcare at the Speed of Light campaign. This year their goal is to raise $90,000 to fund the purchase of two new pieces of equipment for the hospital.
"It's a big ask but I have faith in the community," Sabiston said. "You can donate anytime from now until the end of January.
"I think we've all used or know somebody who has used the emergency department here and any opportunity to elevate patient care is important. As we look at the temporary closure of ERs throughout the region, it's likely our emergency department is going to get busier. By supporting this we're helping to ensure everyone who visits our ED can be taken care of in an appropriate manner and hopefully have a great outcome."
As in previous years, Sabiston said members of the hospital staff met with the foundation and gave them a wish list of devices they could use to enhance patient care. This year they chose to purchase a new video conference system and an OMNICELL Automatic Medication Dispensing System.
Sabiston said the video conference system will have a 55-inch monitor and a 360-degree interactive camera. Its intended purpose is to allow doctors and nurses to interact with specialists in other communities during traumas, so they can be guided through procedures. The camera will be able to move around to view the patient and the room, which is a huge step up from the hospital's current system.
"It frees up the hands because right now they do, apparently, contact specialists but someone has to hold a mobile device or iPad. Now this allows the patient to be seen easily and everybody can interact," Sabiston explained.
The OMNICELL devices, meanwhile, are smaller versions of a device the hospital's emergency room already has that will be installed in the trauma bay. They are designed to allow staff to stay with the patients and monitor them while ensuring patients get medication.
With five drawers the OMNICELL functions as both a lockbox for the medication and automates the process of dispensing it. This will free up nurses and doctors to do other tasks and reduce the waste of medications.
"Currently, from what I understand, a nurse may have to leave the patient to get (medication) and patients are critical, so this frees up a lot of time. It makes it easier and quicker, overall, it makes for better patient care," Sabiston said. "It will improve accuracy and reduce errors."
Sabiston said that the healthcare workers in charge of the list chose these two items because they are both centred around patient care. They'll increase the bedside monitoring capability of the hospital in the trauma room and help 100 Mile House gain access to specialist experience.
"It will allow the nurses to better devote their time to the patients," Sabiston remarked.
Donations can be dropped off starting this week at the rear entrance of the South Cariboo Health Centre, via PayPal by going to southcariboohealthfoundation.com, by mail to Bag 399, 100 Mile House, BC V0K 2E0 or by dropping it off with Sabiston herself by contacting her at 250-706-2101.
Sabiston said the community is also invited to come out to the official light-up ceremony for Starry Nights on Saturday, Nov. 23 just after the Santa Claus Parade at 5:30 p.m. There will be snacks and refreshments as well as speeches from members of the health foundation.
"We are running the campaign as best we can and our Facebook and Instagram pages are being used more frequently this year, so we encourage people to check those out and we will continue to post on those," Sabiston said. "Every little bit counts. While we say purchase a star for $50, we don't need you to donate $50. Any little bit you are willing to share with the hospital foundation so we can support our hospital is welcome and appreciated. All the money stays in the South Cariboo."
