A little help from their friends

Glace Bay Hospital gets new equipment, thanks to foundation

The Glace Bay Hospital has some new equipment, thanks to a little help from some friends.

Kelsea MacNeil, communications officer with the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation, said the Glace Bay General Hospital Charitable Foundation recently purchased two new pieces of important and needed equipment for the Glace Bay Hospital including a new electromyography machine at a cost of $26,050 and a portable physiological/cardiac monitoring machine at a cost of $55,000.

MacNeil said members of the foundation's board got together with some of the hospital staff to view the equipment.

“They got together to learn more about the equipment and to see it in action,” she said.

“They were able to see how the equipment they bought provided patient care.”

MacNeil said the electromyography machine is used in diagnosis and monitoring of peripheral neurologic disease and ensures that patients from Glace Bay have access to the care they need in their community. She said the physiological/cardiac monitoring machine is portable, providing more efficiency in checking heart-monitoring function in patients.

As well as the purchase of the two new pieces of equipment, MacNeil said the GBGHCF made a donation of $5,000 to Judy Price for a scholarship fund in the memory of her husband, David Price. Price was the past president of the Glace Bay General Hospital Charitable Foundation.

The GBGHCF board also presented a check for $25,000 to Brad Jacobs, CEO of the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation, to support the Omni-Cell Distribution System that will support safe and controlled pharmaceutical systems.

MacNeil said the GBGHCF has been working in partnership with the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation over the past several months to ensure world-class care for Cape Bretoners.

She said the GBGHCF — formed in 1992 — is made up entirely of dedicated volunteers working hard for years to provide equipment and funding to specialized projects for the community of Glace Bay.

Fred Courtney, former chair of the foundation, said the funds for the equipment came from the former Glace Bay General Hospital Foundation, money raised through the “check off ” through the days of the miners. He said the money was raised years ago, investments were made and added to the sum.

“The money raised was earmarked for the Glace Bay Hospital,” he said. “We decided to use the funds to buy equipment to benefit the hospital.”

SUBMITTED BY KELSEA MACNEIL Dr. Laith Shimon tries out the new electromyography machine at the Glace Bay Hospital with the help of Beth Cyr, a technician and members of the Glace Bay General Hospital Charitable Foundation, Fred Courtney, far right), foundation chair, and in back from left, board members Erin Power, Glen Roach, Cathy Power and James Kerr. The equipment was purchased through a donation by the foundation.