April 5, 2016
Janelle Moodie places her newborn son Kai Sutherland in the Panda Infant Warmer as registered nurse Dineen Williams gives him a routine check. The Panda Infant warmer shown here is the same warmer being purchased for the St. Therese – St. Paul Healthcare Centre, and was purchased for the Canmore General Hospital through funding by the Canmore & Area Health Foundation.
Story by Kerri Robins; photo courtesy: St. Paul & District Hospital Foundation
ST. PAUL — Newborns here will be comfy cosy and safer thanks to the St. Paul & District Hospital Foundation’s recent sixth annual fundraising gala which raised $59,824 toward two Panda Infant Warmers for St. Therese – St. Paul Healthcare Centre.
“Our present warmers are nearing the end of their lifespan and it’s getting time for new ones,” says Michelle Blanchette, Site Manager at the healthcare centre. At a cost of $36,000 each, the new warmers will replace the two older warmers at the centre.
While most babies are born with no complications, ready to be delivered straight into mom’s arms, all babies are first placed in the warmer immediately after birth for a quick assessment.
In some cases, however, a newborn may require more intense treatments following birth, for example, if the baby has a low or abnormal heart rate during delivery, or is delivered by caesarean section. These newborns can benefit from spending a bit of extra time in the warmer for assessment and observation by medical staff.
While “skin to skin” contact is naturally encouraged for mother and baby after birth, an infant warmer offers an extra level of care, when required.
The warmer looks like a small bassinet and features an overhead radiant heater as well as integrated suction, oxygen and intubation equipment.
More than just a warm place to sleep, the specialized equipment also puts at doctors’ fingertips the means for immediate assistance or resuscitation after birth, as it monitors vital signs and measures the oxygen in baby’s blood.
With the local birthrate up almost 11 per cent — 257 births in 2015 compared to 232 births in 2014 — Blanchette says she’s happily awaiting her new equipment arrivals: “The infant warmer will help us provide that high quality standard of care because it makes for a smooth transition for some babies who need an extra bit of observation right after birth.”
Since 1996, the foundation has raised more than $820,000 for hospital equipment. Last year alone, the gala raised $85,560 to buy two new specialized surgical tables.
The new tables allow doctors to better position patients for surgery, says Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad, a general surgeon at the healthcare centre.
“The old tables had a crank handle that we had to manually turn to adjust the height or swivel of the bed,” says Dr. Ahmad. “But the new ones allow us to raise, lower or turn the beds at the push of a button.”
As well, patients find the beds more comfortable, and they allow for easier transfers, with less back strain for health care staff. The beds are also time-savers during procedures.
“The tables are especially helpful for our anesthetists because the automated functions allow them to do simultaneous tasks while continuing to observe the patient,” adds Ahmad. “I’m really grateful for all the work our foundation does for us.”
The beds are especially welcome. The number of surgeries here has risen almost 14 percent, with 716 performed in 2015, compared to 630 in 2014.
Foundation Chair Linda Kryzanowski, who attended the gala, says she can’t thank her community enough for their dedication and commitment to health care.
“It’s always a great evening and everyone has a good time,” says Kryzanowski. “It’s wonderful to see the compassion in our community — and community members are always there to support our healthcare centre when it’s needed.”
For more foundation stories, please visit ahs.ca/give
