March 16, 2016
Harry Frencheater watches one of the new flat-screen televisions purchased through community donations in Rocky Mountain House.
Story by Kerri Robins; photo courtesy Sarah Megram
ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE — Both patients and staff are benefiting from flat-screen televisions and automatic operating-room doors recently installed in the Rocky Mountain House Health Centre as part of its modernization campaign.
And for acute care patient Harry Frencheater, a little upgrade goes a long way.
“The screens are bigger and clearer,” says the Sunchild First Nations man, “but best of all, they’re touch-screen, so easy for me to use.”
Left a quadriplegic by a motor-vehicle accident 19 years ago, and now a frequent visitor to the health centre, Frencheater adds: “The old TVs were small and awkward to handle, but the controls are easier to handle on the new TVs.”
Thanks to the Rocky Mountain House Ladies Auxiliary, the Next to New thrift shop, Rotary Club and many community members, 25 flat-screen televisions, with 13-inch screens, were bought for acute care beds at a cost of $22,120 last September.
Earlier last year, the health centre also purchased six larger, 26-inch televisions for its dialysis department at a cost of $5,360, thanks to donations by grateful patients in the surrounding community.
After 20 years, it was time to replace the aging tube-style television sets, says site manager Shirley Hope: “Some of our patients stay in the hospital for weeks at a time. TV helps reduce boredom and keeps patients distracted as well as connected to the world.”
Modernization continued on another front, as well, with the installation of new hardware onto OR doors — so they now open automatically for staff with the wave of a hand in front of a sensor. Installed last September for $13,492, the doors were funded by the community through the Rocky Mountain House Health Centre Donation Committee.
“The doors are a vast improvement in efficiency by improving patient flow, reducing patient transfer time and are safer for staff to operate,” says Hope. “The old doors were really cumbersome; staff had to be very careful, while coming and going, not to collide with someone on the other side.”
Phyllis Loewen, Chair of the Rocky Mountain House Health Centre Donation Committee, says she’s happy to be part of the committee that’s helping to bring modern equipment to the health centre.
“We have a wonderful community that really steps up to the plate for our local health care. I’m really proud of all my neighbors and volunteers who help improve our health centre. We have ongoing facility needs and welcome all donations.”
As for Frencheater, an avid Edmonton Oilers fan, game night has become so much better: “I can see which Oiler is on the ice now.”
For more information and future campaign information visit rmhdonations.com
