Sechelt Hospital staff are now trained to use an echocardiogram ultrasound machine purchased by the Sunshine Coast Healthcare Auxiliary that can take a thorough look at how the heart functions.
“It actually looks inside the heart and you can see the blood flowing through,” said healthcare auxiliary president Vicky Forest.
“You can see how the blood goes from one chamber to the next chamber of the heart and how it’s functioning. It tells you whether or not your heart is functioning at optimum level or if something isn’t right.”
The Sunshine Coast Healthcare Auxiliary purchased the special ultrasound machine back in 2014 for the Sechelt Hospital at a cost of about $100,000, but it has taken until now to get staff trained to use it for heart scans, Forest said.
Three ultrasound technicians are now trained to offer the service locally, eliminating the need for patients to travel to Vancouver for the specialized ultrasound, which often needs to be booked up to six months in advance.
“This service is going to make a big impact on the Sunshine Coast and on the community,” said Vancouver Coastal Health director for the Sunshine Coast, Lauren Tindall.
“Having the echocardiogram here makes us more self-sufficient on the Coast, it’s less expensive for patients who had to go far, there is less waiting time for an exam, and there is less staff required for community support.”
