Columbia Valley Pioneer staff
A big fundraising drive has begun to bring ultrasound service to Invermere and District Hospital.
The East Kootenay Foundation for Health plans to raise $340,000 for the initiative called “Beneath the Surface” to bring better health care closer to home.
The cost will include a state-of-the-art ultrasound machine, renovations to the room, and all the technology and accessories required to run the service.
The foundation says ultrasound service at the hospital has been a long-awaited addition that will be a major improvement for health care in the valley. The technology allows physicians to see inside a patient’s body and understand the nature of a patient’s symptoms, which can help guide treatment.
The captured images provide physicians with information, including the structure and composition of internal organs, tissues and vessels.
Whether you are a pregnant mother, an elderly person having breathing problems, or a child with abdomen pains, ultrasound can help diagnose and treat the patient.
Brenna Hong, executive director of the foundation, said this new campaign is exciting news for valley residents.
“This means way less travel and wait times for people needing this service,” she said.
Contributions to the campaign can be made by donating online at www.ekfh.ca/campaigns/beneaththe-surface-invermere. You can also call 250-489-6481 or mail a donation to East Kootenay Foundation for Health, 13 24th Ave N. Cranbrook BC, V1C 3H9.
