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Kootenay Lake Hospital Foundation campaign supports surgical services

This year, the foundation is focused on another vital piece of equipment — a new surgical table.
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Kootenay Lake Hospital

Since 1994, people like you have donated $1,289,735.78 to keep Kootenay Lake Hospital’s operating room furnished with state-of-the-art medical equipment.

You are the reason Nelson has a thriving operating room, where orthopedic surgeries such as knee arthroscopy, finger and hand surgeries, removal of plates and screws, carpal tunnel repairs and bunion surgeries and performed.

Where all obstetrical and gynecologic surgeries such as c-sections, trial forcep/standby c-section deliveries, post-partum hemorrhages, hysterectomies and all surgeries involving the female reproductive system are performed — not to mention general surgeries such as hernia repairs and varicose vein surgery.

You’re probably wondering how much our operating room is used. For some this may be a surprise, but it’s used 40 hours per week, which is over 2,000 hours per year. And once again, it’s your generosity that makes this happen.

This year, the foundation is focused on another vital piece of equipment — a new surgical table, where patients are placed for their surgery. The new table will support improved care for the procedures performed at Kootenay Lake Hospital.

“The surgical table is the most important piece of equipment in the OR,” says nurse Sue Basek. “It’s used for almost every procedure we perform, including obstetric, gynecological and orthopedic procedures.

“There are lots of technical details I could give you about why we in the OR are so excited about this new piece of equipment. That it allows us to put patients in a Trendelburg, or head-down position, as well as foot down and up positions and side to side positions. That it adjusts up and down to accommodate the height of the different surgeons, and that the side bars allow for the attachment of accessories such as arm boards and stirrups.

“Basically, this table is an essential piece of state of the art equipment that will make life easier and more efficient for the OR staff and the patients we treat.”

For more information about this campaign, or to make your secure donation online, visit klhf.org.

The Kootenay Lake Hospital Foundation is governed by a group of volunteers whose purpose is to raise funds for the medical needs of our community hospital.