The Leduc Black Gold Health Foundation CT Scanner Campaign is well underway, having already raised just over $60,000, and its first public fundraiser is Oktoberfest, Oct. 3.
The foundation needs to raise $1.25 million to purchased the CT scanner.
Executive director Lorraine Popik says Oktoberfest is going to be a night of fun for the community, where attendees can come out for a great time and feel good by lending their support.
Oktoberfest offers a full, authentic German meal, German wine and beer, music and more. Popik says tickets are still available but are selling fast. They are $50 and available through the Black Gold Health Foundation, 780-980-4536.
After the foundation acquires the $1.25 million to purchase the CT scanner Alberta Health Services will commit to fund the operational costs and staffing the scanner. “I can't begin to think how much that is compared to the machine,” said Popik.
“And this has multifold benefits, not only for our facility but for our community,” she added.
Emergency room visits at the Leduc Community Hospital have risen to more than 25,000 per year and the population of the city is expected to surpass 30,000 by the end of 2015. The foundation feels the continual growth will only add to pressures felt by not having a CT scanner in the community.
Each year, more than 600 Leduc Community Hospital patients are transferred outside of the community for CT scans. Popik says this number does not include emergency room patients not checked into the hospital or referrals from other doctors.
“We have to put them in an ambulance, we have to put a nurse with them,” said Popik. Those costs, as well as staff time add up with transfers.
“If those patients were able to be dealt with right here in the community it would be, number one, cost saving,” said Popik.
Having the scanner in the community will also give those in need access to faster, more accurate diagnosis. “We can't do it in a timely fashion because we don't have it here,” said Popik.
Popik says being able to cut out an ambulance ride and the time involved will also help alleviate anxiety and stress felt by the patient and their family.
In some transfer cases the situation is not classified as emergency, adding even more time to an ambulance ride, increasing stress and creating accompanying problems for the patients or their families. “Hopefully we can alleviate that by having more CT scanners available,” said Popik.
In other cases a CT scanner diagnosis is crucial in more severe medical issues, such as a cardiac and stroke victims, in which life-saving, time-sensitive drugs need to be administered.
The Leduc Black Gold Health Foundation CT Scanner Campaign launched April 15, 2015.