Media Release

$100,000 Cash Lottery Saves Lives at BUH

February 11th 2020

North Battleford, SK – Battlefords Union Hospital (BUH) Foundation purchased a new bedside ultrasound unit for the Emergency Department (ED) and ordered three new beds for the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at BUH.  These purchases were made possible through the support of the 2019 $100,000 Cash Lottery, which raised over $190,000 to enrich healthcare within The Battlefords.

“We are very pleased with the continued support of our donors to make enriched healthcare and new equipment possible at BUH.  Bedside ultrasound units are the way of diagnostics within the Emergency Department and we’re pleased to be able to provide the latest in technology for the patients at BUH,” commented Claudette McGuire, Executive Director of BUH Foundation.

Where once a stethoscope was the doctors first tool to diagnose a patient, the bedside, or point-of-care (POC), ultrasound unit has become the leading edge of patient care today.   The POC ultrasound unit does not replace traditional ultrasounds or scans within the Medical Imaging department, but it provides ED medical staff real-time imaging of what is happening in a patient’s body.  This is important in emergency situations, when time is of the essence or patients are unable to speak for themselves.

The ED has been using this leading edge tool in patient care since 2014, the first to do so in Saskatchewan.  The recent purchase provides the latest in technology and product advancement to continue to provide the best in diagnostic and patient care.  The POC ultrasound unit has proved its worth more than once.  It saved a man’s life when, following a surgery out of the city, he was having trouble breathing.  He made the right decision to come to the ED at BUH.  The POC ultrasound unit was able to show the medical team right away what was happening and what needed to be done, immediately.  Without the unit, the process would have taken longer, costing minutes the patient did not have.

The POC ultrasound unit has been utilized for those involved in motor vehicle accidents or other trauma when a quick, accurate assessment was needed.  Time is of the essence in emergency situations and the POC ultrasound unit provided speed and accuracy in triage and diagnosis.  When patients presented in the ER, both in need of critical care, the POC ultrasound unit was able to help the medical team quickly confirm who needed immediate surgery at BUH and who could be stabilized and receive further care in Saskatoon.

“The new ultrasound unit will make bedside ultrasound much more portable within the facility.  This means the latest technology getting to the patient who needs it, efficiently.  Your constant support makes our job easier to perform well!” shares Dal Lynds, RN (Nurse Practitioner) and leading advocate for POC ultrasound units within the ED.

BUH Foundation Board of Directors and staff are grateful to the donors who supported the 2019 $100,000 Cash Lottery and made the purchase of a new POC ultrasound unit, as well as three new beds for ICU possible.  The ICU beds are currently on order from Kalamazoo, MI and will provide the best in comfort and care for the ~200 admissions to ICU every year.

Over the past 25 years, support of BUH Foundation’s $100,000 Cash Lottery has enabled the purchase of many advanced pieces of medical equipment to serve the community better.  There are many worthy organizations for donors to choose from and BUH Foundation is proud to be a charity of choice within The Battlefords. 

Every dollar raised stays within the community and donors have the opportunity to see the impact, not only by viewing or using the equipment purchased, but also through the care provided to their family, friends and neighbours.  The $100,000 Cash Lottery helps to provide the best in technology and care at BUH and BUH Foundation Board of Directors and staff look forward to another 25 years of giving.