The Battlefords Union Hospital OR Team. (Submitted Photo: Leanne Ducommun)

By Julia Lovett-Squires

Radiothon

‘Mission Possible’: On-Air for Healthcare radio-thon set for May. 10

Apr 11, 2024 | 7:17 AM

Raising over half a million dollars for the Battlefords Union Hospital Foundation should prove “Mission Possible” for the community.

“We’re raising money for the operating room this year,” said Chris Etcheverry, director of acute care.

This year, the goal of $530,000 has been set and will go towards three Stryker laparoscopic towers – electronic equipment connected to cameras – that allow for less invasive surgery.

“In the old days what used to happen was…surgeries were conducted in an open method, so your abdomen was cut open, everything was exposed,” said Etcheverry.

“Healing time was long, greater potentials for infection.”

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Canada has been doing what amounts to keyhole surgery for the last couple of decades and now the Battlefords’ hospital’s equipment is showing its age.

“What we’re looking at doing is raising the money to replace these three laparoscopic towers with state-of-the-art technology,” he said.

“Just like anything, computers – things last about eight to 10 years and it’s time to get something new.”

According to Program Director Nic Fransoo, the Pattison Media family of radio stations is excited about once again partnering with BUH for On Air for Healthcare.

“This is a big deal because there are many different procedures that are done laparoscopically now and the more up-to-date equipment we have, the easier it is for our surgeons to be able to perform these surgeries,” Fransoo said.

The radiothon truly is a fundraising extravaganza and the on-air personalities will kick off the 12-hour at 6 a.m. on Fri., May. 10. Throughout the day, a mix of live guests, prerecorded interviews and live donations will set the stage to ensure the funds are raised for the up-to-date operating equipment.

“Hopefully that’ll mean that they can move patients through at an efficient rate, bringing down wait times and things like that but also the recovery time that comes after a laparoscopic procedure is dramatically less from any sort of invasive surgery,” he added.

The towers will allow surgeons to see in 4K vision and according to Leanne Ducommun, foundation executive director, that capability will lead to reduced complications and better outcomes.

“Our previous capital campaigns and radiothons that we’ve done in the past have been very well received by the public and the businesses at large,” she said.

This year, there will be local businesses selling Mic Cards – similar to the Helping Hands – but in the shape of an old-school microphone that people can get for a $2 donation, and there will also be an On Air for Healthcare 50/50.

“This community steps up when things are needed most, it’s just how we are,” said Ducommun.

“When you think about community, we really just are a group of people who agree to grow together,” she said, noting it has a lifelong impact on everyone.

“The needs of healthcare are just surrounded in everything that we do and enhancing that patient care experience is so important.”

According to Etcheverry, open surgeries are still performed in emergency or trauma cases where the abdomen is full of blood and therefore the camera would be blind.

“Surgery has come a long way and even today, some sites are going into robotic surgery, so the technology is always changing so fast,” he said.

Even after five years, technology is significantly different.

“Healthcare today is changing at an alarming rate and it’s to the patient’s advantage.”

Fransoo said as far as it goes for the BUH, the most important thing about the radiothon was that the updated equipment makes the hospital more viable.

“We’re a giant catchment basin for so many communities around the northwest,” he said, adding that the efforts help to ensure that the hospital doesn’t need to make the equipment stretch with the Band-Aid approach.

“When we buy new equipment, we buy state-of-the-art. It is the best possible equipment that money can buy thanks to the donations and the support of our community.”

Those donations come from all walks of life – including children and their piggy banks.

“Every little bit does make a difference and it’s just – it’s such a blessing – and we are just so grateful to everybody that gives,” Ducommun said.

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julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmedia.com

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