FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. - Fort St. John Hospital has received two new Belmont Rapid Infusers, equipment designed to quickly deliver blood and fluids to patients facing life-threatening blood loss, thanks to funding secured by the Fort St. John Hospital Foundation.
The foundation says the equipment was purchased through a grant from the P.A. Woodward Foundation along with contributions from anonymous local donors.
The devices will be used in the hospital’s Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit, Operating Room and Maternity Ward.
According to the foundation, intensive care staff identified the rapid infusers as a priority need after the hospital’s previous rapid transfusion system reached the end of its service life.
Staff had reported recurring maintenance issues, lengthy setup times and periods of equipment downtime.
The new Belmont systems are designed to rapidly and safely deliver warmed blood products and fluids to patients experiencing massive hemorrhage caused by trauma, emergency surgery, childbirth complications or other critical illnesses.
The foundation says the equipment is already used at other Northern Health facilities, meaning travelling nurses, agency staff and specialized healthcare teams arriving in Fort St. John are likely to be familiar with its operation.
“The purchase of the two new Belmont rapid infusers will be an absolute game changer in the management and outcomes of critically ill patients who require massive intravenous fluid transfusions due to hypovolaemic shock,” said Dr. Kevin Page, a director with the Fort St. John Hospital Foundation.
Foundation Executive Director Megan Rader said the new equipment will help healthcare workers respond more quickly during emergencies.
“When a mother and child, an elderly patient, or any patient facing a life-threatening medical emergency arrives at our hospital, every second can make a difference,” Rader said. “Providing our healthcare teams with advanced equipment like the Belmont Rapid Infuser ensures they have the resources they need to act swiftly and confidently in these critical moments.”
The foundation says the investment will improve patient safety, increase staff confidence and strengthen critical care services for residents throughout the North Peace region.
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