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Great News!!
Bone density testing has already begun "Closer to Home" at Cowichan District Hospital as of February 8th, thanks to the quick work of the great staff at the hospital.
Our gala Champagne Dinner & Auction raised $120,000 after expenses to
successfully complete the Bone Density Campaign. These proceeds are also funding other
equipment requested by the medical staff: a computerized surgical microscope primarily used for cataract surgeries, a maternity
microscope and portable ultrasound Doppler, which support successful
pregnancies and deliveries.
Thanks!
To detect bone density accurately, an enhanced form of x-ray technology is used at hospitals called dual - energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).
It’s a quick, painless procedure for measuring bone loss. Measurement of the lower spine and hips are most often done.
 The 2009 – 2010 Annual Appeal Campaign : Bone Densitometry was launched at our 15th Annual Charity Pro – Am Golf Tournament, Friday, September 11, 2009.
89.7 SUN FM radio announced the new campaign at Noon from the Cowichan Golf & Country Club joined by many of our supporters on the greens.
Cowichan District Hospital Foundation is committed to raise $150,000 to buy a dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) machine for Cowichan District Hospital. DEXA measures bone density and provides a quick painless procedure for measuring bone loss.
Cowichan Valley is an area with increasing incidents of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis involves a gradual loss of calcium, causing the bones to become thinner, more fragile and likely to break. DEXA is most often used to diagnose osteoporosis. DEXA is also effective in tracking the effects of treatment for osteoporosis or for other conditions that cause bone loss.
The new healthcare service Bone Density Testing will be available early next year in the Medical Imaging (Radiology) Department at our community hospital. This will provide Cowichan residents a local service rather than having to drive to Nanaimo or Saanich for this test. More people will likely have the procedure done since it is closer to home. And as we all know, it takes many more dollars and resources to treat a fracture than to prevent one.
WHY DO WE NEED DEXA at COWICHAN DISTRICT HOSPITAL ?
Cowichan Valley is an area with increasing incidents of osteoporosis.
A solution “closer to home” has been requested by physicians and our patients. Travel time to Victoria or Nanaimo can take hours while the procedure itself can take less than 10 minutes. More people would have the procedure done if they could access the service closer to home. Let’s support prevention! It takes many more dollars and resources to treat a fracture than to prevent one.
7 of the Medical Imaging Team at Cowichan District Hospital
Carol Petrie, Radiology Manager, informs:
· We have 45 staff, who rotate through CDH
· We have 5 Radiologists (physicians who specialize in Medical Imaging)
· On any one week day we have 20 staff and 3 Radiologists in the department
· In a typical month we do:
· 437 Mammograms
· 504 CT exams
· 829 Ultrasound exams
· 3050 X-ray exams
· We plan to start booking Bone Mineral Density scans in January 2010.
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