With the support and generosity of the communities throughout the South Okanagan and Similkameen, the South Okanagan Simikameen Medical Foundation has reached the goal for the Image is Everything Christmas campaign through the Eighth Annual Tree of Dreams and raised $500,000.
Any extra funds raised will go into the digital X-ray fund for any extra pieces of equipment requested or additional staff training.
This completes the entire campaign that raised a total of $1,500,000 to change the three X-ray rooms along with a portable machine used for the emergency and intensive care unit departments from outdated X-ray cassette equipment into state of the art X-ray digital radiography.
Construction on the rooms will begin in the spring with completion expected by the late summer of 2014.
Many individuals, service organizations, businesses and auxiliaries supported the campaign.
Digital radiography uses digital X-ray sensors instead of the traditional cassettes.
Similar to a digital camera, this technology uses a digital image capturing device.
This gives the advantage of an immediate image preview and the elimination of costly time intensive cassette processing steps.
Digital has the ability to apply special image processing techniques that enhance overall display of the image and the process is fast, with the least amount of radiation.
Used on practically every part of the body, on infants to the elderly, whether we are diagnosing a trauma injury, a chest infection or a cancer, X-ray equipment is the most widely used diagnostic device recommended by doctors.
More than 40,000 patients had X-rays from all over our region last year and that number is a four per cent increase from the year before.
X-ray is available in several of the communities served by the Penticton Regional Hospital but many patients need further treatment and additional X-rays are required.
Digital radiography will bring a tremendous equipment improvement and diagnosis which will benefit all of our patients.
The Image is Everything campaign focuses on providing increased image quality, reduced radiation and allows for faster, more efficient diagnosis of diseases and injuries.
As the hospital board prepares for the future hospital patient tower expansion, this new equipment will stay in its current location at the hospital and will be used for many years to come.
For more information and to make donations, contact the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation office at 250-492-9027 or by mail to 550 Carmi Avenue, Penticton, B.C. V2A 3G6 or go on the website at sosmedicalfoundation.com.