The Campbell River branch of the First Open Heart Society has helped the Campbell River Hospital Foundation purchase specialized equipment for the hospital.
The equipment, two Holter monitors, are part of the electrodiagnostics department at Campbell River Hospital. The Holter monitors are portable devices for continuously monitoring various electrical activity of the cardiovascular system for at least 24 hours.
The Holter monitor records electrical signals from the heart via a series of electrodes attached to the chest.
These electrodes are connected to a small piece of equipment that is attached to the patient’s belt or hung around the neck, and is responsible for keeping a log of the heart’s electrical activity throughout the recording period.
Formed in 1973, the First Open Heart Society provides patient support for those about to undergo heart surgery by those who have already ‘walked the path’. The Campbell River branch holds one fundraiser each year – the Walk for Hearts, held the first Sunday in May.
All donations from this event stay in the community and are used for North Island heart patients, cardiac equipment for Campbell River Hospital and education for cardiac nurses and technicians. To support the local healthcare team, donations can be made to the Hospital Foundation online at www.crhospitalfoudnation.ca or by calling (250) 850-2418.