The Campbell River Branch of the First Open Heart Society (FOHS) is helping the Campbell River Hospital Foundation purchase two seven-day Holter Monitors for Electrodiagnostics.
In medicine, a Holter monitor is a portable device for continuously monitoring various electrical activity of the cardiovascular system.
This will record a patient’s Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) for seven days while the patient undergoes their normal daily activities. This allows doctors to evaluate the heartbeat over time and during normal activities to allow for an accurate diagnosis. The 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 local 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 doctors, nurses and other key members of the local healthcare team, donations can be made through the Hospital Foundation online at www.crhospitalfoudnation.ca or by calling (250) 850-2418.