Local Organizations Demonstrate ‘Baby Love’
- New Healthcare Technology to Enhance Infant Care -
Fort McMurray, Alberta – The Northern Lights Health Foundation is pleased to recognize four organizations who have contributed over $400,000 to advance infant care in our region through the replacement of eleven (11) infant warmer and resuscitation units on the Maternal/Child ward.
The Northern Lights Regional Health Care facility provides maternity and infant care, and supports approximately 1300 births a year. Over the past few years, the Maternal/Child ward of the hospital has undergone a number of renewal projects to offer increased health services for both pre-term and post-delivery patients and, thanks to donations from Rotary District 5730 Charitable Foundation, Pembina Pipeline Corporation, Lions of Alberta Foundation, and the Canadian Red Cross the department has renewed the infant warmer and resuscitation units used by every newborn.
“The new standard for infant care is the Panda iRes Baby Warmer units,” said Juanita Pilgrim, Manager of Maternity and Pediatrics. “Newborns are placed in the unit for weighing, monitoring, and medical interventions and they provide technology to ensure local level 1 special care for pre-term infants. This means that we can provide care for babies who are born as early as 35 weeks gestation, and who require extra supports including respiratory (breathing) support, intravenous (IV) therapy, and other types of specialized newborn care.”
“We are very happy to have the new units on site and with the training now complete each maternity room and the Special Care Nursery are equipped with the same Panda iRes units.” said Cindy Amerongen, executive director of the Health Foundation. “This means a continuity of care from room to room, a common understanding for all medical staff on the features of each unit, and a seamless integration of the technology that supports infant health throughout the ward. The units are also compatible with those in use at the Stollery Hospital which provides further integration for those newborns who must be stabilized for transfer for other specialized care. And infants who are returning from specialized care institutions may also need transition time back in the infant warmer prior to heading home. The generous donations from these donors enabled the purchase off all eleven new units.”
The donors attended a thank you reception on Tuesday Dec. 4 and enjoyed the demonstration of a unit which gave them a better understanding of the comprehensive services that can be provided.
“We enjoyed learning more about how the units support infant health in our community,” said Kevin Mosich, Pembina's Fort McMurray Area Supervisor. “The event also gave us a chance to meet with the other donors an share in the exceptional health care services our region provides.”