There are many reasons why someone may need an ultrasound exam which uses sound waves (and not radiation like an x-ray) to visualize tendons, muscles, joints, vessels and internal organs.
Those could include suspected blood clots, suspected breast cysts or cancer, abdominal pain, shoulder, knee or ankle injuries. It can also be used to check on the health of the bladder, uterus and ovaries, and prostate. Each year at Guelph General Hospital has 12,000 patients that have ultrasound tests and, thanks to donor funds, a new, state-of-the-art ultrasound unit was purchased from the annual proceeds of the foundation’s endowment fund.
“That fund is our savings account, our fund for the future,” said the foundation’s executive director Suzanne Bone
“We don’t touch our savings, but each year ,about 3.5% of the value is available for equipment for our hospital.” This past year, that amounted to $170,000, which was just enough for the urgently needed new machine.
The new one replaced a 12-year-old unit.
“The image quality is vastly improved and there are a number of new benefits for patients and staff,” said Mike Sharma, director of diagnostic imaging.
There are also a number of features that make the machine a favourite among staff. For example, many of its functions can be activated by voice command. Not only does the hospital get a new machine, but also the old one was donated to Kijabe Hospital, in Kenya. One of the Guelph radiologists, Dr. Joshua Tjong, recently left to spend a year volunteering there. Anyone interested in learning about the Endowment Fund can call the foundation office at 519-837-6422.
