Pictured above: Kristina Gifford of Kipp-Mallery Pharmacy, Chris Cameron of Pratt’s Compounding Pharmacy, and Aaron Glover of Glover’s Medicine Centre Pharmacy are pictured with RIH Foundation Board Member, Dr. Anise Barton (far right) and Foundation staff, Julie Kimmel (left). 

Ultrasound machines are essential in detection and diagnosis at RIH offering extraordinary images and innovative solutions to patient care. They are becoming a more common tool for physicians and other medical professionals to use throughout the hospital—not just in the Medical Imaging department. In 2017, donor support led to the purchase of five new ultrasound machines for departments and clinics both in the hospital and community setting including the TRFO Maternity Clinic, the Ambulatory Care Unit, the Rae Fawcett Simulation Centre, the Operating Room (OR) and the Community pain management program.

Dr. Anise Barton, a general surgeon at RIH advocated for an ultrasound in the OR that would specifically benefit patients with breast tumors.

“Surgeons use the ultrasound machine as an intra-operative tool to ensure complete excision of breast lesions with clear margins. It helps to ensure more accurate surgery with better cosmetic outcomes.”

The new ultrasound machine is used not only for lumpectomies and partial mastectomies, but is also used for a variety of other purposes in the OR by the surgeons and anesthesiologists.

In order to fund this ultrasound, the Foundation approached three local pharmacies: Kipp-Mallery Pharmacy, Pratt’s Compounding Pharmacy and Glover’s Medicine Centre Pharmacy, who joined forces to purchase the machine for the OR and improve surgical outcomes for patients at RIH.

Doctors and UBC medical students who are studying at RIH can practice their imaging skills and technique using the ultrasound that was purchased for the Rae Fawcett Simulation Centre. This machine can be used in simulation training or can be signed out by individuals for extra practice. Specifically, Emergency Room and Internal Medicine physicians have been offered additional training with the new machine along with the Respiratory Therapy department.