NEWS RELEASE
ROYAL VICTORIA REGIONAL HEALTH CENTRE
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Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) is one step closer to providing advanced cardiac care for area residents, closer to home. Earlier in the week, RVH received the equipment for the two catheterization labs in the Advanced Cardiac Centre. This exciting milestone enables RVH to bring cardiac care closer to home, beginning early-January.
“Construction of the centre, which began May 2017, is complete and in the weeks ahead we will install and safety test the equipment and the cardiac team will complete training on it,” says Janice Skot, RVH president and CEO. “Equally exciting is that this equipment is not only state-of-the-art, but is the very first of its kind in Canada!”
The equipment, Philips Azurion, features innovations in improving procedure efficiency, unique x-ray exposure reducing technology and sophisticated cardiac imaging tools. This highly advanced technology not only supports superior patient care but is incredibly user-friendly with a touch screen interface. RVH will be the first hospital in Canada to use this technology for cardiac catheterizations.
In January, RVH will start performing diagnostic angiograms, then about eight months later begin angioplasty procedures. Within the first year, approximately 1,200 procedures will be completed and the phased ramp-up will continue over a five year period. This cautious, gradual approach to opening a complex new program, in partnership with Southlake Regional Health Centre, ensures patients will receive safe, high quality care.
“Every year, approximately 3,600 North Simcoe Muskoka heart patients must travel outside the region for advanced cardiac services,” says Dr. Stephen Pizzale, cardiologist and medical director of the cardiovascular program at RVH. “Having these cardiac services available in Barrie will be a game changer, in fact, a lifesaver for heart patients throughout Simcoe County and Muskoka.”
The RVH Foundation’s $25 million Hearts and Minds fundraising campaign has already raised more than $23 million from donors throughout the region. To donate, visit here.
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