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Arrow Lakes Hospital welcomes dummy, ultrasound

Diana the Megacode dummy and a new ultrasound can now be found at the Arrow Lakes Hospital in Nakusp.
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Suzanne McCombs

Thanks to the sizeable donation in the order of $54,000 from Arrow Lakes Auxiliary Health Care, Diana the Megacode dummy and a new ultrasound can now be found at the Arrow Lakes Hospital in Nakusp.

“The ultrasound is used a lot more in the emergency department for diagnostics,” said Suzanne McCombs, Suzanne McCombs, CIHS Manager of Nakusp, New Denver, Kaslo, Edgewood and Castlegar Acute. “Proper use can aid in the diagnosis of aneurysms and free fluid or air in the abdomen or around the heart.”

The imaging equipment can also be used to aid medical procedures such as the insertion of central venous IV lines and putting in regular IVs in those people with hard-to-find blood vessels.

“The uses are really varied and growing all the time,” said McCombs who was happy to have the machine become part of the hospital’s equipment. “Our physicians are trained in the use in the ER and it is used frequently.”

Diana the Megacode dummy is also taking up residence at the Arrow Lakes Hospital, and is a fabulous teaching aid for physicians and nurses. Diana the dummy connects to a computer and a screen that lets the students see different heart beats that they can plan their interventions around.

“As well as being a ‘code blue’ dummy it can also be used to start IVs, central lines and arterial lines that will show blood with a good ‘stick,’” McComb told the Arrow Lakes News. Medical staff can also practice inserting chest tubes, intubating and attaching to a ventilator and numerous other things thanks to the dummy.

“The great thing is that we can now do a lot more teaching and practicing with the care team of nurses and physicians without either leaving the community or waiting for classes to come to us,” said McCombs, who isn’t the only glad for the addition. “Our Clinical Practice Educator for Nakusp, Ann Weir, is really excited and grateful for the donation.”