Respiratory Equipment Campaign

The Pulmonary Respiratory Testing Unit can now tell the 500 sufferers seen each year at the Regional Health Centre why they are having problems. The equipment measures and tests breathing. It measures the strength of the lungs and how well air passes into the blood stream from your lungs. It can analyze exhaled air and determine what gasses are in the breath.

The pulmonary testing machine at the Regional Health Centre has largely eliminated travel out of the region for testing. Previously patients were referred to Regina or Saskatoon. Some didn’t or couldn't go, for various reasons. With this equipment at the regional health centre, all testing is done right here, reducing delays in diagnosis and early treatment.

Medical professionals now screen patients and monitor their progress. Young and old have chronic pulmonary disease problems more accurately diagnosed and treated more quickly. Lives are saved because of early diagnosis.

The Health Foundation was also able to purchase an overnight sleep recorder and start a new sleep apnea program. Until now people with sleep apnea (people who stop breathing while asleep) had to go to Regina or Saskatoon for diagnosis and treatment.

Having this equipment is a huge benefit to the region as sleep apnea is very common and affects over 5% of the population. However, the vast majority of sleep apnea cases remain undiagnosed and therefore untreated, despite the fact that this serious disorder can have significant consequences to individuals.

With the pulmonary testing laboratory and the sleep recorder our respiratory care department can now provide a full range of service equivalent to Regina or Saskatoon, greatly reducing the need for travel.