Diagnosis: Getting better
Published on Fri, Dec 23, 2011Read More News
A $25,000 donation from the Sequim Dungeness Hospital Guild to Clallam County Fire District 3 helps purchase four i-STAT systems for quicker diagnosis of patients in emergencies. On hand for a check and plaque ceremony are, from left, Jim Barnfather, fire commissioner; Steve Vogel, fire chief; Bryan Swanberg, medical safety officer; Sue Tondreau, co-chairman of the guild’s thrift shop; Addie Curtis, group vice-president; Jean Janis, president of the group; and Connie Hixson, co-chairman of the thrift shop. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash
Hospital guild gives to fire district’s new medical machines
Sequim Gazette staff
In a crunch, the length time of it takes paramedics to make a diagnosis might be lessened thanks to a large donation from the Sequim Dungeness Hospital Guild.
The guild presented a $25,000 check to Clallam County Fire District 3 at its annual Christmas luncheon on Friday Dec. 16, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.
Bryan Swanberg, medical safety officer, said the district plans to buy four i-STAT systems, portable machines that instantly analyze blood in an emergency setting and give results in minutes. Four machines will be purchased, with two stationed in Sequim, one in Blyn and one in Carlsborg.
Swanberg said they have a large number of patients for whom traditional paramedic medical evaluation can’t pinpoint the exact problems.
“This would allow us on the patient with chest pain, without the ordinary signs and symptoms present, to have instant blood work done and make a determination if transport to a medical facility is necessary,” he said.
Paramedics can test for a recent heart attack through the blood and test patients with shortness of breath for congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other ailments.
The fire district becomes of the first in its kind in Washington with these devices. Swanberg said they don’t plan to use them on every patient.
Funds came from the Sequim-Dungeness Hospital Guild Thrift Shop, 204 W. Bell St. The guild has donated more than $600,000 since 1982 to the fire district. Fire Chief Steve Vogel presented the guild with a plaque for its support.
Each December, the guild gives to the district and in May to Olympic Medical Center and Dungeness Valley Health and Wellness Clinic.
The thrift store is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. the first and third Saturday of each month. For more information, call 683-7044.
Reach Clallam County Fire District 3, 323 N. Fifth Ave., Sequim, at 683-4242.
Sequim Gazette staff
In a crunch, the length time of it takes paramedics to make a diagnosis might be lessened thanks to a large donation from the Sequim Dungeness Hospital Guild.
The guild presented a $25,000 check to Clallam County Fire District 3 at its annual Christmas luncheon on Friday Dec. 16, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.
Bryan Swanberg, medical safety officer, said the district plans to buy four i-STAT systems, portable machines that instantly analyze blood in an emergency setting and give results in minutes. Four machines will be purchased, with two stationed in Sequim, one in Blyn and one in Carlsborg.
Swanberg said they have a large number of patients for whom traditional paramedic medical evaluation can’t pinpoint the exact problems.
“This would allow us on the patient with chest pain, without the ordinary signs and symptoms present, to have instant blood work done and make a determination if transport to a medical facility is necessary,” he said.
Paramedics can test for a recent heart attack through the blood and test patients with shortness of breath for congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other ailments.
The fire district becomes of the first in its kind in Washington with these devices. Swanberg said they don’t plan to use them on every patient.
Funds came from the Sequim-Dungeness Hospital Guild Thrift Shop, 204 W. Bell St. The guild has donated more than $600,000 since 1982 to the fire district. Fire Chief Steve Vogel presented the guild with a plaque for its support.
Each December, the guild gives to the district and in May to Olympic Medical Center and Dungeness Valley Health and Wellness Clinic.
The thrift store is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. the first and third Saturday of each month. For more information, call 683-7044.
Reach Clallam County Fire District 3, 323 N. Fifth Ave., Sequim, at 683-4242.
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Business hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Phone 360-683-3311, or toll free at 800-829-5810. FAX 360-683-6670.
For a complete company directory with contact information please click HERE.
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