heart

Riverside Health Care is working to bring back the ability to do echocardiograms in Fort Frances.

A campaign is underway to raise the $200,000 necessary for the equipment that takes ultrasounds of the heart.

The non-invasive test allows medical professionals the ability to look at the heart’s structure, pumping function and blood flow, and diagnose conditions such as valve disease, cardiomyopathy and heart failure.

It was last available in the Rainy River District in 2022. Patients have since had to travel to Kenora or Thunder Bay for the test.

“We know that can be a real burden for people who are already dealing with a health concern, and there’s access to transportation and all of those barriers that we know that come in the way when we’re dealing with out-of-town appointments,” says Director of Fundraising, Holly Kaemingh.

“So I think being able to bring this service back to the district and closer to home for our communities is really important.”

The ECHO Initiative follows in the footsteps of a highly successful campaign that recently raised funds for a new MRI unit at La Verendrye General Hospital, and new digital radiology equipment at La Verendrye and Rainy River Health Centre.

Kaemingh expects support for the latest initiative will be just as strong.

“We’re hoping individuals, businesses, organizations across the district want to get involved,” says Kaemingh.

“We’ve seen it before with the amazing support we had with the Lights, Camera, Diagnosis Campaign, and we’re looking forward to doing it again.”

Funds from the ongoing 50/50 draws will be directed to the ECHO campaign.

Other fundraising initiatives are planned, with details to be revealed at a later date.

Riverside is hoping to have the echocardiography machine and other specialized equipment within La Verendrye’s radiology department by the middle of next year.