News Release
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KPMG, is hosting a fundraising BBQ tomorrow afternoon (July 31) from 11am-2pm at 925 Stockdale Drive.. We are attempting to raise funds for the purchase of a Central Fetal Monitoring System at the North Bay Regional Health Centre. The Mayor, Dr. Waja and several Hospital officials are expected to be in attendance,
We have had some wonderful local support, including: M&M Meat Shop, Independent, Sobeys and Jeff and Tanis’ No Frills.
For a minimum of $5 participants can get a lunch (Choice of hamburger, hot dog or sausage dog), dessert and beverage! I have attached a poster with all the information along with details regarding the Monitoring System itself.
Obstetricians will have access to real-time fetal contractions on their smartphones
The North Bay Regional Health Centre Foundation has launched a fundraising campaign for the purchase of a central fetal monitoring system. They are aiming to raise money for a $1.25 million Central Fetal Monitoring System, which will allow doctors and nurses to instantly evaluate a baby for signs of distress during labour and delivery.
Today, when a fetal monitor at the hospital indicates an irregular heartbeat, the obstetrician on call is contacted and forced to make a decision without being able to view the paper strip showing the fetal heart contractions.
With the $1.2 million central fetal monitoring system in place, obstetricians will be able to pull out their smartphone at home or in their office and view the contractions in real-time.
“I became aware of the technology several years ago at a medical conference in Vegas and thought it would be great for a small community like North Bay where we’re not in the hospital all the time,” said Dr. Lukmaan Waja, one of five OBGYNs in the city.
Currently, if there’s an issue, an obstetrician is called and they have to physically come in and look at the paper strip. With central fetal monitoring, if there is an issue, the obstetrician can pull up the information on their smartphone and decide if they have to go to the hospital right away.
If an emergency C-section is required, the obstetrician can set the wheels in motion before arriving at the hospital.
Without seeing the fetal heart contractions, “I can’t say ‘Get the patient ready for an emergency C- section.’ That’s a huge decision. The patient needs to be counselled and informed. An anesthetist needs to be called in. Operating Room staff need to be called in. And if it turns out that a C-section is not needed, we’ve called in all these people needlessly.” On the other hand, if a premature delivery is required, “We can gain 15 to 20 minutes,” said Waja. “To a baby in serious jeopardy, that’s a huge difference.”
The central fetal monitoring system will also relay data to monitors in the nursing station, allowing staff to monitor fetal heart contractions in high-risk pregnancies without having to continuously check the monitors in the unit’s eight rooms.
The North Bay Regional Health Centre serves as a district referral centre for high-risk and multiple births, delivering between 800 and 900 babies annually.
