- June 27, 2024
New ultrasound units mean more reliable care for St. Mary’s patients
If you’re getting an ultrasound at St. Mary’s General Hospital, you may notice the sleek new machine the technician is using.
Generous community donations have allowed St. Mary’s to secure several new ultrasound units, upgrading old equipment and ensuring consistency across both St. Mary’s and Grand River hospitals.
Ria Van Osch, the Ultrasound Team Lead at St. Mary’s, says staff were overjoyed to unwrap the slender, new pieces of equipment, which offer plenty of upgrades to the clunkier ultrasounds of the past.
“We know that we’re giving patients the best care possible and they’re getting everything they need from us,” says Ria.
The perks
The newer models offer better image quality, allowing ultrasound techs to not only pick up issues they may not have seen clearly before, but also help determine how serious a problem may be.
“It helps tell us whether a finding is benign or whether it’s suspicious and needs further follow-up,” Ria says.
The ultrasounds are also more portable – an important aspect for staff who need to squeeze machines into tight rooms in the intensive care unit, or travel around the hospital to perform scans on sicker, less mobile patients.
The ergonomic design of the new units also improves staff safety, limiting strain on wrists, shoulders and necks.
A machine you can rely on
Ria says having a reliable fleet of ultrasounds is a game-changer for patient care.
The old machines required frequent downtime for service. And when one went down, it meant having to re-book patients.
“Now we don’t have to defer patient care because a machine isn’t working,” Ria says.
Want to help fund new equipment not covered by the government of Ontario? Support St. Mary's by making a donation today.
