Emergency ultra-sound now in service at RR Hospital

By Ken Johnston
Editor

Earlier this year Nurse Manager for the Rainy River Hospital came to the Hospital Auxiliary with a vision; a vision to buy an emergency room ultra-sound machine.
Last week that vision became clear as day as Doctor’s Albert Beller and David Singleton began training on the newly delivered diagnostic tool.
Initially hopes were to buy a machine that cost around $44,000. As the Ultra Sound 9-1-1 fund raising drive took off it became clear that there was strong support for the project and officials decided to purchase a more expensive machine with more bells and whistles. In October the Legion and its Aux. donated $5,000 and $1,000 respectively putting the project just $7,000 short of its $60,000 goal. According to Teresa Hazel of the Riverside Foundation, $57,000 has been raised to date.
The ultra sound was ordered with hopes of training the doctors by year end and having it operational by January or February. Well the training is complete and the machine is now available for use in the ER.
Dr. Beller said the machine has become the most common emergency diagnostic tool in ERs today. “In the old days every ER needed access to X-ray, now they should have this technology (emergency ultrasound).”
Beller explained that it has many uses including checking for free fluid in adominal injures (i.e. blood). “We can also check for fluid around the heart, clots in veins, fetal viability and much more,” explained Beller.
While the machine has most of the capabilities of the larger fixed location one in Fort Frances, the local hospital will not be doing scheduled ultra sounds; it is for emergency use only.
Beller was very impressed with the machine saying, “It is excellent! I am very impressed! We can now see immediately inside a patient,” he added as he demonstrated on volunteer Andrea McNabb, showing the Record her spine and several internal organs instantly.
Rainy River has joined the front line for emergency diagnostic capabilities. Beller said that Fort Frances has the same tool but Emo does not as of yet.