Kelowna’s health care system has grown so rapidly that fewer and fewer inland patients have to travel to the coast for treatment.
“By and large, people need very little travel to provide services,” said Doug Ranmore, executive director of the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation. “Most of the things are available to Kelowna General. This is a tertiary teaching hospital serving over 1 million people across the province. “
The Cameron family of Revelstoke is a good example of how improved services at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) are enabling patients to stay closer to home while their loved ones provide support just steps away from the hospital.
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Robert Cameron, 72, was watching TV with his wife Carol and daughter Roberta on November 1 when he suffered cardiac arrest.
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Roberta immediately called 9-1-1.
“The guy on the phone said ‘do your compressions four times very fast’ so I kept going and then my dad suddenly took a deep breath … so I was like ‘he’s still here!'” An emotional Roberta called back.
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Moments later, paramedics came and when her father was loaded into the ambulance, the unthinkable happened – her mother had a stroke.
“Suddenly I see my mother … and I say ‘Mom, what’s going on’ and she says ‘my hand feels weird'” said Roberta. “So I look at her face and the left side of her face is drooping.”
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Roberta called her brother Cory shortly thereafter to deliver the shocking news.
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“I think the statistics on that are ridiculous,” said Cory. “I’m sure it’s pretty crazy to be in the same house with a husband and wife in minutes.”
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Robert Cameron has been taken to KGH for treatment where new advanced cardiac rhythm services have prevented him from being flown to Vancouver or Victoria.
His wife, Carol Cameron, 68, was originally hospitalized in Kamloops, but she too was eventually moved to Kelowna so the two could be in the same hospital. Your children believe this will make a huge difference in their recovery.
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“We can see her improving,” said Cory. “That’s a big part of getting better as fast as they are and as good as they are.”
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KGH continues to be developed as a regional turnstile hospital to better care for indoor British Columbia patients close to their home as the distance not only puts a strain on family members, but also puts a strain on patients.
“It would have been difficult,” said Cory when asked what it would have been like if one of his parents had to be flown to the coast for treatment. “It burdens everyone because I am not only worried about them, but also about us here. It is the communication factor of keeping them constantly updated and, in turn, the factor that both have their spouse in a different community. “
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JoeAnna’s Kelowna home opens its doors
What also makes a big difference for the whole family is the newly built facility called JoeAnna’s House near the hospital, which allows families out of town to stay while their loved ones are hospitalized.
“We don’t live in a hotel and you know if I have to go and my sister is here alone and has no vehicle … you can walk,” said Cory. “I can’t really explain how amazing it was for us to have a place like this.”
JoeAnna’s home opened in December and has 20 rooms for families of patients treated at KGH.
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