Jessica Klinkenberg
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, September 26, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Stanton Territorial Hospital is looking to purchase a new portable ultrasound machine that will be used in the emergency room.

Stanton already has a portable ultrasound machine, however, the machine is located in the hospital's obstetrics unit.

Ultrasound equipment is used for more than just checking on the health of a pregnant woman's baby, although that is the most common use. It's also used in medical emergencies.

"When you're wheeling it through hallways ...the risk of damage increases. With a dedicated machine (in the emergency room) that chance decreases," said Sylvia Haener, chief executive officer of Stanton.

"What the ER doctors were having to do was haul the portable machine from obstetrics on the second floor and bringing it down (to them)."

The new machine will mean more training opportunities for physicians as well.

"There are ultrasound physicians, but (other) physicians can be trained to use them, and that enhances their ability to diagnose more quickly so we wouldn't have to call a technician in after hours," said Haener.

The CEO doesn't expect to get the new ultrasound machine until late autumn. The price tag runs into the "thousands of dollars," she said.

"The ER doctors are going to be very happy when it comes in. They want to be able to deliver the best care possible and diagnose quicker."