Organizers behind the 2023 Country Christmas Festival of Trees are thrilled to see the donation of state-of-the-art medical equipment already making a difference at the Ponoka Hospital and Care Centre.
Proceeds from the festival supported the purchase of a new Carestream DRX Mobile — a mobile X-ray unit worth $164,905.
In a letter to the Ponoka and District Health Foundation, hospital officials noted that, “The image quality is beyond expectation. Not only does this equipment provide supreme imaging at the bedside, but it also allows the Ponoka diagnostic department to become fully digital.
“This improves the speed, accuracy, and efficiency of patient diagnosis and treatment.”
Overall, organizers were happy with how the festival turned out.
“This year’s festival was very successful — we had very generous people and a very good turn-out,” said Katherine Steblyk, vice chair of the foundation.
“We were very pleased with the support that we received.”
As for the new X-ray unit, Steblyk said that instead of having to take a patient from anywhere in the hospital to the equipment, staff can now bring the unit right to the patient.
“It saves a lot of time and also discomfort for the patient,” she said, adding that plans are starting to be put in place for next year’s Festival of Trees.