Light a Bulb Campaign Makes a Vital Impact in VJH Departments

The annual Light a Bulb campaign may be a distant memory for most people, but its impact is making a difference to staff throughout Vernon Jubilee Hospital as they prepare for and adjust to the dynamic situation of COVID-19.

The 2019 fundraising campaign, which ran from November 15 through the end of December, focused on raising funds to upgrade and replace urgently needed equipment at VJH. And the community came to the table in a big way – exceeding the VJH Foundation goal and raising more than $315,000.

“The funds raised through this campaign enabled the Foundation to purchase much needed equipment for our hospital, some of which is proving vital as teams adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic” said Kate McBrearty, VJH Foundation Executive Director. “Amongst other purchases, eight new bladder scanners and eight new vital machines were distributed throughout nine different departments in VJH over the past few months. “Thanks to the hundreds of donors who chose to support our Light a Bulb campaign, every dollar raised truly is impacting patient care right here, right now, in our hospital.”

“The vital signs machines we received are literally lifesaving,” stated Iris Ready, Registered Nurse on floor 2 East/West at VJH. “Having this additional equipment is crucial, particularly for patients who are on contact precautions. We’re now able to keep a specific machine with a patient in isolation, rather than having to sanitize after each use in order to transfer between rooms. Not only does this save time for our nursing staff, but it also greatly reduces the spread of bacteria and assists with mitigating infection. These new machines are a wonderful addition to our wards and we are so thankful to have them.”

Ready added, “For the patients themselves, the advanced technology of the new bladder scanners allows us to see more on the screens. This enhanced view means that patient comfort is increased as we can press more gently during assessments.”

“The Hospital’s medical and administrative teams have been working tirelessly to prepare for a potential surge during this pandemic. Having state-of-the-art equipment and access to the latest technologies benefits everyone – staff and patients alike,” continued McBrearty.

Amongst other equipment purchased thanks to the community’s generosity during the 2019 Light a Bulb campaign, two additional gastroscopes are now use in VJH’s surgical department.