Long-time nurse Marcy Cameron knows the importance of the 800 CHAB Family First Radiothon and the money it raises to continuously improve the Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital with new state-of-the-art equipment.  

Cameron has resided within the community for 20 years and worked at the Moose Jaw Union Hospital in the Surgical Unit (SU) and the Emergency Room (ER) as a nurse and then transferred over to the new hospital in October 2015. 

“It’s been very good for patients because they each have their own individual rooms and there is space that the family can stay with the patient,” says Cameron. “I feel like it’s a lot more patient-focused.” 

Fast forward to now, she is adjusting to her new role as a Resource Nurse.  

“My job is to be a resource to the ER and ICU nurses,” adds Cameron. “We have so many new nurses that are coming into the profession and don’t have a lot of medical or surgical experience. My job is to support them, teach them in the moment, and help them with medications that they maybe have never mixed or given before.”  

This year’s radiothon will take over the Town n’ Country Mall on May 4 and 5, with 800 CHAB broadcasting live for 36 hours.  

In partnership with the Moose Jaw Health Foundation, this year’s goal is to raise $150,000 for new equipment for the Emergency Room and Intensive Care Units within the hospital.  

One of those pieces of equipment that the hospital needs is an additional glidescope.  

“We can always use more. A glidescope is a special instrument we use for intubating a patient. If a patient is unable to breathe on their own or we have to put them to sleep for a certain reason, we use this as a tool. It’s like a camera that we can visualize the patients' airways in real-time and we are able to put in the tube in easily.” 

The glidescope will prevent trauma to the airwave and allows staff to easily intubate the patient.  

This glidescope is in addition to the one that was purchased with the funds raised from last year’s 800 CHAB Family First Radiothon. 

The hospital will also be looking to purchase a specialized bed for critical care patients. Cameron says that this bed is very helpful when it comes to the care of the patient.

“It can prevent pressure ulcers; it can help with a patient that is on a ventilator that needs some chest therapy. The bed has capabilities for motion or vibration in order to prevent pneumonia from setting in. These beds are so specialized they can even get a patient into a sitting position or an upright position. They are incredible beds.” 

An ultrasound probe is another piece of equipment that the hospital has earmarked to purchase with the funds raised from the radiothon.    

This probe will help diagnose the severity of aortic stenosis and helps physicians determine the severity of urgent and chronic conditions in the ER or ICU.  

The last item the hospital will be looking to purchase is a QuickThaw Plasma System. This product will help thaw the plasma, as it comes to them frozen.   

Plasma is the clear, yellowish, part of the blood that carries the blood cells.   

Cameron explains that this equipment is crucial for patient care, as over time these items wear down.  

“Much like equipment that you use every day, you have that overuse and eventually parts need to be replaced and sometimes can't be replaced."

Last year $159,914 was raised for the women’s health and pediatric units to be able to buy new equipment.     

Over the last 16 years, the radiothon has raised $4,809,384 for the hospital.  

The Health Foundation is in need of volunteers for this year’s Radiothon. Those that are interested in volunteering can contact the Health Foundation at 306-694-0373. More information about this year's Radiothon can be found HERE.    

Listen to the full interview below between Cameron and 800 CHAB's Rob Carnie: