Healing Hearts, Saving Lives
Langley Memorial Hospital (LMH) gained four more monitored beds for the care of critically ill cardiac patients, thanks to the guests, sponsors and donors who participated in Hot Havana Nights, the Foundation’s signature gala in October 2023.
Apart from childbirth, heart attack and heart failure are the most common reasons for hospital admissions across Canada. Monitoring through telemetry is essential in the care for every patient who visits LMH for cardiac care, either in the Emergency Department or in the Critical Care Unit (CCU), which houses the cardiac care unit.
Telemetry monitoring allows medical staff to watch for abnormal patterns in heartbeat, arrhythmia or atrial fibrillation, which occur when the heart beats too fast and irregularly. The abnormal activity can be seen on a monitor at the nurses’ station spontaneously, allowing for quick intervention.
Previously, with only six cardiac telemetry beds in the CCU, patients were being held in the Emergency Department for 1.2 days on average before they could be transferred into a cardiac bed.
Kiran Parmar, Clinical Nurse Specialist who trains medical staff at LMH on new equipment, says the addition of more beds equipped with monitors has made a huge difference in the time that patients wait to be admitted to cardiac care.
With the arrival of the new beds, Kiran led advanced training among the staff who oversee cardiac monitoring. Each nurse in the unit must complete a month-long online course before they take part in more training.
“Once they get on the unit, I am with them for a full day, to refresh what they’ve learned, go over scenarios and the details of the equipment,” she says. Afterward, each newly-trained nurse completes an orientation with patients before they work on their own.
The greater number of telemetry-monitored beds have resulted in a higher number of telemetry-trained staff, she adds. “Now more nurses in the hospital are qualified to look after patients [in monitored beds],” she says.
Meeting an Ever-Growing Need
The purchase of the new equipment was possible thanks to the generosity of the 320 guests at the Hot Havana Nights gala on October 21, 2023. The Cuban-themed event inspired donors to give about $315,000. The signature gala in 2022 raised $205,000 for youth wellness at Foundry Langley.
“Every year our donors impress us with their kindness and generosity! We truly do live in the most amazing community,” says Leanne Laurin who, along with husband Mike, were the presenting sponsors of the annual gala.
Last year alone, more than 750 patients who visited Langley Memorial’s Emergency Department were admitted to the CCU for cardiac care.
“What we know is that the longer a patient who presents cardiac challenges remains in the ER the higher their mortality rate,” says Heather Scott, LCHHF Executive Director. “We want patients to recover quickly and go back into the community to live health and happy lives.”