Fraser Valley Patients Get Access to $30 Million in High-Tech Upgrades
Fraser Valley patients will benefit from $30 million in state-of-the-art medical technology and systems, giving health-care professionals at Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre critical decision-making information at the patient’s bedside.
GE Healthcare was selected through a competitive process to provide medical imaging equipment and patient monitoring systems for the hospital and cancer centre. In addition, GE Healthcare will provide digital picture archiving and communications system for the facility.
More than 14,000 pieces of equipment will be installed before the hospital and cancer centre opens for patients in summer 2008. The $30 million agreement with GE Healthcare represents the largest package of equipment awarded and includes advanced imaging and monitoring technology, such as:
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A Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine – the first publicly owned and operated in the eastern Fraser Valley;
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Two 64-slice Computerized Tomography (CT) scanners;
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Two CT simulators used in cancer treatment planning;
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Two digital mammography units – a first for the Fraser Health Authority; and
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An anesthesia information management system – the first of its kind in Canada.
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Funding Supports First Nations Language Revitalization
The province of British Columbia celebrated National Aboriginal Day this week with a $1.2 million investment in support of the revitalization of First Nations languages and culture.
The investment builds on First Nations community priorities expressed through the First Peoples’ Heritage, Language and Culture Council (FPHLCC) Language Strategic Plan and voiced during the 2006 First Citizens’ Forum and the New Relationship Trust community consultation process. Specifically, the funding will be used to support:
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Language and culture camps;
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Language and culture master-apprentice programs between Elders and First Nations learners;
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Pre-school language and culture immersion programs; and
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First Nations community language and culture authorities.
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B.C. Invests $9 Million in Residential Care Training
The Province is investing almost $9 million in new student spaces, loan reduction and enhanced training for residential care aides and home support workers at B.C. public post-secondary institutions.
This year, British Columbia is investing $1.68 million in 213 new student spaces for residential care aides and home support workers to ensure that students interested in this area as a career have access to the training they need to be successful. The 213 new seats will be split among eight post-secondary institutions across the province. Sixteen of the seats have been reserved for Aboriginal students, as part of the ministry’s commitment to increase participation by this group in career-related education programs.
The Province is also increasing financial support by $6.8 million for students enrolled in residential care aide and home support worker programs through a two-year pilot project that will extend eligibility for loan reduction.
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