Friday May 8, 2020 ~ VICTORIA
by Mary Brooke, B.Sc. ~ West Shore Voice News
As part of supporting the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Camosun College is loaning a digital, portable x-ray machine to Island Health.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has affected everyone at Camosun and we’re pleased to do whatever we can to support local front-line health professionals, many of whom are former students,” says Dr. Cynthia Smith, Dean of the School of Health and Human Services. “The loan of the digital, portable x-ray unit will help Island Health staff and benefit patients during this challenging and complex time.”
This, in part, indicates the lack of student activity on campus during the pandemic, during which time all Camosun students are studying their coursework remotely. The campus was closed to in-class instruction mid-March.
The x-ray unit is normally used by students in the two-year Medical Radiography program that is located at the college’s Interurban campus. Medical Radiography technologists are an integral part of providing a medical diagnosis, working with patients and producing clear images for radiologists to interpret.
“We appreciate Camosun College loaning us this x-ray machine that will be used to help monitor and assess patients with COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia,” says Dr. David Robertson, Island Health Executive Medical Director for Medical Imaging.
“Because the unit is portable, it can be brought directly to a patient, allowing for a more rapid assessment with high-quality digital images for a radiologist to interpret, while reducing the chance of transmission of the virus.”
The loan of the portable x-ray unit builds on the work of the college to support Island Health during the global pandemic.
Other COVID-action support initiatives:
Camosun Innovates, the applied research arm of the college, is currently manufacturing more than 9,000 medical grade face shields for local health professionals at Island Health. Camosun Innovates has also provided face shields to Beacon Community Services Community Living Victoria.
The college’s School of Health and Human Services also provided personal protection equipment to Island Health and Camosun Nursing Instructor Selena Hebig initiated the creation of much needed scrub caps for local nurses and health care workers. Hebig prototyped a fun, colourful cap with buttons to allow nurses to fasten their masks directly to the cap, instead of having them chafe behind their ears. Hebig then partnered with a local textiles retail store that put the word out to their sewing community. Together they created and delivered over 150 scrub caps to Victoria nursing staff.
About Camosun’s School of Health and Human Services:
Camosun’s School of Health and Human Services delivers 18 different health care and social service programs in nursing, medical radiography, home support care, mental health and addictions, dental hygiene and more to over 1,000 students each year.
Camosun College has campuses located on the Traditional Territories of the Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples.Established in 1971, the college serves 19,000 learners a year in certificate, diploma, bachelor’s degree, post-degree diploma and continuing education programs.
