Quicker than almost anyone expected, Jasper is getting a portable ultrasound machine.
According to Declan Unsworth, the Jasper doctor who helped get the fundraising efforts rolling, the Ladies Hospital Auxiliary has ordered the machine, and it will likely arrive in town by the end of May, or early June.
“There’s been a really overwhelming response—we weren’t expecting everything to go this fast,” he said.
Ever since Unsworth and a crew of Jasper medical professionals began taking donations for a portable ultrasound machine for the emergency room on Jan. 8, the community has rallied to the cause.
Starting with a wine tasting hosted by D.J. Bowen, and continuing with nearly constant events and fundraisers—a live band at the Jasper Legion, a fast-a-thon by Jasper Junior/Senior High School’s peer support group, a thrift shop fashion show from the United Church Thrift Shop and a host of others—the money came in quick, from across the community.
Unsworth said that donations have been steadily coming in, and with the fund currently sitting around $58,000 at last count—and more donations expected to continue to arrive—now was the right time to take the next step.
“So we basically just went ahead and ordered the thing,” he said.
But even though the Ladies Hospital Auxiliary has reached its goal, more money will likely still trickle in. The Jasper Brewing Company, for example, recently started serving its Ultrasound Brew, which brewer John Palko said will likely bring in about $3,000 for the fund. Brütopia, the craft beer festival that happened last weekend, also acted as a fundraiser.
Unsworth said that with the $60,000 locked down, any extra money will be put toward training the doctors how to use the machine.
He said he and a few others in town have experience using ultrasound machines, so the hospital can put theirs to use as soon as it arrives. However, more advanced training will be essential to get the most out of it.
“Those of us that have used them before, know when it is needed,” he said. “If you have a conclusive result—and you’re confident in your result—then you can use that piece of information. If you have an inconclusive result then you kind of have to throw that result out and treat it like you would normally.”
Training will mean more conclusive results, but Unsworth pointed out that at $1,500 per doctor it won’t be cheap. For now, however, Unsworth is just anxious to get the machine up and running.
He also said he and the fundraising committee are “incredibly” thankful to the community for making it all possible.
Trevor Nichols
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