Whitecourt Healthcare Centre gets new equipment

By Rechell McDonald
The Friends of Whitecourt Society in partnership with Repeat Boutique purchased a new cardiac stress testing machine for the Whitecourt Healthcare Centre.
“These funds were raised by the volunteers at the Repeat Boutique in Whitecourt. If you have donated clothing or household items to Repeat Boutique or shopped at the store, you have contributed to many items that have been purchased for the Whitecourt Healthcare Centre,” explained Elaine Gunderson of the Friends of Whitecourt Society. The treadmill unit which carries a price tag of $30,635 provides the Centre with a much-needed upgrade from their older unit which was in need of costly repairs and software upgrades.
If you are referred to Dr. Kulak at the Whitecourt Healthcare Centre due to suspected heart issues, this machine is a key diagnostic tool to see exactly what is going on with your heart. It also allows for post-op cardiac patients to be monitored more closely, as well as keeping an eye on high-risk patients such as those at risk for hereditary conditions. It also helps provide hard data to evaluate the effectiveness and response to cardiac medications, and those following a medical exercise program.
“[Whitecourt Healthcare Centre’s] equipment attracts patients from Barrhead, Mayerthorpe, Fox Creek, and Swan Hills as well as local residents. The stress testing program looks after an average of 450 patients per year, working two days/week,” says Gunderson. “Approximately 60 per cent of the patients come from the surrounding area, bringing people to our Healthcare Centre for their medical needs, allowing them a shorter drive and less stress of traveling through the city.”
The new cardiac testing system is run by Dr. Kulak and Kathy Duerr, technologist, at the Healthcare Centre. The Friends of Whitecourt Society has already begun raising funds for the next machine which Gunderson explained is necessary because these machines only have a lifespan of about 10 years.