Sutter Davis Hospital Foundation Launches Drive to Purchase State-of-the-Art Critical Care Equipment     01-30-2007

DAVIS, Calif. -- Sutter Davis Hospital Foundation this month launched a campaign to raise money for state-of-the-art critical care equipment that will enable medical staff to provide quicker and better diagnosis and treatment capabilities in emergency medical situations.

Utilizing a matching grant from Sutter Health, the campaign, called the Critical Care Project, will raise $300,000 for the equipment and training of staff to use the new technologies. Sutter Davis was one of three medical centers in the Sutter Health system chosen for a pilot match program from the Sutter Health Philanthropy Department in 2007. The Foundation must raise $150,000 to obtain the $300,000 total for the equipment and training.

Among the equipment in the fund-raising drive is a portable digital X-ray detector, which eliminates the use of X-ray film and lengthy development times. This equipment generates less X-ray exposure and better image quality. The digital data can be viewed on a screen within seconds, and the X-ray detector can be taken to the patient, rather than the patient having to be transported to the radiology department.

"When we’re dealing with emergencies, time is of the essence," said Loren Johnson, M.D., director of the Sutter Davis Hospital Emergency Department. "The digital X-ray system along with the other equipment in the Critical Care Project will incorporate the most superior medical technologies available to significantly accelerate the diagnosis and treatment of patients with strokes, heart attacks, trauma and life-threatening illnesses and injuries."

Some of the additional project equipment that the fund-raising campaign will purchase includes a Bedside Ultrasound Unit, a Heart Failure Ultra-Filtration System and Waveform Capnography Equipment.

While Sutter Davis Hospital will continue to provide exemplary care of emergency patients, Sutter Davis Hospital Chief Administrative Officer Janet Wagner commented that the new equipment will benefit the community immensely. "Anticipated population growth in Yolo County is expected and Sutter Davis Hospital is positioning resources in order to provide the care that is needed in emergency situations," she said. "Combine that with the ability to diagnose and treat critical care patients in an even timelier manner, and you have a great community need that we are addressing with this campaign."

To donate to the Critical Care Project, and for more information, contact Kristine Reveles at Sutter Davis Hospital Foundation at (530) 757-5120.

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