Group Medical Services gift of $500,000 will deliver advances in cardiac care for South Saskatchewan

Regina, SK—Cardiac care for southern Saskatchewan patients is about to receive a boost, thanks to a $500,000 donation from Group Medical Services (GMS).  The funds will allow for facility improvements and the introduction of a digital electrocardiogram (ECG) testing, file management and storage system at the newly named GMS Cardiac Rhythm Device Clinic.   

“This generous gift is the latest GMS contribution to advancing health care in Saskatchewan,” says Judy Davis, CEO, Hospitals of Regina Foundation. “Over the past 10 years, GMS has donated approximately $1.5 million to healthcare focused initiatives and they are an important part of why our citizens can count on receiving the very best care when they need it the most.”  

“We know that thousands of our community members need access to high quality, specialized cardiac care services, and that need is growing,” says David Blodgett, President and CEO, GMS. “We’re thrilled to be part of this innovative clinic with this gift.” As part of its commitment to the province, GMS has long supported health care initiatives —one of the top concerns of people across the province.

The Clinic monitors and assesses patients across southern Saskatchewan who depend on pacemakers to regulate their heart rates or implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICDs) to provide life‐ saving shocks ensuring a patient’s heart remains in a normal life sustaining rhythm. With over 4500 active patients using this clinic and yearly numbers growing, the need for more space is urgent.  The expanded facility space will enhance patient privacy and allow the Clinic to serve more patients in less time. The donation also includes the purchase of a digital electrocardiogram (ECG) testing, file management and storage system. The ultimate goal will to have this system linked in to a patient electronic medical record system ensuring that the most up to date information is provided to health care professionals when needed.

Dr. Omar Sultan, Medical Director of the Electrophysiology Lab and Pacemaker Clinic, says “Once in place, the new digital ECG testing and filing system will give doctors instant access to the most recent patient monitoring reports at the click of a button from anywhere in the hospital. In emergency situations when seconds count, this can save lives.”

The GMS Cardiac Rhythm Device Clinic upgrades are expected to be complete in late 2015.