A114 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, August 28, 2002. Spring of 2003 start date ee Andy Burton set for dialysis service here | sux ie THE NORTHWEST dialysis service based in Terrace ficial who will look after the service, says two part time, should be up and running by early next spring. Terrace, 8.C, ¥8G 156 Phone: (250) 635-1601 repistered nurses will be needed as well as a casual Fax: (250) 635-4109 Construction of the $1.4 million facility to be located within Mills Memorial Hospital will start this fall, an of- ficial from the Northern Health Authority said last week. Michael McMillan said he hopes to have an archilec- lural firm chosen within a few weeks for the long awai- ted addition to northwest health care services. That film will then assemble mechanical and other lypes of engineers to prepare drawings for construction bids, he said. “The planning for this is very technical,” said Mc- Millan last week. “The biggest issue is water. Very, very pure water flows to each of the machines and is used to purify the blood.” “The way this is engineering is very critical. We want ta minimize loops and corners, to have no areas were water sits or can peo! and can potentially grow bacter- ia,” said McMillan. The water is purified by reverse osmosis using a de- vice within the unit itself. “It’s much like the bottled water you’d buy in a store,” said McMillan. Also critical is the heating system for the unit, he added. Dialysis requires people to rest on recliners for long periods of time and because of that, they have a ten- ‘dency to get chilly, McMillan continued. ‘ _ The service is to go in an unused portion of the sec- ‘ond floor of Mills Memorial Hospital but that location could change to the main floor, he said. “We look at factors such as the health of the patients. It might be better to locate near an entrance,” said Mc- nurse to fill in when the other two are away for a plan- ned Monday, Wednesday and Friday schedule. “We won’t have enough patients at the start for full time employment but in time that will happen,” she said, Despite a shortage of registered nurses, Cozac isn’t anticipating a problem in finding employees. They'll go through a four-week training period fol- flawed by a one week transition period. The six-station service equals that already offered in Fort St. John and will function as a satellite to the main northem dialysis operation in Prince George. The northwest has been one of the few areas in the province not to offer dialysis. That main operation in Prince George is in the middle of an expansion from nine stations ta 14. The Prince George expansion and the service here are a sign of an improvement in northern health care, said Cozac. Approximately $900,000 of the $1.4 million cost is for construction, The dialysis machines themselves will cost nearly $350,000 with the remainder of the money going to con- sulting, testing and contract management. Last year, Skeena MLA Roger Harris had been criti- cal of some of the projected costs. But he’s now convinced the costs are justified piven the value of the service. “At the end of the day, I’d just like to see it here,” he said. Toll Free: 1-800- é6t “2208 E-mail: andy@andyb Website: www.an yburton. ca a Terrace-Kitimat to Vancouver Sunday through Thursday 8:00 am and 3:00 pm Fridays Saturdays 9:30 am only Vancouver to Terrace-Kitimat Sunday through Thursday 11:00 am and 6:00 pm Fridays Saturdays 7:00 am only 8:00 am and 3:00 pm and 6:30 pm 11:00 am and 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm Millan. He’s already ordered the six dialysis stations so that they will be ready when needed. For now health authorities estimate up to six people will use the service several times a week. But that number will grow given the advancing age of the northwest’s population and the greater than average diabetes rate among people here. . Joanne Cozac, another Northern Health Authority of- Chuck return home IT WAS all good news when Ruth Mangnus had to keep answering her phone last week. Friends were calling to tell her the dialysis service was finally approved for Mills Memorial Hospital. The best phone call came from her husband, Chuck, who has been in Prince George for nearly a year and a half. His kidneys failed in April 2001 and Prince George was the closest place to Terrace which provided life-saving dialy- sis. “He already knew. He had got the word when he went up for his dialysis,” said Ruth. “He’s very, very happy. He’ll finally be able to come home and live a nor- mal life for a change.” And although resuming a norma! life in Terrace won’t happen until next March, when the service opens here, Ruth says those months should fly by fairly fast. They'll certainly be better months for the cou- ple then they’ve exper- jenced since Chuck had ta move to Prince George. “We'll be able to save money instead of spending it,” says Ruth of the ex- pense of maintaining two residences. The strain of separation has also affected Ruth’s health. “A lot of it has been the stress. ] don’t live well by myself,” she said. Chuck has been able to come home every week- end, but it’s a gruelling trip in that he takes the bus. “He leaves Prince George Friday night after his dialysis. He’s here Sa- turday by 7:30 a.m. and then he leaves here Sun- day at 11 p.m. to get back for his dialysis. At least now he’s able to sleep on the bus,” said Ruth. “But he’s daing good in terms of his health. He’s. gaining some weight back, but there is the lonesome- ness of living by himself.” Ruth and Chuek are just as happy for other people in the area who are in the same situation. Some who have moved io Prince George have now made it their home and won't be returning: But athers will retutn and Ruth says Chuck has made acquaintances with “happy, describing the dia- ce Camage House a Use? Publishing where wal of your printing and copying needs are completed with fast service at reasonable prices. WE SPECIALIZE COLOUR PRINTING Business Cards - Office Stationary Advertising Layout & Design - Brochures Flyers - Posters - Newsletters - Menus ” ~ Absolutely Anything on Paper - Give us a call today at 635- 1872 or Fax us at 635-1868 Can | RENT ANY MOVIE, DVD OR GAME. AT REGULAR PRICE RENT 2ND ONE FREE *INCLUDES NEW RELEASES « EXPIRES SEPTEMBER 30, 2002 ee ee ee ee Ruth Mangnus a number of people from Terrace and area. Ida Mohler is also lysis service as one of three priorities established by the Terrace Health Watch advocacy group and its successor, a health services monitoring com- mittee. ; “This is really good news for people in the northwest,” she said. OUR NEW BABIES ARE THE SMARI CUTEST, AND MOST ADVANCED (Spoken like a true parent.) 2003 FORESTER F NEW 2003'S it AVE ARRIVED Are we ever feeling proud! These Outbacks, Foresters, TH m Lagacys, and Imprezas take automotive design and safety to a new level, In fact, they've already won a number of major crash test awards from the Insurance Institute far Highway Safety, What’s more, they all are equipped with Subaru’s highly-advanced All-Wheel Drive system. So stop by your Subaru retailer and see the new 2003's. You'll probably want to take delivery of one of your own. When you get it, you get It. 4&2 SUBARU. The Beauty of All-Wheel Drive: OFFICIAL VEMICLE OF CYPRESS MOUNTAIN Visit us at www.subaru. ca BRITISH COLUMBIA 15 SUBARU COUNTRY Thornhill Motors . 3026 Highway 16 East, Terrace TERRACE, B.C. DLA #7041 1-800-559-7288 * 635-7286