Minister Reiterates Safety of Cardiac Equipment

The Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Health and Community Services, is disappointed that the opposition continue to try and create unnecessary fear in the public regarding new cardiac care monitoring equipment being used at the Health Sciences Centre. The Provincial Government has confidence in this equipment and remains committed to improving patient care and safety throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

“Our government takes patient safety very seriously and that is why we have made significant investments in new equipment for health care facilities in all parts of the province,” said Minister Sullivan. “The new cardiac care monitors that are installed at the Health Sciences Centre, and other areas of the province, are in some of Canada’s largest hospitals, have been thoroughly tested and have passed complete medical device review processes in Canada, the United States and in Europe. While Eastern Health has indicated there have been some occurrences, there have been no negative outcomes to any patients.”

The Provincial Government has invested more than $7.3 million through Eastern Health to purchase and implement the cardiac monitoring system replacing monitors that were over 20 years old and at the end of their useful life.

There are more than 2,600 of these cardiac monitors in use in Canada, including large health care facilities like Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto and McGill University Health Centre in Montreal.

Globally, there are over 50,000 of these patient monitoring devices in some of the largest tertiary care teaching hospitals in the world including Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, and Bristol Royal Infirmary in Bristol, United Kingdom.

A decision to purchase these monitors was made by a team consisting of 18 key clinicians throughout the province as well as representatives from materials management/biomedical and information management/technology following a comprehensive tender development, review process and site visits. Before the tender was awarded, the manufacturer spent two days in St. John’s, one day in Grand Falls-Windsor and one day in Corner Brook and provided onsite equipment fairs that were attended by 82 clinical staff, including 60 nurses. Information gathered from the equipment fairs indicated that 91 per cent of the attendees felt the product was clinically acceptable.

“Patients should feel assured that Eastern Health has provided extra nursing resources to monitor the wireless aspect of this system and along with support from the manufacturer, has offered additional training,” said Minister Sullivan. “Once fully operational throughout the province this system will allow interfacility communications so that cardiologists in St. John’s can monitor a patient’s status anywhere in the province that these monitors are being used. Our government looks forward to Eastern Health working past the implementation and seeing these devices used to their full potential.”

Since 2003, the Provincial Government has invested over $250 million in capital equipment throughout the province.

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Media contact:
Jennifer Tulk
Director of Communications
Department of Health and Community Services
709-729-1377, 699-6524
JenniferTulk@gov.nl.ca 

2012 03 21             5:40 p.m.