New Brunswick residents who are tested for COVID-19 could soon get their results in as little as 45 minutes.
It is thanks to an upgrade funded by the Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation’s New Brunswick COVID-19 Emergency Fund.
Seven sites across the province will have the ability to test swabs instead of having to send them to Moncton.
Dr. John Dornan, regional chief of staff for the Horizon Health Network, described the upgrade as exciting.
“What this equipment allows us to do is do many more testing throughout the province, both in Horizon and Vitalite, in all our major labs,” said Dornan.
“Currently when we do testing throughout the province, it’s sent to Moncton and it’s a process that takes between 24 and 48 hours.”
Dornan said not only is it great news for patients, but it is also a critical improvement when testing health-care staff for the virus.
“We will now know in 45 minutes whether we need to send staff home or if they can carry on providing the excellent care they do every day,” he said.
Also being purchased are two portable ECMO life support machines, which oxygenate the blood and gives the lungs a rest.
Dornan said because COVID-19 is a respiratory illness, lung capacity and function can be severely affected.
“These machines will allow us to transfer people from one site to another, the site that’s best able to deal with their complex medical issues in the COVID crisis,” he said.
Since its launch in March, the hospital foundation’s emergency fund has raised more than $1.1 million, which includes a $1-million donation made by the Arthur L. Irving Family Foundation.
“It’s emotional to see people that aren’t on the frontline in terms of health care recognizing that this is something that we need to look at as a team, as a family, and it’s remarkable that people are doing what New Brunswickers do and that’s to step up to help,” said Dornan.
Jeff McAloon, president and CEO of the foundation, said they are proud to work with the provincial government and the two health authorities to make a difference across the province in the fight against COVID-19.
“We are only at the beginning of fighting this pandemic. Our provincial fund is ensuring donations are quickly and efficiently meeting a need for all New Brunswick,” said McAloon in a statement.
Timelines for acquiring both the testing upgrade and the portable ECMO machines are being determined, but it is expected the testing upgrade will be at sites as early as next week.
