It is that time of year once again and this year the Penticton Regional Hospital (PRH) has asked the South Okanagan Simikameen Medical Foundation to strive to reach the goal of the Image is Everything campaign through the 8th Annual Tree of Dreams.

The goal was to raise $1,500,000 to change the three X-ray rooms along with a portable machine used for the Emergency and ICU departments from outdated X-ray cassette equipment into state of the art X-ray Digital Radiography. To date we have raised just over $1,000,000. We still need your help to raise the balance of $410,000 to achieve the goal and have the equipment in PRH by the summer of 2014.

Digital Radiography is a form of X-ray imaging where digital X-ray sensors are used instead of the traditional cassettes. Similar to a digital camera, this technology uses a digital image capturing device. This gives the advantage of an immediate image preview and the elimination of costly time intensive cassette processing steps. Digital has the ability to apply special image processing techniques that enhance overall display of the image and the process is fast, with the least amount of radiation.

Used on practically every part of the body, on infants to the elderly, whether we are diagnosing a trauma injury, a chest infection or a cancer, X-ray equipment is the most widely used diagnostic device recommended by doctors. More than 40,000 patients had X-rays from all over our region last year and that number is a 4% increase from the year before. X-ray is available in several of the communities served by PRH, however, many patients need further treatment and additional X-rays are required. Digital Radiography will bring a tremendous equipment improvement and diagnosis which will benefit all of our patients.

The Image is Everything campaign focuses on  providing increased image quality, reduced radiation and allows for faster, more efficient diagnosis of diseases and injuries. What is also important for our citizens to remember is that as we prepare for the future hospital patient tower expansion, this new equipment will stay in its current location at PRH and will be used for many years to come.

Our hope is that the community will join us in this exciting Christmas campaign for the purchase of Digital X-ray equipment. For more information and to make donations, contact the

SOS Medical Foundation office at 250 492 9027 or by mail to 550, Carmi Avenue, Penticton, BC V2A 3G6 or go on the website at sosmedicalfoundation.com.