Monies from St. Mary’s Health Foundation help launch a new program at the local hospital.

A recent grant to Ridge Meadows Hospital means patients who are ventilated will become mobile faster.

Ridge Meadows Hospital Foundation recently received a grant of $8,240 from St. Mary’s Health Foundation, which will allow them to launch a new program that will make it possible for patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), when appropriate, to be mobilized while ventilated.

Patients in an ICU often receive heavy sedation and bed rest, particularly while mechanically ventilated. To improve this complication of critical illness, there is growing interest in early mobilization of patients in the ICU setting.

“Our eight-bed ICU unit provides care to patients who are extremely ill, some needing ventilation,” said Karen Smith, clinical practice chief for rehab.

“Neuromuscular complications are common in ICU patients and can be severe and long-lasting in survivors of critical illness. Strategies aimed at reducing prolonged periods of immobilization during critical illness may prevent the development of neuromuscular complications.”

• More online www.mrtimes.com

Since the 1940s, the harmful effects of bed rest and the benefits of early mobilization have been recognized for hospitalized patients.

More recently, there has been growing interest in early mobilization for mechanically ventilated patients in the ICU setting.

“Studies have shown that early mobilization and rehabilitation is safe, feasible, and will reduce the adverse effects of being immobile for prolonged periods of time,” said Dr. Ed Auersperg, an internist with Ridge Meadows Hospital. “The health care team at Ridge Meadows Hospital is excited to introduce a new rehabilitation program that can reduce a patient’s length of stay, reduce complications due to immobility, and improve their recovery dramatically. With this grant, we can purchase the specialized equipment necessary to launch this exciting new rehabilitation program that will benefit our most critically ill patients. We are extremely grateful to Ridge Meadows Hospital Foundation and St. Mary’s Health Foundation for making this possible.”

Ridge Meadows Hospital Foundation is working to raise more than $700,000 this year for equipment and programs that support health care in our communities.

For more information about the foundation and to help, contact Annika Polegato at 604-466-6925. The foundation’s website is at www.rmhfoundation.com.