A $35,000 grant given to the intensive care unit at Ridge Meadows Hospital by the Mr. and Mrs. P.A. Woodward's Foundation allowed the hospital to buy a new ventilator for use in critical situations.

For patients suffering severe respiratory failure their plans may be more likely to include a stay in the ICU at the hospital.

The eight-bed ICU handles all kinds of critical care situations including patients recovering from a cardiac arrest and those living with conditions such as COPD, ALS, Parkinson's disease, and muscular dystrophy. In many of these cases, these patients may need to be ventilated.

The ventilator features new technology such as dual view LCD monitors so the respiratory therapists can quickly access patient information and determine a course of action.

When a patient is ventilated, they may require several different levels of breathing support and the new ventilator can meet all of those needs. The ventilator is highly responsive, instantly adjusting to provide full breathing support, supply additional oxygen to improve partial shallow breathing or adjust to allow the patient to breathe independently.

"In my role as head of the Department of Respiratory Therapy at RMH, I have seen an increase in population resulting in a growing demand for health-care services which can include post-op ventilation and emergency respiratory support," said Rick Lascelle, respiratory therapy clinical practice chief. "The quality of care our patients receive would not be possible without support from foundations such as the Mr. and Mrs. P.A. Woodward's Foundation and we are very grateful to have their continued support."

The Mr. P.A. and Mrs. P.A. Woodward Foundation was set up by the family that established the Woodward's stores in B.C. and Alberta.