WAHA says new ECG machines will be distributed to six James Bay communities by end of March

The Weeneebayko Area Health Authority says it has received a new fleet of electrocardiogram (ECG) machines and plans to distribute them to Moose Factory, Moosonee, Fort Albany, Attawapiskat, Kashechewan and Peawanuck by the end of March.

For patients in these James Bay communities, ECGs are a common test used to record the heart’s electrical activity. WAHA says the new machines are expected to allow ECG information to be sent and stored electronically in the ONE electronic health record system used at WAHA and “across northeastern Ontario.”

Meagan Vander Ploeg, WAHA’s interprofessional policy and practice consultant, said WAHA sent a demonstration machine for nurses to try in Moose Factory, Moosonee, Fort Albany and Attawapiskat before choosing a model.

Vander Ploeg said nurses completed a survey after the trial, and WAHA decided to purchase GE MAC VU360 machines.

According to WAHA, the machines have touch-screen interfaces, extended battery life and are designed to be portable.

WAHA said that, in partnership with Timmins and District Hospital, the machines will electronically transmit, archive and integrate ECGs with the ONE electronic health record system.

The Feb. 19 announcement said the ECG machines have arrived and will be distributed across the six communities by the end of March.