The Courtenay Legion Branch 17 have provided support to enhance patient care in many areas at St. Joseph’s General Hospital. When the club heard about the public appeal and was asked for assistance to help purchase a GreenLight™ laser for the Operating Room at St. Joseph’s they were quick to offer support.

The GreenLight™ laser is used in the treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyerplasia (BPH) – the enlargement of the prostate.
Some symptoms can be treated with medication but when that fails, or if the patient suffers acute or chronic retention, surgery is necessary.

St. Joseph’s General Hospital hopes to complete the purchase of the system this fall and further donations are needed. The scopes for the laser are the second component of the purchase. In the meantime they have been, operating the Greenlight™ Laser system with Loaner scopes from Stryker Canada. Since the GreenLight™ Laser has been introduced at St. Joseph’s there have been 15 procedures performed. In all of these cases there have been no complications and the patients have been able to go home the same day. This new procedure has improved the standard of care for patients in the Comox Valley.

“Green Light Laser Therapy is an excellent procedure and is the only BPH treatment that can fully shift in-patients to out-patients as well as offers other patient benefits”
Dr. William Tinmouth-Urologist at St. Joseph’s

Patient Benefits:

– It is a simple and very effective operation where the average stay is 6.75 hours. Traditional BPH surgical treatment (TURP) requires an average Hospital stay of 2-4 days. High risk patients can require more than 7 days.)

– Safer treatment for high risk patients (patients on anticoagulant medication)

– Frees up operating room time and beds to improve wait times for other acute care patients

The golf event along with a public appeal to the community for support has generated over $84,000 towards this purchase. St. Joseph’s General Foundation is hoping for continued support from the service clubs and community to raise the additional $111,000 needed to pay for this equipment.

If you would like to make a donation contact St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation 250-890-3046 .