Thanks to the generosity of Niagara Health Foundation donors,  Niagara Health patients now have access to new stress test equipment that is helping healthcare teams provide more reliable and efficient cardiac care.

The new GE CASE Exercise Stress Test System is replacing aging equipment and is used to help identify potential heart concerns, often for patients experiencing symptoms such as chest pain, tightness or pressure. By monitoring patients while they exercise, the team can gather important information about how their heart is functioning.

“During a stress test, electrodes are placed on the patient’s chest while they exercise on a treadmill. Because the patient is moving, the ECG can sometimes pickup interference, which can make the activity more difficult to interpret,” says Tammy Walker-Brown, Registered Cardiovascular Technologist. “The new system includes advanced filtering and algorithms which are designed to improve quality and diagnostic information.”

For Niagara Health’s cardiovascular technologists, having dependable, up-to-date equipment makes a meaningful difference.

“It’s really important for us to have high-quality equipment,” shared, Tammy.  “We are giving our patients that confidence when they’re leaving here that we’ve tested them with accuracy.”

With up to eight patients receiving stress tests in a morning, this equipment will support the care of many Niagara residents for years to come.

And that is what makes donor support so powerful.

“To be a donor is not only donating for your future self or even your current self, but also for the community; your mother, father, brother, sister, your friend. It touches everybody.”

Thank you to our donors for helping ensure Niagara’s healthcare teams have the equipment they need to provide exceptional care, close to home.