Vancouver - Patients requiring highly specialized renal care at Vancouver General Hospital are set to benefit from new state-of-the-art kidney dialysis equipment made possible by a donation from Mr. and Mrs. Shue Chiu Ng of Vancouver, B.C. The new mini-dialysis units, called Prisma units, serve as artificial kidneys for patients with multiple system failure, providing continuous, real-time cleaning of the blood, just as a real kidney would. The new units will be located in the Intensive Care Unit at VGH.

“Kidneys are responsible for cleaning and removing waste products and maintaining proper fluid and chemical balances in the body,” said Dr. Paul Keown, Head of medicine for kidney disease at Vancouver General Hospital and UBC Hospital. “The new Prisma units will provide a level of care for critically ill patients who cannot tolerate conventional dialysis. We are very grateful to the Ng family for their generous gift to help us reach new standards of care in renal health.”

Kidney failure is common in patients in ICU, who require care for the most complex, urgent and life-threatening illnesses. The ICU also provides care for cardiac patients who need this dialysis treatment.

“Kidney health is an important area of care. We are pleased patients will be benefit from the new Prisma units and hope others will join us and donate to VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation to help others,” said Mrs. Ng.

“Our Foundation is grateful to the Ng family for their leadership in helping to advance world-class care at our hospitals,” says Ron Dumouchelle, President & CEO, VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. “Our Foundation and our hospitals are working together to expand a tailored approach to address the specific needs of the Chinese community through treatment, education, research and fundraising to achieve this vision.”

The Ng family owns the King Day Group of Companies, which is a diversified business based in Vancouver, B.C. which includes: property investment and management; parking operation in hotels; restaurants; as well as a wide range of import and export trade within Canada, and between the United States, Europe and South East Asia.

VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation is a registered charity that raises funding for the latest, most sophisticated medical equipment, world-class research and improvements to patient care for Vancouver General Hospital, UBC Hospital, GF Strong Rehab Centre and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute. For more than 25 years, the Foundation and its donors have been a bridge between the essential health care governments provide and the most advanced health care possible.

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For more information:
Jon Hicke
Director, Marketing & Communications
VGH & UBC Hospital foundation
Tel: 604-875-5196
[email protected]