Gala gives boost to local cardiac health plan

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on January 28, 2025.

Herald photo by Alejandra Pulido-Guzman Dr. Sayeh Zielke alongside Dr. David Stewart, Mayor Blaine Hyggen, and Dr. Aaron Low to her right, announces the "Bringing Hearts Home Gala" Monday at the Chinook Regional Hospital.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

The Southern Alberta Cardiac Sciences Program is raising money for its Bringing Hearts Home initiative through a gala event Saturday at the Agri-Food Hub and Trade Centre.

The project is designed to substantially elevate the standard of in-patient cardiac health care in regional bospitals in Lethbridge and Medicine Hat.

The plan includes a new cardiac catheterization lab, electrophysiology lab, two echocardiography labs, cardiac MRI and CT scanners, as well as a new intensive care unit and cardiology critical care beds to take pressure off the existing system.

Dr. Sayeh Zielke, physician lead of cardiac sciences for Southern Alberta and chair of the Cardiac Campaign Advisory Committee, told reporters on Monday that mortality rates from cardiac health issues are the No. 1 cause of death in southern Alberta, with a mortality rate 26.6 per cent higher than the rest of the province.

“We are aiming to raise $30 million to build cardiology and cardiac services to help improve access to services and reduce our mortality rate from heart disease,” said Zielke.

She said that going into the gala, they have raised over $400,000 and they are overwhelmed by the incredible support from the community.

“It has taken a team to push this forward,” said Zielke. “My co-chair Mayor (Blaine) Hyggen and my leadership that I report to at AHS, and there has been difficult days when we found out that the process might take longer than we would like.”

Even though the process has had its ups and downs, Zielke said it has been an incredible opportunity to be able make a difference in the community and push for something that will save lives.

Since the gala is already sold out, those who wish to contribute to the project can do so in multiple ways.

“Monetary support will be very much appreciated,” said Zielke. “Donations can be done through the Chinook Regional Hospital Foundation and also speaking to our elected officials to provide feedback and support.”

She said people can help by asking elected officials to move this project forward and expedite it as much as possible.

“Anyone who participates in advocacy or monetary donations is part of mending broken hearts and part of this team. So, that would be very much appreciated.”

Hyggen, in his capacity as co-chair of the South Zone Cardiac Sciences Advisory Cabinet, told reporters he is very humbled to be able to raise awareness for cardiac care in southern Alberta.

“The advocacy work is extremely important in this for the provincial government,” said Hyggen. “Doctor recruitment is not a mandate of the city, it is of the province. But our work is to work with the provincial government and advocate at all levels.”

He said this advocacy work includes family physicians and specialty services, and the municipal government has put money into the campaign to be able to support doctor recruitment within the area, including specialty services.

“I want to thank the provincial government for the work they have done. They have put in a few million dollars into the planning stage and getting things to where we are today.”

He said the next step is to get additional funds to be able to finish the project, and he believes it will happen.

“We live in a fair-sized community, and we should be able to have the same services that some of the other communities have, as the time that it takes to transfer someone up to Calgary, its time that person can lose their life,.”

Hyggen said the project is all about the importance of getting the care that those individuals need as soon as possible and decreasing the impact transferring patients to other centres has on the community.

“When these patients are transferred to Calgary, this takes ambulances out of our community and they stay up there sometimes for 10 to 11 hours, leaving less ambulances here to support those who may have issues in our community.”

The project will not only help Lethbridge but all the communities around it, such as Raymond, Magrath, Cardston, Medicine Hat and the whole Alberta Health Services South Zone.

“The catch area is very large, and it warrants having the care that is deserved, in my opinion, within our community,” said Hyggen.

Speaking ot the timeline for the project, Hyggen said that’s where the advocacy comes into play and why it is so important.

“The timeline we got is much longer than what we want,” he said. “It’s about six to seven years and that’s not fair, in my opinion, so we will continue that advocacy work and continue to try to make this happen soon.”

He said that going to the province with dollars in hand and with a community that is advocating on behalf of the project goes a long way.

“The premier has talked many times about the cath lab happening here in southern Alberta, putting dollars towards it. We believe is a done deal and I do believe it is, but the timeline is what we want to work on.”