Help fund a GI Genius for Cobequid Centre

Each year the Cobequid Foundation holds an online auction in support of priority medical equipment for the Cobequid Community Health Centre.

Your donation to the 2024 GOL campaign will help fund a GI GeniusTM Colonoscopy Artificial Intelligence System. This system will assist in the examination of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract which is responsible for food digestion and the absorption of nutrients.

This device connects to the endoscope tower and uses specialized algorithms to analyze images during a colonoscopy. When it identifies a suspicious area, it prompts the gastroenterologists to the specific location on the screen. This will assist our team in detecting abnormalities including cancerous and precancerous growths.

Colorectal cancer has one of the highest mortality rates among cancers. If detected early, it is highly treatable. This innovative technology will be an essential tool to assist care and transform cancer screening at the Cobequid Centre.

Cobequid is currently ranked number two for colon cancer screening in Nova Scotia. With this system in our Endoscopy Suite the efficiency of GI procedures will increase and reduce the need for biopsies.

During GI procedures, small growths can be missed by the human eye. One study found a 12.4%** reduction in abnormalities detected depending on the time-of-day procedures take place. This technology would help reduce the miss rate and result in timely diagnoses. Accurate detection enables early-stage treatment plans, leading to better patient outcomes.

** Lee A, Iskander JM, Gupta N, et al. Queue position in the endoscopic schedule impacts effectiveness of colonoscopy. Am J Gastroenterol. 2011 Aug; 106(8): 1457–1465.

Cobequid Community Health Centre (CCHC) is here for you, your family and your neighbours. Whether you require emergency care, are managing a chronic illness, or need routine tests, care is available for your entire family - your children, siblings, parents, and grandparents.

The Cobequid Community Health Centre serves the communities of Bedford, Sackville, Waverley, Fall River, Hammonds Plains, Mount Uniacke, and surrounding areas.

Each and every day our Foundation team is supporting the healthcare needs of our community by fundraising for priority medical equipment. This provides the tools needed for our professional healthcare team so they can provide quality compassionate care for our community.

Our Story : In 1976, two community-minded individuals, Shirley Freer and Carol Crosby, were determined to fill the need for health and social services in the Bedford-Sackville area. They inspired others to take on this challenge and refused to give up until they saw this need filled. Community support grew and soon they had a group of dedicated individuals ready to make a change. In 1987, the Emergency Department at the Cobequid Multi-Service Centre opened, making it the only free standing emergency room in Canada at the time.

Indeed, the founders were right about the need, so much so that as the community grew, the need for the centre grew. Again, determined, like-minded individuals took up the challenge, bringing the community together to raise $4 million dollars to be used towards the construction of a new centre. In February 2006, as a result of the dedication of the community, the new, much larger Cobequid Community Health Centre opened.

Our community continues to grow, so in 2016, the Foundation started fundraising for its Emergency Triage Project. When planning for the Cobequid Centre’s Emergency Department, it was anticipated that the maximum future volume for our Emergency Department would be 20,000 patients annually. However, our catchment area has grown, last year alone our Emergency Department served more than 50,000 patients. It has enabled the centre to expand our triage area, expand our registration capacity, increase infection control measures and ensure we have the equipment required for our growing needs.

Today, the Centre continues to provide essential health and social services to residents of its surrounding communities. It is due to the generosity of these very communities that the Cobequid Community Health Centre is able to continually grow to meet the ever-expanding needs of the public.

For more information on the Cobequid Foundation please contact our President & CEO, Stacey Chapman, at (902) 220-2064 or stacey.chapman@nshealth.ca. Additional information can also be found on our website at www.cobequidfoundation.ca.