GE's $4.5 mn for Vancouver Olympics 2010

VANCOUVER: General Electric, a worldwide partner of the Olympic Games, and the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) have announced that GE Healthcare is providing a mobile medical unit for medical emergencies for athletes and officials in the Sea to Sky region during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

The $4.5 million USD mobile medical unit is funded through GE’s sponsorship value-in-kind agreement with VANOC.

The 15.9-metre tractor-trailer can expand to a 90 square metre unit with 12 beds, which includes a recovery/triage area and intensive care unit, as well as an operating room with two independent surgical beds. A support trailer will also be stocked with 72 hours worth of surgical supplies and other equipment.

The GE technologies to be featured on the mobile unit include LOGIQ e Compact Ultrasound, Centricity Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS), IVent ventilator for Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Dash 5000 monitoring for the ICU, CIC – Central Station Monitoring, S/5 Aisys Anesthesia Carestation, S/5 Anesthesia Monitor and accessories, says the company.

 “We’re delighted to provide this mobile medical unit to Vancouver 2010 for use at Olympic and Paralympic Village Whistler,” said Peter Robertson, General Manager, GE Healthcare Canada. “Medical providers, athletes and officials will now have improved, immediate access to outstanding diagnostic, patient monitoring and operating room equipment from GE – it's a great example of the kind of innovations we're proud to bring to Canada.”

During Games-time, the GE mobile medical unit will work within the security parameter of the Olympic and Paralympic Village Whistler as an extension of the on-site polyclinic centre staffed around the clock with doctors, specialists and nurses. The unit will provide immediate access to high quality, diagnostic and patient monitoring equipment in addition to a surgical area that can be used in dire emergencies.

“GE’s mobile medical unit is a perfect fit for our needs in 2010,” explained Cathy Priestner-Allinger, VANOC’s executive vice president of Sport and Games Operations. “We need to be prepared for any event during the Games and this unit means we can ensure quick access state of the art surgical facilities and medical personnel in the event of an emergency or if the patient can’t be transported elsewhere.”

The GE mobile medical unit finalizes VANOC’s medical services requirements from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to provide enhanced capability in the Sea to Sky region during the Games.