Medical operator with the portable FibroScan® and carrying case. Photo courtesy of KNS Canada Inc.

More than 60,000 people in BC live with Hepatitis C and most also struggle with addiction. Vulnerable patients across Vancouver now have immediate access to medical screening that could save them from liver disease complications including cirrhosis, cancer and early death.

This service is available thanks to a long-time supporter who chose to continue her legacy in health care by including a donation to VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation in her will. The donation helped purchase Vancouver Community Health Service’s first mobile FibroScan®, which quickly and painlessly scans the livers of patients.

Without early intervention, Hepatitis C patients can develop chronic infections and every year, more than 100 BC residents die from the disease. Vancouver Community Health Services – a national leader in providing Hepatitis C care in the community – aims to reduce those numbers by bringing screening right to patients.

“Access to FibroScan® technology presents an opportunity to engage and educate patients,” says Misty Bath, Vancouver Community’s Hepatitis C Program Coordinator. “For many patients, this is the first time they learn about the disease’s impact on their liver, which is a powerful motivator for seeking Hepatitis C treatment.”

Learn more about leaving a legacy at vghfoundation.ca/legacy