Fort St. John, B.C., purchases new respiratory diagnostic equipment

British ColumbiaThe Fort St. John Hospital Foundation has purchased a body plethysmograph, a vital piece of equipment for the respiratory department at the Fort St. John Hospital, with the support of a grant from TB Vets.Body plethysmograph machine will mean residents won’t have to travel and face long waitlists: Northern HealthCBC News · Posted: Oct 20, 2025 7:51 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours agoThe body plethysmograph, a vital piece of equipment to test lung function, will now be located in Fort St. John, B.C. (Northern Health)Fort St. John, B.C., residents needing respiratory testing can sigh a breath of relief, with a new diagnostic machine expected to come online soon at the local hospital.A body plethysmograph has now been purchased by the hospital, after a grant from TB Vets, a charitable organization created to employ veterans suffering from tuberculosis after the Second World War and aims to support frontline respiratory care across B.C. Body plethysmography measures how much air goes in and out of your lungs, allowing doctors to test for conditions as asthma, neuromuscular disease, lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a statement from Northern Health. Before now, Fort St. John residents had to travel to Prince George or Alberta for diagnostic testing, with wait times up to a year. While the machine is not yet up and running, approximately 2,300 patients will be able to access the service soon. CBC News has reached out to Northern Health to find out exactly when the machine will go into operation.“Having this level of diagnostic testing available locally means we can identify conditions earlier, tailor treatments more effectively, and ultimately improve health outcomes for patients across the North Peace [region],” said Denise Mitchell, the clinical team lead with the hospital’s respiratory department, in the statement.Fort St. John Hospital Foundation executive director Kelly Amboe says she’s excited for the new service, which will cut down medical travel for residents. The equipment is still being validated and not in use yet. “It’s about making sure you or your loved ones can get the care you need without the added stress of travel or delay,” Amboe is quoted as saying in the Northern Health statement.