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| <html> | |
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| <meta name="GENERATOR" content="Microsoft FrontPage 3.0"> | |
| <title>A Credit To Your Health, May 1999</title> | |
| </head> | |
| <body> | |
| <p align="center"><font size="6">A Credit To Your Health </font></p> | |
| <p align="center"><em>A Publication Of The Credit Valley Hospital, May/June 1999</em></p> | |
| <p align="center"><a name="disabled" href="Default.htm" webbot-href="--WEBBOT-HOME--">Back to The Credit | |
| Valley Hospital Home Page</a></p> | |
| <p align="center"><a href="news.htm">Back to A Credit To Your Health &<br> | |
| Upcoming Events Page</a></p> | |
| <p align="center"><a name="Top">Top</a></p> | |
| <p><font size="4">Table Of Contents</font></p> | |
| <p><a href="#Care Closer to Home for Moms and Their Children">Care Closer to Home for Moms | |
| and Their Children</a></p> | |
| <p><a href="#CVH Pharmacy Staff Celebrate Pharmacy Awareness Week">CVH Pharmacy Staff | |
| Celebrate Pharmacy Awareness Week</a></p> | |
| <p><a href="#Announcement: New Chief of Family Practice">New Chief of Family Practice</a></p> | |
| <p><a href="#Family Physicians In Short Supply In Hospital">Family Physicians In Short | |
| Supply In Hospital</a></p> | |
| <p><a href="#FAQs (frequently asked questions) about Anesthetic">FAQs (Frequently Asked | |
| Questions) about Anesthetic</a></p> | |
| <p><a href="#I Saw Someone Do Something Good!">I Saw Someone Do Something Good!</a></p> | |
| <p><a href="#YOUR KIDNEY PROGRAMME AT THE CREDIT VALLEY HOSPITAL">Your Kidney Programme at | |
| The Credit Valley Hospital</a></p> | |
| <p><a href="#May is Speech and Hearing Awareness Month">May is Speech and Hearing | |
| Awareness Month</a></p> | |
| <p><a href="#Memoirs of a Community Representative Officer">Memoirs of a Community | |
| Representative Officer</a></p> | |
| <p><a href="#Michael's Story: Recognizing the Special Needs of Those Persons with Brain Injuries">Michael's | |
| Story: Recognizing the Special Needs of Those Persons with Brain Injuries</a></p> | |
| <p><a href="#Mommy I Bumped My Head and Other Childhood Malaises!">Mommy I Bumped My Head | |
| and Other Childhood Malaises!</a></p> | |
| <p><a href="#Health System Integration Initiative Approved">Health System Integration | |
| Initiative Approved</a></p> | |
| <p><a href="#Peel Regional Cancer Centre Receives Funding">Peel Regional Cancer Centre | |
| Receives Funding</a></p> | |
| <p><a href="#P.E.N. Pals: Professional Excellence in Nursing">P.E.N. Pals: | |
| Professional Excellence in Nursing</a></p> | |
| <p><a href="#Physicians Accepting New Patients">Physicians Accepting New Patients</a></p> | |
| <p><a href="#Warning: Dangerous Curves Ahead">Warning: Dangerous Curves Ahead</a></p> | |
| <p><a href="#Wayne’s World">Wayne’s World</a></p> | |
| <p><a href="#Anesthesiologists Don’t Just Put You To Sleep!">Anesthesiologists | |
| Don’t Just Put You To Sleep!</a></p> | |
| <hr> | |
| <p><font size="4"><strong><a name="Care Closer to Home for Moms and Their Children">Care | |
| Closer to Home for Moms and Their Children</a></strong></font></p> | |
| <p><em><strong>by Wendy Johnson APR</strong></em></p> | |
| <p>Pregnant moms, premature babies and seriously ill children will benefit from a new | |
| regional program to be located at The Credit Valley Hospital. The development of the South | |
| Peel/Halton Child Health Network is in response to the Health Services Restructuring | |
| Commission's directive to establish a regional perinatal and paediatric network of health | |
| services. The goal of the Child Health Network is to improve the health and quality of | |
| life for children. Patient services will be provided at the highest standard possible. | |
| Independent of geographic location, services will be provided in a consistent and | |
| coordinated manner across the continuum of care. Most importantly to the patients and | |
| their families, their care will be provided as close to home as possible.</p> | |
| <p>The cluster of hospitals in the South Peel/Halton regional network are:</p> | |
| <p>* The Mississauga/Queensway Hospitals, now known as Trillium</p> | |
| <p>* The Credit Valley Hospital</p> | |
| <p>Because The Credit Valley Hospital is the site of the regional program, doesn't mean | |
| the other hospitals won't be doing their share of primary level obstetrics and paediatric | |
| care. </p> | |
| <p>It simply means the higher risk pregnancies, births and paediatric patients will be | |
| transferred, in consultation with their "home" hospital, to The Credit Valley | |
| Hospital, where our professionals will care for them. The professionals at CVH will in | |
| turn, collaborate on the patient's care plan, with the tertiary centres in the Child | |
| Health Network.</p> | |
| <p>The caregivers at the hospitals within the regions of South Peel and Halton, will | |
| become more involved in the continuum of care for their patients. They'll share | |
| educational and sub-specialty resources, outcome management and the ability to define the | |
| direction for high quality care for pregnant women, new mothers, newborns, children and | |
| families.</p> | |
| <p>In all it's a win-win situation for the patients, the caregivers and the hospitals.</p> | |
| <p>The establishment of the program at The Credit Valley Hospital is a tribute to the | |
| hospital's reputation for excellence in quality of care, service and utilization | |
| management. The network of services is known as the Child Health Network. The vision and | |
| strategy was developed by Metro Toronto and the GTA 905 hospitals to provide a more | |
| collaborative network for comprehensive care (see insets entitled, Vision and Values) . | |
| What that means is improved care and services that are closer to home for moms, babies and | |
| children up to age seventeen. Until now, women in high risk pregnancies and children | |
| requiring a sophisticated level of care, would be cared for at tertiary hospitals such as | |
| the Hospital for Sick Children, Mt. Sinai and Women's College Hospital in downtown | |
| Toronto. Even if they were outpatients, they often had to travel several times a week for | |
| treatment in Toronto. The development of the new regional services means many of those | |
| downtown visits will be eliminated. Patients will be able to receive treatment and | |
| follow-up care at The Credit Valley Hospital. CVH will provide secondary care and some | |
| subspecialty services, that until now, have only been available at tertiary hospitals. | |
| This will eliminate costly and time-consuming travel. And it will provide more of a | |
| comfort level for these patients who know specialized care is right in their own | |
| neighborhood.</p> | |
| <p>The establishment of a regional service is better for our health care professionals as | |
| well. We all know that the more experience we have doing a job, the better we become at | |
| it. The regional program will create what is known as a critical mass of patients which | |
| allows our health professionals to develop specialized programs and skills to deal with | |
| patients requiring secondary and some tertiary level services. Our health care | |
| professionals are upgrading their skills to deal with the more sophisticated level of | |
| care. </p> | |
| <p>As well, the tertiary specialists at The Hospital for Sick Children will be consulting | |
| with our professionals to determine the best plan of care for our new patients.</p> | |
| <p>We've already taken on some of our new responsibilities even though official funding | |
| for the project has not been received. In April we opened our Outpatient Paediatric | |
| Medicine Clinic, which serves patients from our catchment areas who have been redirected | |
| to us from the Emergency Department or the General Medicine Clinic at The Hospital for | |
| Sick Children.</p> | |
| <p>Pre-term infants who were delivered at tertiary hospitals will receive the remainder of | |
| their hospital care at CVH. The hospital is also increasing its capacity to deliver | |
| pre-term babies and the referral of high-risk antenatal patients from tertiary hospitals | |
| such as Mt. Sinai Hospital and Women's College Hospital. We'll also establish a high-risk | |
| antenatal clinic for the pregnant mom's assessment and follow-up closer to home. And we'll | |
| be doing more paediatric surgery.</p> | |
| <p align="center"><a href="#Top">To Top</a></p> | |
| <hr> | |
| <p><font size="4"><strong><a name="CVH Pharmacy Staff Celebrate Pharmacy Awareness Week">CVH | |
| Pharmacy Staff Celebrate Pharmacy Awareness Week</a></strong></font></p> | |
| <p ALIGN="left"><strong><em>By Heather Hadden</em></strong></p> | |
| <p>National Pharmacy Awareness Week was held across Canada March 1-7 1999 and the pharmacy | |
| staff at the Credit Valley Hospital were on hand to help celebrate. This yearly event is | |
| organized by the Canadian Pharmacists Association, the Canadian Society of Hospital | |
| Pharmacists and the Canadian Association of Pharmacy Students and Interns. There are | |
| several purposes to this week: to promote the role of the pharmacist to the community, to | |
| hold a community wide medicine cabinet clean-up and to launch this years theme: | |
| "Taking Your Medicine Well? Talk to Your Pharmacist!"</p> | |
| <p>The medicine cabinet clean-up was publicised to all staff through the office automation | |
| message system each day encouraging them to clean out their medicine cabinets. The | |
| outpatient pharmacy under the supervision of Dennis Cazzin accepted any returned | |
| medication. Signs encouraging the public to do the same were posted and it was advertised | |
| in the Mississauga News.</p> | |
| <p>Unused medications should always be discarded for several reasons:</p> | |
| <p>-outdated medications are often ineffective and some medications are even toxic</p> | |
| <p>-sharing of medications is always discouraged since different people respond to | |
| medications in different ways and may experience different side effects</p> | |
| <p>- if your condition/illness recurs you should see your doctor for reassessment</p> | |
| <p>- eye products are particularly dangerous to keep since the bacteria that was once | |
| present in the eye may grow over time in the vial and reintroducing this into the eyes | |
| could result in a severe infection or blindness</p> | |
| <p>The pharmacists role has changed over the years. Now when a pharmacist gets a | |
| prescription for a drug they will make sure that the drug and dosage is appropriate for | |
| the patients disease/condition. The pharmacist will also make sure that new drugs will not | |
| interact with other drugs that you may already be taking. When talking to the patient the | |
| pharmacist will reaffirm what the drug is for, how it works, side effects that may occur | |
| and how to deal with these side effects, precautions while taking the medication, and | |
| drugs or foods to avoid while on the medication.</p> | |
| <p>The interaction should not stop there- the patient should be encouraged to contact the | |
| pharmacist if any problems arise with their drug therapy.</p> | |
| <p>The pharmacist in conjunction with the patient's physician(s) can very often make | |
| changes so that the patients quality of life is better while taking the medications.</p> | |
| <p>Pharmacists in both the community and hospital setting give special attention to many | |
| groups of patients- the elderly who may be at risk of side effects or especially sensitive | |
| to medications; children; patients on a number of drugs; and patients with kidney or liver | |
| problems that may alter the excretion of drugs. Pharmacists are concerned with the safe | |
| and proper storage of medications which includes a dry cool place out of direct sunlight | |
| and out of the reach of children. Pharmacists will encourage parents to talk to their | |
| children about medications that may be in the house. The children need to know that | |
| medications are not candy.</p> | |
| <p>The pharmacists responsibilty is also to ensure that patients take their medications | |
| exactly as prescribed. They may also give suggestions to simplify medication regimens and | |
| supply hints to remember drug times.</p> | |
| <p>Pharmacists are very interested in education and prevention and assume this role as | |
| well. It is important to know that you should always "Talk To Your | |
| Pharmacist"- not only during Pharmacy Awareness Week but all year around!</p> | |
| <p>**************************************************************************</p> | |
| <p>Here's a<strong> short quiz</strong> to test your <strong>pharmacy knowledge.</strong> <em>The | |
| answers are provided at the end.</em></p> | |
| <p>1) Antibiotics can help cure colds & flu | |
| | |
| <strong>True False</strong></p> | |
| <p>2) I can stop taking my antibiotics as soon as I start feeling better. | |
| | |
| <strong>True False</strong></p> | |
| <p>3) As long as I take the right number of pills I can take them at any time of day | |
| <strong>True False</strong></p> | |
| <p>4) I can save leftover antibiotics for the next time I get sick | |
| | |
| <strong>True False</strong></p> | |
| <p>5) Incorrect use of antibiotics can lead to bacteria becoming resistant | |
| | |
| <strong>True False</strong></p> | |
| <p>6) The worst place to keep medicine is in the bathroom medicine cabinet | |
| | |
| <strong>True False</strong></p> | |
| <p>7) If you've missed a dose of your medication you should always double the dose next | |
| time</p> | |
| <p> | |
| <strong>True False</strong></p> | |
| <p>8) "Generic" drugs are basicall lower priced copies of "brand name" | |
| products <strong>True | |
| False</strong></p> | |
| <p>9) The reason that some non-prescription drugs are kept behind the counter is so that | |
| people purchasing then will get advise from the pharmacist | |
| | |
| <strong>True False</strong></p> | |
| <p>10) Antibiotics can reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills | |
| | |
| <strong>True False</strong></p> | |
| <p>11) It is always best to use "broad spectrum" antibiotics to cover all | |
| possible causes of infection</p> | |
| <p> | |
| <strong>True False</strong></p> | |
| <p>12) Some medications are better taken on an empty stomach. The best definition of empty | |
| stomach is:</p> | |
| <p><strong>a) when you feel hungry b) just before meals c) 1 hr before a meal or 2 hrs | |
| after a meal d) after a bowel movement</strong></p> | |
| <p>13) After the expiry date on the package, the medicine can be:</p> | |
| <p><strong>a) ineffective b) dangerous c) all of the above</strong></p> | |
| <p>14) The best way to get rid of unused or outdated medication is to:</p> | |
| <p><strong>a) flush it down the toilet b) throw it in the garbage c) take it | |
| to any local pharmacy for disposal</strong></p> | |
| <p>****************************************************************************</p> | |
| <p><strong><em><big>Answers:</big></em></strong></p> | |
| <p><strong>1) False 2) False 3) False | |
| 4) False 5) True | |
| 6) True 7) False 8) | |
| True 9) True 10) | |
| True 11) False 12) c | |
| 13) c | |
| 14) c</strong></p> | |
| <p align="center"><a href="#Top">To Top</a></p> | |
| <hr> | |
| <p><font size="4"><strong><a name="Announcement: New Chief of Family Practice">New Chief | |
| of Family Practice</a></strong></font></p> | |
| <p><img src="May%20Web%20Pic's/Dr.%20Clarkson.gif" alt="Dr. Clarkson" align="left" WIDTH="150" HEIGHT="216">The | |
| President and Chief Executive Officer of The Credit Valley Hospital, Wayne Fyffe, on | |
| behalf of the Board of Governors, is pleased to announce the appointment of David | |
| Clarkson, MD, CCFP. MHSc as Chief of Family Medicine. </p> | |
| <p>Dr. Clarkson takes on the leadership of the Family Medicine Department at a time when | |
| family physicians are reconsidering their obligations to the local hospitals (see also | |
| "Family Physicians In Short Supply"). </p> | |
| <p>Fyffe said that "as the hospital takes on the additional complex regional | |
| programs, it is very important that we continue to have a strong family medicine | |
| presence."</p> | |
| <p>Dr. Clarkson was born and raised in Mississauga. He began his general practice here in | |
| 1972 after obtaining his medical and post-graduate family practice training at the | |
| University of Toronto. He has been a coroner for the Province of Ontario since 1974. </p> | |
| <p>In 1983, Dr. Clarkson returned to the University of Toronto to complete a Master of | |
| Health Science degree program. The epidemiology, public health and management theory | |
| training in that program led to a brief career as a medical officer of health for the | |
| Regional Municipality of Niagara. He found that he missed patient care and so returned to | |
| general practice at The Credit Valley Hospital in 1986. </p> | |
| <p>While at our hospital, Dr. Clarkson has worked in the Emergency Department, chaired the | |
| Utilization Committee, the Ambulatory Care Committee and the Ethics Committee. He has | |
| spoken on behalf of the Foundation and at several clinical conferences produced by The | |
| Credit Valley Hospital. He is a previous secretary of the Department of Family Medicine | |
| and a former member of the Peel District Health Council. </p> | |
| <p align="center"><a href="#Top">To Top</a></p> | |
| <hr> | |
| <p><font size="4"><strong><a name="Family Physicians In Short Supply In Hospital">Family | |
| Physicians In Short Supply In Hospital</a></strong></font></p> | |
| <p><em><strong>By Wendy Johnson APR, Director, Community Relations and Communications</strong></em></p> | |
| <p>There’s a problem that’s been simmering among Ontario’s family | |
| physicians for the last few years. It’s a problem that could develop into a crisis at | |
| The Credit Valley Hospital, and other hospitals around the province. It has, and will, | |
| impact the health care of our patients. It has to do with a shortage of family physicians.</p> | |
| <p>Hospital privileges, allow physicians to admit their patients to hospital. They agree | |
| to help, on a rotating basis, those patients who are admitted through the emergency | |
| department who do not have family doctors on staff. But the number of family physicians | |
| able to give their time to these patients is decreasing. "It’s a difficult | |
| problem to deal with," Dr. David Clarkson, the new Chief of Family Practice at CVH | |
| says.</p> | |
| <p>"When a patient arrives in the Emergency Department, s/he is asked for the name of | |
| his family physician. Often the patient says s/he does not have a family physician. As a | |
| result, the patient is assigned a family physician from among the roster of family | |
| physicians with privileges at The Credit Valley Hospital. This creates a problem for the | |
| family physicians, most of whom, already have a full complement of patients in hospital, | |
| and full practices in their offices."</p> | |
| <p>Dr. Clarkson notes as a result, many of the family physicians, both here and across the | |
| province, are relinquishing their hospital privileges. "This further compounds the | |
| problem," he says, "because then, when one of their patients ends up in the | |
| emergency room, they too are assigned to one of the remaining family physicians with | |
| hospital privileges. This causes an increased patient load for that physician, which in | |
| turn creates the possibility that they too, will decide to relinquish their privileges! It | |
| becomes a vicious circle!"</p> | |
| <p>As the new Chief of Family Medicine, it will be Dr. Clarkson’s challenge to | |
| address this dilemma. "This is not unique to The Credit Valley Hospital," he | |
| explains. "Most hospitals in the province are struggling to deal with this | |
| situation."</p> | |
| <p>What can you, as a patient, do to help? "Get your present family physician to join | |
| us here at The Credit Valley Hospital to participate in that important aspect of health | |
| care." Dr. Clarkson suggests. "Although there is a shortage of family physicians | |
| around the province, there are some who are taking new patients." A Credit To Your | |
| Health will publish a list of new physicians in this issue, and subsequent issues to help | |
| patients find a family physician. </p> | |
| <p>"You should be able to look on your family physician as the person who can best | |
| assist you through the health care system." Dr. Clarkson explains. "He or she | |
| looks after you and your family on an ongoing basis. When you require specialist | |
| treatment, he or she will make sure you are referred to the best physician in the field. | |
| When you are in hospital, your physician will meet with you to discuss your care. Your | |
| family physician will also keep in touch with any specialists who may be seeing you while | |
| you are in the hospital." </p> | |
| <p align="center"><a href="#Top">To Top</a></p> | |
| <hr> | |
| <p><font size="4"><strong><a name="FAQs (frequently asked questions) about Anesthetic">FAQs | |
| (frequently asked questions) about Anesthetic</a></strong></font></p> | |
| <b> | |
| <p>Q: What is General Anesthesia?</b></p> | |
| <p>A: During general anesthesia, your anesthesiologist keeps you in a sate of carefully | |
| controlled unconsciousness with a mixture of very potent drugs, so that the operation is | |
| painless. Many people think that this involves the injection of just one drug. Actually, | |
| most general anesthetics require the administration of somewhere between three and 15 | |
| different drugs, depending on the complexity of the case.</p> | |
| <b> | |
| <p>Q: What is Regional Anesthesia?</b></p> | |
| <p>A: Regional anesthesia involves injecting local anesthetics through a needles, which | |
| the anesthesiologist places close to the nerve or nerves supplying the region of the body | |
| involved in the operation. The skin and tissues that the needle goes through are also | |
| numbed with local anesthetic so that there is minimal discomfort associated with placement | |
| of the needle. Local anesthetic drugs stop nerves from working temporarily, so that no | |
| sensation and/or movement in the area of the body supplied by the nerve(s) occurs. This | |
| type of anesthesia is also called a nerve block.</p> | |
| <b> | |
| <p>Q: What is Local Anesthesia?</b></p> | |
| <p>A: Local anesthesia refers to temporarily numbing a small area by injecting local | |
| anesthetic into the skin so that minor procedures, like stitching cuts, can be done | |
| painlessly.</p> | |
| <b> | |
| <p>Q: What is an Epidural?</b></p> | |
| <p>A: The epidural space lies just outside the special covering or dura, which encloses | |
| the spinal cord and nerves. An epidural is a type of regional anesthetic in which a needle | |
| is positioned between the bones of the spine to allow the anesthesiologist to insert a | |
| small plastic tube (or catheter( into the epidural space. The needle is then removed and | |
| local anesthetic is injected through the catheter. </p> | |
| <b> | |
| <p>Q: What is a Spinal?</b></p> | |
| <p>A: In a spinal anesthetic, a very thin needles is inserted between the bones of the | |
| lumbar spine, through the dura and into the spinal fluid. A small amount of local | |
| anesthetic is injected, which quickly stops the spinal nerves from working, so that there | |
| is no movement or sensation below that level of the body. The effect is temporary, lasting | |
| only until the local anesthetic wears off.</p> | |
| <b> | |
| <p>Q: Why Can’t I Eat or Drink Before Surgery?</b></p> | |
| <p>A: Inhaling vomited stomach contents into your lungs is called aspiration and can be | |
| dangerous. Fortunately your body has an effective mechanism to stop this from happening. | |
| Unfortunately when you are unconscious this mechanism does not work, so it’s best | |
| that your stomach is empty when you have a general anesthetic. In emergency surgery when | |
| you may have eaten recently, your anesthesiologist will take special precautions to reduce | |
| the risk of aspiration. Even if you are booked to have a regional anesthetic, it is | |
| important to follow the instructions about not eating and drinking, just in case it | |
| becomes necessary for your to have a general anesthetic.</p> | |
| <b> | |
| <p>Q: What if I’m Allergic to Anesthesia?</b></p> | |
| <p>A: Sometimes patients may think, or be told, that they are "allergic to | |
| anesthesia" because they have an unpleasant experience that they associate with | |
| anesthesia, for example nausea and vomiting. These are side effects of drug | |
| administration, not allergic reactions. A true allergic reaction to a drug usually | |
| produces hives or wheals on the skin, wheezing in the lungs, swelling of the mouth, throat | |
| or eyes, and sometimes a drop in blood pressure.</p> | |
| <font SIZE="2"> | |
| <p><em>Information adapted from "Seeing You Through Your Most Critical Times: | |
| Information on Anesthesia and Anesthesiologists for the Canadian public from the Canadian | |
| Anesthesiologists’ Society.</em>"</font></p> | |
| <p align="center"><a href="#Top">To Top</a></p> | |
| <hr> | |
| <p><font size="4"><strong><a name="I Saw Someone Do Something Good!">I Saw Someone Do | |
| Something Good!</a></strong></font></p> | |
| <p><em>Submitted by: Grace Kiers, Service Dept.</em></p> | |
| <p>I just received a telephone call from Heather Wood Bennett, Co-ordinator for Children's | |
| Bridge, an international Adoption Agency. They had a function in our Auditorium this past | |
| Saturday, for which a major setup was required as well as AV equipment. She wanted to let | |
| us know that the service provided was OUTSTANDING!! When the number of chairs was running | |
| low, the Environmental Crew quickly responded to the need. Tim Chevrier was very organized | |
| and the Hospital staff were so very welcoming!!</p> | |
| <p align="center"><img src="May%20Web%20Pic's/Letter%20&%20Drawing.gif" alt="Letter & Drawing.gif (28261 bytes)" WIDTH="252" HEIGHT="192"></p> | |
| <p align="center"><a href="#Top">To Top</a></p> | |
| <hr> | |
| <p ALIGN="left"><font size="4"><strong><a name="YOUR KIDNEY PROGRAMME AT THE CREDIT VALLEY HOSPITAL">Your Kidney Programme at The | |
| Credit Valley Hospital</a></strong></font></p> | |
| <p ALIGN="left"><em><strong><font SIZE="2">by </font><font SIZE="3">Surinder Shokar RN and | |
| Susan Pattison RN</font></strong></em></p> | |
| <p>Dharam came into the predialysis / transplant office today. He had the biggest smile on | |
| his face. He looked like a kid who had just experienced ten Christmases rolled into one. | |
| "Well?" I asked him, "How are you feeling?" He looked at me, his voice | |
| almost choking with emotion, " I feel great, I feel just great!" You see, Dharam | |
| had just received a special gift. Dharam recently underwent a kidney transplant. A kidney | |
| transplant for Dharam meant a new lease on life, " I noticed a big change in my | |
| health the next day after transplant; I feel so much better," he repeated. It was | |
| almost as if he still could not believe that the transplant had finally happened.</p> | |
| <p>Dharam was one of the lucky ones; he waited for just over 3 years before receiving his | |
| transplant. The average waiting time is four years. For Dharam, three years of an | |
| emotional roller coaster waiting for the phone call from the transplant hospital telling | |
| him that a kidney had become available, was over.</p> | |
| <p>Patients awaiting a kidney transplant must receive life support treatment which may | |
| consist of either peritoneal dialysis or hemo dialysis. Dharam was educated on both | |
| dialysis type options and in consultation with his multidisciplinary medical team decided | |
| that peritoneal dialysis, a self care treatment at home, best suited his life style. | |
| Dialysis maintained Dharam’s health until a kidney transplant became available.</p> | |
| <p>Dharam and I sat down and reflected on the past 3 years. I first met Dharam in the | |
| emergency department of the Credit Valley Hospital. He had just been diagnosed with | |
| chronic kidney failure and was apprehensive about how he would cope with this new | |
| challenge. Dharam had overcome many obstacles in his life; he was born with no legs. | |
| Dharam worked at the ‘Home Depot’ and was worried about fitting dialysis around | |
| his work. As it turned out, he need not have worried<i>. </i>"When they knew I was on | |
| dialysis, I explained the restrictions of time and they were very flexible with my part | |
| time hours, they were great," said Dharam.<i> </i>"The staff at the Credit | |
| Valley Hospital were also great, they were always there for me, helping me along the | |
| way". </p> | |
| <p>The Credit Valley Hospital is a regional dialysis centre servicing the needs of people | |
| in the Peel and Halton community. The renal division consists of three programs: | |
| pre-dialysis, peritoneal and hemodialysis. The pre-dialysis program focuses on education | |
| and monitoring patients until the need for dialysis arises. At present there are 170 | |
| patients followed in this program. Patients are taught about the different types of | |
| dialysis, transplantation, blood pressure monitoring/hypertension. They are also taught | |
| the importance of taking their medication properly and diet counseling.</p> | |
| <p>Community support is available through the Kidney Foundation sponsored "Renal | |
| Education and Peer Support Group (West)." This group meets monthly at the Mississauga | |
| Central Library.</p> | |
| <p>The Peritoneal Dialysis Program teaches patients to manage their dialysis at home | |
| safely. Very often it is a lifestyle decision as to why this type of dialysis is chosen. | |
| There are 100 patients on peritoneal dialysis at The Credit Valley Hospital.</p> | |
| <p>Hemodialysis at The Credit Valley Hospital has seen tremendous growth; expansion has | |
| occurred in the hospital and to three Satellite Units: Head Waters Health Care Centre in | |
| Orangeville; Peel Memorial Hospital in Brampton; and the Self-Care Sussex Centre in | |
| Mississauga. Despite the increases in dialysis facilities the need for further expansion | |
| continues. This increased need for dialysis has occurred due to more prevalence of | |
| diabetes and demographic shifts towards an older population. </p> | |
| <p>The Hemodialysis Unit operates forty dialysis machines and three patients are dialyzed | |
| on each machine per day, therefore, 120 patients are dialyzed each day. Approximately, 250 | |
| patients receive treatment, which consists of each patient coming to the hospital for four | |
| hour treatments, three times a week.</p> | |
| <p>Good health is maintained with a special diet, numerous medications and dialysis. A | |
| multidisciplinary team consisting of professionals such as nurses, dieticians, social | |
| workers, pharmacists and nephrologists work closely with the patient to enable him/her to | |
| manage their disease.</p> | |
| <p>Although transplants are not performed at The Credit Valley Hospital, the hospital has | |
| an active transplant program that prepares patients for transplant and monitors the stable | |
| transplanted patents. At present, there are 140 patients being assessed or waiting for a | |
| kidney transplant. </p> | |
| <p>Also, 85 patients who have had a transplant are followed in the transplant clinic.</p> | |
| <p>Canada has the worst record for organ donation in the world, transplant lists are | |
| bigger and this means that the waiting time for a transplant is longer. Every one should | |
| discuss organ donation with their family because it is the family decision and not the | |
| signed organ donor card that determines organ donation.</p> | |
| <p>The Credit Valley Hospital Renal Program pioneered pre-dialysis education and is a | |
| resource for newer programs. The Hemodialysis Unit is one of the largest centers in | |
| Ontario and the Peritoneal Dialysis Unit has won awards for excellence in care.</p> | |
| <p>We are very proud of the many professionals who make up the multidisciplinary renal | |
| team, who constantly strive to provide the best possible care for our community.</p> | |
| <p align="center"><a href="#Top">To Top</a></p> | |
| <hr> | |
| <p><font size="4"><strong><a name="May is Speech and Hearing Awareness Month">May is | |
| Speech and Hearing Awareness Month</a></strong></font></p> | |
| <p><em><strong>by Suzanne Hamilton, Speech-Language Pathologist</strong></em></p> | |
| <p>The month of May has been chosen by speech-language pathologists and audiologists as a | |
| time to raise public awareness of speech, language, swallowing and hearing disorders that | |
| affect millions of Canadians.</p> | |
| <p>Speech-language pathologists identify and treat all types of communication and | |
| swallowing disorders while audiologists test hearing and recommend hearing aids as | |
| appropriate. CVH’s speech and audiology department sees children and adults, both | |
| inpatients at the hospital and clients from the community. As part of this year’s | |
| Speech and Hearing month, we would like to share some frequently asked questions and | |
| answers about communication, swallowing and hearing loss. If you would like more | |
| information, or suspect a hearing, speech, language or swallowing problem, please contact | |
| an audiologist or speech-language pathologist, or call the Ontario Association of | |
| Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists at (416) 920-3676.</p> | |
| <b> | |
| <p>Q: My mother recently had a stroke and now has "aphasia". She can say only a | |
| few words, but seems to understand everything. Is that common?</b></p> | |
| <p>A: Aphasia is a language disorder that results in difficulty speaking and/or | |
| understanding language (spoken and written), and is caused by damage to the brain. Some | |
| individuals may find it easier to understand language than to express themselves. A | |
| speech-language pathologist can work with your mother and your family to provide | |
| intervention and strategies that help make communication easier.</p> | |
| <b> | |
| <p>Q: How much do hearing aids cost?</b></p> | |
| <p>A: Hearing aids range in price depending upon the size of the aid. The smaller the size | |
| (and the more advanced the technology and circuit has to be), the higher the cost. The | |
| general price range is from $750 to $2000 for one hearing aid. There is a government | |
| "Assistive Devices Program" (ADP) that may subsidize 75% of the cost, up to a | |
| maximum of $500.00 per hearing aid.</p> | |
| <b> | |
| <p>Q: If my child is two years old, what kind of speech should he or she be using?</b></p> | |
| <p>A: By two years of age, the average child is using two word phrases (e.g. "more | |
| milk"), can say at least 20 different words, and consistently uses the sounds i, o, | |
| u, p, b, m, n and d. A two-year-old can usually understand simple questions, bring you one | |
| object on command, and point to some body parts. The Credit Valley Hospital is a partner | |
| in the Peel Preschool Speech and Language Services program that provides communication | |
| assessment and intervention for preschoolers. If you would like more information, please | |
| call 820-7111, extension 2355.</p> | |
| <b> | |
| <p>Q: My father is 75 years old and seems to choke frequently while eating or drinking. Is | |
| this a swallowing problem?</b></p> | |
| <p>A: The fact that you have observed repeated difficulty with eating and drinking is a | |
| sign of a possible swallowing problem. Swallowing difficulties (also called dysphagia) can | |
| occur at any age, and may have a neurological origin. A speech-language pathologist can | |
| assess whether or not there is a swallowing problem and provide management strategies. A | |
| referral for a swallowing assessment can be made through your family doctor.</p> | |
| <b> | |
| <p>Q: When you lose your voice as a result of a cold, is it better to whisper or to try to | |
| talk "raspy" (i.e. use your voice as it is?)</p> | |
| </b> | |
| <p>A: It is often best to use your voice the way it is rather than whispering when you | |
| have a cold. When we whisper, only one part of the vocal folds is used. This may result in | |
| stress to the vocal folds and may worsen your vocal quality. It is also important, | |
| however, not to OVERUSE your voice while you have a cold, and even more important not to | |
| ABUSE your voice (i.e. by yelling, using a loud voice or excessively clearing your throat) | |
| when you have a cold or at any time.</p> | |
| <b> | |
| <p>Q: My daughter will be three in June. She often says part of a sentence, then gets | |
| stuck on one word (e.g. Mommy, I want my b-b-b-ball"). Will she grow out of this? | |
| What can I do to help her?</b></p> | |
| <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY">A: Some preschool children go through a period of time when their | |
| speech is not as fluent and they have a hard time "getting the words out", often | |
| as language is developing rapidly. We recommend that you consult with a speech-language | |
| pathologist who can evaluate your child’s speech and language. The following | |
| suggestions may also be helpful: </p> | |
| <ol TYPE="a"> | |
| <li>Model a slow, relaxed manner of talking; </li> | |
| <li>Use short simple sentences and vocabulary that is at your child’s level; </li> | |
| <li>Use more comments and descriptors rather than a lot of questions; </li> | |
| <li>Look at your child when he or she is talking to you; and </li> | |
| <li>Pay attention to what your child says rather than how he or she is saying it.</li> | |
| </ol> | |
| <p align="center"><a href="#Top">To Top</a></p> | |
| <hr> | |
| <p><font size="4"><strong><a name="Memoirs of a Community Representative Officer">Memoirs | |
| of a Community Representative Officer</a></strong></font></p> | |
| <p><em><strong>by Helen Reilly, PR Specialist</strong></em></p> | |
| <p>As she hung up her hospital-issue jacket for the last time, her moniker -- "the | |
| face of Credit Valley" -- was retired as well. It's literally been twelve years on | |
| the front line at The Credit Valley Hospital for Sylvia Polachuk.</p> | |
| <p>In 1989, Sylvia assumed the role of Community Representative Officer (CRO) and became a | |
| fixture in the hospital's main lobby. She was especially recognizable by the red coat she | |
| donned each morning along with a smile ready to cope with whatever the day had to offer.</p> | |
| <p><img src="May%20Web%20Pic's/Sylvia%20Polachuk.gif" alt="Sylvia Polachuk" align="left" WIDTH="232" HEIGHT="252">Among | |
| her duties, Sylvia was responsible not only for the pleasantries of welcoming patients but | |
| also for dealing with the logistics involved in a hospital fire drill or alarm, code for a | |
| missing patient, and orchestrating preparations for helicopter transport of a patient.</p> | |
| <p>Acting as a resource, providing direction and instruction where necessary, she was | |
| responsible for ensuring babies making the first trip home were packed into their car | |
| seats properly - and never hesitated to remind mom and dad to pack themselves in safely as | |
| well. </p> | |
| <p>She also became familiar with many of the "regulars" - such as patients | |
| arriving by wheel-trans for outpatient treatment in the hospital's busy renal dialysis | |
| unit.</p> | |
| <p>"I didn't know all the names, but I knew the faces," says Sylvia of the many | |
| patients she came to know over the years. "I really enjoyed my job; I never knew what | |
| to expect each day - I never knew what would come through the front door."</p> | |
| <p>Among her memories, Sylvia recalls the early days when she brought her pet poodle | |
| Tiffany into the hospital to visit patients. "Tiffany had a tremendous effect on many | |
| of the patients. In fact, one gentleman became so close to her that he requested a picture | |
| of Tiffany be buried with him when he finally succumbed to his illness," Sylvia | |
| recalls warmly.</p> | |
| <p>Once, several years ago, Sylvia approached a weeping woman in the hospital's main | |
| lobby. While Sylvia did only what came naturally to her, she had no idea what impact her | |
| gesture would have on this person's life. It was only years later that a happier looking | |
| woman approached Sylvia to thank her for sharing her time and a hug with a total stranger | |
| – a hug that helped convince the woman her consideration of suicide was perhaps not | |
| the only available option - someone cared about her.</p> | |
| <p>Having no regrets about moving to London with her husband following his employment | |
| transfer, Sylvia admits she will miss the day-to-day interaction with the people she came | |
| to know as friends. "I am looking forward to the change of pace and travelling a | |
| little more with my husband in our recreational vehicle, but I'll miss the work and the | |
| people," she says.</p> | |
| <p>The hospital's new CRO, Gary Sarina realizes Sylvia's going to be a tough act to | |
| follow. He's anxious to make the acquaintance of many of those who held Sylvia's | |
| friendship so dear. Gary looks forward to the challenge and excitement each day has to | |
| offer.</p> | |
| <p align="center"><a href="#Top">To Top</a></p> | |
| <hr> | |
| <p><font size="4"><strong><a name="Michael's Story: Recognizing the Special Needs of Those Persons with Brain Injuries">Michael's | |
| Story: Recognizing the Special Needs of Those Persons with Brain Injuries</a></strong></font></p> | |
| <p>He's young but he's old. He's full of things to say, but unable to say them. He wants | |
| to move, to experience life, like any young person his age, but his world of mobility has | |
| been cut off.</p> | |
| <p>This is Michael's story --the story of a young man whose life has been permanently | |
| altered as a result of a motor vehicle accident which left him with a severe brain injury. | |
| He needs constant care. His communication is limited and as a result he often exhibits | |
| agitated behaviours such as screaming. He is frustrated to say the least. And this has | |
| frustrated his caregivers at The Credit Valley Hospital and often upsets other patients. | |
| Michael lives on the Continuing Care Unit, a unit designed for the frail elderly. But it | |
| is the only unit that provides the type of extensive nursing and physical care Michael | |
| requires.</p> | |
| <p>The multidisciplinary team has been working diligently to find a solution that will be | |
| beneficial to Michael. Since he is very limited in the range of activities that he can | |
| sustain on his own, providing him with an appropriate level of stimulation has been | |
| challenging as has been the task of maintaining a high level of consistency in responding | |
| to his disruptive behaviours.</p> | |
| <p>But help may be on the horizon. One of the hospitals' social workers contacted the Peel | |
| Halton Acquired Brain Injury Services (PHABIS) and together the multidisciplinary team and | |
| staff at PHABIS developed a proposal which was subsequently accepted for funding by the | |
| Long Term Care Ministry. A grant of $90,000 was given to PHABIS for the purpose of | |
| providing care to Michael.</p> | |
| <p>As a result, PHABIS hired a behaviour therapist to work on a one to one basis with | |
| Michael. A therapist is available seven days a week to help CVH health professionals | |
| replace Michael's agitated behaviours with more adaptive ones.</p> | |
| <p>In addition, Michael will have access to the modular services, such as a music group | |
| and peer support group, which are already available in the community for the brain | |
| injured.</p> | |
| <p>The behaviour therapist has become part of the hospital's multidisciplinary team | |
| providing Michael's care. The hospital's psychologist provides direct supervision for the | |
| clinical aspects of Michael's care while the administrative responsibility and | |
| participation in the community program is the responsibility of Peel Halton Acquired Brain | |
| Injury Services.</p> | |
| <p>Michael's program will be funded to the end of his stay in the hospital and PHABIS has | |
| been awarded funds to create a community home for those with similar severe disabilities. | |
| We anticipate that there will be a place available for Michael when this home has been | |
| established</p> | |
| <p align="center"><a href="#Top">To Top</a></p> | |
| <hr> | |
| <p><font size="4"><strong><a name="Mommy I Bumped My Head and Other Childhood Malaises!">Mommy | |
| I Bumped My Head and Other Childhood Malaises!</a></strong></font></p> | |
| <p>Head injuries, tummy aches, and bites were the topics of conversation at The Credit | |
| Valley Hospital’s Community Education Night recently. Lots of parents showed up with | |
| lots of questions for paediatrician, Dr. Donna Goldenberg, staff paediatrician, and Dr. | |
| Eric Letovsky, Chief of the Emergency Department. The pair gave a lively presentation | |
| interspersed with questions from anxious parents who were more than willing to share their | |
| children’s experiences from such interesting injuries as dog and people bites; | |
| high-flying spills from monkey bars and terrible tummy aches. There was a wealth of | |
| information that we thought you’d find information and useful so we’re going to | |
| summarize some of it for you. But perhaps the most important piece of advice was, <b>always | |
| take your child to the emergency department if you’re worried about any kind of | |
| injury or illness. </p> | |
| <p>What You Should Know About Children’s Head Injuries</b></p> | |
| <p>A child learning to walk may tumble and bump his head. Usually this type of fall | |
| isn’t as significant as one from a greater height (such as falls from a change | |
| table). <b>HINT:</b> To avoid a fall from a change table, make sure you keep one hand on | |
| baby’s tummy whenever you take your eyes from him or when you’re reaching for | |
| something. <b>HINT:</b> Use ice to prevent or diminish swelling. Wrap ice in a | |
| towel, never put ice directly on skin.</p> | |
| <b> | |
| <p>Loss of Consciousness</b> – the longer the length of unconsciousness, the more we | |
| worry. Most kids, even after a minor head injury, will vomit, usually within 30 | |
| minutes. Sometimes it’s simply because of the stress of the injury. If the vomiting | |
| persists, if the child is lethargic or you feel he’s "just not quite right" | |
| (confused, disoriented, not as alert) you should bring him into the Emergency Department.</p> | |
| <b> | |
| <p>What Will Happen in the Emergency Department</b></p> | |
| <p>The doctor will feel the child’s scalp to determine if there is a skull fracture. | |
| The doctor will do a neurological examination (eyes, reflexes, strength, steadiness | |
| of walk etc.). NOTE: The majority of children with head injuries can be sent home as | |
| long as parents keep a watchful eye on their child. If the child has a persistent headache | |
| and/or vomiting, you should return to hospital.</p> | |
| <b> | |
| <p>Vomiting and Diarrhea</b></p> | |
| <p>Usually parents biggest concern is that their child will become dehydrated. Often after | |
| a child vomits, he says he’s thirsty. Mom or dad gives him something to | |
| drink…the child guzzles the drink and then he vomits again! <b>HINT:</b> Give your | |
| child Gastrolyte, or Paedialyte to drink. It doesn’t taste that good, so the child | |
| will only take small drinks. This will diminish vomiting. DO NOT give your child | |
| over-the-counter medications to stop diarrhea. These will stop the body from getting rid | |
| of infection.</p> | |
| <b> | |
| <p>Your Child is NOT Dehydrated if:</b></p> | |
| <p>If you can see a shiny reflection in his eyes (sunken and dull eyes are a sign of | |
| dehydration).</p> | |
| <p>If your child has tears when s/he cries.</p> | |
| <p>If your child has the usual number of wet diapers.</p> | |
| <p>If his mouth is moist when you stick your finger in it. </p> | |
| <p>Call your doctor or go to the hospital if:</p> | |
| <p>You child has diarrhea and is less than six months of age.</p> | |
| <p>Your child has bloody or black stools.</p> | |
| <p>Your child starts to vomit and is still vomiting after four to six hours.</p> | |
| <p>Your child has a fever (temperature greater than 38.5 C (101.5 F).</p> | |
| <b> | |
| <p>Tummy Aches</b></p> | |
| <p>There are many reasons for tummay aches in kids. The following two are often difficult | |
| to diagnose: | |
| <ol> | |
| <li>Appendicitis</li> | |
| <li>Constipation</li> | |
| </ol> | |
| <p>Appendicitis is the inflammation of the appendix in the right lower side of the | |
| abdomen, although the pain may not begin there. The tummy ache will get progressively | |
| worse. It WILL NOT ease. It may be accompanied by a fever. The only treatment is surgery.</p> | |
| <p>Pain from constipation is intermittent. It comes and goes. The bowel contracts in order | |
| to empty. When it does not empty, it cramps, but the pain will go away after about fifteen | |
| minutes. In order to avoid constipation, give your child prune juice, lots of vegetables | |
| and vary his diet so that he does not eat the same foods every day. If the pain is so | |
| severe that you bring him to the Emergency Department, an enema may be given.</p> | |
| <b> | |
| <p>Bites</b></p> | |
| <p>Cat, dog and human bites are quite common. It is rare that the bite is deep enough to | |
| injure the tendon. The major concern is risk of infection. </p> | |
| <p>Cats’ teeth make small puncture wounds which are very difficult to clean so the | |
| risk of infection in high. If a child is bitten by a cat, the doctor will usually give him | |
| antibiotics to prevent infection.</p> | |
| <p>Dogs’ teeth make a more sheering type of wound. Because the wound is larger and | |
| more gaping it is easier to clean. The doctor will irrigate the wound with salt water and | |
| cut off any loose skin that’s around the wound. The doctor will probably not | |
| prescribe antibiotics when the bite is on the face or the hands. </p> | |
| <p>If a child is bitten by another child or adult, there is a serious risk of infection. | |
| Humans carry many more bacteria in their mouths than either cats or dogs. The doctor will | |
| probably not suture the wound because the wound tends to get infected if it is closed. The | |
| doctor will probably prescribe antibiotics. </p> | |
| <b> | |
| <p>HINT:</b> Remember to get a tetanus shot every ten years.</p> | |
| <p>Watch for more helpful hints in upcoming issues of "A Credit to Your Health".</p> | |
| <p align="center"><a href="#Top">To Top</a></p> | |
| <hr> | |
| <p><font size="4"><strong><a name="Health System Integration Initiative Approved">Health | |
| System Integration Initiative Approved</a></strong></font></p> | |
| <p>Patients suffering from disabling medical conditions such as stroke or as a result of | |
| injury, work very hard with their hospital caregivers to regain the use of their limbs. | |
| Once they reach a certain level of functioning they are able to return home. As delighted | |
| as they are to be back in their own surroundings, they may lose some of the skills they've | |
| relearned because of lack of professional support and encouragement. But that's about to | |
| change as a result of a new initiative that began with a meeting of community groups | |
| including The Credit Valley Hospital, Trillium and the Halton Health Care Services | |
| Corporation as well as representatives from the Peel Continuing Care Access Centre, Peel | |
| Public Health, South Common Community Centre, The City of Mississauga Parks and Recreation | |
| Department. Although each of these agencies provides a service their goal was to integrate | |
| resources to provide a seamless "continuum of services" for these individuals. | |
| The groups' focus is on wellness and the efficient use of all resources available to the | |
| patients, inside hospital and in the community.</p> | |
| <p>A program was developed that integrates Credit Valley Hospital Rehabilitation and | |
| Seniors Day Program with services provided by the Continuing Care Access Centre and | |
| Mississauga Parks and Recreation. The program helps patients move from the therapeutic | |
| environment of the hospital program to community based services to allow them to build on | |
| the gains they made in therapy as well as to develop the skills and confidence to ensure | |
| continued independence. The Continuing Care Access Centre is exploring opportunities for | |
| providing follow-up services.</p> | |
| <p>There are four phases of the program. Phase one is the hospital treatment phase (Phase | |
| I) where the patients receive occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech therapy, | |
| recreational therapy, nursing and social work services as well as on going medical | |
| consultations from a geriatrician. While in hospital the patients also make use of other | |
| hospital services such as laboratory, imaging and diabetic education.</p> | |
| <p>During Phase II the individual will receive therapies less frequently and will start | |
| the community program which will help them to use the skills they re-acquired during | |
| therapy. This part of Phase II will take place at the South Common Community Centre. | |
| During this transitional phase, the hospital rehabilitation staff will share their | |
| expertise with the community recreational staff and volunteers so that the program can be | |
| adapted to the specialized needs of the individuals. These persons are not "on their | |
| own" to continue to build skills and stamina but receive appropriate help and | |
| guidance in their efforts to resume pre-illness activities and to learn new ones. This is | |
| what's known as "continuity of care". It's a cost-effective and efficient use of | |
| hospital and community resource and results in the best outcomes for the participants..</p> | |
| <p>The third phase focuses on health and wellness and independent re-integration of the | |
| individual into community activities. The professionals monitor how the individual is | |
| functioning through a variety of recreation, exercise and social activities tailored to | |
| the needs of the participants. The Community Care Access Centre will also refer | |
| appropriate clients to this phase of the program. Caregiver support and relief will be a | |
| key element and activities will be developed specifically for caregivers. In addition, | |
| education will be a significant component of all aspects of this program. Initially, | |
| education will be individualized and will focus on medical and functional concerns.</p> | |
| <p>During the transition period (Phase II) and in the community portion (Phase III), | |
| educational opportunities will be more broadly based and will include sessions on topics | |
| such as osteoporosis, arthritis and stroke, as well as stress management, drug | |
| interactions, and use of sleep enhancement strategies. The educational initiatives will | |
| target both patients and their families.</p> | |
| <p>The Community Care Access Centre and Senior Day Hospital have been developing common | |
| systems to improve information sharing and to establish common outcome measures to make | |
| sure the professionals and the participants are achieving their goals.</p> | |
| <p>The program is being funded by the Long Term Care Division by the Recreation Analyst | |
| for Seniors Programs of the City of Mississauga Parks and Recreation Services. The program | |
| will cost $62,476 which will pay for a program coordinator to plan, implement and evaluate | |
| the program and develop a strong student training and volunteer component. In addition, | |
| the services of a recreation therapist and an exercise counselor will be required. The | |
| program will begin in the Fall, 1999.</p> | |
| <p align="center"><a href="#Top">To Top</a></p> | |
| <hr> | |
| <p><font size="4"><strong><a name="Peel Regional Cancer Centre Receives Funding">Peel | |
| Regional Cancer Centre Receives Funding</a></strong></font></p> | |
| <p><em><strong>By Wendy Johnson APR, Director, Community Relations and Communications</strong></em></p> | |
| <p>It’s official. Funding for The Peel Regional Cancer Centre has been announced and | |
| the promise of additional funding for an adjoining ambulatory care expansion has been | |
| received. </p> | |
| <p>Rob Sampson, the MPP for Mississauga West, announced the $31.8 million from the | |
| Ministry of Health just minutes before his boss, Premier Mike Harris, called the | |
| provincial election. The total cost of the Cancer Centre is estimated at $45.4 million. | |
| The Ministry’s portion is approximately 70 percent of the total cost. The remainder | |
| will be raised in the community and through the Region of Peel development funds. </p> | |
| <p>The new centre will provide radiation therapy for patients who currently travel to | |
| downtown Toronto or Hamilton for their treatment. The Centre will open with three | |
| radiation treatment machines. Space for an additional three radiation machines will be | |
| provided in recognition of the continuing growth in the region. </p> | |
| <p>Wayne Fyffe, the President of The Credit Valley Hospital says its important that | |
| patients are able to access this type of care closer to home. "We are extremely | |
| pleased the Ministry has responded with the appropriate funding for the Cancer Centre. We | |
| will work closely with Cancer Care Ontario to integrate our operation with that of the new | |
| regional cancer centre." </p> | |
| <p>Mr. Fyffe added how pleased he was to see "that the Ministry recognized the | |
| importance of funding not only the cancer centre, but the support services, such as | |
| laboratory and diagnostic imaging that will be impacted by the increased patient | |
| load." The Ministry allotted $14 million more than originally estimated by the Health | |
| Services Restructuing Commission to upgrade the support services.</p> | |
| <p>The building housing the cancer centre will be integrated with expanded ambulatory care | |
| program space for renal dialysis and other medical and surgical services which will | |
| free-up much needed inpatient space in the existing hospital. Fyffe says he anticipates a | |
| funding announcement for that portion of the project soon, in order that the architectural | |
| drawings can be developed in unison with the cancer project. </p> | |
| <p align="center"><a href="#Top">To Top</a></p> | |
| <hr> | |
| <p><font size="4"><strong><a name="P.E.N. Pals: Professional Excellence in Nursing">P.E.N. | |
| Pals: Professional Excellence in Nursing</a></strong></font></p> | |
| <p><em><strong>By Vanna Boghossian, Cathy Goacher and Mary-Agnes Beduz</strong></em></p> | |
| <p>The Credit Valley Hospital has a registered nursing (RN) staff, complemented by | |
| registered practical nurses (RPN) in our continuing care facility, which is unique in | |
| being able to provide complex health care from a holistic and wellness perspective. As | |
| patient advocates, nurses are key in organizing the best quality of care possible along | |
| the continuum from birth to death. Through education, networking, research and a team | |
| approach, nurses are prepared to care for the patient and family unit in a variable | |
| environment.</p> | |
| <p>Our professional nursing staff function in many enhanced roles such as unit | |
| coordinating nurse, clinical cacilitators, preceptors and various resource nurse roles.</p> | |
| <p>This year, Nursing Week was celebrated from May 10-16, 1999, and the national theme was | |
| "Partners in Healthy Aging". </p> | |
| <p>Activities during the week included a variety of lectures covering topics such as skin | |
| care, joint replacement and mental health issues related to aging. A major highlight of | |
| the week is the presentation of the Annual Excellence in Nursing Practice Award. The | |
| Excellence in Nursing Practice Award is bestowed on individuals, working in staff nurse | |
| roles, who exemplify the philosophy of the nursing division. This year nurses were | |
| nominated by their peers, in recognition of their contributions to the nursing profession, | |
| through demonstrable excellence in clinical practice, education, leadership and quality | |
| initiatives. The 1999 Excellence in Nursing Award was presented to Debbie Berube, Maternal | |
| Child Services. Honoured nominees were Madoline Baluca, 1E; Sheryl Brimley, 3C; Carolyn | |
| Cordi, 1D Palliative; and Anna Spicer, SCN.</p> | |
| <p>As we prepare for our future together, we look forward to sharing with you, our | |
| readers, the contributions our nursing staff make in providing quality health care at The | |
| Credit Valley Hospital.</p> | |
| <p align="center"><a href="#Top">To Top</a></p> | |
| <hr> | |
| <p><font size="4"><strong><a name="Physicians Accepting New Patients">Physicians Accepting | |
| New Patients</a></strong></font></p> | |
| <p>Dr. Adam Chen, 2000 Credit Valley Road, 820-4540</p> | |
| <p>Dr. Andy Chen, 2000 Credit Valley Road, 820-4540</p> | |
| <p>Dr. Gimiana Gindi, CVH Family Physicians After Hours Clinic, 2000 Credit Valley Road, | |
| 569-1393</p> | |
| <p>Dr. Jan Gustafsson, 2000 Credit Valley Road, 828-7044</p> | |
| <p>Dr. Andrew Ng, 3476 Glen Erin Drive, 820-3822</p> | |
| <p>Dr. Nikki Powar, 3095 Glen Erin Drive, 828-0038</p> | |
| <p>Dr. Ah-Kooi Soon, 3040 Palstan Road, 949-6798</p> | |
| <p>Dr. Janet Vickers, 2300 Eglinton Avenue West, 820-8144</p> | |
| <p>Dr. Manjit Virdee, 499 Ray Lawson Blvd., Brampton, 455-9374</p> | |
| <p>Dr. Stuart Wood, 2000 Credit Valley Road, 828-7044</p> | |
| <p>Dr. Robin Woollam, 3095 Glen Erin Drive, 828-6700</p> | |
| <p>Dr. Ken Zhang, 1675 The Chase, 820-5023</p> | |
| <p align="center"><a href="#Top">To Top</a></p> | |
| <hr> | |
| <p><font size="4"><strong><a name="Warning: Dangerous Curves Ahead">Warning: Dangerous | |
| Curves Ahead</a></strong></font></p> | |
| <p><em><strong>By Wendy Johnson APR, Director, Community Relations and Communications</strong></em></p> | |
| <p>The road to health care at The Credit Valley Hospital has some dangerous curves ahead | |
| according to the hospital’s year end statistics and future year projections. The | |
| hospital’s operating volumes have increased dramatically in many programs and | |
| services. Unfortunately, the hospital’s operating funds as provided by the Ministry | |
| of Health, have not kept pace with the growth. </p> | |
| <p>The lack of an appropriate funding formula as it relates to growth was the subject of | |
| much debate during last November’s Kyle Martyn inquest. One of the recommendations | |
| from the inquest, was that the hospital and the Ministry embark on an external review of | |
| the hospital’s funding in order to develop a funding formula that takes into account | |
| the precedent-setting growth in the northwest section of Mississauga. The larger area | |
| served by CVH grew by 48% over the last five years. An additional 32% in growth is | |
| expected between now and the year 2003. The external review was undertaken over the last | |
| few months.</p> | |
| <p>That kind of growth, though felt in every part of the hospital, has been most evident | |
| in the Emergency Department where patients arrive unexpectedly with anything from broken | |
| bones to deadly viruses. The seriousness of patients’ conditions (acuity) has | |
| increased dramatically over the last few years. As a result, many of the emergency | |
| patients require admission to hospital. But the nursing units have few, if any, inpatient | |
| beds to spare. The lack of operating funds to provide the additional tests and drugs to | |
| care for the increasing patient load, coupled with the lack of capital funds to expand our | |
| inpatient space to add more beds, has pushed the hospital and its caregivers to the limit. | |
| Too often emergency patients end up waiting on stretchers in that department until a bed | |
| can be found on a nursing unit. </p> | |
| <p>Over the last year patients spent a total of 1977 days in the emergency department | |
| waiting for an inpatient bed. With only 365 days in a year, the statistic indicates how | |
| serious a lack of inpatient resources poses for the emergency department. Based on current | |
| population data, the hospital estimates patients could spend the equivalent of 3000 | |
| patient days waiting in the ER for an inpatient bed this year. </p> | |
| <p>At the end of April the hospital received its initial Ministry of Health allocation for | |
| this fiscal year. "It was disappointing to say the least," hospital president, | |
| Wayne Fyffe acknowledged. "The interim allocation provides $1 million less than last | |
| year’s funding."</p> | |
| <p>The 1998/99 operating budget, after additional transitional funding injections, was $83 | |
| million. The initial funding for the 1999/00 fiscal year will provide a budget of $82 | |
| million. The hospital says it needs an operating budget of $104 million. That means the | |
| current funding from the Ministry of Health fall short by $22 million. </p> | |
| <p>Hospital Board Chair, Ian Cairns said he’s "concerned about the erosion of | |
| The Credit Valley Hospital’s capital funds. This money is to help fund capital | |
| projects such as the impending regional cancer centre and ambulatory care addition. We are | |
| dipping into those funds just to meet our budgetary obligations each month. Not only is | |
| that not smart business, it’s dangerous business because by doing so, we are | |
| threatening the future of those capital projects that we must complete in order to meet | |
| our patients needs." </p> | |
| <p>Both Cairns and Fyffe are hopeful that the external review of the hospital’s | |
| current and projected operation will result in much needed growth funding so the hospital | |
| can continue to meet the demands of our patients. The final report of the external review | |
| committee is expected within the next few weeks.</p> | |
| <p align="center"><a href="#Top">To Top</a></p> | |
| <hr> | |
| <p><a name="Wayne’s World"><font size="4"><strong>Wayne’s World</strong></font></a></p> | |
| <p><strong><em>by D. Wayne Fyffe, B.A., DHA, CHE</em></strong></p> | |
| <p><strong><em>President and Chief Executive Officer, The Credit Valley Hospital</em></strong></p> | |
| <p><img src="March%20Web%20Pic's/D.%20Wayne%20Fyffe.gif" alt="Fyffe" align="right" WIDTH="158" HEIGHT="216">When | |
| will the Cancer Centre open? I am asked this question regularly. </p> | |
| <p>All hospitals in Ontario must have prior approval of the Ministry of Health before | |
| building additions. The first step is to receive approval of a comprehensive planning | |
| document called a "Functional Program"! It details the size and scope of the | |
| proposed programs and buildings, and provides a cost estimate.</p> | |
| <p>On May 5, 1999 we received approval of the Functional Program for the Peel Regional | |
| Cancer Centre at an estimated total cost of $45.4 million. We are delighted because the | |
| approval includes initial installation of three radiation therapy machines plus three more | |
| rooms to be built so that we can easily install three more machines as the need increases | |
| within the rapidly growing population of the Peel Region and surrounding areas.</p> | |
| <p>Now we are seeking approval to integrate this new building with desperately needed | |
| ambulatory care (outpatient) space. This integration will save construction costs and | |
| annual operating costs.</p> | |
| <p>What’s next? When we receive approval of the Ambulatory Care Functional Program, | |
| we can ask our architects to prepare design drawings for the integrated facility. Then we | |
| will provide detailed specifications for each room. Then we will develop a construction | |
| tender document. When the construction contract is awarded to the successful bidder, we | |
| can put a hole in the ground.</p> | |
| <p>Whew! Planning is hard work. Led by Ian Sinclair, Associate Vice President, Corporate | |
| Planning and Construction, teams of CVH staff, physicians, Cancer Care Ontario staff and | |
| architects have been busy visiting other cancer centres and ambulatory care centres so | |
| that we can observe the best design ideas. I am confident that when the Peel Regional | |
| Cancer Centre opens at the end of 2001, it will be the finest centre in Canada!</p> | |
| <p>The integrated Cancer Care/Ambulatory Care Centre is our first priority. Many other | |
| important expansion projects are also awaiting approval of the Functional Program – | |
| eg. Child and Maternal Care, Mental Health, Rehabilitation, Complex Continuing Care, | |
| Surgery and other related programs.</p> | |
| <p>We will continue to work with Ministry staff to fast track approvals and construction, | |
| and to ensure that our new facilities are large enough in size and scope of service to | |
| allow us to offer you "care closer to home". </p> | |
| <p>Stay tuned!</p> | |
| <p align="center"><a href="#Top">To Top</a></p> | |
| <hr> | |
| <p ALIGN="left"><font size="4"><strong><a name="Anesthesiologists Don’t Just Put You To Sleep!">Anesthesiologists Don’t | |
| Just Put You To Sleep!</a></strong></font></p> | |
| <p ALIGN="left"><em><strong>By Wendy Johnson APR, Director, Community Relations and | |
| Communications</strong></em></p> | |
| <p>Most people, when they hear the term anaesthetist, or anesthesiologist, think of a | |
| person who puts patients to sleep before an operation. Well, they do that…but they do | |
| a lot more.</p> | |
| <p>Dr. George Dyke is the Chief of Anesthesiology at The Credit Valley Hospital. He and | |
| his fellow anesthesiologists took time from their busy schedules, April 28<sup>th</sup> to | |
| set up a public display and speak to patients and visitors at the hospital about the work | |
| they do. Dr. Dyke explained that Canadian anesthesiologists are specialist physicians in | |
| peri-operative medicine, critical care and pain management. They see patients through | |
| their most critical times in many areas of the hospital, not just the operating room. One | |
| of the most important discussions an anesthesiologist has with a patient is prior to | |
| surgery when s/he will discuss the risks, the benefits and safety issues in connection | |
| with the anaesthesia we’ll administer in the operating room. "We see up to 20% | |
| of our patients in the Preoperative Assessment Clinic to determine potential problems, | |
| treat them preoperatively and reassure the patients about the process." </p> | |
| <p>He says most patients are anaesthetized intravenously. "Occasionally we use a mask | |
| with patients who are uncomfortable with needles. An EMLA patch – a local anesthetic | |
| ointment – can reduce the pain of the needle injection. We often advise parents to | |
| purchase these prior to their child’s operation. Another form of anaesthetic is the | |
| epidural/regional analgesia. This "freezes" the part of the body we are | |
| operating on but allows the patient to remain awake during surgery." </p> | |
| <p>"We’re in the operating room watching over the patients, keeping them safe | |
| and comfortable during surgery," Dr. Dyke said. "But we’re also there after | |
| the operation, to keep patients free of pain as they recover from the anesthesia and the | |
| surgery. Sometimes we recommend a pain pump or ‘patient controlled analgesia’ | |
| for our patients after surgery. This allows them to monitor their pain and give themselves | |
| a shot of pain killer through their intravenous line, when they feel pain."</p> | |
| <p>Dr. Dyke also noted that the Canadian Anaesthetists’ Society has changed its name | |
| to the Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society. "This is to avoid any confusion with | |
| the term anaesthetist, which is used by nurse anaethetists in the United States. The term | |
| anaesthesiologist is a better reflection of the North American nomenclature and the | |
| broader technical scope of the specialty. "The term is also in keeping with other | |
| specialists such as gastroenterologist and endocrinologist," Dr. Dyke explained. </p> | |
| <p>Dr. Dyke and his fellow anesthesiologists hope that by providing information about | |
| anesthesia and anesthesiologists they can offer a high level of psychological comfort to | |
| patients facing surgery and to those patients’ families and friends. Information | |
| about the Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society is available on the web at <a HREF="http://www.cas.ca/">www.cas.ca</a>.</p> | |
| <p align="center"><a href="#Top">To Top</a></p> | |
| <hr> | |
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| <p> </p> | |
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