RVH Vitalsigns Annual Report 2017

2017 Annual Report

Vitalsigns 2017 | Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre

Anna Small

, B.A.

Sales Representative

Direct: 705.790.9898 Office: 705.720.2200 www.annasmalladams.ca anna@yourbarrierealty.ca Serving the Residents of Simcoe County for over 19 Years

THE REALTOR WHO UNDERSTANDS CHANGE... IN YOUR HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE AnnA SmAll-AdAmS of Keller WilliAmS experience reAlty, BroKerAge hAS Been Serving the BArrie And Simcoe county AreA for more thAn 20 yeArS. Anna’s expertise, experience and market knowledge makes her the ideal choice as a sales representative, but it is her focus on the client that truly sets her apart. “For me, in 20 years, the client is number one. It’s not about me, it’s about the service that I can bring to my client,” Anna explained, noting she particularly enjoys working with first-time homebuyers and those nearing, or in retirement. With a focus on selling single-family residential, condominiums and Lifestyle properties, Anna is a sales representative and realtor who pays attention to detail and truly listens to the client. Making sure a home inspection is done, even on a relatively new home, ensuring information from the mortgage provider is complete and won’t bring surprises, and using a trusted network of trades for landscaping, plumbing, electrical and interior work, are just some of the ways in which Anna improves the home buying process. Lifestyle properties are designed for those nearing 2

retirement or in retirement, and may include high-rise condominiums, townhouse condominiums or independent retirement lifestyle communities with purchase and life lease options. At a complementary planning meeting, Anna goes over a life plan with clients, to help them positively and effectively plan for the future. “We sit down and we go through what their plans are for the next five, 10, 15 years,” Anna said. “Are they where they want to be at this point and do they know where they want to go? Really it’s a conversation at the kitchen table asking what are they looking for and how can I help? In the process we can sell their home and then give them a good idea what is out there, whether it’s in the immediate area here, somewhere else in the province, in Canada or in the United States.” Through a company that she participates in for ongoing professional development, Anna has a global realtor network of colleagues to whom she can refer local clients who may wish to settle down outside of Simcoe County, Ontario, or even Canada. “I have my network that I can access and be able to refer them to someone that’s not just a name on a piece

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of paper,” Anna explained. “These are people that over the last seven to eight years I’ve gotten to know quite well and we’ve done business together.” When moving to locations with different real estate legislation the process can be quite difficult, but Anna’s knowledgeable real estate connections educate clients and make sure they understand everything necessary to purchase in a new jurisdiction. “It does take planning, it doesn’t happen overnight,” Anna said, emphasizing she always takes the time to really let a client’s vision emerge. “I’m not the kind of realtor who tries to put a square peg in a round hole.” Anna is a sponsor and patron of several community organizations including Theatre by the Bay, Talk is Free Theatre and the Barrie Music Festival Association. She also gives to various local charities including Royal Victoria Cancer Clinic in Barrie and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Barrie. “I hope everyone has a safe and lovely summer and I am available anytime.” to contAct AnnA cAll 705-790-9898 or e-mAil her At: AnnA@yourBArriereAlty.cA.

Vitalsigns 2017 | Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre

Supporting our local hospitals The Simcoe County Hospital Funding Alliance was established in 2002 to anticipate and respond to our community needs and to ensure this health-care funding was distributed equitably across all of our local hospitals I contributed up to $3 Million annually to support the capital needs of our hospitals between 2002-2006 I renewed funding agreement in 2007 with a new term that provides $3 Million annually over the following decade, ending in 2016 I broadened the membership of this funding alliance in 2010 to include Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, and will include this hospital in considering future funding beyond 2016 Through this generous history of funding, the County has been an instrumental partner in many hospital projects, including: �• Orillia Hospital expansion OrilliaSoldiers’ Soldiers’Memorial Memorial Hospital expansion �• Southlake Cancer CareCare Centre SouthlakeRegional RegionalHealth HealthCentre Centre Cancer Centre �• Stevenson facilities renovation StevensonMemorial MemorialEmergency Emergency facilities renovation �• Collingwood Hospital redevelopment CollingwoodGeneral Generaland andMarine Marine Hospital redevelopment �• Georgian Bay General Hospital expansion Georgian Bay General Hospital expansion �• Royal Centre Cancer CareCare Centre Royal Victoria VictoriaRegional RegionalHealth Health Centre Cancer Centre

simcoe.ca www.rvh.on.ca | Like our Facebook Page: Team RVH | Follow us on Twitter: @TeamRVH

Vitalsigns 2017 | Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre

EXPERTS in Home Medical Equipment! HOME MODIFICATIONS VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS MOBILITY DEVICES AIDS FOR DAILY LIVING

RVH’s cardiovascular team: Mike Yrcha, manager, Cardiac Care Unit and Cardiac Cath Lab/Recovery; cardiologists Drs. Brad Dibble; Rajeev Rao; Joshua Manolakos; Stephen Pizzale; Seeger Shen; Mohammad Haqqi; Selma Mitchell, operations director, Cardiovascular and Renal programs and Dr. Jaskaran Kang

Proudly produced by

56 Churchill Drive, Units 1-3, Barrie (705) 722-3376

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www.SuperiorHomeHealthCare.ca Barrie’s Award-Winning Community Newspaper Vice President and Regional Publisher Dana Robbins Regional General Manager York - Simcoe - Muskoka Shaun Sauvé General Manager Elise Allain Advertising Manager Kim Harrison

What's inside 5

Message from RVH

By the numbers

Message from the RVH Foundation

Hearts & Minds campaign update

10 Cardiac care is going to be golden 12 Working with patients to improve heart care 13 RVH’s stroke care gives woman back her life 14 Making sure all medications interact safely 15 Compassionate end-of-life care 16 Promoting inner healing the traditional way 17 We are partners in your care 20 Fountain of youth found in volunteering 21 RVH Auxiliary - 120 years of caring 22 Angels in the health centre

UNLOCKING POTENTIAL IN YOUTH WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES Community Based Centre Delivering a Social Development Program for Youth with Intellectual Disabilities including Autism Spectrum Disorder Ages 18-29

(705) 722-5627 4

director@checkered-door.com www.checkered-door.com

Advertising Representatives Debbie Booth Angelika Crisp Vic Dellamora Debbie Halikas Mary March Christine Murray Editorial, Photography and Design RVH Corporate Communications Suzanne Legue Jane Cocking Donna Danyluk Jennifer Moore Denise Philpott Kaylee MacMillan Cover Photography Nat Caron Photography

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23 Supporting our patients spirituallly 24 Turning personal pain into a campaign for change 26 Aging well in a growing community 27 Using research to improve patient care 28 Finding meaning in helping others 29 Couple leave a legacy of hope for children 30 Inspiring care... Thanks to YOUR support 32 Power of Team – our people, our story 34 Our donors are part of the RVH team

Vitalsigns 2017 | Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre

A message from Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) Hospitals are the heart of every community. They are usually one of, if not the, biggest employer. And virtually everyone will need the services of their local hospital at some point. Starting as a humble four-bed cotttage hospital when Canada was just 30 years old, RVH has transformed to an almost one million squarefoot, state-of-the-art regional health centre. Throughout its 120 proud years, our focus has remained the same; ensuring our patients and families have the safest, best experience possible.

Janice Skot and Michael O’Keefe

RVH Board of Directors Michael O’Keefe (chair) Charlotte Wallis (1st vice chair) Doug Frost (2nd vice chair) Janice Skot (secretary) Directors: Shawn Binns Michael Gleason Harry Hughes Douglas Jure Barbara Love Kimberly Matheson Vacant Vacant Vacant

RVH is a dynamic, growing and innovative organization specializing in services not available elsewhere in North Simcoe Muskoka. Just as we brought cancer care closer to home, soon residents will have access to two key services not previously available in the region. This will reduce the burden on families who, in the past, have had to travel outside the region for care. By the end of 2017, in partnership with Southlake Regional Health Centre, RVH’s Advanced Cardiac program will begin providing heart procedures, such as diagnostic angiograms, by a team of eight cardiologists. By the summer of 2019, interventional procedures, like angioplasty, will be offered at RVH. RVH is also improving access to care for children and youth who struggle with mental illness. We know that 70 per cent of mental illnesses arise by adolescence, so getting these kids the help they need early is key. Thanks to the $25 million Hearts & Minds campaign pledged by the RVH Foundation, $5 million will be used to open an eight-bed inpatient unit in late-2017. The unit will care for up to 300 young people a year. A comprehensive day program will provide an additional 3,000 outpatient visits annually.

Lise McCourt, president, RVH Auxiliary

Both the Advanced Cardiac and Child and Youth Mental Health programs will provide the help and hope people of North Simcoe Muskoka need.

As of September 1, 2017: RVH Medical Staff

Read more about it in this year’s Vitalsigns and find out how RVH is bringing its vision to life: Make each life better. together.

Dr. Jeffrey Tyberg, chief of staff Treva McCumber, chief nursing executive

Dr. Rob El-Maraghi (president) Dr. Emily Chan (vice president) thank you to outgoing RVH Board of Directors, chair, Kirsten parker and board members Marilynn Booth, Jake Arnold, Rob Hall, Janice Williams, past RVH Auxiliary president, and Dr. Kerstin Mossman, outgoing president, RVH Medical Staff , for sharing their time and expertise with us.

Respectfully,

Michael O’Keefe, Chair RVH Board of Directors

Janice M. Skot, MHSc,CHE President and CEO RVH

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Vitalsigns 2017 | Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre

A message from the RVH Foundation I am honoured to take on the role as the new chair of the RVH Foundation. 2017 is an exciting year for the Foundation - Canada will turn 150 years old and RVH will celebrate its 120th anniversary. We have a long history of partnering with the people of this community to bring exceptional healthcare to this region. The first hospital in Barrie was funded by a determined group of local women who rallied together and raised $1,100 to purchase a four-bedroom cottage on Duckworth Street. Each time the hospital needed to expand to meet the growing healthcare needs of our community, our community responded – time and time again!

John Byles Chair, RVH Foundation Board of Directors

RVH Foundation Board of Directors

Our 1997 move to the current Georgian Drive location was made possible through community support for the ‘Building on a Century’ campaign. Again in 2012, community support played a key role in the success of the ‘I Believe’ campaign, which doubled the size of the hospital and opened the Simcoe Muskoka Regional Cancer Centre.

John Byles (chair)

A fundamental component in our fundraising efforts is the RVH Auxiliary. The Auxiliary has given millions of dollars and volunteer hours to enhance patient care at RVH. We are incredibly blessed to have this group, affectionately known as the ‘Blue Brigade’.

Ben Petersen, vice president, Corporate Services & CFO, RVH (treasurer)

In 2015, David McCullough, campaign chair, and his team of volunteers launched ‘Hearts & Minds’ in support of advanced cardiac care, child and youth mental health, women’s cancer treatment, as well as equipment, teaching and research.

Dr. Matthew Follwell

We have now raised $21 million of our $25 million goal.

Doug Moody (vice chair) David McCullough (past chair and chair, Hearts & Minds campaign) Janice Skot, president & CEO, RVH (secretary)

Directors: Bob Burk Dan Faber Jimmy Furlano Cesia Green Janice Williams Paul Larche Mayor Jeff Lehman, City of Barrie

It has been remarkable to see the generosity of our region. I am proud to follow the legacy of leadership in chairing the RVH Foundation. It is vital that we continue to support and successfully complete the ‘Hearts & Minds’ campaign.

Mayor Harry Hughes, Township of Oro-Medonte

I would like to thank all donors and future donors to the RVH Foundation for your generosity and caring.

CEO, RVH Foundation:

Respectfully, John Byles Chair, RVH Foundation Board of Directors

Dale Pickard Dan Revell Shaun Sauvé

Eric Dean Thank you to outgoing RVH Foundation Board of Directors Kirsten Parker, Scott Elliott, and Wayne Hubbard for sharing their time and expertise with us.

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Vitalsigns 2017 | Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre

When asked What Farida Jones likes most about real estate, she doesn’t hesitate for a second. “It’s the people”, she says. As one of Barrie’s most seasoned Realtors, Farida has seen the good, the bad and the Ugly. “In both properties and individuals” she quips. Farida enjoys the challenges her long real estate career has presented her with alongside raising a family in the Barrie area. “When I first began my career in 1990, as a mother of two small boys, I had to stretch the telephone cord into the front hall closet whenever my beeper went off. That was the only way I could call back my clients and hear and be heard.” She recalls. “Emerging from the closet one day, I barely diverted a catastrophe when the boys were about to drill into the dining room floor with their dad’s ice auger they’d dragged up from the basement” While Technology has changed a lot since then, Farida still believes giving sage advice is the most valuable asset she provides8

“If a service is not available whether by e-mail, text, phone call or in person. Her in-house, then I will find the knowledge and business right person to fulfill that acumen have made her a need” she promises. consistent top producer for Royal LePage for over 20 years. Farida is not one to lament ‘The Good Old Days’ and offers her clients the latest in marketing their properties to the fullest with professionally filmed Video Tours, HD photography, Glossy Brochures and YouTube, Facebook and posting to thousands of web sites. It’s that knowledge and experience that is helping her clients downsize-or right size- as some people refer to it. Farida now offers her clients the exclusive services of Mrs Downsizer inc., providing organizing, sorting, packing, re-homing treasures, repairs, staging and any services needed to assist her clients in overcoming the obstacles decades of treasured possessions can create.

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Farida Jones sales representative for royal lepage first ContaCt realty direCt: 705-791-9965

For more information about Hearts & Minds please contact Rebbeca truax at truaxr@rvh.on.ca or at 705-728-9090 x41525

Vitalsigns 2017 | Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre

Hearts & Minds Goal: $25 Million Funds raised to date: $21 Million thank you!

Make each life better. Together.

Your donations are making a huge diff erence in bringing care closer to home Advanced Cardiac Care

Child and Youth Mental Health

Heart care within 90 minutes

Making sure our children get the help they need

Your dollars have purchased vital cardiac diagnostic and rehabilitation equipment ensuring patients have care for cardiac disease, diagnosis and rehabilitation. We are excited to announce construction has started on the catheter labs used by cardiologists to diagnose and treat heart conditions These purchases are important to RVHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s readiness to become an advanced cardiac care centre.

Thanks to community support the need for child and youth mental health services has received considerable public attention. Construction on an eight-bed inpatient unit is full-steam ahead. Once complete it will care for up to 300 young people a year. In addition, a comprehensive day hospital program will serve 3,000 outpatient visits annually.

equipment

Centre for Research and education

the right tools in the right hands

providing our patients with innovate care

Your donations ensure our medical team has the tools to do their jobs. In 2016 your generous donations eabled us to purchase nearly $1 million in medical equipment. Equipment is 100 per cent the responsibility of the community and key to our ability to treat patients. These purchases benefitted patients from all different ages and from across North Simcoe Muskoka.

Donors are nurturing inquiring minds at RVH by supporting research projects. One project is RVHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Simulation Lab providing training opportunities for healthcare professionals in a risk-free, realistic learning environment. The latest innovation is a baby simulator that allows our medical team to practice real-life situations involving our youngest patients.

MIN

55 TES

FIND OUT WHY MINUTES MATTER TO YOU!

VISIT WWW.RVHHEARTOFGOLD.CA www.rvh.on.ca | Like our Facebook Page: Team RVH | Follow us on Twitter: @TeamRVH

Vitalsigns 2017 | Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre

CARDIAC CARE IS GOING TO BE GOLDEN

Rick Jocsak could have died. That’s because Jocsak, 61, had a heart attack at his cottage on Six Mile Lake, north of Port Severn. At the time, there were two things going against him – distance and denial. “It was the Friday before Labour Day and I was having family up for the weekend. I felt a bit of tightness in the chest and thought it was unusual, but didn’t have the classic symptoms, so I dismissed them,” says Jocsak, a Mississauga resident. After cutting the grass and cleaning up some brush, Jocsak strapped a leaf blower onto his back to do the final tidy up and that’s when it hit. “Suddenly I felt very dizzy and I felt like I was going to pass out. As I struggled to get the machine off of my back I passed out. When I came to, my wife Camille, was beside me and she told me I was beet red, my lips were purple and I was talking like I had marbles in my mouth,” says Jocsak. He’ll admit he felt a ‘bit weird’ when he got up, but still ignored the symptoms. “I just wanted to go lie down. I thought maybe I had heat stroke and exhaustion.” Even though he had lost family members to heart attacks,

it never crossed his mind he was having one. So when he and his wife arrived in the Emergency department of Georgian Bay General Hospital in Midland and were told he had a heart attack, they were both shocked. “I was floored – a heart attack. Me! Then they told me I’d have to travel to Newmarket for a procedure. That’s a long drive and I thought, ‘but, I’d be driving right by RVH in Barrie’,” says Jocsak. “Of course at the time you just do what you have to do. And so as I headed down the highway in the back of ambulance as we encountered bumper to bumper holiday traffic. I was thinking, ‘I hope to hell nothing happens on the highway’. Then the sirens were turned on and that’s when I thought, ‘Oh, this is really serious. Is there something else I should know?’ ” What Jocsak didn’t know was that his cottage was outside the 90-minute zone for the gold standard of cardiac care. Heart attack patients need to get treatment at an advanced cardiac centre as quickly as possible – ideally within 90 minutes. “That distance factor didn’t properly hit me until after I was out of the hospital and recovering. Frankly, it blew me away that I had to travel so far to get the help I needed.” Soon, cottagers and residents throughout North Simcoe Muskoka who are dealing with a heart issue will be able to get their care closer to home at RVH.

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Vitalsigns 2017 | Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre

Rick Jocsak

NOW is the time to support

advanced cardiac care at RVH

“Thanks to over $9 million in capital funding from the provincial government, along with the hard work of the RVH Foundation which is raising money for equipment and renovations, we will bring much needed advanced cardiac care to the people of this region late in 2017,” says Janice Skot, RVH president and CEO. “This is a game changer for heart patients in North Simcoe Muskoka. RVH cardiologist, Dr. Brad Dibble, has been waiting a long time for such a centre in Barrie. “North Simcoe Muskoka is the only region in the province that doesn’t have an advanced cardiac centre and that means every year 3,600 people must travel outside the region for their lifesaving cardiac care,” says Dr. Dibble. “RVH has always planned for a safe gradual ramp-up of services offered through our advanced cardiac program and will begin providing diagnostic angiograms first and by the summer of 2019, will be able perform angioplasty procedures. We will be able to open up blocked arteries and get blood flowing again immediately. We will be saving lives.” RVH has built a strong team of heart specialists who provide around-the-clock cardiology coverage, while a regional Urgent Cardiology Clinic identifies and assesses high-risk patients. The health centre has invested heavily in technology and

equipment, and operates the region’s only Cardiac Intensive Care Unit and Cardiac Renal Unit. The RVH Foundation’s Hearts & Minds campaign team, led by Campaign Chair Dave McCullough, is committed to raising the funds needed to equip the advanced cardiac centre. The $25 million Hearts & Minds campaign has now raised more than $21 million. Jocsak is pleased the people of this region are getting behind the need for advanced cardiac care. Until he had his own experience, he was unaware heart care was not readily available and although only a seasonal resident, he can see the importance of a cardiac centre at RVH. “I bet I’m like most people - you don’t know it’s not there until you need it. Sometimes then it’s too late,” says Jocsak. “I used to think heart attacks always happened to the other guy. I sure don’t think that way anymore.” Do you know how far from an advanced cardiac centre you currently live? Check out www.rvhheartofgold.ca where you can learn more about regional cardiac care and help bring care closer to home or cottage.

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Vitalsigns 2017 | Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre

Working with patients to improve heart care What would you say to the person who saved your life? The possibilities are endless, so Mike Hardie simply said, “thank you!” “It was one of those surreal moments. It was just amazing to meet the guy who saved my life,” says the Barrie man. The ‘guy’ Hardie is referring to is Dr. Steven Miner, an interventional cardiologist at Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket who performed cardiac angioplasty on Hardie four years earlier. Although RVH is currently building an advanced cardiac centre, in partnership with Southlake, at the time Hardie had his heart attack, services were not available anywhere in North Simcoe Muskoka. “When I had my heart attack I immediately went to RVH. I had no idea they couldn’t fi x me,” says Hardie. “I remember the 45-minute ride to Newmarket so clearly. Honestly, I didn’t think I was going to make it.” Within two and a half hours of arriving at the hospital, Hardie was in a recovery room feeling as if he had ‘just dodged a bullet.’ “As soon as the artery was opened, and a stent was put in, I immediately felt perfectly normal,” remembers Hardie. By late-2017 North Simcoe Muskoka patients will have quick access to advanced cardiac services at RVH. The health centre will begin providing diagnostic angiograms first and by the summer of 2019 will be able perform the angioplasty procedure that saved Hardie’s life. Thrilled that lifesaving heart care will soon be available closer

to home, Hardie joined RVH’s newly formed Cardiac Patient Family Advisory Council (CPFAC). “The purpose of the advisory council is to ensure everything we design and everything we do with the new program, has input from patients. This is a very patient-centred program,” says Selma Mitchell, operations director of RVH’s Cardiovascular and Renal program. “This is an incredibly engaged and passionate group of individuals who truly believe they can change the landscape of advanced cardiac care for patients and their families. And I know they will.” There are 32 individual projects underway to ready RVH for the specialized service, including updating and adding outpatient services to provide the latest in cardiac diagnosis and treatment tools. Council members have had a say in just about every project underway. In order to observe how other advanced cardiac centres function, Hardie volunteered to spend a day following the processes at Southlake. It was during this scouting mission he finally met the doctor who saved his life. “I found myself standing in a catheterization lab watching someone have angioplasty done. It was so exciting watching this life and death drama unfold and the skill this cardiologist was displaying was amazing,” says Hardie. “Then I saw who the physician was and I was stunned. It was Dr. Miner. Just four years earlier, that person on the table was me. It would have been my life or death situation. All I could say at the time was, ‘Thank you.’ Pictured above: Mike Hardie is back on his bike and is thrilled lifesaving advanced heart care will soon be available at RVH.

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Vitalsigns 2017 | Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre

RVH’s stroke care gives woman back her life Stroke was the last thing on Rebbeca’s mind. In fact, the 48-year-old Oro Medonte resident, was in the best condition of her life and enjoying a 300 mile cycling trip in Utah with her husband. But shortly after having the time of her life, she had the biggest scare of her life.

Distinction,” says Treva McCumber, vice president, Patient Programs and chief nursing executive. “Our results were outstanding, in fact, there are only four other hospitals in the province to have received the award of Distinction in both acute and rehab stroke services.”

Mere days after returning from her trip, she experienced a numbing in her limbs and then suddenly she collapsed into the arms of her husband. He quickly called an ambulance which brought her to RVH.

Patients who have a stroke recover in RVH’s dedicated 32bed unit staffed by highly specialized care providers. As soon as they are ready for rehabilitation, patients are transitioned into an intensive rehabilitation program. RVH also offers a Stroke Prevention Clinic and Day Rehabilitation program which supports patients as they return home or continue their rehabilitation in the community.

The Emergency department (ED) team rapidly determined Rebbeca had suffered a stroke. They immediately administered the clot-busting drug tPA (tissue plasminogen activator) - a protocol considered to be the gold standard of stroke care. From the ED, ICU, Imaging and the Integrated Stroke and Rehabilitation Inpatient unit - Rebbeca knew she was in good hands. RVH is only one of 15 organizations in the country to achieve Stroke Distinction by Accreditation Canada. Stroke Distinction recognizes health organizations that demonstrate clinical excellence and an outstanding commitment to leadership in stroke care. “To ensure we are delivering the best and safest evidencebased stroke care, we undertook the process of gaining Stroke

For patients like Rebbeca, the most important aspect of RVH’s stroke program is the expertise at every step of the journey. “I value my energy and ability to move; my physical fitness is important to my lifestyle as I am always on the go,” says Rebbeca. “I can’t imagine the outcome if RVH wasn’t there to provide tPA and stroke protocol expertise. I do know that all systems and staff were there when I needed care. I have much to be grateful for, including that RVH is a stroke centre. I received tPA within three hours which left me with no permanent damage. The kindness of this caring medical team eased my fears and helped bring me back to my energetic self again.”

Do you know the signs of a stroke? Act F A S T because the quicker you act, the more of the person you save © Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, 2014

F ACE is it drooping? A RMS can you raise both? S PEECH is it slurred or jumbled? T IME to call 9-1-1 right away!

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Vitalsigns 2017 | Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre

One pill,

Two pill,

At RVH we make sure all medications interact safely Medication is meant to help you get well, but what if the medication you are taking is actually doing more harm than good? And unless you are an expert in the field of medication, how would you know? Fortunately for patients at RVH, there are experts on staff who do know and are here to help. Rebecca Hardwick is one of those experts. Hardwick is a registered pharmacy technician and part of her role is medication reconciliation or ‘MedRec.’ Through this process, your healthcare provider gathers a Best Possible Medication History (BPMH) when you are admitted to the health centre, or in a pre-surgery visit, recording all prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking. “Recording all medications a patient takes is an important safety measure,” says Hardwick. “Once we have verified all medications and compiled the BPMH, we thoroughly review the list to determine if there are potential interactions based on the procedure they are having or what other medications may be required. That’s why it is so important for patients to bring a list or even better, all medications with them.” Once the BPMH is recorded, it is shared with the patient’s physician for review and based on that review and

Red pill,

Blue pill.

recommendations from the pharmacy team, a physician may ask a patient to stop taking a particular medicine, change the dose or change the medication. “Lots of people don’t know that very common herbal supplements, such as vitamin E, garlic, turmeric and even Omega 3 act as blood thinners,” says Hardwick. “If someone is coming in for a surgery, this is something their anesthetist or surgeon would likely want to discuss with them. The same protocol would apply to diabetics who may need to alter their insulin or oral medications if they needed to fast before a procedure. That’s the kind of information we would record and share with the physician for review.” Research suggests that over half of patients have at least one medication discrepancy upon admission to hospital that could lead to adverse health effects. The important process of medication reconciliation is meant to reduce risk and ensure patients are getting - and taking - the right medications. Every time a patient moves to a new area of the hospital the list is reconciled and once more upon discharge. When it’s time to go home, the patient is given a list of what they should be taking, what they should stop taking, new medications and changes in doses. This list should then be shared with the patient’s family physician and pharmacist. Above: Rebecca Hardwick, registered pharmacy technician

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Vitalsigns 2017 | Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre

COMPASSIONATE end-of-life care RVH is committed to its patients and respects their unique needs in all aspects of their care – whether it’s nursing them back to health or honouring their wishes about dying. RVH always had a comprehensive plan for palliative care, but in 2016 end-of-life care fundamentally changed in Canada when Bill C-14 - Medical Assistance in Dying (MedAID) – became law. According to this law MedAID is the ‘administration by a medical practitioner of a substance to a person, at their request, that causes their death.’

“It’s important RVH offers patients a choice about end-of-life care which, for those suffering from incurable, debilitating conditions, could include MedAID,” says Dr. Chris Tebbutt, vice president Academic and Medical Affairs and co-chair of RVH’s MedAID Steering Committee. “MedAID is now a legitimate option for some patients. As a patient-centred organization that respects patient wishes and honours their treatment decisions, we felt it was important to offer this form of care.” To ensure compliance with the legislation, RVH developed a detailed plan to provide compassionate end-of-life care plan with clear policies and guidelines committee created that ensured checks and balances. Questions, concerns and suggestions were gathered through a survey of patients, families, the community, staff and physicians. The health centre received more than 650 responses. “MedAID is an emotionally-charged topic so throughout the process of policy development, it was important to always

For more infomation For more information on RVH’s MedAID process, please visit: http://www.rvh.on.ca/SitePages/MedAID.aspx respect the opinions of patients, family members, staff and physicians,” says Dr. Matt Follwell, oncologist and co-chair of RVH’s MedAID Steering Committee. “At the end of the day, MedAID is about patient choice and respective healthcare providers’ beliefs.” RVH also provides support to staff and physicians who are involved in the MedAID process. “Good end-of-life care is a delicate balance of providing comfort alongside of hope, which for some, can be as simple as a hope for peace and rest from the challenges of illness,” says Angela Schmidt, spiritual care leader. “At RVH, team members listen carefully to the values of the patient and family members, seek to understand what is important to them and strive to offer end-of-life care that aligns with the patient’s hopes.”

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Vitalsigns 2017 | Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre

Promoting inner healing the traditional way Smudging ceremonies cleanse and purify mind, body and soul With his life-threatening illness now stabilized by the Cardiac Care Unit (CCU) team at RVH, the Métis man wanted to start the next step of his healing path the traditional way – with smudging. And Wayne Monague was there to help him begin that journey. Monague, a health outreach worker with the Barrie Native Friendship Centre, has partnered with RVH’s Spiritual Care program to introduce smudging ceremonies. In alignment with Cancer Care Ontario’s Aboriginal Cancer Strategy, RVH developed its regional Aboriginal Cancer Plan in 2013. This plan includes initiatives to ensure equitable access and culturally sensitive care for aboriginal patients and their families, including the facilitation of smudging ceremonies in the health centre.

“We’re using a lot of what the cancer program has already done in order to offer smudging ceremonies to patients across RVH, not just those in the cancer centre,” says Monague. “As a new part of the Spiritual Care team, my ambitious goal is to introduce 100 per cent of staff to smudging to ensure they are aware of the process and know how to connect their patients with Spiritual Care should they request a ceremony.” Traditional smudging is performed by many First Nations people and involves the burning of sacred medicines. Smudging is used to purify a location, patient, healer, helpers and spiritual objects by using the smoke obtained through burning sacred plants, such as sacred tobacco, sage, sweet grass and cedar. Cleansing often initiates healing sessions, provides comfort and relief during times of stress, and facilitates the decision-making process. “Our goal is to bring smudging right to RVH patients. I was able to help this man reconnect with his spiritual side and the beginning of that journey involved smudging – as does all our journeys in life no matter what they are,” says Monague. “This patient was in the CCU and I was able to perform the ceremony with him right in his room. The response of this patient spoke volumes to me. He said, ‘You are the first person to lift me up.’ I don’t take credit at all, it was the spiritual ceremony itself. I can tell you that the energy of the patient following the ceremony was significant.” RVH is committed to diversity, recognizing the varying and unique needs of all patient populations. Staff had the opportunity to attend education sessions on the meaning and importance of smudging, and to better understand the process and the impact. “We perform smudging for our patients because we’re looking to cleanse our mind, our body and more importantly, our spirit,” says Monague. “The big thing about smudging - and what a lot of people get confused about - is that they think we have to be in a bad state of mind. That’s not true. The purpose of smudging is to promote what we call ‘living the good life’. We’re promoting the healthy living of the individual’s spirit to follow and connect with their creator. We’re not celebrating someone’s death. We’re celebrating their next step into the spirit world.”

Wayne Monague, a health outreach worker with the Barrie Native Friendship Centre, has partnered with RVH’s Spiritual Care program to introduce smudging ceremonies at the health centre.

To find out more about smudging and for all spiritual care needs at the health centre, the Spiritual Care office can be reached 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling Locating at 705-728-9090 Ext 0.

www.rvh.on.ca | Like our Facebook Page: Team RVH | Follow us on Twitter: @TeamRVH

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We are partners in your care That means if you are an inpatient at RVH, you will get a visit from a member of your care team every hour. “Checking regularly on my patients reduces their anxiety, demonstrates respect and shows I’m thinking about their care on a regular basis,” says Kim Nichols, personal care assistant on the Respiratory Inpatient unit.

Ashleigh Page, RPN, (left) and Kelsey Johnston, RN, and Jill Schwekendiek

reduces falls as a patient’s needs are met before they attempt to do it themselves.

But care providers aren’t the only ones checking in. Managers devote up time each day with patients on their units to ensure patients and their families are well-informed.

A hospital stay can often be confusing, even frightening, so RVH takes further measures to ensure patients have the most up-to-date information about their treatment. At shift change, a patient’s nurse comes to the bedside and hands over care to the next nurse with a verbal report. And patients truly feel like they are partners in their own care.

“There are many benefits to meeting with patients daily,” says Shelley Debison, manager Inpatient Stroke and Rehabilitation unit. “It’s a chance to talk about their care, rehabilitation plan and an opportunity to address questions and concerns in real time.” And it doesn’t end there. RVH senior leaders also visit patients each week and share what they learned with the care team.

“I’ve had a great experience at RVH as a patient―it’s been completely positive,” says patient Jill Schwekendiek. “Throughout the entire process I’ve felt really well-informed. From the shift reporting to care plan written on the whiteboard in my room, to manager visits, it ensures everyone is on the same page.”

The ultimate focus is to ensure patients are well-informed and have the most positive experience possible while in hospital. During these regular visits the care team checks on wounds, ulcers, pump status, alarms and pain management. It also

IN ADDITION TO CARDIOLOGY CONSULTATIONS, PACE OFFERS A FULL ARRAY OF NON-INVASIVE CARDIAC TESTING PACE Barrie now offers a Type 2 Diabetes Clinic under the leadership of Dr. John MacFadyen and Dr. Alex Meadley

Including • Electrocardiography (12 Lead ECG) • Exercise Stress Testing • Adult Echocardiography (ECHO) • Stress Echocardiography

Little Lake Medical Centre

• 24/48/72/hour as well as 7 and 14 day Holters • Event Loop Recorder (ELR) • 24 Hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring

Many PACE Barrie cardiologists are affiliated with Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre and Southlake Regional Health Centre and include: • Dr. Bradley Dibble • Dr. Behzad Etemadi • Dr. Molly Thangaroopan • Dr. Mohamed Metawee • Dr. Anil Yadav • Dr. Ali Andalib • Dr. Shadi Akhtari and more.

Unit 302, 11 Lakeside Terrace, Barrie 1-888-662-0680

To access the clinic, patients need a referral from their family doctor, the emergency room, nurse practitioner, or an urgent care/walk-in clinic physician. Along with the Barrie location, PACE Cardiology also has cardiac clinics in Newmarket, Vaughan, Alliston and Orillia (echo site only).

P: 705-721-4422 F: 705-721-5577

www.pace-cardiology.com info@pace-cardiology.com

www.rvh.on.ca | Like our Facebook Page: Team RVH | Follow us on Twitter: @TeamRVH

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THE MOLSON PARk DENTAL OFFICE Sleeping better, living pain-free, eating well and enjoying a happier, healthier life begins with good dental care. The mouth is the main entry point to your body’s central airway and nutritional gateway. It is ground zero for sustaining life.

Changing lives one smile at a time

Jaw misalignment, imbalance between teeth and joints or soft tissue issues in the oral cavity can cause headaches, jaw and neck pain, snoring, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), obstructive sleep apnea and the inability to receive and enjoy sustenance. “Living with chronic pain or imperfect sleep patterns is a detriment to quality of life.” Dr. Adam Chapnick Dr. Chapnick of The Molson Park Dental Office has advanced training in neuromuscular dentistry with advanced graduate studies from the prestigious LVI Global Institute. His practice focuses on improving the quality of life through oral health. “People commonly seek care from family physicians, neurologists and chiropractors,” says Dr. Chapnick. “But a dentist trained in neuromuscular dentistry can correct many of these medical issues through proper jaw and tooth alignment because that’s where the problems often originate.” Dental care is an essential component for maintaining good health and well-being .

SNORING AND OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA

Snoring, grinding teeth and obstructive sleep apnea are linked to a number of life threatening illnesses. Obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, ADHD, anxiety and depression and the increased risk of driving or

www.rvh.on.ca | Like our Facebook Page: Team RVH | Follow us on Twitter: @TeamRVH

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work-related accidents can all be attributed to sleep disturbance. Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by the soft tissues of the mouth and throat blocking the trachea during sleep. If you can’t get air into your lungs, you wake up. Stress and teeth grinding also stimulate your brain stem to wake up. When your sleep is constantly interrupted, the body’s natural repair functions are impeded. You are not only fatigued; your cells are unrestored. A CPAP machine is the gold standard for patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea. But for those who cannot tolerate sleeping with a mask on their face, a custom oral appliance that opens the airway can be curative. Dr. Chapnick uses state-of-the-art technology to evaluate the airway and custom fit these appliances to the patient. “Early intervention is advised,” says Dr. Chapnick. “Before life altering changes take place. People who don’t get that therapy tend to end up as my TMJ patients later.”

ADHD IN CHILDREN Studies have found that some children are misdiagnosed with ADHD and unnecessarily prescribed medications when they are merely sleep deprived. Children suffering with sleep apnea are six times more likely to have behavioral problems, hyperactivity and be predisposed to bed wetting.

CHRONIC HEADACHES AND TMJ DISORDERS Temporal Mandibular Joint disorders (TMJ or TMD) are often at the root of migraine headaches, neck and facial pain. Correcting the lack of harmony in the joint between teeth and muscles can eliminate these problems. Dr. Chapnick uses Electromyography (EMG) and a digital jaw tracing tool to measure jaw movements and help find a healthy jaw posture. Another option he offers is Botox which can temporarily pacify the problem, with the added bonus of wrinkle reduction.

BREASTFEEDING ISSUES Breastfeeding is a critical step in childhood development and health. Difficulties with breastfeeding can stem from a newborn’s inability to stick out their tongue or latch during feedings. This may be due to a small fold of tissue under the upper lip or tongue called the frenulum. If the frenulum is too tight it can restrict the infant’s oral motion and impede the baby’s ability to thrive. A simple procedure called a frenectomy releases this tissue. Hospital surgeries tend to be invasive because they use a scalpel and in Dr. Chapnick’s dental office a laser is used in a five to ten-minute procedure that leaves

only a cauterized sterile surgical site with minimal inflammation and minimal consequences. “Babies can feed immediately afterward and the procedure leaves virtually no side effects,” explains Dr. Chapnick, who has become the primary referral for Lactation Specialists as far north as Sudbury. While we are very informed on the conditions we treat, everyone experiences them differently and it is important never to lose sight that we are treating a individual and not a set of teeth. we take patient care seriously, ultimately what we are providing is care. “My primary goal is happier, healthier people,” explains Dr. Chapnick. “A beautiful smile is part of that. Health generally looks good.” The Molson Park Dental Office welcomes Dr. Amanda Turner to the practice. Patients now have the option of a female or male family dentist.

The Molson Park Dental Office

33 Mapleview Drive West Barrie, Ontario L4N 9H5

(705) 722-4848 www.chapnickdental.com

www.rvh.on.ca | Like our Facebook Page: Team RVH | Follow us on Twitter: @TeamRVH

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To volunteer at RVH, please call Volunteer Resources at 705 739-5650 or visit our website: www.rvh.on.ca

Fountain of youth found in volunteering Beth Willoughby is 81 years old - Shhh, don’t tell anyone! Not that someone could guess her age, the active vivacious senior has more energy than those half her age. And she has RVH to thank for that youthful feeling. Not for the medical care she received at the health centre, but for the purpose and meaning volunteering at RVH injected into her life. “I have a reason to get up in the morning and people to help and that makes me happy,” she says. “Volunteering not only keeps me physically active, but it keeps my brain challenged as well. I’m never bored.” For her outstanding commitment to volunteerism, Willoughby was awarded The Order of the Spirit Catcher, the highest honour bestowed by the City of Barrie to a volunteer. The award is one of many she has received for her commitment to volunteering, but that’s not why she does it at all.

She’s says her reasons are quite selfishit keeps her young. Research shows volunteering can help you live longer. A 2012 study in the journal Health Psychology suggests that adults over 50 who volunteer were less likely to develop high blood pressure, an indicator for heart disease, stroke and premature death.

Beth Willoughby, 81, has been a volunteer at RVH for more than 20 years.

“Volunteers are an integral part of TEAM RVH. Not only are they an extra pair of hands, but they are our ambassadors in the community,” says Val Smith, RVH’s chief transformation officer.

How to become a volunteer at RVH

RVH currently has 800 active volunteers working in 80 services in the health centre. Each year these volunteers give more than 100,000 hours to RVH.

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Minimum commitment of six months, one shift per week is required

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Must be entering Grade 11 or older

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Submit an online Volunteer Expression of Interest form or contact the Volunteer Resources department directly

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Attend a scheduled interview

“When people walk through the front door, I’m RVH to them. If they need help to get where they are going, need a shoulder to cry on because of bad news or a congratulatory hug to celebrate the birth of their new baby, I’m here,” says Willoughby. Aristotle, the Greek philosopher, once wrote the “essence of life is to serve others and do good”. It might just be the essence of good health too!

www.rvh.on.ca | Like our Facebook Page: Team RVH | Follow us on Twitter: @TeamRVH

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RVH Auxiliary 120 years of caring for our patients For Janice Williams, the last few years have ﬂ own by. As outgoing president of the RVH Auxiliary, she remarks, “We’ve been so busy, I don’t think any two days have been alike!” And it’s no surprise.

Janice Williams, outgoing president of the RVH Auxiliary, purchases a cup of tea and a tasty treat from Mike Mattsson, a Café Royale volunteer. The Auxiliary owns and operates two businesses - Victoria’s Gift Shop and Café Royale – which are its main sources of fundraising.

Raising money to enhance patient care at RVH has been the prime directive of the Auxiliary since it began 120 years ago. the Auxiliary raised an incredible $5 million for the Simcoe Muskoka Regional Cancer Centre and went on to complete a $1.5 million pledge to the Cardiac Care unit. Recently, the RVH Auxiliary has reached the halfway mark for its $2 million pledge to the health centre’s Hearts & Minds campaign. Its members are dedicated to supporting local healthcare and improving the patient experience. “the RVH Auxiliary is such an inspiration to our donors. their generosity, through their great pledges to our campaigns and their visibility throughout RVH and in the community, sets a shining example,” says David McCullough, chair, Hearts & Minds campaign. “You can’t help being inspired by their enthusiasm, their warmth and their constant support of RVH through their never-ending volunteer hours in every area of the health centre.”

RVH Auxiliary members celebrate reaching the halfway mark of their $2 million pledge to RVH’s Hearts & Minds campaign, supporting Advanced Cardiac Care and Child and Youth Mental Health programs.

Auxiliary members can be found on city streets during the annual tag Day campaign, selling nevada tickets in the food court or manning a booth at the annual Bazaar. the Auxiliary also owns and operates two businesses - Victoria’s Gift Shop and Café Royale – which are its main sources of fundraising. Since opening in 1963, the gift shop has made more than $3 million, and coff ee sales from the Café have netted almost $3.5 million since 1991 when it opened – all directed to patient care at RVH. Members of the Auxiliary - almost 800 strong - are also active volunteers at RVH and everyday can be seen in their recognizable blue vests, providing an extra set of helping hands in 80 services of the health centre, for a staggering 100,000 hours a year. And while Williams understands the importance of raising funds for RVH, it’s the impact it has on patient care that keeps her motivated. “the most precious moments are those when patients understand and appreciate what you’re doing for them. Seeing a smile on someone’s face is every bit as important as a paycheque. I would never ever trade that for anything. It’s just a wonderful feeling.” www.rvh.on.ca | Like our Facebook Page: Team RVH | Follow us on Twitter: @TeamRVH

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Angels in the health centre “Angels.” Without hesitation, that’s what Lloyd Hamel calls the two RVH staff members who saved his life. The 66-year-old Barrie man says it loud and clear. And Lloyd is a man of few words. Tongue cancer and a stroke have severely limited his speech, except when it comes to this subject. Theresa Ross, a dialysis RN, and Mary Sever, a phlebotomist from RVH, just happened to be grocery shopping when Lloyd’s heart attack hit. Speaking on his behalf, Lloyd’s wife Jane recounts what happened.

Lloyd Hamel finally meets RVH’s Theresa Ross, a dialysis RN.

“Lloyd had just popped into the store and was at the checkout when his heart started to race. He lost consciousness and fell onto the food conveyor belt and then onto the floor,” says Jane. “Lloyd doesn’t remember past that point.”

That’s where he finally laid eyes on one of the women he now calls his angels.

But Theresa and Mary will never forget what happened next. The two women quickly jumped into action and began performing CPR on Lloyd. A store staff member got a defibrillator and together they were able to revive him. He was taken by ambulance to RVH and then onto Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket where his pacemaker was replaced and he was returned to RVH’s CCU to recover.

Interestingly, neither Theresa or Mary were supposed to be at the grocery store at the time Lloyd had his heart attack. Each of them said the day’s plans suddenly changed and that’s where they found themselves.

“And that’s what they are, ‘angels’, because they gave me back what was most precious to me – Lloyd,” says Jane.

Maybe angels afterall.

Services, provided by six cardiologists all afﬁliated with Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre, include: Comprehensive cardiovascular care

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State-of-the-art cardiac diagnostic equipment including: • Stress tests • Stress echocardiography • Holter monitoring for up to two weeks • Echocardiography including contrast • Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring

Comprehensive cardiovascular care

Physicians

Centrally located to serve you

• • • • • •

Georgian Cardiology Associates is pleased to open a new ofﬁce to serve heart patients throughout Simcoe Muskoka.

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Dr. Jaskaran Kang, MD FRCPC Dr. Joshua Manolakos, MD FRCPC FACC Dr. Rajeev Rao, MD FRCPC FACC Dr. Mohammad Haqqi, M.B.B.S FRCPC Dr. Seeger Shen, MD FRCPC DRCPSC Dr. Stephen Pizzale, MD FRCPC FACC

Georgian Cardiology Associates Phone 705-735-1111 | Fax 705-735-1888 125 Bell Farm Road Suite 307 | Barrie ON | L4M 6L2

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Supporting our patients spirituallly and emotionally “I know you. You’re the lady who smiled at me with her eyes.” Those were the first words Phyllis Alberts-Meijers heard from the ICU patient she had been visiting twice a week for many weeks. The patient was usually unresponsive so the best Alberts-Meijers, a supervised pastoral education student at RVH, could do was simply be in the room and offer support to the young man’s family. “Then one day I walked in and he was sitting up in bed and communicating and that’s when he spoke those words to me,” says Alberts-Meijers. “It was humbling to know how powerful the simple act of just being alongside someone can be.” In fact, her entire seven months of training at RVH has proved to be life-changing for this high school teacher now working part-time on her Masters in Theology. She is one of five students enrolled in the second session of the Supervised Pastoral Education program currently under the supervision of RVH spiritual care leader, Angela Schmidt.

That’s where we come in,” says Alberts-Meijers. “This is a Spiritual Care department not a religious care department so while religion may factor in our work, we are primarily tending to the person spiritually and emotionally. We meet the person where they are at in their spiritual life. It is very humbling work. It is so meaningful when a patient allows a stranger into the most intimate and meaningful conversations about their emotional and spiritual lives. The generosity of spirit of both patients and staff has been profound.” “It is a privilege to do this work,” says Alberts-Meijers. “And as long as there are people in hospital there will be a need for spiritual care.” The Spiritual Care office can be reached anytime by calling Locating at 705-728-9090 Ext 0. Locating will reach the Spiritual Care team member. There is also an Inter-Faith Chapel located on the first level food court directly across from the Fracture Clinic.

The program is one of 34 such pastoral teaching programs in Canada, with 21 in Ontario and usually in hospitals located in urban centres such as Toronto and Ottawa. The program at RVH is in support of the health centre’s focus on teaching and research. “To offer this program at RVH, which is considered more of a community setting, is quite prestigious and demonstrates great vision,” says Nancy Savage, executive vice president, Patient and Family Experience, regional vice president Cancer Care Ontario. “The nine students who have completed the program so far have been dynamic and caring as they helped patients, and their families, cope with everything from fetal demise to suicide; palliative care to mental illness. And what is so exciting is that many of the students have signed on to do on-call chaplain work here after graduation.” As a provider of spiritual care at RVH the students’ goal is to support patients and families emotionally and according to the faith perspective of the patient.

Phyllis Alberts-Meijers

“Times of crisis tend to bring out vulnerability in people and sometimes they just need someone to come alongside them.

www.rvh.on.ca | Like our Facebook Page: Team RVH | Follow us on Twitter: @TeamRVH

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Turning personal pain into a campaign for change Instead of text books and tests, Hunter Markle’s first year of university was a blur of suicidal thoughts, depression and panic attacks. “As a child I struggled with chronic anxiety however, the culmination of moving away from home and academic pressures when I was just 17 proved to be my breaking point,” recalls Markle. “One weekend I totally crashed. I had pulled an all-nighter trying to get three assignments done. I went to take a nap and all of a sudden I began shaking and really freaking out. I was terrified.” Markle, now 22 and a student at Georgian College, suffered from a severe panic attack. She’d never experienced one before and it took her more than a year to get back on track. During that time, she struggled with suicidal thoughts, depression, anxiety and too many visits to the local walk-in clinic for medication changes. Markle’s story is a familiar one and for this reason the Georgian College Student Association (GCSA) has stepped up with a $25,000 donation to support mental health services for children and youth at RVH.

“Many of our fellow Georgian students know what it’s like to struggle with mental health,” says Markle, the GCSA vice president External and Equity. “We want to give back to the next generation of students, to let them know their mental health diagnosis is only one part of who they are. They can have the lives they want, regardless of the battle they may be fighting in their minds. We want them to know they’re not alone in this first step toward getting better.” Suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens in North Simcoe Muskoka – 45 per cent higher than the provincial average. Yet it’s the only region in the entire province without a hospital-based child and youth mental health program. That’s about to change. Construction is underway on a youth-friendly, eight-bed inpatient unit slated to open late in 2017 which will care for up to 300 young people a year. A comprehensive day program will provide an additional 3,000 outpatient visits annually. RVH’s chief of psychiatry, Dr. Eric Mulder, notes that 1,700 young people visited a North Simcoe Muskoka emergency department last year, a number that has doubled over the

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Thank you for giving us HOPE •

70 per cent of mental illnesses arise in childhood or adolescence

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One-in-five youth experience a mental health challenge, yet only one in four of these children receive the help they need

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More than 1,700 kids visited an emergency room in North Simcoe Muskoka in mental health crisis in the past year alone

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The RVH Foundation, through the Hearts & Minds campaign, has committed $5 million to build a child and youth mental health unit

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Construction on the unit began in early spring with completion slated for late 2017

Hunter Markle, (fourth from the right) Georgian College student, joined RVH students and volunteers to cheer on Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, as he announced $3.2 million in annual operating funds for a regional Child and Youth Mental Health program at RVH.

past five years. The lack of hospital services has meant many of those troubled children and youth were sent outside the region – as far away as Ottawa – for their inpatient mental health care; an enormous burden for children and their families. “The statistics are startling,” says Dr. Mulder. “One in five youth experiences a mental health challenge and that number continues to increase. We know that 70 per cent of mental illness arises in childhood or adolescence so getting these kids the help they need in the early stages is key.” Markle couldn’t agree more. “As a student I know education is all about hope – hope for a better future. And that’s what these new services will do for youth today – provide hope for a better future.”

Georgian College student Hunter Markle chats with Greg Taylor, a registered psychotherapist and counselling coordinator with Student Success Services at Georgian College, about how common it is for college and university students to face issues such as anxiety and depression.

The RVH Foundation has committed $5 million through its Hearts & Minds campaign for the construction, equipment and furnishings for the unit. To learn more about how you can contribute to the campaign, please visit: http://foundation.rvh.on.ca

www.rvh.on.ca | Like our Facebook Page: Team RVH | Follow us on Twitter: @TeamRVH

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Seniors Care

Below: Renee Mathieu, RPN, and Annie Davis, an RVH patient, enjoy some entertainment courtesy of Brianne Baum, recreation therapist, RVH.

Aging well in a growing community North Simcoe Muskoka is aging rapidly - faster than the rest of Ontario. And that has a serious effect on healthcare since seniors are, by far, the biggest users of the system. The region’s seniors’ population has grown from just 73,000 to nearly 90,000 in the past five years alone, partly because North Simcoe Muskoka is a great place to retire. Due to this population growth, complex conditions and reliance on Emergency department (ED) care, one in five of the patients seen in Ontario’s ED’s are seniors -- more than any other age group. “We see it all the time – a visit to Emerg can be life-changing for seniors,” says Dr. Kim McKenzie, RVH geriatrician and cochair of the Senior Strategy Steering Committee, comprised of regional partners such as community health professionals, physicians and geriatric experts. “It can trigger a downward spiral resulting in prolonged hospitalizations, admissions to long-term care, functional decline and even, death. As a health centre and part of a larger system of care, we need to continually evaluate how best to treat seniors in a way that benefits their quality of life, helps them maintain their abilities and prepares them for the next stage in their care.” To improve the experience for seniors visiting RVH’s Emergency department, there are now two specialized geriatric emergency nurses to assess, treat and advocate for patients, while ensuring smooth transfers between hospital and community services. RVH also opened a new Specialized Seniors Care Inpatient

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unit in 2016, designed with seniors in mind. The space is senior-friendly and accessible, looks more homey with woodlike floors, colour-coding and pictures to help with directions, a designated space for recreation therapy, a dining room and quiet areas for conversation. Colours and furnishings are designed to prevent falls, avoid sensory deprivation and promote a sense of calm and comfort. RVH is working hard to ensure it can meet senior’s needs in the future through its Seniors’ Strategy, aligned with the provincial government’s Senior Friendly Hospital Framework, as well as the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario Best Practice Guidelines for seniors. This will ensure patients receive the right care, by the right healthcare provider, in the right place at the right time. “To effectively serve our growing seniors population, RVH’s goal is to become a centre of excellence and leader in specialized seniors care,” says Treva McCumber, RVH’s vice president Patient Programs, chief nursing executive and co-chair of the Senior Strategy Steering Committee. “Our senior strategy focuses on supporting family physicians to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions; providing evidence-based care for when seniors require admission to hospital and once ready for discharge, ensuring smooth transitions between hospitals, long-term care and home care. Our goal is to help seniors recover or manage their illness, and make a safe transition to the most appropriate care setting for their needs.”

www.rvh.on.ca | Like our Facebook Page: Team RVH | Follow us on Twitte www.rvh.on.ca | Like our Facebook Page: Team RVH | Follow us on Twitter: @TeamRVH

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using teaching and research to improve patient care

Amanda Marrone addresses a patient question in her radiation therapy treatment class.

RVH's culture of inquiry There is no shortage of innovation at RVH. Every day, in all areas of the health centre, there are brilliant people with brilliant ideas. Amanda Marrone is one such person. Building on past research and patient participation, she’s combined patient care and teaching at RVH. As a radiation therapist with RVH’s cancer program, Marrone’s study, Effectiveness of a Pilot Radiation Therapy Teaching Class in Decreasing Anxiety- A Quality Initiative, focuses on patient education prior to radiation therapy treatment in order to make delivery of care more effective. Radiation therapists regularly hold group information sessions and according to patient participants, the sessions have helped them to plan and address their concerns about equipment and procedures at RVH. “The goal of this research is to provide better care for patients and to make a difficult time easier by reducing anxiety through education,” says Marrone. “The research study has shown that less time is needed for first day appointments as patients had many of their questions answered before their medical appointments. It’s also eased many of their fears about radiation therapy.” Studying treatments, equipment or medications is just some of the ways medical research is being used to enhance patient care at RVH. And now with a Research Institute, RVH is one step closer to realizing its vision to create new opportunities and partnerships in teaching and research.

“Almost all care we provide at RVH is based on research conducted at some point,” says Dr. Chris Tebbutt, vice president Academic and Medical Aff airs. “As a regional centre, we have an important role to play in research so that we’re able to provide our patients with the best possible care and experiences at RVH.” Research is not new to RVH. In fact, the health centre’s first cancer clinical trial was performed in the 1980s. Furthing its academic excellence, the health centre participated in almost 93 active studies this year alone. “Research enables us to solve problems, apply for funding and develop partnerships, improving evidence-based, patient-centred care,” says Jesse McLean, research manager. “Without medical research we wouldn’t have the life-saving medications, treatments and equipment we have today.” And it’s for that reason RVH has made teaching and research a strategic priority.

www.rvh.on.ca | Like our Facebook Page: Team RVH | Follow us on Twitter: @TeamRVH

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Joanne and the late Leo Procee (centre) and their family

Finding meaning in helping others

Getting older was never a deterrent for Leo Procee to try something new. A land developer and founder of Leo Procee Construction Ltd., he never backed away from a challenge. Procee took up golf at age 50, tennis at age 60 and joked about picking up rock climbing for his 70th birthday.

In 2010, Leo was diagnosed and treated for prostate cancer at RVH. The following spring, he was diagnosed with liver cancer, but remained positive and determined to carry on with his life - playing golf and tennis, and spending winters in Florida with Joanne.

Unfortunately, Leo’s family and friends never did get to see if he really would try rock climbing, but they are no less proud of the other legacies their husband, father and friend left before his passing from cancer in December 2016.

“I remember Leo telling me he wanted to support the hospital and it just seemed like a natural fit. He has always received great care at RVH, so it was a way to pay tribute to Dr. Bryn Pressnail who treated Leo, while also giving back to this region.”

Philanthropy was something that gave Leo great joy. During the latter part of his life, he and his wife Joanne decided it was important to give back to an organization with which they felt a strong connection. And that was RVH. Both originally from the Netherlands, Leo and Joanne met in 1959, only six months after he immigrated to Canada. Together, they had two daughters – Lori Stewart and Julie Procee - four beloved grandchildren and one great grandchild. Starting in 1973 they built a successful construction business.

The Procees’ first two major gifts of $25,000 each were made to the ‘I Believe’ campaign to help build and equip the Simcoe Muskoka Regional Cancer Centre at RVH. Leo and Joanne followed those donations up with two more $100,000 gifts to RVH’s Hearts & Minds campaign, with the last one specifically for Child and Youth Mental Health. During their legacy of support for RVH, the Procees have committed more than $310,000.

“When Leo was 19, he had the option to either come to Canada or go to South Africa to live with family. I’m so happy he chose Canada, otherwise we would have never met,” says Joanne Procee, smiling. “We were able to build a great life here with our family and we are very thankful to this community.”

“Our father could be a stubborn man and when he believed in something, it was difficult to persuade him otherwise,” remembers Julie Procee. “But he believed in RVH and if RVH needed something and thought it was important, then it was important to him too.”

www.rvh.on.ca | Like our Facebook Page: Team RVH | Follow us on Twitter: @TeamRVH

Vitalsigns 2017 | Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre

Couple leave a legacy of hope for children

In 2016, RVH was honoured to receive more than $2.3 million to improve patient care courtesy of the estates of :

That’s how Esther and Pearson Flowers lived their life together. The unassuming couple enjoyed a simple and quiet life, spending their time together tending to the gardens at their Barrie home. Although they had no children of their own, a portion of the estate they had built together was left to RVH and will ultimately benefit thousands of area children. Esther Mary Bell and Pearson Corbett Flowers, both from Midland, were married in 1944. On his discharge from the Royal Canadian Navy, Pearson took a position with Ontario Hydro. His first posting was at the Big Chute power generating station in what is now Severn Township. When he was transferred to Barrie, Esther and Pearson moved to a home on Parkside Drive close to the old RVH.

• • • • • • • • • • • •

Alan Richardson Allan Frank Zaba Agnes Annie McCarville Colette elizabeth Graham eric Stanley Hewitt erwin Adolph Zecha Isabel Mary Starr Annabelle M. lovering esther Mary Flowers Harold needham Helen Marion Curry Jesse Wilda Irvin

to learn more about how you can support RVH by leaving a bequest in your will, please contact Rebbeca truax at 705-728-9090 ext. 41525.

Then in 1963, they moved to their country home in Tollendale, close to Kempenfelt Bay. Pearson passed away in 2008 at Victoria Village and Esther at RVH in 2015 at the age of 93. The Flowers’ gift of $330,000 will support the new Child and Youth Mental Health program. Opening in late 2017, it will include an eight-bed inpatient unit which will provide care for up to 300 young people a year. A comprehensive day program will provide an additional 3,000 outpatient visits annually. Their legacy gift will benefit many children in need. “Throughout our 120 year history, people with visionary thinking have thought of RVH when writing their wills. It is truly inspiring to think about how these people left their mark to help future generations. I don’t think the Flowers knew when they put RVH in their will just how many children would find hope because of their generosity,” says Eric Dean, CEO, RVH Foundation. “It is always an honour to receive a legacy gift. We saw several generous bequests this year and each was given in gratitude for the impact RVH had on the donor, their family and the community. Each legacy helps RVH invest in equipment and projects that will help future generations of patients and families. The lasting impact of each gift is something these individuals and their families can take comfort in.”

Esther and Pearson Flowers

www.rvh.on.ca | Like our Facebook Page: Team RVH | Follow us on Twitter: @TeamRVH

Vitalsigns 2017 | Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre

Inspiring care... Thanks to YOUR support RVH is grateful to the more than 5,000 donors who gave nearly 9,000 gifts over this past year supporting patient care at RVH. The state-of-the-art equipment and technology that is found throughout our health centre has been made possible by the generous contributions of a community that believes in providing high-quality care. In fact, it is this support that brings services like advanced cardiac care and child and youth mental health to RVH, and help expand programs like women’s cancer, dialysis and surgical services for the people of this region. So many special people made a difference this year, and it is our pleasure to introduce you to a few!

Larche has heart! Larche Communications celebrated the start of 2017 by increasing its $500,000 Radio for Cardiology pledge to $1 million! The pledge, which supports the future Advanced Cardiac program at RVH, is the third pledge by Larche’s radio stations KICX 106 and 104.1 The Dock, and will help equip one of two new cardiac catheterization labs – essential in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac events. Below (left to right): Dr. Chris Guest, chief of Imaging Services, RVH; Bonnie Clement, charge technologist; Paul Larche, president, Larche Communications; and cardiologists Dr. Brad Dibble and Dr. Stephen Pizzale

Giving in memory of her father “My dad, John Miller, left me a gift in his estate and one of the things I wanted to do was support my community. The Hearts & Minds campaign at RVH was a good fit for many reasons. As a former RVH pharmacist, a business owner in the healthcare field and most importantly as the daughter of a cardiac patient, I understand how critical the need is for advanced cardiac care,” - Sandy Mitchell Sandy’s gift helped fund cardiac equipment like the treadmill pictured here, which is used to conduct stress tests in RVH’s Cardio-Respiratory program. Above (left to right): Tara Schafer, cardio technician, Sandy Mitchell, and Dr. Mohammad Haqqi, cardiologist and clinical lead Cardiovascular Rehabilitation program

www.rvh.on.ca | Like our Facebook Page: Team RVH | Follow us on Twitter: @TeamRVH

Vitalsigns 2017 | Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre

Make each better.online: Together. Tolife donate

Want to make a donation?

Donate in someone’s name as a tribute, remember a loved one with a memorial gift, plan a future gift, give a gift of stocks, celebrate a new birth or set up a monthly donation.

Foundation.rvh.on.ca Questions? Email: foundation@rvh.on.ca Phone: 705.739.5600

To donate by mail: RVH Foundation 201 Georgian Drive Barrie, Ontario L4M 6M2

Plan your giving RVH’s Dialysis program was honoured to welcome Lloyd Lawrence to view some program advancements made over this past year. Lloyd has been a dedicated supporter for many years, as an RVH board member from 1990-’98 and Board Chair in 1997. He was also a valuable Foundation Board member from 2007-2016, establishing our Planned Giving Committee. Lloyd and his wife, Mary, have been generous donors to RVH for more than 25 years. Their most recent gift supports equipment and technology advancements through the Hearts & Minds campaign. Their generosity helped open a new six-chair, in-hospital dialysis clinic in 2016, equipped with state-of-the-art filtering systems.

The gift of equipment John Byles, chair of the RVH Foundation Board of Directors and president, F.K. Machinery, recently toured RVH’s operating suites with Dr. Peter Dauphinee, medical director, Surgical Services and co-chair of RVH’s Capital Equipment Committee. Dr. Dauphinee was thrilled to show off the program’s new CO2 laser which is used for specialized procedures, including laser surgery and skin resurfacing. F.K. Machinery made its first donation to RVH in 1989, and John continues to give monthly to support equipment purchases and replacement – just as he does in his own business!

Below (left to right): Lloyd Lawrence with Cathy Goodfellow, RN and Dr. Derek Benjamin, nephrologist

Above (left to right): Dr. Peter Dauphinee with John Byles

www.rvh.on.ca | Like our Facebook Page: Team RVH | Follow us on Twitter: @TeamRVH

Vitalsigns 2017 | Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre

Power of Team - Our people, our story Power of Team is a video series featuring Janice Skot, president and CEO, taking on the role of a roving reporter and interviewing members of TEAM RVH. These videos are important reminders that it’s the people within the organization that make it great. At RVH we have 2,500 staff, 385 physicians and 800 volunteers all working toward the same goal – providing the best and safest patient experience possible. It is our pleasure to introduce you to just a few of our team members. To view any of these videos please click on the images below or go to RVH’s Youtube channel – RVHBarrieON or http://bit.ly/powerteamRVH

Security Services Vicci Stevenson, security officer Did you know: •

With their safety vest and duty belt on, each officer carries an extra 13 – 15 lbs on their body each shift

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Each officer averages 10 – 15 km a shift in patrol and response to emergencies

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Response time to a Code White (an emergency situation) is 30 seconds or less

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Security officers respond to approximately 4,000 potentially violent calls per year

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The team monitors 341 surveillance cameras; 418 card reader access points; 67 Code White alarm points and manages 189 mobile alarms

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The team regularly holds information sessions and mock training exercises about workplace violence and emergency preparedness

Janice Skot and Vicci Stevenson, security officer

Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Kay Kovachik, RN Did you know: •

ICU staff work diligently to ensure their patients receive specialized critical care services and encourage participation in daily patient updates

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A specialized critical care team quickly responds to patients on other inpatient units, Dialysis and Imaging when support is needed by an intensivist, registered respiratory therapist and a critical care RN

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ICU has the expertise to turn a critical intubated patient onto their stomach - a highly specialized approach to assist with a patient’s breathing and recovery. The process takes six RNs, one registered respiratory therapist and an intensivist.

Jennifer Smith, Environmental Services aide and Kay Kovachik RN

www.rvh.on.ca | Like our Facebook Page: Team RVH | Follow us on Twitter: @TeamRVH

Vitalsigns 2017 | Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre

TEAM RVH 385

2,500

800

Physicians

Staff

Volunteers

Faye Turner, RVH logistics attendant and Janice Skot

Logistics Faye Turner, logistics attendant (LA) Did you know: •

An LA takes 25,000-30,000 steps per day- that’s equal to walking 23 km per day!

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The team responds to more than 300 calls per day

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They are responsible for stocking over 1,200 unique medical/surgical supplies across the building

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The logistics team receives, records and distributes over 90,000 packages annually. That’s over 250 packages a day!

Janice Skot and Dave Duff, RVH carpenter

Building and Facilities Dave Duff, RVH carpenter Did you know: •

RVH’s Building and Facilities team is comprised of one carpenter, one electrician, one electrical technician, one locksmith, two plumbers, nine plant mechanics, one maintenance planner, two supervisors and one administrative assistant

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Last year this team had over 8,100 work orders

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Over 3,097 preventative maintenance tasks were completed - taking 2,500 hours

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There are maintenance staff in the building 24/7 to handle routine and emergency requests

Myrna Lingenfelter, medical radiation technologist, and Janice Skot

Imaging Services Myrna Lingenfelter, medical radiation technologist Did you know: •

Computed Tomography (CT) creates three dimensional images of the body - viewed in slices like a loaf of bread

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When the X-ray tubes spin inside the CT machine they pull 30 “G’s ( one “G” is equal to the force of gravity at the earth’s surface)

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The spinning mechanism inside the CT weighs over 6,000 lbs and can make one rotation in 28 milli seconds

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In 1975 a head CT scan took 4-5 minutes per slice, today an entire head can be scanned in nine seconds www.rvh.on.ca | Like our Facebook Page: Team RVH | Follow us on Twitter: @TeamRVH

Vitalsigns 2017 | Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre

www.rvh.on.ca | Like our Facebook Page: Team RVH | Follow us on Twitter: @TeamRVH

Vitalsigns 2017 | Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre

OUR DONORS

are part of the RVH team Make each life better. Together.

Zach Makes Tracks

Angels in the hospital

Zach Hofer, 13, has had his life impacted by mental illness. He witnessed a family member cope with it and saw many young people around him suffering as well. Zach has had a dream of creating awareness and breaking down the stigma around mental illness since the age of nine. He also wanted to raise funds for RVH, knowing there was a need for inpatient mental health services for children and teenagers. To do this his plan is to run from Barrie to Ottawa - that’s when Zach Makes Tracks was born. On August 13, 2017 Zach will leave from RVH to run, walk, bike, scooter and do whatever it takes to get to Ottawa raising awareness and funds for RVH’s Child and Youth Mental Health program. To support - https://zachmakestracks.ca

Brenda Stanley has become a true angel to RVH. Inspired by Larche Communications and the Radio for Cardiology (R4C) campaign, Brenda created a series of events centred around the angels theme. For four years Brenda has started the holiday season at RVH with the Angel Tree. Anyone may purchase an angel and place it on the decorated tree in RVH’s main lobby in memory of a loved one. Brenda also created the Angel’s golf tournament and currently is in the process of organizing the third annual golf tournament at Bear Creek on August 23, 2017. In total, Brenda has helped to raise $66,525definitely an RVH angel. Brenda is making a difference!

Zach is making a difference!

Move It for Young Minds

MY CARE Hero

Amber McAuley is a dedicated and compassionate community leader who uses her personal life experiences to help individuals obtain a greater sense of self-control and resilience. She suffered from severe depression and chronic pain for many years and became all the wiser by overcoming this life struggle. Ever since her youth, she set out to make a difference in the world, so she combined her training in business management, her Yoga Teacher Training certificate, and her Child and Youth Worker diploma to be an entrepreneur and inspirational leader. With all this happening in her life, she is also one of RVH Foundation’s biggest advocates raising funds and awareness for the future Child and Youth Mental Health program. Through her “Move It for Young Minds” events, Amber has raised over $17,000 towards the program.

Ron Griffiths was pleased he didn’t have to travel back and forth to Bracebridge while he received treatment at RVH’s cancer centre. He stayed at Rotary House and simply walked across the road to the cancer centre. He was happy with the care he received and often shares stories of his great stay. One night during the Christmas season Julie, a lodge attendant, brought in a home-cooked turkey dinner with all of the fixings. Her kindess meant alot to him. Once he was done treatment he wanted to say, “Thank You” to the team at Rotary House. At the same time the RVH Foundation had just launched the MY CARE Hero program to thank staff and volunteers. Ron happily became one of the first participants and also made a $2,000 donation. For more information about the MY CARE Hero program, please contact the Foundation office at 705-739-5600.

Amber is making a difference!

Ron is making a difference!

Photos (left to right): Zach Hofer- Zach Makes Tracks Drew Moyer, Bear Creek Golf Club and Brenda Stanley – Angel Tree campaign Amber McAuley - Move It for Young Minds Rotary House staff: Erin Badger-Horvath (left); Jennifer Montgomery, manager Radiation Treatment and Rotary House; Julie Wilson, Michelle Wale and Mary McGee

www.rvh.on.ca | Like our Facebook Page: Team RVH | Follow us on Twitter: @TeamRVH

Providing quality care ...one patient at a time

*INNISFIL LOCATION* *Opening in 2018* BARRIE 11 Lakeside Terrace #LL01 ........ 705-722-8036 Offering Ultrasound, Bone Density and X-ray 480 Huronia Road #101 ........ 705-739-1028 Offering Ultrasound and X-ray 121 Wellington Street West #115 ........ 705-726-4531 Offering Ultrasound and X-ray

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28 Huron St. 4th Floor .......... 705-444-9280 Offering Ultrasound and X-ray

Proudly serving the people of Simcoe County Since 1972

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Appointments are required for ultrasound and bone density To book please call 705-726-7442

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