File - Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Issue No. 4, July/August 2014
Family Navigation Project supporting youth mental health
Sunnybrook recently launched a first-ofits-kind navigational service to guide and
support families who have youth struggling
with mental health and addictions concerns.
Sunnybrook’s Family Navigation Project
(FNP) is a new call-in and email program
that partners “navigators” (clinically trained
health professionals) with youth who are
experiencing mental health and addictions
struggles, and their families, to guide them
through the complex GTA mental healthcare system and connect them to the right
services.
“Families don’t know where to go or how to
find the services their children need. Parents
have told us they’ve waited months for help,
only to be told they’re in the wrong line,” says
Dr. Anthony Levitt, medical director and
co-founder of the FNP. “With the Family
Navigation Project, there is no wrong line. It
gives them a way to start and a path to follow
in their journey to recovery, with someone
there to support them along the way.”
Nearly 70 per cent of mental health and
addiction issues have their onset in adolescence, and without timely and appropriate
care, these concerns frequently develop into
lifelong struggles that can drastically impact
individual and family health, quality of life
and productivity, as well as place significant
burden on the health-care system.
“Timing is of critical importance in finding
the right treatment program and yet only one
in five of these young Canadians gets access
to the specialized care and treatment they
need,” says Jeanne Foot, chair of the Parent
Dr. Anthony Levitt (left) is medical director and co-founder of the FNP. Naomi Algate is one of the project’s
expert navigators. The FNP is the first-of-its kind in Canada.
Advisory Council that helped set up the FNP.
Some of these families will have already
sought services or programs but may be on
multiple waiting lists for months, or have not
yet found the appropriate service.
“Often the problems will have gone on for
some time, and parents will reach out to us
because they want to avoid losing more time
or making further missteps,” says Naomi
Algate, an FNP navigator.
“In many situations, problems will have
developed quickly and seemingly out of
nowhere, and will be severe. Parents who
have little experience with the mental health
or addictions service system will seek our
assistance because they are facing a serious
situation, require assistance on an urgent
basis, and have no clear pathway to follow,”
Algate adds.
The FNP’s goal is to improve access to
treatment for youth aged 13 to 26 and to
support their families so they receive the help
they need. The navigators are experts who
can provide tailored insight into the mentalhealth and addiction systems, follow up with
families throughout the journey to monitor
and ensure that the process is working, and
build relationships with the various mentalhealth services and providers so they are able
to provide families with insightful first-hand
information about the resources from clinical
and parent perspectives.
Proceeds from the RBC Run for the Kids
have been integral in supporting the launch of
the FNP. The second annual event takes place
Sept. 20 at Mel Lastman Square in Toronto.
Visit RBCRunForTheKids.ca for full details.
Nadia Norcia Radovini
If you are a youth with mental health and/or addictions problems in the GTA
between the ages of 13 and 26, or a concerned family member, please call:
1-800-380-9FNP
or email
[email protected]
and expect to get a response within one business day.
The Family Navigation Project is not a crisis response line; people who find themselves or their family member in an emergency situation
must call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.
Personal Health Navigator
Planning for end of life care when you have no next of kin
The question: My husband and I have no children
and no close blood relatives. I worry about what’s
going to happen to us when our health fails. I’ve
heard that written instructions – like living wills –
aren’t good enough. Who can help us if we can no
longer speak for ourselves?
The answer: Your concerns are shared by
a growing number of people – especially as
the size of the traditional family has become
smaller in recent decades. The changing
demographics mean there will be a lot more
people in similar circumstances. In some
respects, it’s like being an orphaned senior.
And you are correct that there are shortcomings
with written medical instructions, which are
called advanced care plans in Canada. (Living
will is a term that first arose in the United
States.) Such written plans may not take into
account all the circumstances you could face.
But rest assured you can appoint anyone
to represent your interests through a legal
document known as a Power of Attorney for
Personal Care. It doesn’t have to be a blood
relative.
“It could be a neighbour, a friend from your
faith group, or someone you have grown up
with,” explains Lorrie Hamilton, an ethicist
at Toronto East General Hospital. “The most
important thing is finding someone who can
honour your wishes.”
In fact, in certain situations, people may be
Paul Taylor, Sunnybrook’s
Patient Navigation
Advisor, provides advice
and answers questions
from patients and their
families, relying heavily
on medical and health
experts. Email your
questions to AskPaul@
sunnybrook.ca
better off asking a friend, rather than a relative,
to carry out this crucial role. “Sometimes
people will find that their friends understand
them more than their family does,” Hamilton
says.
What’s more, families may be reluctant to
withdraw life-sustaining therapies – even
though the patient might prefer to slip away.
Or, relatives may be deeply divided over the
course of your care.
So don’t look upon the lack of relatives as a
disadvantage. Instead, it can be an opportunity
to select the person who you feel best
understands you.
The process of appointing someone as your
Power of Attorney for Personal Care is relatively
easy. If you live in Ontario, you can download
the document online from a provincial website.
You don’t even need to hire a lawyer. It just
needs to be witnessed by two people.
However, I don’t want to leave the impression
that going through these steps is like a leisurely
walk in the park. You will have to engage
the person you choose in some pretty deep
discsions about what you would like for your
care. Fortunately, there are useful online
resources. The Canadian Hospice Palliative
Care Association has launched Speak Up, a
national campaign to increase public awareness
about end-of-life advance care planning. The
campaign’s website – AdvanceCarePlanning.
ca – contains a workbook and other materials
to help frame your discussions.
“You want this person to understand your
values, your beliefs and how you view life,”
Hamilton notes. When choosing your
substitute decision-maker there are several
practical matters to consider.
“You have to ask them if they are capable
of making these decisions and if they feel
comfortable advocating on your behalf,” says
Doreen Ouellet, past chair of the Advance
Care Planning Work Group at the East
Toronto Health Link.
You also need to select someone who will be
readily available. It’s not a good idea to pick
someone who doesn’t return phone calls or
goes away for prolonged periods without
leaving any contact information.
Ouellet suggests you should keep the name of
your substitute decision-maker in your wallet
or another place where emergency responders
are likely to look for identifying information
should you become unconscious in public.
Sunnybrook nurse named ‘nursing hero’ in national contest
Linda Jurincic, a registered nurse in the
Odette Cancer Program, celebrated the recent
National Nursing Week in a special way.
Certified in oncology nursing and working
primarily with patients receiving internal
radiation therapy for the treatment of
gynecological, prostate and breast cancers,
Jurincic was awarded first place in the annual
Nursing Hero Awards organized by Hospital
News, one of Canada’s leading health-care
publications.
“Linda is an outstanding nurse who has
touched the lives of countless patients and
families in the most meaningful of ways,” says
Tracey DasGupta, Sunnybrook’s director of
interprofessional practice.
“To both love what you do and be recognized
for this work by peers and patients is very
fulfilling,” says Jurincic, who describes herself
as a “hands-on kind of nurse.”
She was nominated for the award
by Kimberly Fulcher, a Sunnybrook
patient, Laura
D’Alimonte,
an advanced
practice radiation
therapist, and
Dr. Lisa Barbera,
a radiation
oncologist with
the gynecological
cancer care team.
For Fulcher,
Jurincic
demonstrates the
“heart of nursing.”
Dr. Barbera and
D’Alimonte
praised her as
an inspiration to others and made special
mention of her strong devotion to patients,
as well as her dedication to professional
development and lifelong learning.
The Hospital News Nursing Hero Awards,
announced annually during National
Nursing Week, salutes Canadian nursing
Linda Jurincic,
Kristie Jones,
editor of Hospital
News, and Dr.
Lisa Barbera.
heroes and highlights their exceptional work.
In May, three winners were selected from 120
candidates from across Canada, with Jurincic
receiving the top award.
Natalie Chung-Sayers
Sunnybrook helping to fill gap in post-stroke cognitive rehab
Sunnybrook and Toronto Stroke Networks
are leading initiatives to address rehabilitation
for stroke patients experiencing cognitive
impairment.
This is a growing concern with rates of
cognitive impairment increasing. “When
cognitive impairment is identified it tends to
worsen outcomes, so people with cognitive
impairment after stroke have worse functional
recovery, greater impairment in their daily
living, higher risk of recurrent stroke and
higher risk of short-term risk of death,” says Dr.
Rick Swartz, a Sunnybrook stroke neurologist.
“There is a huge gap in our system, as there
is very little in the community in terms of
specialized resources and programming that
focus on the various aspects of cognition to
allow somebody to regain the skills they had
and reintegrate back into their life,” says Beth
Linkewich, regional director of the North &
East GTA Stroke Network at Sunnybrook.
Stroke patients experiencing cognitive
impairment may be able to walk and talk,
but may experience significant challenges
with work, interactions with family and daily
routines.
“They seem fine, they don’t go to rehab, and
then they experience huge problems at home
as they are unable to return to life as they
knew it before their stroke. The everyday
tasks that we often take for granted – such as
driving, working, taking care of our families
or other responsibilities – can be very difficult
when an element of your cognitive ability is
affected,” says Jessica Comay, an occupational
therapist with the Regional Stroke Best
Practice Team and the Assistive Technology
Clinic at Sunnybrook.
About two-thirds of stroke patients experience
some degree of cognitive difficulties, and 19
per cent of them are rejected for rehab because
there is a limited capacity to support persons
with cognitive impairment.
The multidisciplinary team at Sunnybrook,
together with Toronto Stroke Networks,
is filling this gap through an outpatient
clinic that sees patients living at home
or in an institution. Patients are referred
from Sunnybrook inpatient programs, the
secondary stroke prevention clinic, or by their
family doctor.
Services provided include occupational
and physical therapy and speech language
pathology. “We provide them with real-life
situations and help them to go through and
plan, and problem solve based on different
issues that may arise,” Comay says.
Nadia Norcia Radovini
Sunnybrook has many clinical and research initiatives underway in the area of stroke and cognition, including:
Clinical:
Research:
•
The Vascular Cognition Clinic specializes in cognitive
impairment after stroke, its frequency and neurological bases,
and the contribution of vascular factors to stroke recovery and
dementia
•
•
The DOC Tool, a cognitive screening tool developed here,
resulted in screening more than 1,500 stroke clinic patients
The L.C. Campbell Cognitive Neurology Research Group
is studying longitudinal brain-behaviour relationships with a
focus on cerebrovascular disease and less common dementias,
such as Lewy Body Disease and frontotemporal degeneration,
using clinical, neuropsychological, neuroimaging and genetic
biomarkers
•
The Regional Stroke Best Practice Team is a rehab group with
extensive experience with cognitive changes and the challenges
they present for stroke patients
•
•
Working on implementing the CO-OP approach to support
stroke and cognitive impairment in rehabilitation
One of the key partner sites in the Canadian Partnership in
Stroke Recovery, a national joint initiative between the Heart
& Stroke Foundation and six leading academic institutions
across Canada. Our site is known for its work in the areas of
brain-behaviour relationships and is engaged in research into
dementia, stroke prevention and acute care
•
Contributing internationally to knowledge of post-stroke brain
changes after exercise
•
Showing that aerobic exercise is beneficial not only for the
heart but also for the brain
•
Developing screening tools and using multi-modal type
assessments to evaluate an individual’s ability to return to driving
•
Developed a system that links specialized exercise equipment
with Google Earth’s virtual world to safely take stroke patients
around the world to increase fitness and improve cognition
Bringing cognition to the forefront of stroke rehabilitation
Sunnybrook’s Regional Stroke Best Practice
Team plans to bring together interprofessional
teams at two rehab sites, Sunnybrook’s own St.
John’s Rehab site, as well as West Park Health
Centre, to test an approach known as CO-OP
(Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational
Performance).
“It is an occupational therapy approach
that has been around a long time in acute
and community care, but it has yet to be
applied in an interprofessional way within a
medical system on the rehab end,” says Beth
Linkewich, regional director of the North &
East GTA Stroke Network at Sunnybrook
and leader of the collaborative project.
“We’re looking at a broader understanding
of cognitive impairment within teams. It’s a
different way of thinking, where cognition
will be one of the driving forces in the rehab
process, and not a limitation.”
The model is a function-based, problemsolving approach. “The patients select their
own personal goals and work with the therapist
to develop individualized strategies to achieve
them,” says Sara McEwen, a scientist at the St.
John’s Rehab site. “It shifts philosophy of care
to be even more patient-centred, where the
patient is in more control of the rehab process.
And the best part is patients continue to use
the problem-solving skills learned in CO-OP
to achieve new goals once they have returned
to the community. ”
The ideal outcome will be the adoption
of specific skills and approaches that can
facilitate the achievement of a wide range of
patient goals.
Nadia Norcia Radovini
Higher surgeon volumes linked to
lower risk for patients, study finds
A team of researchers, including three from
Sunnybrook, have found that patients whose
hip replacement surgeries are performed by
surgeons who do 35 or more hip replacement
procedures per year have fewer complications.
The study was recently published in The BMJ.
Studies estimate that about 35 per cent of all
cancers are preventable, and diet and lifestyle
can make a big difference in your overall risk
of developing cancer. Sunnybrook dietitian
Pauline Wisdom-Gilliam offers her best advice for staying healthy:
“It’s been established that surgeons who perform a lot of a certain procedure gain technical skill and ability, and that usually translates
into better results and fewer complications
after surgery,” says Dr. Richard Jenkinson,
an orthopedic surgeon involved in the study.
“But the biggest issue with the body of literature in this field is the question of ‘how many
is enough?’”
The researchers analyzed data of patients
who underwent hip replacement surgery between 2002 and 2009 and obtained a group
of about 40,000 who had hip replacements
for standard types of conditions. They were
then able to determine which patients had
surgery performed by surgeons who had high
volumes and their outcomes.
“Using the data, the number that seems to
be associated with better outcomes is about
35 hip replacements per year,” Dr. Jenkinson
says. “People who did many more than 35
had about the same complication rates as
those who performed at least 35. When
surgeons did fewer than 35, you started to
see increased complications and the need for
revision, particularly when surgeons were
performing much fewer than 35.”
The study also considered first-year surgeons.
“Of course, you have to start somewhere,” Dr.
Reducing your
cancer risk through
lifestyle changes
Weight matters
Achieving and maintaining a healthy body
weight is a key element to disease prevention.
If you need to lose weight, do so gradually and
using methods that are safe and sustainable.
And remember that even a small decrease in
your overall weight can have an impact.
Move it
A new study published recently in The BMJ finds
patients whose surgeons perform more than 35 hip
replacements per year have fewer complications
after surgery.
Jenkinson says. “So if a new surgeon has appropriate high-volume training in their residency and fellowship, they should be able to
perform reasonably without complications.”
Staying physically active is important to
reduce your risk of cancer and many other
diseases. Aim for at least 150 minutes of
moderate-intensity activity, like walking, or
75 minutes of vigorous intensity, like running, every week. Choosing an activity you
enjoy will help you maintain it over time.
The study’s finding can help inform healthcare policy-makers and administrators to
ensure surgeons have the resources to perform
this volume of surgeries and maintain their
competency, Dr. Jenkinson says. Surgeons
should consider aiming to perform 35 cases
or more per year, the authors wrote.
Alexis Dobranowski
Eat well
Studies point to the preventive benefits of a
largely plant-based diet rich in vegetables,
fruits, whole grains and legumes. This should
be the foundation to which other healthy
foods, like lean meats, can be added. Avoid
processed foods that are often high in salt, fat
and sugar. Also, limit your intake of red meat,
which includes pork, lamb and beef.
Raise a glass, but not too often
If you drink, limit alcoholic drinks to two for
men, and one for women daily.
Supplements
Sunnybrook entered a team in this year’s Toronto GoodLife Marathon, raising awareness and money
for Sunnybrook’s 4P Clinic, which aims to help new moms lower their risk of developing cardiovascular
disease. Pictured is Dr. Dini Hui, Dr. Janet Bodley, Dr. Betty Chen, and Dr. Karen Fleming together with
former patients Elizabeth Seger and Melanie Chryssafis, and Melanie’s daughter, Maddy. Learn more
about cardiovascular health after pregnancy at sunnybrook.ca/4PClinic.
The basis of a healthy strategy should be a balanced diet, not supplementation. The bottom
line is, don’t rely on supplements to keep you
well!
Monica Matys
Skin-to-skin C-sections promote health,
bonding between mother and baby
In April, Brandon Gill New gave birth via a
“skin-to-skin” Caesarean section, becoming
just the second mother to deliver her baby using this technique at Sunnybrook.
“It was a really amazing experience to be able
to have a C-section and then have your baby
come right on top of you, and transition into
the world in such a peaceful way,” she says.
This innovative way of delivering babies is being led in Canada by Sunnybrook physicians.
“We are using the technique of skin-to-skin
Caesarean sections because the benefits of
skin-to-skin contact between mother and
baby immediately after birth are clear. This
is done with babies born vaginally, and now
we are bringing this practice to babies born by
Caesarean section,” says Dr. Jon Barrett, chief
of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Sunnybrook
and director of the Women & Babies Research
Program at Sunnybrook Research Institute.
Babies born by Caesarean are typically given
to their mothers three to five minutes after
the birth, after being cleaned off and receiving
routine care. In a skin-to-skin C-section, the
baby is put directly on the mother’s upper abdomen, and the medical team pushes the baby
underneath the drape separating the medical
team from the mother’s upper body. The baby
then settles directly on the mother’s bare chest.
“Skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth
helps babies regulate their temperature and
glucose levels. It promotes bonding, and babies
often initiate breastfeeding on their own from
that position as well,” Dr. Barrett notes.
However, he emphasizes that a skin-to-skin
C-section is not possible in every birth.
“It may not be indicated even in low-risk deliveries, and is not appropriate for emergency
C-sections. The obstetrician needs to be experienced, and the procedure does require an
extra member of the medical staff to be in the
operating room,” Dr. Barrett says.
Sybil Edmonds
Sunnybrook prostate cancer surgeon
honoured as Active Surveillance leader
Sunnybrook surgical oncologist Dr. Laurence
Klotz, known internationally for pioneering
the Active Surveillance approach for men with
low-risk prostate cancer, has been awarded the
prestigious Lister Prize from the University of
Toronto’s Department of Surgery.
The benefits of
staying active
during pregnancy
Being active is important during all stages
of your life, including pregnancy (with your
doctor’s approval, of course). At Sunnybrook’s
latest Speaker Series, “Healthy Mom, Healthy
Baby,” a leading panel of experts discussed
mental health, exercise and diabetes in
pregnancy.
It’s a good idea to discuss your exercise routine
with your doctor when you become pregnant.
Generally, it’s recommended that women
with low-risk pregnancies exercise three to
five times per week at moderate intensity.
Low-impact activities like swimming, walking or stationary biking are great options.
If your doctor has determined exercise is safe
for you, Sunnybrook family physician Dr.
Karen Fleming says mothers can enjoy many
benefits, including:
•
•
•
•
fewer physical symptoms
decreased depression/anxiety
easier weight management
prevention and/or control of gestational
diabetes
decreased risk of high blood pressure
improved cardiovascular fitness, which
can help during labour
improved pain tolerance in labour
fewer interventions
The prize recognizes his “outstanding and continuing productivity of international stature,
as evidenced by research publications, grants
held, students trained and other evidence of
stature of the work produced.”
•
•
Dr. Klotz was also recently awarded The
Society of Urologic Oncology Medal for making a significant and far-reaching impact in the
field of urologic oncology.
To view a webcast of the Speaker Series, check
out sunnybrook.ca/SpeakerSeries. And when
exercising, remember to choose an activity
that is safe, that you enjoy and to have fun!
Monica Matys
A professor in the Department of Surgery at
U of T, Dr. Klotz led the multidisciplinary
Sunnybrook team that implemented and
reported on Active Surveillance, a novel approach for patients with low-risk prostate
cancer based on initial expectations of management, with strategic intervention for the
minority of patients who were diagnosed
higher risk over time. Coined by Dr. Klotz,
Active Surveillance emphasizes close monitoring and selective, definitive intervention.
Dr. Klotz continues to be a strong proponent
of the approach to reduce overtreatment, and
is widely considered to have been instrumental
in driving its acceptance by the urological
community internationally.
A 2010 study led by Dr. Klotz found that
•
•
Dr. Laurence Klotz
Active Surveillance has a resounding positive
benefit for patients. The research followed 450
Canadian men with low-risk prostate cancer
over a 13-year period. For men managed with
Active Surveillance with Selective Delayed
Intervention, the 10-year prostate cancer actuarial survival was 97.2 per cent. Two thirds of
patients avoided intervention entirely.
Active Surveillance with Selective Delayed
Intervention is now a standard option for
the management of men with localized,
well-differentiated prostate cancer, and is considered the treatment of choice for men with
very low-risk prostate cancer. The concept is
increasingly being adopted for other cancers,
particularly ductal carcinoma in situ, the most
common type of non-invasive breast cancer.
Natalie Chung-Sayers
Check out the
Your Health Matters portal on
your computer or mobile device for
videos, blogs, slideshows and more.
Visit
health.sunnybrook.ca
How to reach us:
Your Health Matters
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
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Toronto, ON M4N 3M5
P: 416.480.4040
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Your Health Matters is published monthly by the Communications & Stakeholder Relations Department and
Sunnybrook Foundation. Submissions to Your Health Matters are welcome, however, they are subject to space availability and
editorial discretion.
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre is inventing the future of health care for the 1.2 million patients the hospital cares for
each year through the dedication of its more than 10,000 staff and volunteers. An internationally recognized leader in research
and education and a full affiliation with the University of Toronto distinguishes Sunnybrook as one of Canada’s premier
academic health sciences centres. Sunnybrook specializes in caring for high-risk pregnancies, critically-ill newborns and adults,
offering specialized rehabilitation and treating and preventing cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurological and psychiatric
disorders, orthopaedic and arthritic conditions and traumatic injuries. The Hospital also has a unique and national leading
program for the care of Canada’s war veterans. For more information about how Sunnybrook is inventing the future of health
care please visit us online at www.sunnybrook.ca
Pregnancy significantly increases risk
of serious traffic accidents: study
Sunnybrook researchers have found that
pregnancy is associated with a significant risk
of a serious car crash requiring emergency
medical care during the second trimester,
according to a study recently published in the
Canadian Medical Association Journal.
“Pregnant women frequently ask me about
other risks to their health, such as air flights,
hot tubs and rollerblading. Not once has a
woman asked me about road safety, despite
it being a much greater risk,” Dr. Redelmeier
says.
“Our major finding was a 42-per-cent
increase in the risk of a serious motor vehicle
crash during the middle three months of
pregnancy,” says lead author Dr. Donald
Redelmeier, a researcher with the Institute
for Clinical Evaluative Sciences and a staff
physician with Sunnybrook’s Division of
General Internal Medicine.
Co-author Dr. Jon Barrett, chief of maternal
fetal medicine at Sunnybrook, was not
surprised by the study’s findings.
Statistically, the researchers found about
1-in-50 pregnant women will be involved in
a motor vehicle collision at some point during
pregnancy. Traffic mishaps place mother and
baby at risk of fetal death, chronic disability
and complicated emergency medical care.
“I see pregnant women who have a lot of
demands on them. Between work, taking care
of their older children and other demands
on their time, they are burning the candle
at both ends and are often exhausted,” Dr.
Barrett says.
Both researchers emphasize that the message
is not for pregnant women to stop driving, or
to hand off driving responsibilities to their
significant other.
“The message is for pregnant women to start
driving more carefully,” says Dr. Redelmeier.
He suggests paying closer attention to the
rules of the road, such as using the turn signal
when changing lanes, and coming to a full
stop at intersections with a stop sign or traffic
lights.
Sybil Edmonds
Helpful summer
first-aid tips
fydfdf
While prevention is always the best medicine,
it’s important to know what to do when
accidents happen. For minor injuries, here are
some first-aid tips everyone should know.
Cuts & scrapes – First, stop the bleeding
by applying pressure with clean gauze. Once
stopped, clean any excess blood away and
apply antibiotic ointment. Wrap the wound
with sterile gauze and tape or a bandage. Be
on the lookout for signs of infection, including
pain, swelling and redness.
Sprains – If you can bear some weight on the
injury without a lot of pain, chances are it’s
a sprain and not a break. Keep the acronym
RICE in mind: rest, ice, compress and elevate.
Dr. Marc Jeschke, director of Sunnybrook’s Ross Tilley Burn Centre, Kerry Comiskey, a former burn
centre patient, and Ken Shaw, co-anchor of CTV News at Noon and Six, take part in a discussion during
Sunnybrook Foundation’s Donor Celebration on May 22. As the event’s emcee, Shaw interviewed patients
and their physicians to provide the community with personal accounts highlighting Sunnybrook’s impact.
“Sunnybrook is making a tremendous difference in the lives of patients and their families. We wanted our
generous donor community to get a taste of this first-hand,” says Dr. Jon Dellandrea, president and CEO
of Sunnybrook Foundation.
Bee stings – Don’t pick the stinger out with
tweezers. Instead, pull the skin taut around
the stinger and try to flick it away with the
edge of a credit card. Apply ice to the area to
offer some relief and reduce swelling. Then,
cover the area with a sterile bandage. Watch
for signs of a severe allergic reaction, including
hives or swelling, which warrant immediate
medical attention.
Monica Matys