EmERgEnCy DEPARtmEnt

Pulse
November 2013
It’s my hospital!
Best hospital newsletter in
Canada 2013: HCPRA
Emergency Department
February 16, 2014
Sooner than
you think
Page 2
K countdown: Emergency Department prepares to move
First patients will enter new pavilion on February 16
I
n the upcoming move to Pavilion K, the
distance may be short, but the process of
ensuring a smooth transition has been huge.
This February, the Emergency Department
(ED) will relocate to its new home following
years of planning.
The coordination of many of the project’s
intricacies has been facilitated by the
Transition Team. This team oversees
numerous aspects of the ED move,
including the transition of 13 satellite
departments and sections, among them
Security, Housekeeping, Pharmacy, Infection
Prevention and Control, orderlies and
Biomedical Engineering. To this end, ongoing
tours have been organized to introduce staff
to the new ED.
A Move Committee Task Force was convened
by the Transition Team to determine what
needs to be in place before the move, as
well as how people and supplies will flow
to Pavilion K. Expertise is shared by the ED
(represented by Dr. Bernard Unger and Valerie
Schneidman, Interim Head Nurse) and such
areas as Nursing, Information Technology,
Biomedical Engineering, Materials
Management and Purchasing. Together,
they have been carefully considering how
to transfer provisions needed for patients,
such as meals, medication, biomedical
equipment and linens. Healthcare workers
will also be sure to have on hand all of the
ordinary equipment they need on a daily
basis, including a new and improved storage
bin system.
Pulse
Buying and testing all of the items for the new
ED has been a “mammoth undertaking,” says
2
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jgh.ca
Members of the Emergency Steering Committee, back row, from left: Joanne Côté, Pierre Bernardi, Dr.
Marc Afilalo, Annie Thinel, Valerie Schneidman, Dr. Stephen Rosenthal, Meg Hoodspith, Joy Estrada,
Chris Marchand and Dr. Bernard Unger. Front row, from left: Meredith Jones, Kristeen Folley, Dr. Eli
Segal, Melanie Sheridan, Nadine Bubolic and Dr. Alex Guttman. Not shown: Construction partners
Georges Bendavid, Fanny Obadia and Yaël Harroche.
Dr. Eli Segal, a senior ED physician
who is also responsible for equipment
acquisition. “Our collaborative team strove
to ensure that the cost-effective equipment
and furniture meets strict infection-control
standards, are of superior quality, and
are ergonomically friendly.” Nurse Meg
Hoodspith, an Emergency Room Move
Coordinator, adds that items such as carts
and stretchers were researched, piloted and
tested so that patients “will benefit from a
well equipped and safe Emergency unit.”
Now that the structure is in place, it is
being visited by staff from the Boiler Room,
Technical Services, Maintenance and other
services to check that supplies and fixtures
have been properly placed and fitted. Among
their many essential responsibilities is to
make certain that, for example, the wiring is
in the right location and that air flow in the
negative- and positive-pressure rooms is
Glenn J. Nashen
Director, Public Affairs &
Communications
Laure-Elise Singer
Editor-in-Chief
Henry Mietkiewicz
Senior Editor, Publications
Dana Frank, Stephanie Malley
Contributors
properly calibrated and balanced.
At the request of the Transition Team, the
enormous task of physically moving the
ED will be coordinated with the assistance
of Health Care Relocations, a Canadian
company with an international reputation
for its specialty in moving hospitals. Among
its 300 clients has been the Hospital for Sick
Children in Toronto.
The Emergency Department will settle into
its new quarters during a five-day move that
begins on February 12 with the transfer of
files, equipment and décor, and culminates
with patients early on Sunday morning,
February 16. Most hospitals choose Sunday
morning, because it tends to be relatively
quiet in Emergency and there is decreased
activity overall throughout the hospital.
“When the time comes, we’ll be ready!” says
Ms. Schneidman.
Arlette Leveillé
Translation
JGH Audio Visual Services
Photos
Myriam Ekhauzer
Graphic Artist
TLC Global Impression
Printer
Cover photo: Felipe Argaez
Audio-Visual Services
Best hospital newsletter in Canada
2013: HCPRA
We apologize in advance for any errors,
misspellings or omissions.
Please note that to our knowledge at press time,
all information in this publication was accurate.
Roll up your sleeve-to protect patients
Why flu shots should go viral
Meet our new
Executive Director
I
n early November,
Dr. Lawrence
Rosenberg, familiar
to staff as Chief of
Surgical Services
and Director of
Transformational
Change, took on a
new role, with his
appointment as
Executive Director.
Casey Soutter, an x-ray technologist in Radiology, received his flu shot at the open house for flu
vaccination, organized by JGH Health Services in November.
T
o any members of staff who still
wonder why they should get a flu shot,
Dr. Matthew Oughton has a simple answer:
Protect yourselves, protect your patients.
It was a message that Dr. Oughton, of the
Division of Infectious Diseases, repeatedly
emphasized in late October during Infection
Prevention and Control Week in his
presentation to staff, Why flu shots should go
viral in healthcare workers.
The flu vaccine is an effective step in staving
off the virus, which can leave you feeling like
you’ve been been hit by a truck, says
Dr. Oughton. He points out that inoculation is
especially important at the JGH, because the
highest-risk groups—such as the elderly and
those with weaker immune systems—account
for “most JGH patients”.
Trials have shown that fewer patient die on
the unit of vaccinated healthcare workers,
regardless of whether the patient was
vaccinated. Hospitals with elderly patients
have also seen reduced mortality overall
if their staff are vaccinated. Despite these
scientifically proven benefits, the number of
healthcare workers who have had the flu shot
in recent years has not reached the 80-per-cent
level recommended by the Montreal Health
and Social Services Agency.
Dr. Oughton reminded his audience that many
respiratory viruses resemble the flu, because
they bring on the same or similar symptoms.
So if someone has received the shot and
comes down with what he or she believes is
the flu, it may very well be an entirely different
virus—and one whose treatment with such
prophylaxes as Tamiflu won’t be effective.
Combatting the flu becomes much more
effective through the simple act of good hand
hygiene, a compelling reason for JGH staff to
practice the 4 Moments of Hand Hygiene. Dr.
Oughton reminds individuals who do contract
the flu that the infectious period is seven
days, beginning one day before the onset of
symptoms. For this reason, he encourages
these employees to call in sick and not return
too early, so as not to risk infecting patients,
visitors or colleagues.
4 Moments
of Hand
Hygiene
“What inspires
me is getting out of bed each morning and
knowing I can continue to help build an
enduring hospital where members of staff
are motivated to deliver the very best patient
experience and give back to the province,”
says Dr. Rosenberg.
Dr. Rosenberg has extensive experience
as a clinician-scientist, a health care
administrator, an educator and a strong
advocate for pace-setting innovations that
improve access to medical services of
superior quality.
Many opportunities to meet and become
better acquainted with Dr. Rosenberg will be
available at upcoming CEO Forums (dates
to come in JGH Now), via local media (visit
JGH.ca/mediacentre), and in profiles in Pulse
and JGH News.
Leave the flu out in the
cold!
Follow these preventive measures:
• Clean your hands
• Practice respiratory etiquette, such as
sneezing into the crook of your elbow
• Get vaccinated (ideally two weeks
before flu season begins)
3
It’s my hospital
JGH Health and Safety is offering
hospital staff (day, night and weekend)
and volunteers vaccinations until the end
of flu season. Shots are available through
Health Services via trolley throughout the
hospital, at the Health Services Office
in B-025, and in organized clinics as
arranged by department managers. For
full details, see JGH Now.
Pulse
• Once exposed to virus, opt for postexposure prophylaxis
Psychiatry team
eases patients
through renovation
S
mall changes can make a huge difference.
That’s what the team in the Psychiatry
Department discovered after a redesigned
nurses’ station grew by only a few extra square
feet, but resulted in a major improvement for
the staff who regularly meet there.
The changes this past summer were part of
an upgrade in the short-term care area of
4 East, known as the Transitory Treatment
Unit, whose patient areas benefited from an
additional private room, fresh paint and better
ventilation.
The nurses’ station now offers more seating
and increased storage for administrative
purposes and for medications. “The room is
much fresher and more pleasant,” says Louise
De Bellefeuille, Head Nurse in Psychiatry. “It’s
less cramped and cluttered, and nurses now
also have better access to computers.”
Frequent teaching rounds are held in the area,
as staff gather with nursing and social work
students, explains Eva Gardos, a Registered
Nurse with over 20 years’ experience in
the Unit. “We’re a very multidiscliplinary
unit, with teams that include psychologists,
psychiatrists, residents, nurses, social workers
and occupational therapists. Before, when we
held our meetings with students, we were piled
on top of one another. Now we’re much more
comfortable and, most importantly, everyone
fits!”
Ms. Gardos adds that the space is more
welcoming for patients and their families,
who use the area for private, ongoing therapy
sessions by Psychiatry staff.
Pulse
While the renovations were under way, patients
were transferred elsewhere in the hospital,
a move that “was handled remarkably well
and sensitively by staff, who really are to
be applauded,” says Valerie Frunchak, JGH
Nursing Director for Psychiatry.
4
During the renovations, the department had
to operate on two floors, with Psychiatry staff
helping patients to adjust to the transition.
“We met daily to discuss how to maintain a
sense of normalcy and stability through
our therapeutic programs,” recalls Gloria
Aronoff, an Occupational Therapist in
Psychiatry. “This is especially important
when patients are displaced from their
familiar environment, so we worked hard
as a team to minimize the disruption. This
is where we excel: we care for the patient,
because it’s mainly the people, and not
just the place, that make the difference.”
A fond farewell to Dr. Hartley Stern
Departing CEO brought the JGH to new heights
A
lthough a few sighs could be heard
among staff about the impending
departure of Dr. Hartley Stern, the mood
was decidedly festive on August 29, as
employees from across the hospital gathered
to say goodbye to the outgoing Executive
Director. Many took the opportunity to thank
him for dedicating more than five years
to implementing improvements that will
continue to benefit patients and personnel for
years to come.
Among the well-wishers was JGH President
Rick Dubrovsky, who told Dr. Stern: “On
behalf of all the staff that you have had the
pleasure of working with, and the community
you served with such excellence, we wish
you a fond farewell and good luck in the next
phase of your career.”
Right from the outset, Dr. Stern expressed
his commitment to promoting cleanliness,
quality and safety, said Director of Nursing
Johanne Boileau. “All of his accomplishments
are related to what he had said he would
do. Under his leadership, we built many
partnerships to improve access for patients
and we launched quality projects to increase
transparency. Through Dr. Stern’s support
for these and many other initiatives, the
JGH achieved Exemplary Status in our latest
Accreditation. But we will also remember his
great qualities as a leader: nurses appreciate
that he is approachable and warm, and that
he respects and listens to people.”
Toward the end of the event, the tables were
turned so that Dr. Stern could offer thanks
of his own. He said he had worked in three
cities, three hospitals, three universities and
three different cultures, but the JGH was
“the best hospital” he’d seen anywhere: “Our
Board, our Foundation and our community
support us because they believe in this
institution, in our values. And what are
those values? Care for all. We are filled with
the most aged, complicated patients who
receive the best possible care because of the
great leadership you bring, you who are here
today.”
Dr. Stern named many areas that had
developed, expanded or innovated during his
term, including:
• approval for Pavilion K and substantial
progress in construction, with the new
Emergency Department scheduled to open in
February
• renovations and upgrades in Cardiology,
Geriatrics, Radiology and the Centre for Child
Development and Mental Health
• implementation of various
projects and the installation of equipment
and linked processes—e.g., PACS,
Chartmaxx, wireless
• the Lady Davis Institute has exceeded the
national average for success with peerreviewed funding agencies, reinforcing the
hospital’s reputation as one of Canada’s
leading research hospitals
• safety improvements by Nursing in areas
such as post-surgical thrombosis care and
the Department of Medicine
• finding ways for mental health professionals
to communicate with and serve a culture of
90 languages in vicinity of the hospital
• launch of the Herzl CRIU Walk-in
Centre, along with the Herzl model of
multidisciplinary teams
• implementation of Transformational Change
to heighten efficiency, eliminate duplication
and cut waste, so that saved funds can be
used for patient care
• safety improvements in the Emergency
Department through teamwork among
Emergency personnel, Internal Medicine and
Surgery
“You are our most valuable asset,” Dr. Stern
told his audience. “All of you get up in the
morning, no matter where you work in the
hospital, thinking, ‘How can I do this better,
how can I make a patient’s life better?’
We play our part by giving you the tools to
flourish—that’s why we’re among top 100
employers in Montreal, because we care
about you. It has been a great honour.”
JGH staff celebrated for their excellence
at Annual General Meeting
D
r. Hartley Stern was
the keynote speaker on
September 17 at the hospital’s
Annual General Meeting, which
was scheduled earlier than
usual, so that Dr. Stern could
address board members, staff,
volunteers and dignitaries
before his departure at the end
of September. In particular, he
praised the JGH for its strong
governance, its widespread public
support and the high calibre of
its staff in all disciplines and
departments.
In parting, Dr. Stern urged the
JGH’s leaders to keep making
improvements in the quality of
care; to continue spending on
innovative projects, but to hold
staff accountable for the funds
they use; to look to the untapped
resources of Quebec’s schools of
business and medicine for ideas
on strengthening the healthcare
system; and to remain aware of
the mounting pressures that will
be placed on the JGH and other
hospitals by the growing number
of elderly patients with chronic
diseases.
To learn more about the award
winners through profiles
and videos, please visit the
digitally enhanced Report to the
Community at jgh.ca/annual.
The Award for Medical
Excellence
Dr. Mark Lipman
2013 Distinguished Service
Award – Bernard Stotland
“My interaction with my team has
made me a better physician. I respect
my colleagues and I learn from them”
“What made my term so memorable
was working shoulder-to-shoulder
with so many staff members in all
parts of the hospital.”
The Award for Excellence in
Nursing – Joanne Pike
The Award for Excellence in Physician Management
Dr. Marc Afilalo
“The teamwork in the Emergency
<<
Department is just incredible and
is cemented by the JGH values. Not
only are our staff open to change, but
they are in favour of it. They inspire
me every day.”
”When I came to work here 20 years
ago, it was like a hand fitting in a
glove. I felt this hospital was made
for me. Every day I’m grateful for the
fact that my colleagues see what I do,
and they appreciate it. I couldn’t ask
for anything more.”
>>
The Award for Excellence in Management
Dr. Elizabeth M. MacNamara
The Award for Excellence
in Basic Research
Dr. Mark A. Wainberg
“This award is a recognition of close
to two decades’ worth of my work
here as a clinician and as a scientist,
trying to improve patient care and
push the envelope in terms of clinical
research.”
The Award for Excellence
in Administrative Support
Tammy Merayias
“The patients and families have
taught me so much, and each day
remind me why I became a nurse.”
The Award for Excellence
among Allied Health
Professionals – Lynn Gillespie
“I would like to thank all my
colleagues past and present, as well
as our manager for always believing
in his team, for no success is possible
without teamwork. This is an amazing
award to receive from such a great
institution.”
Pulse
“It is extremely rewarding to have
participated in developing a drug that
has saved millions of lives. I hope and
pray that HIV will be cured because
of research that was conducted right
here at the JGH.”
The Award for Excellence in
Psychosocial or
Clinical Research
Dr. Mark J. Eisenberg
“We’re so lucky here at the JGH to
have such a wealth and depth of
talented Allied Health Professionals
who are so devoted and innovative, to
be recognized in that crowd is really
an honour.”
It’s my hospital
5
Nurses promote nursing hospital wide
Since staff may be unaware of which
medications are safe for lactating
patients, they are encouraged to turn
to Maternal-Child staff for guidance
and, when necessary, equipment. As
well, non-clinical employees can help
mothers—whether patients or visitors—
to feel comfortable nursing anywhere in
the hospital, at any time. For this reason,
the Breastfeeding Brigade supplied
family rooms with reading material and
the international breastfeeding symbol.
Members of the Breastfeeding Brigade visit nurses in the JGH Stroke Unit. From left: Hani Fanil Zaryouni,
maternal-child volunteer; Claudia Cinquino, Nursing Education Consultant, NICU; Roseline Jean-Michel,
Stroke Unit; Rivky Porgenz (a volunteer with the Montreal-based non-profit organization People Helping
People); Debbie Piccio, Waag Mele and Preci Hernandez, Stroke Unit; Lyne Charbonneau, Clinical Nurse
Specialist, NICU; Nadège Desamour and Laleh Araieazar, Stroke Unit.
A
lmost all are men, and several are even
grandfathers. So why did JGH Security staff
receive a visit from the Breastfeeding Brigade?
hospital, even visiting non-clinical areas such
as Security or Human Resources, during World
Breastfeeding Week in October.
At times, it was met with a few snickers and
mild surprise: “We’ve passed our breasfeeding
days!” laughed Frances Paré, a Unit Agent in
Coronary Care. Even so, maternal-child staff are
reminding all employees that lactating mothers
are found not just on the maternity floor, but
throughout the hospital. “We had a patient with
bleeding in the brain who had
given birth a few days earlier,”
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said Nadège Desamour, a nurse
in the Stroke unit. “So we called
our colleagues on 5Northwest
who brought us a breast-milk
pump.”
The Breastfeeding Brigade—a mobile cart
laden with pop quizzes and reading material
about breastfeeding, and, most crucially,
lollipop prizes—was born on the Postpartum
Unit as a “vehicle” for reaching out to JGH
staff. Plastered with photos of nursing mothers,
the balloon-covered cart travelled through the
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Pulse
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6
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“We can all contribute to making the
JGH a baby-friendly environment,” says
Irene Sarasua, a Clinical Nurse Specialist
who co-chairs the JGH Breastfeeding
Committee with Dr. Victoria Bizgu.
“We want to support those moms
psychologically by allowing them to
maintain their connection with their
baby, and to avoid the potential physical
complications of quick weaning, such as
infection.”
The 2013 theme for World Breastfeeding
Week was support for breastfeeding
mothers by family, friends and
community. Waag Mele, a Nurse in the
Stroke Unit and a new dad, does his
share. “When my wife finishes nursing,
I burp the baby!” says Mr. Mele, joining
the many other male staff who answered
the Brigades’ quiz questions correctly. It
seems the message of WBW had already
reached these new or veteran dads.
Don’t get left behind!
Follow the JGH on its official
social media pages
D
id you know that David Suzuki filmed an episode of CBCTV’s The Nature of Things at the JGH? Have you heard who
won the 2013 JGH Awards of Excellence? Have you seen the
JGH TV episode about the new piano in Radiation Oncology?
If you’re not following the JGH on Facebook and Twitter yet,
these are just some of the items you’re missing. Join the
almost 2000 people who have already caught on by checking
out the hospital’s official Twitter feed: @HGJ_JGH and
Facebook page: facebook.com/HGJ.JGH
Interesting news items, photos, event announcements and
the most up to date information about your hospital are all
online now!
Thoughtfulness and compassion at the beginning-and end-of life
Exemplary staff members receive Caring Beyond awards
T
hey were at opposite ends of the arc of life—
one of them a baby, the other a patient in
Palliative Care. Yet, both were treated with the
exceptional nurturing that earned their caregivers
Caring Beyond awards.
Vanessa McIntyre, a nurse in the Emergency
Department for the past five years, was nominated
by a colleague for her dedication in tending not
only to her patient, but to a vulnerable member
of their family. On one occasion, when a young
woman was admitted with her baby in her arms,
Ms. McIntyre created a safe place for the baby,
found appropriate nourishment for her, changed
her diaper and watched over her while her mother
underwent treatment.
Betty Laxer, Co-Chair of the Caring Beyond
Committee with Anne Glassman and Patrizia
Capri, a Recruitment Officer for Human
Resources, presented the award to Ms. McIntyre.
“Vanessa truly exemplifies what this award is
about,” said Ms. Laxer. “She went above and
beyond her direct duties to make the patient and
her child feel comfortable and cared for.”
Vanessa McIntyre in the Emergency Department.
The Emergency Department is an often bustling place, says its
Interim Head Nurse, Valerie Schneidman. “Even in what can be a
difficult environment, Vanessa symbolizes the great effort that our
team makes to mix nursing expertise with compassion toward all
incoming ambulatory patients, while remaining attentive to the
health and well being of the family.”
It was a grateful family member who recommended that a Caring
Beyond award go to Jean-Fritzner Personna, an evening orderly
in Palliative Care. “Fritz has an upbeat approach to a job that
is delicate and emotionally difficult,” she said. “In washing and
transporting her, Fritz stood out for the tenderness and respect with
which he handled her, and the compassion he
showed to her and our family.”
These sentiments were echoed by Bessy Bitzas, Head Nurse in
Palliative Care. “I hope that Fritz knows how wonderful he is, how
valuable he is to this team, and how much joy he brings to the
people that he works with, and to the families and patients he takes
care of,” she said.
Recalling that another Pallative team member, orderly Ericksson
Skerritt, received a Caring Beyond award in 2011, Ms. Bitzas added,
“This goes to show that everything we do really makes an impact.
This award should really be embraced by all of you.”
To recognize a JGH staff member who cares beyond, visit
jgh.ca/caringbeyond, or fill out a form in C-107 or A-112.
Pulse
It’s my hospital
7
Jean-Fritzner Personna chatting with a patient on the Palliative Care Unit.
5 à 7 outing helps nurses ’round the clock
O
nce in a while, the junior nurses who
care for patients in the hospital get out
of the hospital and into a relaxed setting
where they ‘care’ for each other, sharing
advice, offering support and enjoying some
pampering .
A group of 20 JGH relative newcomers got
together with nursing veterans recently at
a 5 à 7 at a local pub, where the younger
generation had an opportunity to unwind,
share experiences with peers, and exchange
coping tips and strategies.
Nursing is very gratifying, says Geneviève
Dorris, a Clinical Placement Coordinator in
the Department of Nursing, but it can also
be difficult, especially for recent graduates
who probably have never worked nights or
on rotation. “There’s also the emotional
impact of the work,” she adds. “You follow
patients, you get to know them and, tragically,
sometimes they die.”
Recognition of these stresses and rewards is
what prompted the JGH Nursing Recruitment
team to organize the get-together along
with the hospital’s Council of Nurses’ Youth
Committee, including Nurse Clinicians
Justine de Monteiro (Surgery), Maureen
Clervil (Neonatal Intensive Care), Bianca
Enjoying an evening out are (from left) Vanessa Lavergne, NICU; nurses Andrea Willett, Andrea Ward,
Natasha Burnham and Clinical Nurse Specialist Kimani Daniel, all from the Family Birthing Centre.
Rossignol (Emergency) and Karine Lepage
(Head Nurse in Hemato-Oncology). Their
particular intent was to help to nurses who
have been at the hospital for less than two
years.
since June. “We really felt the team spirit, not
only with peers from our unit, but as part of
the hospital’s nursing family. It reinforced my
confidence about launching my career at
the JGH.”
“Coming together in an informal setting
enabled us to discuss our professional
experiences, as well as all of their emotional
and personal consequences,” says Larysa
Konstantinova, a nurse in Psychiatry, who
attended the event and has been at the JGH
Organizers are planning to host a similar
event in the spring, and then twice yearly,
complete with gift-certificate door prizes and
free munchies. If you are a new nurse and
would like to participate, please contact Ms.
Dorris at [email protected].
Belgian delegation gets accreditation
tips from JGH staff
aving been accredited with Exemplary
Standing earlier this year, the Jewish
General Hospital is attracting international
attention from healthcare leaders who want to
learn from the JGH’s experience. On October
16, a Belgian delegation of government
officials and hospital directors visited the
JGH for information about the accreditation
process and its role in improving the quality
of care.
Chantal Bellerose, JGH Accreditation
Coordinator, said staff presented on the
hospital, the Quality Program, the Continuous
Quality Improvement process and the
accreditation process. At workshops, around
40 members of JGH staff discussed their
own areas, including Surgery, Medicine,
Emergency Medicine, Infection Prevention
and Control, medication safety, leadership
and the sterilization of medical equipment.
Pulse
8
H
Members of a Belgian delegation participated in presentations and workshops on accreditation
at the JGH.
At the end of the visit, a member of the
delegation told Ms. Bellerose, “We can
see that at the Jewish General Hospital,
accreditation and continuous quality
improvement are engrained in the culture,
and everyone feels a sense of responsibility.
You deserve to be accredited with Exemplary
Standing.”
Healthy Organization
jgh.ca/photo-gallery
Healthy Organization Day
G
abi Rosberger, Occupational Therapist,
demonstrates the healthiest ways
to set up an office at the JGH’s second
Healthy Organization Day on October 15.
Over 300 staff members dropped by to
learn how to stay healthy and make their
own well-bring a priority. David’s Tea
donated a self-serve tea station, while
kiosks addressed healthy eating, stress
management, exercise, quitting smoking
and more.
jgh.ca/action-plan
Walk to
Saint-Joseph’s Oratory
F
ifteen employees hit the street in the
first Walk to Saint-Joseph’s Oratory,
organized by the Healthy Organization
team. Those who set out on the scenic
walk were offered the added challenge
of climbing the Oratory stairs once they
arrived at their destination.
Staff who are eager to keep moving are
welcome to join the Walking Club, which
offers twice-weekly lunchtime excursions.
TD ice-cream caravan brings
cold comfort to staff
9
It’s my hospital
GH employees gave the sweltering August sun a licking
by enjoying free ice-cream at a Staff Appreciation Day,
organized by the JGH Department of Public Affairs and
Communications. Refreshing soft-serve ice-cream was
served at the TD caravan, where staff also picked up
reusable JGH lunch bags and TD beach balls.
Pulse
J
Kudos to staff for supporting
the Weekend and Ride
Estelle Kalfon, right (in glasses)
T
hough the Pharmaprix Weekend to End
Women’s Cancers and the Enbridge Ride
to Conquer Cancer are summer events, both
receive support from hospital staff yearround. To thank employees for their ongoing
help, the JGH Foundation held a lunch and
raffle as a special way of saying thank-you.
“It’s not just the Foundation, but the whole
hospital that puts on events,” said Siobhan
O’Brien, the Foundation’s Associate Director
for Special Events. “Supportive personnel
from Housekeeping, the Mail Room,
Maintenance, Finance, the Audio-Visual team,
Pharmacy and Stores help us do what we do
not only on event weekends, but throughout
the year at donor recognition events and on
countless other occasions.”
Myer Bick, Foundation President and CEO,
who has participated in eight Weekends
and five Rides, said he hopes at least 100
employees will participate with him in each
of the events in 2014. He encouraged the
audience to “get your colleagues involved.
The Foundation will work with you to help
with raising funds.” Next summer, the
Weekend will celebrate its 10th year, having
raised a total of $53 million for research,
prevention, diagnosis and treatment of breast
and gynecologic cancers.
Two more avid participants also spoke in the
hope of inspiring others to join them. Estelle
Kalfon, Head Nurse in Family Medicine,
intends to walk for the 10th time at next
year’s Weekend, while Annie Thinel, Clinical
Projects Coordinator for the Transition Team,
has completed the Ride five times. “I do it
because I’m lazy; I’m not an athlete at all,”
joked Ms. Kalfon. “I even drive my car around
the corner. But participating in the Weekend
gives me the impetus to get out of the
house and walk. During the walk, you meet
interesting people—and get to eat candy all
day.” Ms. Kalfon added that she is motivated
by more serious reasons, since several of
her relatives have been touched by cancer. “A
few blisters are nothing compared with what
people with cancer endure.”
Ms. Thinel agreed, saying she wants to
personally help people whom she knows with
cancer. “The Ride can be difficult physically,
but when you think about the patients and
their families, it really energizes you to scale
the next hill.”
endcancer.ca | conquercancer.ca
Pulse
Ms. O’Brien added that
the Weekend and Ride
receive remarkable support
from doctors, nurses
and physiotherapists who volunteer on
medical teams during the events, as well as
consulting on related matters throughout the
year. “The staff really does ‘Care for All,’” she
said. “They help not only patients, but one
another.”
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Annie Thinel (thumbs up)
Names
in the News
Happy centenary
Congratulations!
C
ongratulations to JGH Physician-in-Chief
Dr. Ernesto L. Schiffrin, who was elected
President of Hypertension Canada in October,
and also received the 2013 Distinguished
Scientist Award from the American Society
of Hypertension. For further details of Dr.
Schiffrin’s recent honours, watch out for the
spring edition of JGH News.
Dr. Ernesto L. Schiffrin
Herzl staff attended an exclusive screening
of the movie during their lunch hour a few
days after its TV airing. There they spoke
with Dr. Michael Malus, Herzl’s Director and
JGH Chief of Family Medicine, as well as Ezra
Soiferman, the film’s director.
K
udos to Sondra Edelstein Sherman,
a Dietician in the JGH Division of
Endocrinology, on receiving the Award of
Excellence and Dedication from the Canadian
Diabetes Educator Certification Board. Ms.
Sherman, a Certified Diabetes Educator
who has been at the JGH for 34 years, was
recognized for her excellence, commitment
and dedication in delivering diabetes care, as
well as for generally promoting wellness and
health. In addition, she has received a Length
of Service Award for her 25 years of Volunteer
Service by the Canadian Diabetes Association.
The documentary will be featured periodically
on CityTV throughout the year, and any
planned airings will be posted on JGH Now.
To find out more about the Goldman Herzl
Family Practice Centre’s centennial, visit
jgh.ca/HerzlCentennial.
Appointments
B
essy Bitzas, Head Nurse in Palliative Care
since 2000, has been appointed Chair
of the JGH Research Ethics Committee. She
has been active on this committee, as well
as on the Science Review Committee, since
2007. Ms. Bitzas holds a Master’s degree in
Nursing and is currently a PhD candidate at
the McGill University School of Nursing.
In memoriam
Sondra Edelstein Sherman
Welcome
D
r. Oriana Hoi Yun Yu has joined the
JGH Division of Endocrinology and is
an Assistant Professor at McGill University.
Dr. Yu obtained her medical degree from the
University of Calgary in 2006 and pursued
postgraduate training in endocrinology and
general internal medicine at McGill, where
she also completed a Master of Epidemiology
and Biostatistics.
Dockside to Bedside: 100 Years of Herzl, a
45-minute documentary commemorating
the centennial of the Goldman Herzl Family
Practice Centre, premiered on CityTV
Montreal on September 21 in prime time. The
film captures the spirit of the institution, its
staff and patients, as it explores Herzl’s rich
history and its current activities. Along the
way, it explores the many ways the clinic has
always been, and continues to be, unique and
special to Montreal.
T
he JGH extends its condolences
to the family and colleagues of
Dr. Esther Lamoureux, a member
of the Pathology Department team
since 1988. Dr. Lamoureux was
instrumental in raising the hospital’s
gastro-intestinal and pulmonary
hypertension pathology activities
to a nationally recognized level of
excellence. She is also remembered as
an exceptional surgical pathologist and
an outstanding teacher and mentor.
Bessy Bitzas
Pulse
Dr. Yu is involved in a number of studies at
the JGH to assess the association between
abnormalities in metabolism and risk of
cancer. She is also participating in projects
to assess management therapies for Type 2
diabetes, and genetic studies that explore the
causes of cardiovascular disease in diabetic
patients.
Dr. Esther Lamoureux
Dr. Oriana Hoi Yun Yu
It’s my hospital
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