InTouch Winter 2012

Left to right: Natalie Morris, Denise Titus, Shelley Evans, Jim MacGowan, Sarah Nunes-Clement, and Paula Noel

The DGH Outpatient physiotherapy department began a project in January 2009 to reduce the wait times for patients accessing their service. At that time waits could reach 9 months for non-urgent patients. The group examined intake of patients and how care was given in order to bring patients

into the service more quickly. New initiatives included seeing patients from orthopedic clinic on the same day and allowing patients to call in directly to be put on the wait list.

As well the physiotherapy department looked at the type of care they were giving. Wherever

DGH Physiotherapy DepartmentWins Award at the World Congress of Physiotherapy

The Dartmouth General Hospital Foundation Newsletter • Winter 2012

possible, self-management was to be the focus of treatment from the very beginning of treatment. The care given for some of the more common conditions, for example total knee replacement surgery, neck and back pain, was reviewed to ensure that the most effective care was given and that all patients were getting this care.

These initiatives resulted in a reduction in wait times to meet the CDHA guidelines of 2 months, which was maintained for 1 year after the project ended.

The work was presented at the World Congress of Physiotherapy in Amsterdam in June 2011 and won the award for Outstanding Poster in the Special Interest category. Congratulations to Shelley Evans, Christine Hobeika, Jim MacGowan, Natalie Morris, Sarah Nunes-Clement, Paula Noel, and Jenny Wellwood on their great work!

IN THIS ISSUEProtecting Your Skin......................................................................................4Staff Profile: Kim McMahan.........................................................................5Bladder Ultrasound Unit..............................................................................6The Healing Garden.......................................................................................7

These initiativesresulted ina reduction

in wait times...

I want to thank you for your generous support for the Foundation this year. We have been able to purchase

a number of pieces of priority medical equipment including a new Pulmonary Function Machine, two Bipap machines, an Ultrasound and a Holter Reading Station. We fulfilled a five year commitment to replace all hospital beds and ventilators and as well we funded, along with the Department of Health & Wellness, a Unit Dose Medication system. This equipment cost in excess of $800,000. In addition we funded many smaller items such as patient lifts, bariatric equipment and patient care items. Please know that your

donations result in better health care and we are grateful for your support.

The Foundation is thrilled to announce a new special event that we are confident will be just the beginning of many great experiences. The Affair, an Evening in Paris is the inaugural event planned for February 14, 2012. We want you to imagine you are in Paris for an evening – lights, music, art, wine and much more. Spend Valentine’s Day with great company and for a few hours, imagine yourself in the City of Lights all without leaving the city. But Paris is just the beginning. Where will we celebrate Valentine’s Day next year? Maybe Germany or Brazil or maybe Italy! Make your plans to join us on February 14th!

Executive Director’s Message

InTouch is published semi-annually

for friends and donors of theDartmouth General Hospital.

Board of Directors2012

Executive Kim Conrad, Chair

Clifford A. Moir, Chair EmeritusBill MacMaster

Vice-Chair & TreasurerMichael Wild, Past ChairMary MacPhee, Secretary

DirectorsDiane Burns

Arlene Frizzell,Auxiliary Representative

Chris GiannouDean Hartman

Todd Howlett, M.D.Chief of Staff

Shirley MorashPatrick O’ReganFred Smithers

Jamie ThomsonKevin Tomlinson

StaffZita Longobardi,Executive Director

Nicol Clarke,AdministrationLisa Cottreau,Special Events

All inquiries may be directed to:Dartmouth General Hospital

Charitable Foundation325 Pleasant Street

Dartmouth, NS B2Y 4G8Tel: 465-8560Fax: 465-1129

Email:[email protected]

Visit our website at:www.dghfoundation.ca

Visit us on Facebook

InTouch • WINTER 2012

2

Escape for an Evening!Dream of Paris.

Lights...Art...MusicWine...Pastries

Fashion & Travel.

Join us for

Tuesday, February 14, 2012Tickets $50

Call 465-8531for more information.

Une Soiréeà Paris

TheAffair

Hope to see you again next year. www.dghfoundation.ca

Pepsi Beverages CanadaPharmasave

Pinchin LeBlanc EnvironmentalPricewaterhouseCoopers

SAL GroupScotia Metal Products

Seamark Asset ManagementTD Canada TrustTruefoam Limited

WBLIWestern Plumbing & Heating Limited

Bell AliantThe Berkeley

Braemed LimitedData Wiring Solutions

The Economical Insurance GroupGolf Central

Grant Thornton LLPManheim Halifax

Maritime 2-way Radio LimitedMeridian Communications Group

Parkland at the Lakes

and

Once again, the 2011 Fall Scramble was a huge success, lots of fun, and most importantly, a great help to the Dartmouth General Hospital. The tournament raised

over $57,000 and, of course, we couldn’t have done it without you. Thank You!

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WINTER 2012 • InTouch

Physiotherapists at WorkPhysical therapists are healthcare professionals who evaluate, correct and alleviate musculoskeletal or neurological dysfunctions. The goal is to reduce pain and restore movement and function in order for patients to promptly return to their daily activities.

Dartmouth General Physiotherapists provide in and out patient services across the different programs. Based on the assessment of a patient’s condition, therapists will develop rehabilitation goals and establish a treatment plan. Inpatient therapists treat patients with cardio-respiratory, medical, and neurological problems

or patients who have undergone surgical interventions. Outpatient therapists also work with orthopedic cases, including fractures, post surgeries, joint sprains, muscle strains, postural dysfunctions, muscular imbalances, vertebral disorders and arthritic conditions.

As part of the rehabilitation process, a physical therapist will use special equipment and skills to aid in patient recovery. Treatments may focus on increasing, restoring or maintaining range of motion, strength, flexibility, coordination, balance and endurance.

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Skin plays a vital role in keeping you healthy. It is the largest organ in your body, and it protects you from things like dehydration, the sun, bacterial infections, and pollution. But there are limits to your skin’s ability to provide protection. Different factors can cause damage that cannot be repaired. Sandra (Sandy) Lambie knows all too well what sun damage can do. “I grew up in the age of sun tanning with baby oil and iodine, sunscreen was not a priority and quite honestly, you didn’t really think about skin protection”. Just nine months ago Sandy noticed a blister on her lip – nothing too much to be concerned about she thought. However, the blister turned out to be a carcinoma in situ of the lower lip. Sandy had a section of her lower lip removed and that was followed by a ‘lip shave – removal of lip tissue and rebuilding of the lower lip’. The healing process was

very fast and she recently received the ‘all clear’ message from her doctors.

Most cases of skin cancer are preventable. You can reduce your risk of getting skin cancer by taking some simple but important steps: • Findshadedareasforoutdoor activities. • Ifyouhavetospendlong periods in the sun, wear a broad-brimmed hat and clothing with a tight weave, including a long-sleeved shirt, long pants and gloves. • Ifyoucannotcoverup,usea sunscreen lotion or spray with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15. Make sure it has both UVA and UVB protection. Apply liberally to exposed skin 15 to 30 minutes before going out in the sun, and re-apply 15 to 30 minutes after sun exposure begins. You should also re-apply sunscreen after any

activity that could make the product come off, like swimming, toweling or excessive sweating and rubbing. • Avoidgoingoutinthesun without protection, especially between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. during the summer months. • Avoidusingtanningbedsand lamps. • Beawarethatcertain medications can make your skin more sensitive to UV rays. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about your medication.

The precautions listed above are especially important for babies and children, who are at greater risk than adults because of their more sensitive skin. Also: • Donotapplysunscreentoa baby less than 6 months old. • Neverletinfantsoryoung children play or sleep in the sun in a playpen, stroller or carriage. • Neverletyoungchildrenstayin the sun for long periods, even when wearing sunscreen. • Getyourchildrenusedto wearing sunscreen lotion early on. Pay close attention to the areas that are most exposed, like their face, lips, ears, neck, shoulders, back, knees, and the tops of their feet. • Giveteenagerssunscreenlotion if they are going to be outdoors for extended periods during the summer. Make sure they understand the importance of using it. • Encourageteenagerstoavoid using tanning lamps. Health Canada does not recommend the use of tanning equipment - especially for people under the age of 18.

(This information is from Health Canada’s website, www.hc-sc.gc.ca)


Protecting Your Skin

Going South or on the slopes...it’s important to protect yourself year round.

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Kim McMahan talks to a charge nurse at Dartmouth General Hospital to place an admitted patient in a bed.

It’s a role many might not envy: day in and day out, Kim McMahan is charged with finding beds for patients admitted to Dartmouth General Hospital, which nearly always runs at or over capacity.

But there are always different patients with different needs, and getting as many of those admitted patients as possible from the emergency department to beds in the services can make a huge difference to those patients and the operation of the entire hospital, said McMahan, patient flow co-coordinator for the site for three years. “Every day brings a new challenge,” she said. “I like that it’s a puzzle, and every day you try to get better at the puzzle.” On a recent Monday morning, she gathered with charge nurses, clinical leads and continuing care staff from the three medicine and surgery units, intensive care unit, transitional care unit and emergency department to begin to figure out the day’s puzzle.

It’s a tough one. The day begins with eight admitted patients in emergency waiting for hospital beds. There is the potential for one or two to be discharged home from emergency, but there are other patients in the department who are likely to be admitted. The three overflow spaces where a bed or stretcher may be placed are already full. Even with the discharges from units expected through the day, the hospital will be short beds. Unusually, though,

the ICU has four open beds. Some beds need to be kept available for patients needing critical care, but there is a possibility that the unit can take one or two of the patients in the emergency department. In a situation like this, a common first step used to be canceling surgeries for patients who would need to stay in a hospital bed after their operations. It’s one of the only ways to affect how many beds are required. But it’s a frustration for patients and means losing ground on wait lists.

McMahan’s job is not just about clearing patients out of emergency but balancing the needs of the needs of the whole hospital.

As she makes the rounds of the units, she notes 36 of the patients in the 105 regular hospital beds have had stays of 10 days or more. She asks nurses and physicians about those patients in detail -- whether some are ready for discharge pending a test or a service needed at home. She can sometimes help to speed the process, for the sake of movement of patients and she’s persistent in ensuring that everyone’s on the same page and aware of the big picture.

“I stalk people,” she jokes. One emergency patient needing ICU

care has been moved there. Another who would not have gone to ICU if a regular bed were available has also gone to the unit. One more patient in emergency has been discharged home.

On the transitional care unit, where patients are awaiting placement in nursing homes or for home care or other arrangements, one patient is being discharged to restorative care. That means a patient from another unit will be able to move to the transitional care unit, opening one more bed -- a small but helpful domino effect. Still, the emergency department continues to see new patients and four of them have consultations for possible surgery. If they stay, it will add to the crunch. Separately, hospital administrators are making plans to add emergency staff overnight with the expectation several admitted patients will be spending the night in the department. As well as moving around the hospital, McMahan is working the phones. She’s contacted immediately once housekeeping has finished cleaning a room after a discharge, to speed the flow. She’s also in contact with other hospitals in the district around the province, helping to manage the movement of patients to and from Dartmouth.

By the end of her eight-hour shift, she’s shepherded the movement of several patients to the best available beds. She’s helped to avoid gridlock. But with new patients, there are now 14 in total waiting for beds. Tuesday looks hopeful. There are six or more predicted discharges. It can take two or three days to recover from a surge like this day’s. The next morning, the puzzle may look different again. But McMahan looks forward to piecing it together.

- John Gillis, Capital Health Reprinted with permission. Learn more about the diverse work and people of Capital Health through Capital Beat. www.cdha.nshealth.ca/capital-beat

Kim McMahan, DGH Patient Flow Co-ordinator

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Enrich People’s LivesEvery day, people are helped and lives are enriched by

the work of charities and foundations.

Provide SupportFinancial assistance is essential to support and sustain

charitable work.

Leave a MemoryChoosing to leave a gift from the heart brings meaning,

dignity and purpose to a life well lived.

A Contribution for the FuturePersonal giving can help contribute to the sustainability

of not for profit organizations and charities.


A current equipment need at the DGH is the bladder ultrasound. Bladderscans are conducted using a portable, battery-operated ultrasound scanner that consists of a small, handheld unit and an attached ultrasound probe. It may also be performed with a conventional ultrasound unit. The probe, which is placed on the

CALENDAR OF EVENTSFebruary 14, 2012

The Affair

June 2, 2012Lobster Dinner & Auction

September 10, 2012Golf Scramble

For information on any of these events please call 465-8531

Dartmouth Rotary Club Supports ER Room

BLADDER ULTRASOUND UNITpatient’s abdomen over the bladder, holds a motorized scanning head with an ultrasonic transducer that transmits sound waves in a fanlike array that are reflected back from the patient’s bladder to the transducer. Data from multiple cross-sectional scans of the bladder are then transmitted to a computer in the handheld unit, which automatically calculates bladder volume. The handheld unit also contains an integral digital screen and printer for displaying the bladder volume measurements. The entire scan is quick to perform, noninvasive, painless, and eliminates discomfort,

The Dartmouth Rotary Club has generously donated $10,000 to refurbish an area within the Emergency Department. Many patients are required to remain in the ER Department for monitoring between testing. This new area will provide a more comfortable area for patients while also freeing up bed/stretcher areas.

The portable, battery-operated ultrasound scanner is a small handheld unit which determines bladder volume in a quick, nonivasive manner.

BestReasons

toGive

embarrassment, and risks which may be associated with catheterization.

Heather Peddle Bolivar, Nurse Manager of the DGH Emergency Department, accepts this generous support from Dr. Donald Penwall, President of the Dartmouth Rotary Club. On hand for the presentation is (l to r) Derek Cramm, David Garnier, Dr. Penwall, Heather Peddle Bolivar, Dr. Todd Howlett and Bill MacMaster.

$&¢7

The Healing Garden


Our Healing Garden has undergone a wonderful revitalization over the past several months due to the commitment and many hours of work given by our long standing Auxiliary member, Val Conrad and community volunteer, Shane Arsenault. Shane’s knowledge and landscaping skills combined with the abundance of donated plant material and garden features have created a truly inviting and supportive environment. Patients and their families, staff and even our neighbours who live close by are greeted by an impressive angel who draws them to her cozy corner. Many comment on the comfort they feel as they walk through or bide a while in this pleasant part of our world.

The 48th Annual Convention of the Nova Scotia Association of Health Care Auxiliaries (NSAHA) took place in Truro from September 29 to October 1. Both informative and educational, this annual event provides opportunities for members to share ideas and successful activities; addresses topics of general concern to the health professions and to auxiliaries in particular; and provides statistical data submitted by the Auxiliaries prior to the convention.

Four members of the Dartmouth General Hospital Auxiliary attended the Convention, coming away with a good feeling that the Auxiliary does an exceptional job, not only in fund raising, but also, in the wide range of services they provide to enhance the quality of patient and family care at the Dartmouth General.

Nova Scotia Associationof Health Care Auxiliaries

(NSAHA – 2011)

•Thereare26activeauxiliariesand 3 branches in the Province with a total of 1250 members

•Thetotalvolunteerhoursfor thesememberswere365,654

•Auxiliaryfundraisinggenerated$6,303,431.90

•$5,587,965.57 was spent on medical equipment for hospitals and healthcare centres

•$181,510.19 was spent on non- medical equipment

•$93,897.20wasgiventohospitalfoundations

•$39,050waspresentedin bursaries and scholarships

Funds were also donated to scientificresearch,buildingcampaigns,educationandmanymoreprojects.$6,257,980.50 was donated to the Province of NovaScotiathisyearbyHospitalAuxiliaries.

Did You Know?

Agreement No.40028771

Dartmouth General Hospital Foundation 325 Pleasant Street Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B2Y 4G8Tel. (902) 465.8560/8531

Thank You very much for your support! Helping us today could meansaving the life of a loved onein our community.

Enclosed is my cheque or money order for $_______ payable to: DGH Foundation.

Please charge $_______ to my credit card. Visa Mastercard AMEXCard Number:_________________________________________________ Expiry:___________

_________________________________________________________________________________ SIGNATURE (TO PERMIT TRANSACTION)

I’d prefer to pay in monthly installments. Please deduct $__________ from my bank account onthe 1st or 15th of each month for _______ months or until further notice.I’ve attached a ‘voided’ cheque.

Ms. Mrs. Mr. Dr. OtherName (please print) ____________________________________________ Address________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ Postal Code___________________ email___________________________

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

“Yes, I want to support the Dartmouth General Hospital Foundation for priority medical equipment”

ATAXRECEIPTWILLBEISSUEDPROMPTLY.CHARITABLEREGISTRATION#BN122455611RR00011

Documents

InTouch Winter 2012