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- 1. 2 3 4&5 6 8 RCH Foundation Launches $1 Million Annual Urgent Needs Campaign R O Y A L C O L U M B I A N H O S P I T A L F O U N D A T I O N SPRING 2007 physicians, nurses and other staff throughout the hospital are challenged to continue providing the best patient care possible with old or out-of-date equipment or with limited resources. Its a fact that our population is growing and aging and putting more pressure on the health care system. RCH provides care for the largest and fastest growing region in the province and even with government funding, the hos- pital is struggling to keep up with demand. This spring, the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation (RCHF) is launching its annual Urgent Needs Campaign to raise $1 million to buy vital equipment for units throughout the hospital. Physicians and staff rely on the Foundation each year to help fund their departments urgent equipment needs, says Adrienne Bakker, President and CEO of the RCH Foundation. There are so many needs throughout the hospital and we are grateful for donor support to help us fund life-saving equipment for patients at RCH. Last year, with support from the community, the RCHF raised over $2.5 million to fund much-needed equipment and patient care enhancements at RCH. But the need for more equipment continues to grow for the regions specialty units at the hospital. RCH is the major trauma centre for 1.5 million people from Burnaby to Boston Bar, and is the regions heart centre, and only hospital to provide open heart surgery and cardiac catheterization. RCH is also the regions major referral hospital for neuro- surgery, renal care, high risk maternity and newborn intensive care. As hospital equipment ages, it breaks down and becomes obsolete or needs to be replaced with more up-to-date, effective equipment. Donor support truly lets us help build on government funding and meet growing annual equipment needs, says Gillian Harwood, Executive Director of RCH. With the help of caring individuals, organizations and corporations in the community, the RCH Foundation looks forward to meeting the growing needs of the hospital in 2007 to achieve a higher standard of patient care. At Royal Columbian Hospital, lives are saved every day and night in many different units. In the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), a ventilator provides oxygen for a critically ill patient fighting for his life. Down the hall in the Neonatal ICU, par- ents watch their premature baby daughter being kept alive in an incubator. And on the main floor in the ER, doctors use a defibrillator to restart an active grandfathers heart. Throughout the hospital, from room to room and patient to patient, critical equipment is needed to save lives at Royal Columbian Hospital (RCH). However each year, Special Events Mark your calendar! ICU Grand Opening Thanks to your support Special Thanks & Meet two exceptional donors Educating Nurses How you can help Helen Sparkes At home & personal Urgent Equipment Needs Some of the many needs at RCH 1 Gastroscope $37,500 4 Cardiac Care Beds $120,000 1 Warmer Blanket $7,500 1 Critical Care Bed $30,000 2 Infusion Pumps $18,986 2 Fetal Monitors $50,000 4 Infant Incubators $106,000 3 Surgical Lights $120,000 1 High Speed Drill $32,000 2 Baby Scales $12,000 2 Medication Carts $50,000 1 Ceiling-Mounted Lift $21,000 1 Stretcher $10,000 Infusion pumps deliver vital fluids and medication to critically ill patients. Neonatal incubators help premature babies survive and thrive.
- 2. RCH has been my familys hospital for 36 years. Giving back to Royal Columbian Hospital is a privilege. We are committed to grow funding to ensure all patients have access to the best in health care at RCH. Gary Brush, Board Chair, RCH Foundation 2 Your Health Matters www.rchfoundation.com We have watched with excitement and anticipation as the new ICU has taken shape over the last 12 months and are amazed by what we see today. It is truly a marvel of modern medicine and our donors should be very proud of the ceiling-mounted equipment booms which are the first of their kind in the Lower Mainland. We look forward to the Grand Opening celebration on June 5, 2007. This year we are launching our $1million annual Urgent Needs Campaign and have pledged to raise $3.5 million over the next two years for heart programs, including a new Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit and equipment for a third Cardiac Catheterization Lab. We look forward to sharing more information about our heart campaign in the near future. We believe Your Health Matters to you, your family and to the dedicated physicians and employees at the hospital. Our newsletter is designed to provide you with timely, relevant and exciting news about RCH and share compelling stories how donor and volunteer support is making a difference in the lives of patients every day. As you read our newsletter, we hope you gain a greater appreciation for RCH and an increased awareness that your care is critical. Please consider what you can do to help ensure that the most advanced and exceptional health care is available to all families in our communities and across the region. We invite you to visit our new home and tell us why you care to give. Adrienne Bakker President & CEO RCH Foundation Your Care is Critical Its spring cleaning time again and here at the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation (RCH) weve taken things one step further. We not only cleaned our offices but we also packed and moved them to a new location in the main lobby of the Health Care Centre. Thanks to a very special, anonymous donor who provided this fresh space, we finally realized our dream to be front and centre in the hospital. You may have noticed that the Foundation also has a fresh new look this spring. We will always honour our rich history and the tradition of caring that has helped us raise over $40 million dollars since 1978. But our new space and new look allows us to increase awareness, meet and connect with donors, patients, families, physicians and employees every day. Ultimately our goal is to raise more money for the hospital by uniting everyone under the single, compelling and empowering cause for caring. You may already know that RCH is the trauma centre for the region and the regional referral hospital for neuro- surgery, renal care, high risk maternity and newborn inten- sive care. It is also the regions heart centre the only hospital providing open heart surgery and cardiac catheterization for 1.5 million people from Burnaby to Boston Bar. As the hospitals role continues to expand to meet the increasing health care needs of the largest and fastest growing region in the province, our Foundation is committed to raising more money to help fund annual urgent equip- ment needs as well as large transformational projects that will increase capacity and advance care at RCH. Last year with donor support we raised $1 million for annual urgent equipment needs as well as $1.6 million for a new, state-of-the-art Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at RCH. Special Events June 5 ICU Grand Opening Royal Columbian Hospital New nature-inspired $7.6 million ICU features state-of-the-art equipment for improved patient care and enhanced family support space. June 17 Sapperton Street Festival Check out East Columbia Street for live entertainment, a bouncy castle and extreme bike riding. Visit our RCHF booth and test how steady your hand is on Surgery Sam and create a mini flower arrangement, which will be donated to a patient at Royal Columbian Hospital. June 18 Sapperton Family Day Go to Sapperton Park for a pancake breakfast, crafts, games and more. Proceeds from Sapperton Days will support RCH Foundation. June 2529 Baby Week at Marketplace Health Centre Lobby, RCH Stock up on unique baby clothes, gifts and accessories all week with different vendors daily. Partial proceeds from Marketplace support RCH Foundation. For more info: www.rchfoundation.com Adrienne Bakker, President and CEO of RCHF, stands in front of new Foundation office in the Health Centre lobby of RCH. 2006/07 RCH Foundation Board of Directors: Gary Brush, Chair Dr. Michael Piper Rick Mudie, Past Chair Belle Puri Brent Atkinson, Treasurer Helen Sparkes Les Jourdain, Interim Treasurer Dr. Laurence Turner John Ashbridge Mac Tyler Jim Glanville Gillian Harwood Jim Gray Dr. Roy Morton Larry Osachoff RCH Foundation Staff: Adrienne Bakker, President & CEO Laurie Tetarenko, Vice President Susie Poulsen, Director, Marketing & Communications Ruby Campbell, Manager, Personal Giving Lisa Rosales, Major Gifts Officer Ingrid King, Communications Specialist Laura Mills, Development Associate Kathie Michalyk, Data and Donor Coordinator Zoe Boichuk, Program Coordinator Debra Walliser, Executive Assistant to the President & CEO Cathy Brooks, Development Assistant
- 3. www.rchfoundation.com Your Health Matters 3 Grand Opening of New ICU A Nature-Inspired Centre of Healing On June 5, 2007 the doors will officially open to the new state-of-the-art Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Royal Columbian Hospital. The 20,500 square foot facility is a dramatic improvement over the old ICU, which was built in 1978, and balances modern, hi-tech equipment and care with a nature-inspired environment designed to promote better healing. Critical illness or injury can strike anyone at any time. As the regional centre for major trauma, cardiac and neurosurgery cases for 1.5 million people from Burnaby to Boston Bar, Royal Columbian Hospital (RCH) has been challenged to provide highly-specialized, one-on-one medical care to severely ill and injured patients in its 29-year old ICU. Thats why the RCH Foundation is so pleased to celebrate the Grand Opening of the spacious hi-tech and holistic ICU at RCH. A Vision of Excellence Last fall, the Fraser Health Authority recognized the need for a new ICU at Royal Columbian and committed $6 million towards the project. To offset the rising cost of construction, the RCH Foundation turned to the community to raise a further $1.6 million to help equip the new facility with custom-made, state-of-the-art ceiling mounted equip- ment booms, family waiting rooms, ventilators and infusion pumps. Previously, only two of the 14 ICU beds were located in private rooms, which increased the risk of cross-infection between patients. Tight quarters also limited privacy for patients and their families, and affected the staffs ability to maneuver around beds and access equipment. Construction began in November on the facility, which is almost three times the size of the old ICU. It offers increased capacity, from 12 cubicles and two private rooms to 14 private rooms and 2 negative pressure rooms, for a total of 16 beds designed to reduce infection through better containment. The unit also houses 16 state-of-the-art ceiling mounted equipment booms for better patient treatment and access, four private family waiting rooms, five new ventilators to help patients breathe and 16 infusion pumps to deliver vital fluids and medication. The nature of healing at RCH Research shows that nature-inspired design in hospitals can promote improved healing. According to Robert Ulrich, a professor of architecture at Texas A&M University and a behavioural scientist who studies the effects of health-care facilities on patient safety and outcomes, well- planned hospital spaces can help reduce stress, improve safety and health for patients, and enable staff to provide care more easily. In addition to the top quality health care and expertise of specially trained doctors and nurses, Royal Columbian recognizes the benefits of a holistic approach to critical care. With this in mind, the new ICU was designed as a nature-inspired centre of healing, from its spacious private rooms and family rooms decorated in familiar, soothing colours, to special decorative accents and an abundance of natural light filtered through large windows that bathes the entire unit. Westcoast nature is apparent in every area of the new ICU at Royal Columbian, from the blue painted stream that flows along the floor through the halls, past rooms that feature modern wood paneling, painted in calming colours of nature, like forest green, sky blue and warm sand. Windows throughout the unit allow lots of natural light and the reception desk is trimmed with a meandering trail of river pebbles. Out on the roof deck, a healing garden is planned as a quiet retreat for families and a source of peaceful meditation for patients who can see it from the inside. Critical Care for the Region Thanks to thousands of generous individuals, businesses and organizations in the community, this state-of-the-art ICU offers a new level of care at RCH. Our donors are truly lifesavers, says Adrienne Bakker, President and CEO of the RCH Foundation. Without the generous support from people and businesses in the community, we would not have been able to equip the new ICU with leading-edge equipment and provide RCH patients with even better care, more private rooms and a dedicated waiting area for their loved ones. On June 5, 2007 George Abbott, Minister of Health, as well as other dignitaries, RCH physicians and employees, and RCH Foundation donors will be on hand to celebrate this nature-inspired and state-of-the-art facility. Thank you Lifesavers RCH Foundation is grateful to the following corporations, foundations and community groups who contributed to our Be a Lifesaver Campaign, which raised $1.6 million for the new ICU at RCH. Also thanks to thousands of individuals and other donors who wish to remain anonymous. $500,000+ Labatt Breweries of Canada $50,000+ Buddhist Compassion Tzu Chi Foundation TB Vets Foundation $20,000+ Burnaby Firefighters RBC Foundation Estate of John Peter Manly Burnaby-New Westminster NewsLeader & Tri-City News $5,000+ DI McDonald Holdings Ltd. WesGroup Income Properties LP McBride Sapperton Residents Association & Sapperton Merchants Association Valon Kone Brunette Ltd. $2,500+ Peter & Kay Legge Fraser River Pile & Dredge Grant Thornton LOP Bull, Housser, Tupper Fraser River Port Authority Coquitlam Foundation CapServCo Centaur Products Ltd. Turlex Office Services Limited $1,000+ RBC Dominion Securities Eric Sommerfeld & Tracy Price Centra Exteriors Ltd. Guardian Group of Funds Ltd. Mahler Industries Pull Master Winch Corporation Westminster Medical Association $500+ Accurate Lock Safe & Alarm Co. Atkinson & Terry Insurance Brokers City of New Westminster Columbian Insurance Services Hilton Vancouver Metrotown McDonald Detwiller & Associates Rich Sound & Video Productions $250+ Kittys Butterfield Florist Scotiabank
- 4. 4 Your Health Matters www.rchfoundation.com Sapperton was not just home for us, it was where my dad had his retail business and where we grew up, shares Bill Hobbis. Thats why Mom wanted to support the hospital that supported our family. Its nice to be able to give back to the hospital that was our neighbour for so many years. In 1988, Tom and E. May Hobbis began supporting the RCH Foundation, to help fund areas of greatest needs The Tom and E. May Hobbis Capital Fund The Hobbis Family Neighbours with a History of Caring and Support We grew up next door to Royal Columbian Hospital, and whenever we had nicks, scrapes and bruises over the years, we just walked across the street for help, says Bill Hobbis, whose family lived in Sapperton for 58 years. This closeness to the hospital and its neighbouring com- munity became the foundation of care for the Hobbis family, who have supported RCH over the years, and culminated in a $100,000 Tom and May Endowment Fund created in December 2006 by his mother E. May Hobbis. In 1948, Tom and E. May Hobbis were married and moved from the prairies to start a new life together in Sapperton. I remember at the time, the major buildings in Sapperton were the B.C. Distillery, Knox Presbyterian Church, Sir Richard McBride School and the Royal Columbian Hospital, says E. May Hobbis. It was a com- munity of cozy homes and small commercial buildings. For decades, Tom and E. May Hobbis lived, worked and raised their two sons, Bill and Wayne, who were both born at Royal Columbian, in the historic riverside town. throughout the hospital. In 1990, Mrs. Hobbis lost her husband Tom, who passed away in the hospital. The care our dad received was always first-class, says Bill. His mother was so touched by the care that Tom received, and knew first-hand how funding could help the hospital provide top quality care, that she continued to support the hospital for the next 18 years. As our sons grew, we found Royal Columbian Hospital to be quite accessible whenever we required medical care. Indeed, it provided excellent care for each of us, says E. May Hobbis. And it was there when my beloved Tom died. He was a loyal and generous friend to the many acquaintances he made there over the years. When she sold her home in Sapperton in 2005, E. May Hobbis decided to give back on a much larger scale and create a legacy to last for generations and help as many people as possible. The Tom and E. May Hobbis Capital Fund will help pro- vide the same quality of care for families just like the Hobbis received. This gift to the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation is in appreciation of the many times our family made use of the hospitals facilities, adds E. May Hobbis. Royal Columbian is where we always received the best of care by its friendly, caring and skilled doctors, nurses and medical professionals. Karen Watson, Manager of the ICU, shows Karen Baker-MacGrotty of RBC (left) and Adrienne Bakker, President & CEO of the RCH Foundation (right) around the nearly finished ICU department after RBC donated $20,000 to help equip the new unit. Peter Legge (right), President & CEO of Canada Wide Media, presents a gift of $2,500 to Adrienne Bakker, RCH Foundation President & CEO, and Gary Brush RCHF Board Chair. Peter was a special keynote speaker at the Community Leaders Breakfast Event where he helped raise an additional $15,000 for the new ICU at Royal Columbian. John Ashbridge (right), RCH Foundation Board member shows Linda Skipworth, TB Vets Chair and Ron Goyette (left), TB Vets Executive Director, one of two new ICU ventilators their $60,000 donation funded. Adrienne Bakker, RCH Foundation President & CEO and Gary Brush, RCHF Board Chair, present a lifesaver wreath to Tracy Keenan (centre), Publisher, Burnaby New Westminster NewsLeader for their generous media sponsorship of the Be a Lifesaver ICU fundraising campaign. Adrienne Bakker (third from left), president and CEO of RCH Foundation, stands under the ceiling-mounted equipment boom with Yi Ling Chen (fourth from left) and members of the Buddhist Compassion Tzu Chi Foundation, who donated $50,000 for a boom in the new ICU at Royal Columbian. Tod Melnyk (second from left), VP of Sales for BC with Labatt Breweries of Canada, presents $500,000 gift for the new ICU to RCH Foundation representatives Gary Brush (far left), Board Chair; Adrienne Bakker, President & CEO; and Rick Mudie, Board Member (far right). Thank you for being a Lifesaver!
- 5. www.rchfoundation.com Your Health Matters 5 Chairmans Circle: Caring above & beyond The Chairman's Circle is a group of community leaders who are dedicated to achieving the best in health care at Royal Columbian Hospital. At the RCH Foundation, we are grateful to the follow- ing members who make annual gifts of $1,500* or more. LIFE MEMBER & BENEFACTOR $10,000 + David & Joanne McDonald BENEFACTOR $10,000 + Helen Brittain Roy & Valerie Davidson Thomas Fenwick Dr. Thomas & Mrs. Elaine Godwin William & Dorothy Hughes Edward & Diane Les John & Rebecca Mackay Kenneth & Ellen Mahon Bob & Martha McDonald Ian & Mary McDonald Mollie McDonald Steve & Karen McDonald Wayne Schaffer Errol Wintemute PATRON $5,000 $9,999 Orme & Shirley Asher Ben & Carole Backman Edward & Irene Graham John and Jennie Hik Adelma Hudson Les & Marilyn Jourdain Lohn Foundation Loyd McNicol Rob & Sue Macdonald Ian Matheson Bruce & Sompit McDonald Mary McDonald Robert & Diane Milne Erica Ritchie Marilyn & D.G. Stewart Walter & Judi Weaver PARTNER $2,500 $4,999 Gary & Noreen Brush Gordon & Pat Gilley Lothar Heinrich Fraser & Michelle Jefferson Peter & Kay Legge Walter & Shirley MacDonald Arleen Mott Rick & Leona Mudie Edward & Wendy Probyn Merv & Diann Schweitzer Brian & Pamela Smith LEADER $1,500 $2,499 John Ashbridge & Yvonne Eamor Brent & Gail Atkinson Dr. Kenneth & Mrs. Lisa Atkinson B.C. Biomedical Laboratories Ltd. Adrienne & Gary Bakker Haley & Christopher Barton R. Paul & Elizabeth Beckmann Dr. Margaret Blackwell Drs. N. Peter & Mairi M. Blair Dr. Robert & Mrs. Judy Brown Gary & Noreen Brush Jack & Marion Butterworth Helen Carkner & Bernard Leveille Cassady & Company Skip & Marilyn Cassady Dr. Keith & Mrs. Marilyn Chambers Dr. Albert W. Chan. Fred & Norma Chapman Judge Lorne & Mrs. Eileen Clare Christopher & Elaine Cooper Robert & Christine Cooper Russel & Yvonne Cooper Robert & Kathryn Crawford Keith & Heather Cross Paul & Cathy Daminato Winton & Barbara Derby Robert Dunlop Dr. Michael & Mrs. Katherine Epstein Jim & Joel Fair Joyce Fisher Dr. Arthur Friesen Jake & Doris Frizzell Dr. Carol Gailey & Mr. Michael Grunewaldt Dr. Arun & Mrs. Lori Garg William & Gerry Gartside Martin & Judy Gifford James & Margaret Gillis Jim & Sue Glanville Dr. Robert & Mrs. Elaine Hayden Gillian Harwood & John Lucas Dr. Mark & Mrs. Fran Henderson Frank & Lynne Kemp Mike & Dona Klyn Dr. Robin & Mrs. Barbara Kuritzky Dr. Akbar & Mrs. Shamin Lalani Russell & Lita Lane Chuck Lavis Loretta Lucas Spencer & Jessie MacCosham Violet & Bruce Macdonald Enid Matheson William & Maureen Melville Warren & Diana Mitchell Arthur Monahan Dr. Dayna Mudie & Mr. Warren Lever Bill & Doreen Nelson Michael & Brenda O'Keefe Larry & Sherril Osachoff Marnee & Ken Peters Dr. Kimit and Mrs. Linda Rai Dr. Robert Rothwell Dr. Dennis Rupka Peter Paul & Nancy Saunders Marian Selkirk W.G. & Carol Sinclair Richard & Melba Smith Dr. Laurence & Mrs. Bev Turner Mac & Bonnie Tyler Bruno & Jane Wall James & Lillian White Includes gifts received up to May 10, 2007. Our sincerest apologies for any errors or omissions. Saint Marys Health Foundation A legacy of caring continues at RCH For 117 years, Saint Marys Hospital provided compas- sionate care to the residents of New Westminster. In June, 2004 its doors closed but the legacy of caring still continues. Today, patients and staff at Royal Columbian Hospital (RCH) and other hospitals across the lower mainland receive funding thanks to the commitment of the Saint Marys Health Foundation (SMHF). Formerly the Saint Marys Hospital Foundation, SMHF has two main goals: to provide financial help to health care organizations that demonstrate an unfunded need which will enhance patient access and care; and to preserve donor capital over the long term while supporting neces- sary improvements in health care delivery. The foundation supports innovative programs that are not supported by the government or Fraser Health Authority but we feel are worthwhile, says Dr. Irwin F. Stewart, SMHF board member who worked at Saint Marys Hospital for 28 years as an Ear, Nose and Throat special- ist as well as at RCH, where his department introduced microscopic surgery in 1963. As a doctor, I have an enormous appreciation for what can be done with so little. One area that the SMHF provides additional funding for is nursing education. Nurses are not able to get out as much as they should to upgrade their skills and learn fresh ideas in their fields, says Dr. Stewart. The founda- tion receives bequests and donations specifically created to help active, practicing nurses receive education and courses. So far in 2007, SMHF has funded $7,700 for nursing education. Since 2004, SMHF has donated nearly $100,000 to sup- port various departments and initiatives to improve patient care at RCH. In July, 2004 the foundation gave $50,000 to enhance the Ophthalmology Surgical department with spe- cialized equipment for emergency trauma cases. Two years ago, SMHF gave RCH funding to help the Orthopaedic department develop research in trauma cases. Royal Columbian has been a recipient of foundation funds almost every year since we founded the SMHF, says Dr. Stewart. In just three years, the SMHF has created a new legacy of caring for those who access RCH, which is both a community hospital and regional trauma centre for up to 1.5 million patients from Burnaby to Boston Bar. Distinguished Donors RCH Foundation is grateful to the following corporations, foundations and community groups who made gifts of $1,000+ between August 1, 2006 and May 1, 2007. Also thank you to thousands of indi- viduals who made generous contributions and other donors who wish to remain anonymous. $20,000+ CKNW Orphans Fund Loyal Protestants Association The Fisher Foundation $5,000+ GE Healthcare Canada Inc. Hip Hip Hooray Pacific Open Heart Association Saint Marys Health Foundation Shrine Club New Westminster #8 $2500+ AstraZeneca Canada Inc. Stanjean Foundation $1,000+ Eli Lilly Canada Inc. Janssen-Ortho Inc. Kevin Haddrell Brain Injury Foundation Kiwanis Club of New Westminster London Drugs Foundation Novartis Pharma Canada Ltd. Pfizer Canada Inc. Rogers Sugar Royal Canadian Legion #2 TELUS Community Connections The Hamber Foundation Dr. Irwin Stewart and Shirley Piper, SMHF Board Members, accept flowers and special thanks from RCH Foundation and nurses at the annual Nurses' Tea at RCH on May 10, 2007. *
- 6. 6 Your Health Matters www.rchfoundation.com Mrs. Hazel Emerson, a retired schoolteacher, is a long-time supporter of psychiatric nursing at RCH. Lorna Jensen, Nurse Educator PACU, assists nurse Sarah Bull post-surgery with first-time parents Jeremie and Mikayla Jamin with their new baby son, Connor. Ed and Diane Les (left) generously funded the hi-tech Angiojet clot-busting machine, with Adrienne Bakker, president and CEO of RCH Foundation and Dr. Brad Halkier, Interventional Radiologist at RCH. Foundation Education Funds Donors Caring for Caregivers According to the letters I receive from the nurses, Im pretty special, says Mrs. Hazel Emerson with a shy smile. In 1991, Mrs. Emerson, a retired school teacher, established an endowment to support nursing education grants at Royal Columbian Hospital (RCH). Today, at 96 years-old, she has saved dozens of thank-you cards received from grateful nurses over the years and continues to donate what she can. New Hi-tech Clot-Busting Machine at RCH Thanks to Ed and Diane Les Thanks to generous donor support, Royal Columbian Hospital (RCH) is now home to hi-tech blood clot removal equipment, called an Angiojet Thrombectomy machine. It is the only one of its kind available west of Toronto. With the addition of this revolutionary equip- ment, interventional radiologists in the Medical Imaging Unit of RCH can provide a much safer and more effective treatment option for patients with potentially life-threaten- ing blood clots. Before the Angiojet, the Vascular Interventional Radiology department at RCH had limited success treating clotted veins and arteries in the arms, chest and lungs. Traditional treatment was either invasive surgeries or drug therapies that took up to two days. The Angiojet can take just minutes to dissolve potentially deadly blood clots in patients arteries at their site. Saline jets spray clot-bust- ing drugs directly onto the blood clot, dissolving up to 95 per cent of it, and a strong vacuum suctions the clot out of the body through a small catheter. The Angiojet is like a vacuum cleaner for the blood ves- sels,' with a drive unit, pump and specially designed catheter which we thread through a patients veins or arteries, says Dr. Brad Halkier, Interventional Radiologist at RCH. It adds a very effective, leading-edge technology tool to our tool kit that allows us to treat more patients and offer a less invasive, more cost-effective solution to traditional drug therapies or surgical options. Ed and Diane Les, who donated the Angiojet, are long- time supporters of RCH. We have been fortunate enough to be able to support a number of different areas in the hospital. Our family has received excellent care and we realize first-hand that there are needs everywhere in the hospital, explains Diane. Her husband Ed and children have received care at RCH and the couple enjoys giving back as a way of helping other patients receive the best care. Ed and Diane Les feel excited to support Medical Imaging because this new technology will really help provide better and safer procedures for patients with serious conditions. Last year 118 staff members, including nurses and various allied health professionals, were able to attend conferences and workshops with assistance from the Foundations education funds. These educations grants are made possible by the generous donations of a num- ber of individuals and families who request their monies be directed towards education for RCH employees, explains Brenda Poulton, RN, MN, Nurse Practitioner of Pain Management at RCH and chairperson for the Education Grant Committee. Through donor support, RCH clinicians are able to attend educational opportunities to learn the latest in care, treat- ment and research in health care and bring this information back to the various areas in which they work at the hospital. Not only are these conferences and workshops of great educational value, they allow staff to network with health care providers from across the country, North America and the world in many cases, says Poulton. Last year, we had a 25 per cent increase in applications for programs, says Poulton. Its always interesting each month when the committee sits down to review applica- tions to see the diversity of educational opportunities available and the number of RCH staff who would like to attend. The committee is made up of two unit managers, two clinical nurse educators, one clinical nurse specialist and a nurse practitioner. Educational funding limits ranges from $100 to $1,500 and does not cover all expenses so nurses often need to pay a portion of their costs. The increasing demand on the health care system has resulted in budget pressures that make education funding scarce or non-existent. Donor support towards the Foundation education fund program is one of the only opportunities for RCH staff to access assistance for education, says Poulton. Donors can set up an endowment fund like Mrs. Emerson or donate to a general education fund. Some nursing areas funded include: innovative health care services, professional development opportunities, major patient education projects, multi-disciplinary health care teams and cardiovascular nursing. When I created my endow- ment fund there was a specific need for psychiatric nurses, explains Mrs. Emerson who supports registered nurses in psychiatric and medical areas of RCH. As she holds a thank-you card, Mrs. Emerson reminisces about the many grateful nurses she has helped over the years. Ive even met some of them in person who spoke about their experiences. I appreciate it all and like to hear from the nurses, she says. They are so hard-working and what they do is tremendously related to patient recovery. My own experiences when my husband was ill made me decide to help nurses through education. The Foundation and its generous donors make these opportunities a reality for many of the staff at RCH, says Poulton. And we offer them our sincere thanks for their continuing support. Some Nursing Conferences & Workshops RCH staff attended in 2006 Canadian Council of Cardiovascular Nurses Conference Canadian Association of Neuroscience Nurses Conference Operating Room Nurses Association of Canada Conference National Teaching Institute (Largest Critical Care Nurses Conference in world) Maternal Health Leadership Conference Infectious Disease Update Perinatal Update Asthma Care Care of Stroke Patient Innovations in Resparatory Care
- 7. www.rchfoundation.com Your Health Matters 7 RCH Nurse Gilma Johnston attended Nursing Symposium 2007 thanks to the Emerson Fund which supports nursing education. Lorna Jensen, Educator PACU was the recipient of a Cotton Fund education grant and attended a Perianesthesia Conference. Lorna Jensen Sharing her Knowledge Since 1994, Lorna Jensen has worked at Royal Columbian Hospital (RCH) as a Nurse Educator in the Post Anaesthetic Care Unit (PACU). The busy mother of two drives one-and-a-half hours each way from her home in Chilliwack. But the opportunity to work at RCH is worth the long commute. As a nurse educator, Lorna enjoys training and upgrading knowledge for active nurses. Its my job to upgrade the staffs skills and keep the information relevant as nursing is an ever-changing profession, she explains. Lorna continually upgrades the present staff with new evidence- based practice and provides clinical and educational support to staff, patients and their families. She orients new staff, refreshes those who have been off work and tries to make sure everyone has the same up-to-date infor- mation about any changes or new techniques. Its through donor funding to RCH Foundation that nurses like Lorna can upgrade their skills through focused training, workshops and conferences near and far. Recently, Lorna was awarded $647 from the Cotton Fund to attend a Perianaesthesia Conference in Kelowna. The event was open to nurses from across BC and all of the speakers gave presentations which they shared with the attendees. The Kelowna conference covered the latest changes in acute life support that are being introduced as the new standard in BC. Lorna returned to work armed with the latest CPR policies for improved patient safety. After the conference, I came back to work and was able to pass along the new CPR standards to the other nurses. Ive also used information from the presentations shown at the conference and added it to the training curriculum here. It was a very helpful conference in terms of orienta- tions and general education. Gilma Johnston Empowered by Education As a nurse working on the Acute Care wing on 5 South of Royal Columbian Hospital (RCH), Gilma Johnston thrives on caring for a wide variety of patients during each shift. The majority of our patients are diabetics who require dialysis, says Gilma. We also deal with people who come out of the Cardiac Care Unit, the Intensive Care Unit and post-surgical patients recovering from brain, heart and cancer operations, Gilma explains. I enjoy the challenge of knowing that each day is not the same. While Gilma attended school, she was a nurses aide at RCH and when she became a nurse, it was her hospital of choice. I like that RCH is a teaching and trauma hospital, she says, where she has worked for six years. Continued education is important to her and thanks to donor support, the RCH Foundation nursing education funds have been able to provide Gilma with opportunities to advance her knowledge through a variety of work- shops and conferences. Most recently, Gilma was one of three nurses who received $1,500 from the Hazel Emerson Fund to attend the Nursing 2007 Symposium, a large medical and sur- gical conference held in Florida. There are many benefits to attending these types of conferences. Its a great way to network with other nurses from other countries as well as learn the latest cutting-edge information, she says. This event is very important to me because it caters to medical nurses, so the range of information we learn relates to what we do, explains Gilma. One of the other reasons I like to attend is that I find it to be very empow- ering. Nursing is an always changing field so its important to keep up with the latest techniques and feel strong and confident in my work. Each year, a limited amount of education funds are awarded, and Gilma feels lucky to have participated in a number of them, including a Rapid Response course and one that taught her how to deal with aggressive patients. One of the best courses was Humour in Nursing, which helped me to develop a dialogue with my patients. You can support nursing excellence & education Whether its small or large, your donation helps. In fiscal 2006/07, 96 nurses received education grants ranging from $100 to $1,500. Simply contribute to the general fund and help a nurse share ideas, learn new techniques and provide better patient care. For more information, call Ruby Campbell, Manager of Personal Giving at 604-520-4288. The nurse education funding program provides nurses with many benefits and they can share information as well as meet others in the same field, says Lorna. This was the first opportunity Ive had to attend a conference and I was very fortunate to get the funding, says Lorna. There is a wait list for nurses at RCH to attend courses and workshops and nurses can only attend one program a year because of limited funding. Without donor support, I could not get this level of extra training, adds Lorna. And as a nurse educator, I am so grateful for the support I receive because I can share new knowledge and skills with the rest of my team. I believe continuing education is so important for nurses, says Gilma. The evidence-based knowledge makes a difference in how we treat patients, lets us see things in a different light and learn from others in our field. The courses are expensive and the donor funding we receive allows us to learn valuable knowledge and then share what weve learned with other nurses on the floor.
- 8. 8 Your Health Matters www.rchfoundation.com On the Board: Helen Sparkes Yes, I want to support Critical Care at Royal Columbian Hospital. Here is my gift of: $20 $50 $100 Other Enclosed is my cheque made payable to: Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation OR Charge my credit card: VISA MasterCard Card # Expiry Date Signature Name Address City Province Postal Code Phone ( ) Email RCH Foundation respects your privacy and does not rent, sell or share donor information to third parties. All information relating to your donation is held in strictest confidence. Charitable Business #11912 8866 RR0001 Donate Online: www.rchfoundation.com Thank you for your support! RCH Foundation Health Centre Lobby 330 East Columbia Street New Westminster, BC, V3L 3W7 tel: 604-520-4438 fax: 604-520-4439 RCHF: When did you join the RCH Foundation Board of Directors and what inspired you to support Royal Columbian Hospital (RCH)? HS: Ive been a member of the RCHF Board since September 2006. Ive known many past and present board members and always admired the work theyve done together with the Foundation. Also, with the demise of Saint Marys Hospital, which many felt was our commu- nity hospital, I feel it is important to maintain a presence at Royal Columbian. RCH is a trauma centre and a regional tertiary care hospital with many specialties. However, it is also necessary for the residents of New Westminster and adjoining municipalities to know they can rely on RCH for their individual and community needs. RCHF: Have you been personally touched by Royal Columbian Hospital? HS: Weve lived here for thirty years and two of my children and three of my grandsons were born at RCH. One memory that stands out was the premature birth of my twin grandsons at Womens Hospital in 1995. They required hospitalization for their first two months of life and spent that time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at RCH. They were transferred to RCH because my daughter lived up north at the time and she could live with us and be at the hospital everyday to help care for them. Today, they are active, strong and bright 11-year olds, thanks to the excellent care they received at RCH. More recently, my father-in-law spent the last five weeks of his life in RCH and was treated very well. I was particu- larly impressed with the empathetic care nurses provided to him and our family in the last hours of his life. RCHF: What do you hope to achieve in this Board position? HS: During my tenure on the Board, I hope to ensure some aspect of the hospital be kept for community care. I would very much like to see the Emergency Department enlarged and upgraded, and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit updated with new equipment and more space. RCHF: What are some challenges the hospital and Foundation face that you feel are most relevant? HS: Maintaining and enhancing sources of revenue is the major challenge for RCH and the Foundation. With so many other foundations and charities searching for dollars, it is a very competitive market. I hope the annual Home Lottery will remain popular and along with corporate and individual donations, keep future RCHF projects attainable. RCHF: How do you think we can increase our awareness both inside and outside of the community? HS: Because of its history and longevity, RCH is highly recognized both inside and outside our community. The Foundation is becoming more recognized as well, in part due to the Home Lottery and the Foundations new brand (logo) which should add to that recognition. And of course word-of-mouth by patients, their families and donors is one of best forms of advertising. RCHF: What do you feel makes New Westminster so special? HS: There are many reasons New Westminster is special, but mainly I enjoy its location, size and history. Being only seven square miles, with a relatively small population, residents tend to know a lot about their neighbours, government and historical aspects.There is a lot of pride in the traditions that are specific to New Westminster, like May Day. We raised our three children here and three of our grandchildren are growing up here as well. New Westminster retains a small town feel and is a safe place to live, very family-oriented, and offers many com- munity amenities and activities for people of all ages. RCHF: What areas of health care are close to your heart? HS: Public health has always been a priority with me because of its focus on preventing illness. Early detection and intervention is extremely important to help minimize invasive procedures for illness. All aspects of the health care industry are important, but Ive lost many friends and family to cancer and hope to live long enough to see a cure for all types of cancer. RCHF: While mayor of New Westminster, you played a key role to drive many local initiatives. Are there pet proj- ects you plan to spearhead in your role on the Board? HS: As a member of the RCHF Board, I am hopeful that, with my history of strong support for Saint Marys hospital, I can bring some Saint Marys supporters over to support RCH as our community hospital. The loss of Saint Marys was very unfortunate. However, I feel its time to support RCH and I hope others can do the same. There are Saint Marys programs in their entirety, including their staff, in existence at RCH, such as the Breast Imaging and Bone Densitometry program and Orthopaedics. RCHF: How do you suggest that people support the Foundation and RCH more and why is it so important for more people to get involved? HS: People can support the Foundation and hospital by volunteering their time and spreading the word about the good work the Foundation does to help fund needed equip- ment that enhances health care at the hospital. Donating funds to the Foundation is much-needed and a wonderful way to keep RCH at the leading edge of patient care. Health care is a huge item in the Provincial budget. Without the Foundations contribution for equipment and programs, RCH could not maintain the high level of service and patient care in specialized areas. Highly-trained, specialized physicians want to work in the best facilities with upgraded equipment. For these reasons, more people need to get involved to support the hospital and the Foundation. On a recent rainy day we visited the home of Helen Sparkes, former mayor of New Westminster, mother of three and busy grandmother of six. As a City Councilor from 1989 to 1997 and Mayor from 1997 to 2002, Helen is still rec- ognized whenever she goes out and is greeted by strangers who stop her to chat. Sometimes shopping takes forever, she laughs. As she bounced her only granddaughter Meya Sparkes on her lap, Helen talked about her family, being on the RCHF Board of Directors and what makes New Westminster so special. Helen Sparkes bounces her granddaughter Meya while babysitting at home.