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north Zone NEWS Zone Your HealtH Care in Your CommunitY 2016 january making dreams real i Had a dream, or a vision, abouT an evenT korie-lyn northey, aHs community addiction services THaT i WanTed To Hold To HelP raise administrator, and Walter White, local resident and event aWareness abouT addicTions, THe sTigma organizer, hosted the Walk for sobriety: Walking the red road in grande Prairie on nov. 20 during national “ around iT, and THe suPPorT THaT’s available addictions awareness Week. The idea for – Walter White the event came to White in a dream. PAGE 3 sinGinG thE PrAisEs wE lovE thE niGhtlifE of GrAnd oPry niGht – All Across AlbErtA Things got a little bit country at the northern lights What to do on a long winter’s night? get outside, that’s regional Health centre as its cafeteria was transformed what! There’s no better way to kick off those new for the firstg rand ole opry classic country night. area year’s resolutions than by getting active when the stars seniors went western for an evening are out. Here are our suggestions for of music and dancing. PAGE 5 some great winter workouts. PAGE 6 START HEALTHY. STAY HEALTHY. Influenza has arrived in Alberta. If you haven’t been immunized yet this season, you and your loved ones are at risk. The good news? It’s not too late. Influenza immunization is still available, free of charge. Start your year healthy, and stay that way. GET IMMUNIZED. WHY CHANCE IT? #whychanceit? www.ahs.ca/influenza | Call Health Link 811 File Name: AHS_ZoneNews_StartHealthy4C_10x3_Dec1 Publication: Zone News 202, 12225 – 105 Avenue, Edmonton, AB T5N 0Y3 Campaign: AHS Influenza Immunization campaign fall 2015 P: 780-702-9888 WWW.KICKMEDIA.CA Date completed: Nov 30, 2015 Format: PDF Size: 10" x 3" Pages: 1 Publication deadline: Dec 1, 2015 Colour: Color Application: InDesign CC Print ready: Yes Run date: December 2015 Bleed: None Draft: 1 PAGE 2 l o C a l l e a d e r s Donna Sharman, who after her stroke spent time recovering in Room 1033 of the Foothills Hospital stroke unit, now regularly visits patients on the unit as a volunteer peer supporter. DR. kevin worry shelly pusch north Zone executive leadership team sTroke PaTienT tAlk to your child graTeFul About druGs lot of us take the new year as an For ‘miracle’ opportunity to start fresh and set new a goals. maybe you’re determined to lose those last 10 lb., or to save more money, oF researcH but all parents and mentors should commit to AHS provincial strategy integrates having a conversation with the children in their research, innovation in health system lives about drugs. most young people don’t end up abusing Story and photo by Greg Harris | drugs, but in a world where alcohol, tobacco and other substances are well accepted, the o one has to tell donna sharman how “The five priorities and 13 actions we’ve risks are definitely there. The sooner children important it is to have a health care developed will help us create, acquire and use understand the importance of choosing wisely, nsystem that supports research and knowledge to improve the delivery of health the better off they’ll be in the long run. innovation. and care across the province,” Todd says. “and Parents and mentors can equip children The 59-year-old was at home with her as part of the strategy, we’ll ensure patients, to prepare for and handle the pressures husband andy two years ago when she suffered clients and families have access to high-quality and influences to use drugs by starting the a life-threatening stroke and was rushed to research studies and innovations that are conversation as early as kindergarten. Foothills medical centre. important to them.” of course, the conversation you have with a shortly after arrival, doctors met with andy championing the patient experience is five-year-old versus a 15-year-old will differ, but and explained how grave the situation was. something dear to marlyn gill, who has been having small conversations as they grow up will They also told him about a research study extensively involved with the Patient and help them understand how to face pressures donna was eligible to participate in, which used community engagement research program when they’re older. a revolutionary surgical procedure to try to (Pacer) at aHs. Pacer enlists patients children are exposed to a variety of drugs remove the blood clot in her brain. minutes later, as researchers to better understand their and may consider experimenting. Perhaps they she was in surgery. perspective on specific health care issues. are curious about what it would feel like, or “There were many miracles associated with “Patients need to be heard,” gill says. “They they like to take risks. many young people also the whole day, but having an opportunity to have an important role to play as researchers struggle to cope with school, their emotions take part in the research trial was probably the and as people who are experts on their own and social situations. biggest,” says sharman, who was in hospital for illnesses.” When having a conversation about drugs, five days and made a full recovery. at the same time, patients who take part in stay calm. Try speaking to your child side-by- “if not for that study, i would not be here, or i research studies also want to hear the results of side instead of face-to-face as it may seem would have a significant disability. i shudder to those studies – something that doesn’t always less threatening. use facts, not emotions, and think what might have happened.” happen, gill says. avoid saying everything at once. be a good sharman took part in the escaPe trial, a sharman, since her stroke, has also listener, respect their opinion and give them calgary-led international study that tested a clot become an intern with Pacer doing patient- the opportunity to ask questions. Tell your retrieval procedure for acute ischemic stroke. engagement research, as well as a volunteer child that you love them and you’re concerned The procedure reduced mortality rates by 50 peer supporter on the acute stroke unit at about them and finally, understand that you will per cent and increased positive outcomes from Foothills medical centre. have this discussion many times. 30 to 55 per cent, compared to conventional “i had a phenomenal patient experience – and it’s important that they learn about serious treatment. research was part of that,” sharman says. subjects from you as a parent and that you act now, alberta Health services (aHs) has aHs will next engage staff and external as a positive role model. developed a provincial strategy to ensure that partners to develop an action plan to guide if you’re concerned about your own or the type of research and innovation exemplified decisions associated with the research and someone else’s misuse of drugs, call the by escaPe flourishes in the health care system. innovation strategy. The action plan will identify addiction and mental Health Help line “With this strategy, we want to make it easier milestones, deliverables, accountabilities and (available 24/7) at 1.866.332.2322. For for our health professionals, physicians, support measures. Work associated with goals and information about talking to your kids about staff and partners to initiate research studies,” action items in the strategy is underway. drugs, visit www.ahs.ca. n says dr. kathryn Todd, aHs vice-President, To download the strategy and learn more research, innovation and analytics. about it, visit ahs.ca/ResearchInnovation. n Sprains, cuts and scrapes can hurt a lot, but don’t usually require I am injured the emergency department. You have other health care options If you’re unsure, we’re here to help Call Health Link at 811 Visit albertahealthservices.ca/options Emergency is here for you if you need it. Use it wisely. www.albertahealthservices.ca There are plenty of health care options available. Learn yours by visiting the AHS website. i n Y o u r z o n e PAGE 3 Local resident’s vision Walking THe red road: makes a difference during National Addictions desTinaTion, sobrieTy Awareness Week Story by Lisa Peters | Photos by Lisa Peters and courtesy J.D. Robert Wiebe Photography | dream gave Walter White a message that he needed to prevent youth from going a down the same path that he had with alcoholism. so White, a grande Prairie resident who was raised in the enoch cree nation near edmonton, worked closely with alberta Health services (aHs) and other community organizations to make a difference during national addictions awareness Week, held nov. 15-21, by hosting the first annual Walk for sobriety: Walking the red road. “i had a dream, or a vision, about an event that i wanted to hold to help raise awareness about addictions, the stigma around it, and the support that’s available,” says White, 37. White says he envisioned walking down a red road with others, taking a stand for sobriety. “i called the aHs office and they put me through to korie-lyn northey, community addiction services administrator, and immediately she was very supportive and interested in my idea.” northey worked with White to make his vision of the Walk for sobriety: Walking the red road, a reality. This included providing support services, meeting space, and helping him get in touch with partner agencies. Walter White, a Grande Prairie resident, above, hosted the Walk for “i was really happy Sobriety: Walking the Red Road in Grande Prairie on Nov.