NORTH ZONE NEWS ZONE YOUR HEALTH CARE IN YOUR COMMUNITY 2012 SEPTEMBER I’M EXCITED TO GET MORE DOORS OPEN TO RESIDENTS HANDS-ON RURAL CLINICAL Photo by Heather MacKay | EXPERIENCE AND START BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS Dr. Mourof Oshodi, left, and Dr. Adrian Geambasu flank Jill Anderson and her baby, “ WITH MY PATIENTS Riley, born July 17 at the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre in Fort McMurray. Oshodi and Geambasu recently began residencies at the facility as part of a program — Dr. Adrian Geambasu, above right to bring family physicians to rural Alberta. PAGE 3 IN A CLASS SOMETHING ALL HER OWN TO DREAM ABOUT Nurse Miriam Bowes proves a CALMing Never shut your eyes to the value of a influence in class as she teaches careers good night’s sleep. Not enough rest can and life management. But she also gives lead to a list of ailments, including memory much-needed advice to her students on loss, depression, reduced immune function a variety of health issues, including sex, and low libido. We’ll tell you how to change smoking and nutrition. PAGE 5 your sleep habits. PAGE 6 PAGE 2 L O C A L L E A D E R S Tim Horsman is a man on the PUTTING PLANS move – especially when it comes to urging the folks INTO ACTION of Slave Lake to get active Story by Stephanie Jo | Photo by Joe McWilliams im Horsman wants to move a whole town. has kept him in the public eye. To keep active, that is. “I have an open-door policy with people,” says T “I want the town to be healthy – Horsman, who has worked in health care for 12 physically and mentally,” says Horsman, Health years. “Everyone can bring issues, concerns, or Promotions Facilitator of Slave Lake. “We try to suggestions to my attention; I can ensure that get programs and new ideas that are sustainable people are put in contact with the right health Zone Medical Director Dr. Kevin Worry – activities that work and people have fun doing; service provider. and Shelly Pusch, Senior Vice-President. where people can meet other people.” “I consider that the work I do as somewhat of Horsman is involved with community events a health liaison in the community.” ZONING IN ON and incorporates health with each event that is Horsman has noticed people take advantage developed. of the support available regarding their health YOUR CONCERNS Examples include Community Corporate based on the feedback received. Welcome to the inaugural issue of Zone Challenge, the Relay for Life, and Alberta Sand “Being part of the community for 12 years, I’ve News, a new, monthly Alberta Health Sculpting Championships. Lifestyle changes, seen community members put more emphasis Services publication that aims to inform such as drinking more water and sun safety, are on their health,” says Horsman. “The public Albertans about the work being done to important to include because they affect people seems to be more informed when they ask improve the delivery of health care in their of all ages. health questions. communities. “We’re trying to work with people in the “They express more concern about their Transparency is one of our organization’s community to be mindful of their health,” health, the health of their families and the health seven core values and this publication is Horsman explains. “These events have large of others. just one way we wish to shed light on what numbers of people participating and it is a “It’s about maintaining relationships with the we’re doing and what we’re planning to strategic way to reach them.” people and to complement, support, be aware do in order to best meet your health care Horsman’s involvement with community events of what they know and what they do.” n needs, now and in the future. One of the things we did last year to improve our health system was to embrace zone-based, local decision-making. Right here in northern Alberta, front-line physicians and other clinical leaders at every level of the organization have joint planning and decision-making authority with operational leaders, meaning faster decision-making closer to where care is provided. Patients, their families and loved ones are already benefitting from zone-based, local decision-making in a real, tangible way. We invite you to read Zone News every month to learn about programs, services and technologies that are improving the I WANT THE health and quality of life of people living in TOWN TO BE northern Alberta. We hope you find the information in every HEALTHY – issue interesting but, moreso, we hope the PHYSICALLY information may guide you to programs AND MENTALLY and services that help you, your family and your community be as active and healthy as — Tim Horsman, right, possible. Health Promotions Dr. Kevin Worry Facilitator of Slave Lake Shelly Pusch HERE’S HOW YOU CAN REACH US ZONE NEWS EDITOR, Zone News – North Zone is published NORTH ZONE: Scott Seymour monthly by Alberta Health Services to inform PHONE: Albertans of the programs and services 780.830.3537 available to them, and of the work being done EMAIL: to improve the health care system in their [email protected] communities. MAIL: The paper used by Zone News is certified 2101 Provincial Building, 10320 99 St. by the Forest Stewardship Council, an Grande Prairie, Alberta international, non-profit organization that T8V 6J4 promotes sustainable, responsibly managed LAYOUT AND DESIGN: Kit Poole forests. www.albertahealthservices.ca Suffer from migraines? Avoid triggers, including stress, alcohol, foods such as chocolate, bright lights and strong odours. I N Y O U R Z O N E PAGE 3 Six new medical residents began working at the QEII Hospital in Grande Prairie over the summer. They are, back row from left: Everett Zdrill, Chris Kuusselka and Ali Abdalvard. At front, from left: Tania Santodomingo Garzon, Anna-Kristen Siy and Genelle Dingeldein. RESIDENTS TAKE UP RESIDENCE For medical residents, learning new skills offers just the right prescription for Fort McMurray and Grande Prairie hospitals Story and photos by Lisa Peters | orth Zone’s two largest hospitals recently community and it has already extended put out the welcome mats to greet their its hospitality to us,” he says. Nnewest residents. That praise is echoed by Dr. I RECEIVED A LOT OF Fort McMurray’s Northern Lights Regional Edward Denga, local physician and Health Centre welcomed two residents, and chair of the Wood Buffalo Primary HANDS-ON PROCEDURAL Grande Prairie’s QEII Hospital opened its doors Care Network. EXPERIENCE AND ONE-ON- to six new residents. “The launch of the Family Medical ONE TEACHING. (IT) PREPARES In Fort Mac, residents began working and Residency Program in Fort McMurray “ learning at Northern Lights Regional as part of a will help increase local access to YOU WITH THE SKILLS YOU new two-year family medical residency program primary care, attract and retain NEED ... — Alex Kmet, above, resident that’s a partnership among Alberta Health physicians and showcase the at Grande Prairie’s QEII Hospital Services (AHS), the Wood Buffalo Primary Care opportunities the Fort McMurray Network and the University of Alberta. community has to offer,” says Denga. “I’m excited to get more hands-on rural clinical Meanwhile, over the summer in of the program in Grande Prairie and says he experience and start building relationships with Grande Prairie, six residents began working at highly recommends it. my patients,” says Dr. Adrian Geambasu, one of the QEII Hospital. They are a part of the two- “My first year with RAN in Grande Prairie was the two residents. year Rural Alberta North (RAN) program, offered a great year,” says Kmet. “I received a lot of The residents will spend time with local in partnership through the University of Alberta, hands-on procedural experience and one-on- physician instructors, including specialists AHS and the Alberta Rural Physician Action one teaching. The RAN program lends itself well in emergency, general surgery, psychiatry, Plan, an independent, not-for-profit organization to family physician training and prepares you with orthopedics, pediatrics, obstetrics and established to educate, recruit and retain the skills you need to work in a rural community.” gynecology. In the second year of the program, physicians for rural practice. This year, Kmet will spend some months they will be based out of Fort McMurray, but will Residents will spend their first year learning working overseas and will complete his complete placements in smaller communities, rural family medicine skills at the QEII residency in Peace River, where he plans to work such as High Level and Hinton. Hospital and local clinics full-time upon graduation. Dr. Mourof Oshodi, the other and will spend most of their Chris Kuusselka is one of the six new medical participating resident, second year at other rural residents. He moved to Grande Prairie after plans to practise in hospital sites. graduating from the University of Manitoba to Fort McMurray upon Over the 10-year history of the train with the RAN program. completion of his RAN program, several grads have “The RAN program is a strong program that residency. His family joined practices in such communities offers a diversity of training,” says Kuusselka. enjoys living in the area. as Grande Prairie, Beaverlodge, Grande “In a rural medicine setting, a physician has to “Fort McMurray Cache and Peace River. be very independent and I believe the training is a very welcoming Alex Kmet recently completed his first year here will be excellent.” n Aim to eat less than 2,300 mg of sodium per day (1 tsp.