GALA RAISES OVER $80,000 FOR MENTAL HEALTH & ADDICTION SERVICES – Page 2 Dream Home Holiday Giving Made Lottery Underway Easy with Gift Guide Page 8 Page 4 A Publication of Bluewater Health Foundation Volume 17 Issue 4 WWW.BWHF.CA Winter, 2017 KALEO’S STORY Photo by Jason Plant Kaleo Edrado with his wife, Rebecca and their son Alexander shared his Bluewater Health experience in a Patient Experience video that can be found on the Bluewater Health Facebook page. I hate that I had a stroke but I love weeks of inpatient rehabilitation, This past summer, it was Rebecca’s the people at Bluewater Health. Kaleo developed therapeutic rela- turn to access care at Bluewater UNDERSTAND THE WARNING SIGNS OF STROKE In his early 30’s, Kaleo had recent- tionships with the members of his Health when she gave birth to their ly moved to Sarnia and was newly healthcare team who supported his son, Alexander. The acronym “F-A-S-T” is now being used married. He and his wife, Rebecca recovery. Over the weeks, he tran- internationally and in Canada to spot stroke signs It has now been over a year since and know when to call 911. FACE, is it drooping? were just starting their life together, sitioned from wheelchair to walker Kaleo had his stroke and while Kaleo ARMS, can you raise both? SPEECH, is it slurred or when Kaleo woke up one day unable to walking stick, regained his ability hates that he had a stroke, he loves jumbled? TIME to call 9-1-1 right away. to feel the right side of his body to speak and re-learned how to ac- the people at Bluewater Health. A stroke is caused by a sudden loss of function due and discovered that he was unable complish daily activities like feed- to an interruption of blood flow to the brain. This to speak. When Rebecca asked him ing himself. About Stroke can result from a blockage in a blood vessel or the questions, he could only laugh. Kaleo was discharged from hospi- Care at Bluewater rupture of a vessel wall. In the Emergency Department at tal in August 2016, and continued Health Time is critical. Patients who arrive at a designated Bluewater Health, Rebecca learned his recovery with the outpatient re- Bluewater Health is designated as stroke centre within 4 ½ hours of symptom onset that her new husband had expe- habilitation team. the District Stroke Centre for Sar- may be eligible for tPA, a clot-busting drug. Calling rienced a massive stroke. Kaleo Throughout their journey Kaleo nia-Lambton, as part of the South- 911 ensures you are transported to the closest stroke centre wherever you are in Ontario, which in Lambton doesn’t remember the next few days and Rebecca received support from western Ontario Stroke Region. County is Bluewater Health in Sarnia. in the Intensive Care and Telemetry the team at Bluewater Health, even As a district stroke centre, it pro- units. For Rebecca it was a very dif- those employees and volunteers Stroke is the third leading cause of death among vides services based on best prac- Canadians. Stroke is a medical emergency and taking ficult time as she tried, with support who did not have a direct role in tice across the continuum of stroke immediate action is key. If you or someone you are from Kaleo’s healthcare team, to un- his care. According to Kaleo, they prevention, care, recovery, and with experience any of the signs and symptoms of derstand how he would recover and all helped him to succeed, “They stroke, call 911 immediately. reintegration. Bluewater Health is what their life might look like. stopped to talk to me, asked me how FAST Posters as well as Stroke Information and other When Kaleo transferred to the In- I was doing and were always willing committed to ongoing education, related resources are available at the Bluewater training, and support programs and patient Rehabilitation unit he was to help me with whatever I needed.” Health Stroke Prevention Clinic, Level 5-London still unable to speak or move the “My family and I have all experi- services, both in the hospital and in Building. right side of his body. During eight enced care at Bluewater Health.” the community related to stroke. Holiday Physicians Healthcare Recognized Options Page 2 Page 7 Volume 17 Issue 4 PAGE 2 Winter, 2017 Upcoming Events OUTSTANDING Foundation Events January 15: Dream Home Earlybird Draw – Travel Voucher PHYSICIANS February 16: Dream Home Earlybird Draw – Watches, Jewelry and Cash RECOGNIZED February 23: Dream Home Lottery Final Draw For Foundation event information please contact the office at (519) 464-4408 or visit our website at www.bwhf.ca. Bluewater Health Board of Directors Meetings January 24 February 28 March 28 For location, meeting details and other hospital events, please visit the events calendar on Bluewater Health’s website at www.bluewaterhealth.ca. Health Watch January 21 to 27: National Non-Smoking Week February: Heart Month and Psychology Month Bluewater Health executives and physician award recipients, l-r, are: Mike Lapaine, President & CEO; Dr. Youssef Almalki; Dr. Rose- February 4 to 10: Eating Disorders Awareness Week mary Lubynski; Dr. Ram Gidwani; Dr. Annie Kurian; Dr. Andre Rudovics; and Dr. Mike Haddad, Chief of Professional Staff. Missing from the photo are Dr. Chhaya Acharya, Dr. Shahid Malik and Dr. Pandu Shetty. Not pictured, Drs. Brian Hynes, Cynthia Arnold and March: Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month; Kidney Health Month; William Buckton each received a Patients’ Choice Award. Liver Health Month; National Nutrition Month; National Social Work Bluewater Health and Bluewater served as the Medical Director of For the seventh year in a row Month; and Pharmacist Awareness Month Health Foundation’s 10th Annual the Medicine program. Sarnia-Lambton patients had the March 8: World Kidney Day Physician Appreciation Day hon- The five pathologists at Bluewa- opportunity to nominate their phy- March 14: Registered Dietitian Day oured physicians who contribute to ter Health – Dr. Ram Gidwani, Dr. sician for a Patients’ Choice Award. the Sarnia-Lambton community. Rosemary Lubynski, Dr. Chhaya A patient jury recognized Dr. Brian This year’s Outstanding Physician Acharya, Dr. Annie Kurian, and Dr. Hynes, Dr. Cynthia Arnold and Dr. of the Year Award went to Dr. Andre Shahid Malik were the recipients of William Buckton for the exception- Rudovics, a general surgeon. He the Peer Recognition Award. These al care they have provided and for is recognized for working well with pathologists are a group of dedi- their commitment to enhancing the Interim Residential colleagues, communicating well patients’ overall experience within cated physicians who are essential with patients and families before the healthcare system. Withdrawal for correctly diagnosing biopsy and after their surgery, and his fo- Dr. Cynthia Arnold is a family phy- samples and other tests hence pro- cus on providing high quality care sician who has practiced in Sarnia Management viding vital information to patients to his patients. since 1986 and Dr. Brian Hynes is and clinicians. The Outstanding Contribution to an Otolaryngologist – Head and In October Bluewater Health received $450,000 from the Erie St. Clair LHIN the Hospital Award was awarded This year’s recipient of the Cul- Neck who has practiced in Sarnia to open six to eight interim withdrawal management beds to support people to Dr. Pandu Shetty. He was recog- ture of Philanthropy award was Dr. since 1989. Patients say both doc- with drug and alcohol addictions. It is anticipated these beds will be available nized as one of the pillars of Blue- Youssef Almalki, Chief of Radiology tors go well beyond the call of duty early in 2018. Bluewater Health will continue with plans to develop a perma- water Health, whose dedication and and Medical Director of Diagnostic to meet the urgent needs of their nent 24-bed Residential Withdrawal Management Centre. involvement is exemplary. Dr. Shetty Imaging. The Foundation recog- patients. Dr. William Buckton has organizes educational sessions for nized Dr. Almalki for his enthusi- practiced in Sarnia and Lambton physicians on a monthly basis, chairs asm and efforts that have been so County since 1970 and received the yearly Bluewater Health Medi- integral to the success of the CT the most nominations for a family Bluewater Health cal Education Symposium, and has scan campaign. physician. is Provincial Top Performer Gala Raises Over $80,000 Cancer Care Ontario (CCO) has recognized Bluewater Health for improving for Mental Health and the quality of cancer services for participants in the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP). The hospital was the top performer (at 97.7%) in the prov- Addiction Services ince for the performance indicator ‘Percentage of OBSP clients diagnosed within 7 weeks of an abnormal screen for cases with a tissue biopsy’ for the 2016/2017 fiscal year. Frontline staff were presented a certificate from CCO. “Mammograms are excellent and reliable at detecting breast cancer early on,” says Dr. Youssef Almalki, Medical Director, Diagnostic Imaging, Blue- water Health. “Breast cancers can be detected through screening mammog- raphy when they are small, with a better chance of being treated successfully. We’ve placed a high priority on decreasing the time from test to diagnosis following an abnormal screen, to lessen patients’ anxiety and proceed to treatment as soon as possible.” During Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, Bluewater Health in partnership with the Erie St. Clair Regional Cancer Program and Cancer Care Pictured, Michael speaks to students at Great Lakes Secondary School and at the Foundation’s annual gala. Photos by Bryce Ottewell Ontario, encouraged women to schedule an appointment for a mammogram. of Backwoods Photo Co.