HEALTH VIEWS Fall 2011 • Edition 2 A Publication of Riverview Health Centre Inside: 2 Research: Keep In Touch To Our Readers: Health Views has changed! 3 Lori Yaworski Award You are reading the first 3 Education Awards edition of a new and improved look for this enduring 3 Ethics Day newsletter, which has told stories about Riverview Health 4 Long Service Centre for almost 20 years. Employees The redesigned Health Views goes hand-in-hand with the 4 Fashion Show new look of the Centre’s Reveals Talent website. We hope you enjoy the new, contemporary 4 Berit Hack Award appeal of our newsletter, 6 Cycle On Life which will continue to give you stories about the 6 Gala Dinner programs, services and care provided to the 7 Foundation News patients, residents and 8 Foundation Donors families at the Centre. Enhancing Comfort in Palliative Care Riverview’s Foundation is raising funds for room renovations on the Palliative Care Unit, a move that will provide a soothing and restful environment for patients and their families. 2 New Faces Check Out Riverview’s Riverview welcomes three new staff members, each with expertise in his own area of focus: medicine, finance and New Look at www.rhc.mb.ca special events. 5 Visitors to Riverview Health Centre’s website will notice an updated look, with easy-to-access information right at their fingertips. “Vibrant” and “refreshing” are words that accurately describe the new design. 2 2P4 R3L MB Winnipeg, Avenue, Morley One Foundation Centre Health Riverview Canadian Addresses to: Addresses Canadian Undeliverable Return Continued from cover story Ilia Murray of Health “The approach we took to redesigning our Stories of Life… The New Information receives the site was to make it conversational,” explains Lori Yaworsky Quality Champion Award from Debbie Svaling, Coordinator, Communication When first logging on to the site, visitors will WEbsite is… Norman Kasian, Services/Project Manager. “We honed in on notice a constantly running loop of photos that President and CEO of things we know are relevant to our audience introduce and illustrate the Centre’s programs. Riverview Health Centre. and made it easy to navigate so people can They will also notice Stories of Life – clicking ConTempoRaRy quickly find what they are looking for.” on these icons will reward the viewer with board of Directors The audience consists mainly of patients, first-hand vignettes from family members Refreshing Dal McCloy residents, families, staff, volunteers and whose loved ones have experienced the Chair potential employees, and to a lesser extent compassionate care at Riverview. eaSy To navigaTe researchers and colleagues from other facilities. The new site integrates information on the Jeff Norton The new site highlights the services available Riverview Health Centre Foundation so viewers Vice-Chair at Riverview in an easy-to-understand and can directly access Foundation material. ConVersational Shawna Pachal engaging way. It lets people know what they However, the Foundation site is also accessible Treasurer can expect if they come for a stay or come through its own address at www.rhcf.mb.ca engagIng Gary Timlick here to work. It gives them an idea about the “The new website is contemporary and Member-at-large buildings and the beautiful grounds, as well forward thinking,” says Svaling. “We strove ReleVanT To Norman R. Kasian as information about where Riverview came to address the idea that Riverview ‘makes life President & CEO from (its extensive past) and where it is going better,’ and I think we accomplished that.” its audienCe bob Nyhof (its bright future). Chris McDonald Health Information Employee Connie Sarchuk Ian blicq Refurbishment of Palliative Care Rooms: is a “Quality Champion” Dr. Ian Smith Research Aims Joyce Laidler A Riverview Foundation Project any people have good things to say Murray’s nominations clearly reveal her Ken Webb to Find Ways for about Ilia Murray, the Health Information talents: “…high calibre work…friendly and Kevin bolt he caring staff members on the Palliative Care The planned renovations will increase the M Patients and Families Management professional who looks after professional…supportive without being asked… Marilyn Kapitany Tunit at Riverview Health Centre are renowned available floor space.a dditionally, improvements – among many duties – Bed Management always keeps the customer in mind…” Zaborniak Marnie Strath throughout Manitoba for their ability to gently ease will include new furnishings, flooring, draperies to “Keep In Touch” at Riverview Health Centre. Murray is the considers qualities such as these to be vitally both the physical and emotional pain of patients and wall coverings, as well as corian bathroom recipient of the most recent Lori Yaworsky important for someone in Murray’s position – Rod Stephenson and families who find their final solace in the rooms countertops. “In choosing the new materials, When hospitalized for a serious or life- Quality Champion Award, and the raft of she works at a busy desk and deals with the there. a son who kept vigil over his terminally ill we wanted to create a soothing and restful limiting illness, one's world tends to shrink nominations touting her high standards and public constantly. “Outsiders get a taste of the Health Views is published regularly mother said, “The staff intuitively knew exactly when atmosphere,” says Mindell. “We worked with an and connections to family, friends, colleagues professionalism leave no doubt that she is a friendly, caring staff at Riverview when they to come to our aid and when to leave us be – we architect and an interior designer and decided on by Riverview Health Centre to provide and others often become difficult to maintain, worthy candidate. call and get Ilia on the line!” she says. information about the Centre’s programs, didn’t even have to ask.” another woman whose muted tones of coppers, rusts, beiges and creams. especially those at a distance. The Lori Yaworsky Award recognizes a staff Murray, who has worked at the Centre for husband passed away on the unit said, “We will be There is also a combination of textures and related initiatives and activities to both the broader But does it have to be this way? Does being member who has demonstrated exceptional and four years, is flattered to receive the honour community and to its staff and patients. forever grateful to the nurses and health care aides patterns that all come together in a warm, flowing way.” in hospital automatically mean isolation from consistent quality customer service – someone and proud of the team she works with. “It’s Lorna Wenger at Riverview. They made the most difficult time, not other enhancements include unique wall sconces daily life and relationships for both patients who goes about their work with a positive nice to know that Health Information is being editor 204.654.0012 easy, but as easy as it possibly could be.” for soft lighting and designed ceiling tiles, which and the people at the bedside? attitude and an appreciation for the importance recognized,” she says. “We really feel like These kinds of sentiments are repeated over make the rooms feel home-like. Television consoles With financial support from the of teamwork. Candidates must receive at least we are part of the Riverview Health Centre Wanda McConnell / Christine Hanlon and over again by those who have faced the and shelving in dark cherry-coloured wood will also Riverview Health Centre and its three nominations from fellow staff members, community and we’re proud to be making contributing writers loss of a loved one at Riverview Health Centre. add to the quiet, gentle ambiance. Foundation, research is currently being as well as their manager’s endorsement. a positive difference in the facility.” Hugh Walker / Christine Hanlon Somehow, the tragedy and sadness are made conducted at the Centre to investigate “Basically, this award recognizes staff The Lori Yaworsky Quality Champion Award photography more bearable, and even acceptable, because ways to ease this burden of isolation. members who go above and beyond is made in memory of Lori Yaworsky, who was Norman R. Kasian of the attention of the unit’s team of compassionate “After 15 years of use, Called Keep In Touch (KIT): Feasibility of expectations in the course of their daily work,” the Support Services Manager for many years president & ceo health care professionals. renovations are needed, Computer-Mediated Communication and says Pat Zaborniak of Health Information before she passed away in 2002. Yaworsky Riverview has been providing this type of and in doing so we will make Information Technology in Palliative Care, and Communication Services, who is Murray’s always celebrated the achievements of her Publications Mail Agreement No. 40015910 exemplary palliative care in its redeveloped facility improvements that will further the study is looking at how communication manager. “Recipients are people who make colleagues and staff, and this award lets for almost 15 years. The Centre has the largest technology can be used to enhance the Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to: heighten the comfort of both their teams look good because of their great recipients know that individual initiatives Riverview Health Centre Foundation, complement of palliative care rooms in Western connectedness of patients and their attitude about their work.” can have a positive effect. One Morley Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3L 2P4 Canada – 30 in total – and a large percentage patients and their families.” families to the world outside of a hospital. of these are required for the care of individuals – Sheldon Mindell, Foundation Manager Dr. Harvey Max Chochinov, Director of suffering from cancer. While cancer patients are the Manitoba Palliative Care Research unit, living longer and better today than ever before, is the principal investigator of this two-phase these palliative care rooms are in constant demand Funding the Refurbishment study.