File - Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Community
Report
Volume 1, Issue 2
Spring 2006
Provincial funding ushers in new era
of Rebuilding Lives
First capital expansion at St. John’s Rehab since 1970s
On April 3, the Ontario Ministry
of Health and Long-Term Care
confirmed the Province’s approval
and investment in a major
expansion and enhancement
of St. John’s Rehab
Hospital’s facilities
that will begin a new
era in rebuilding
people’s lives.
“This funding
will let St. John’s
Rehab proceed
in building a new
facility focused
on returning
individuals to
active, productive
lives in the
community and
the workplace.”
New program to rebuild
lives of cancer survivors
Oncology rehabilitation
reduces wait times for care
“The provincial
government has
Willowdale MPP David Zimmer announces the province’s approval
and funding of the St. John’s Rehab redevelopment project.
demonstrated its
leadership and
enhance treatment space in the hospital’s 160commitment to the future
bed inpatient wing. The 50,000-square foot
of Ontario’s only hospital
expansion will:
solely dedicated to specialized rehabilitation,” says
• For the first time, bring all of the hospital’s
St. John’s Rehab President
outpatient services into a consolidated wing;
and CEO Malcolm Moffat.
• Create an urgently-needed new main hospital
“This funding will let
entrance with the latest accessibility features,
St. John’s Rehab proceed
including a protective canopy, generous
in building a new facility
entrance vestibule and adjacent accessible
focused on returning
parking;
individuals to active,
• Provide expanded multidisciplinary treatproductive lives in the
ment areas;
community and the
• Enhance splinting and face-mask clinic space;
workplace.”
• Contain a state-of-the-art whirlpool and
therapy pool;
• Include a glass porch feature that links all
St. John’s Rehab’s $30 million
functions of the new two-level wing;
redevelopment project has
• Feature floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking
been in the planning stages
the hospital’s 25-acre landscaped grounds
since 2001.The centrepieces
and new therapy garden – a key element in
of the project are a new
St. John’s Rehab’s whole-person approach
ambulatory care wing and
to care.
renovations to expand and
Artist’s rendering of St. John’s Rehab’s future main entrance and outpatient wing.
Existing inpatient facilities
will also be renovated to
add a new 32-bed care
unit for the hospital’s
most complex patients.
This will allow St. John’s
Rehab to allocate its 160
beds over five floors
instead of four.
In the first public
fundraising campaign
since the hospital
opened in 1937, St. John’s
Rehab Foundation,
under the leadership of
The Honourable Art
Eggleton, has raised...
See Rebuilding Lives on page 4.
St. John’s Rehab Hospital has just announced
a new rehabilitation program that will rebuild
the lives of people who survive major organ
cancers while reducing wait times
for cancer treatment
in Ontario.
“We’re pleased to offer
an innovative rehabilitation program to meet
the needs of cancer
survivors and Ontario’s
cancer care system,”
says Malcolm Moffat,
President & CEO of
St. John’s Rehab Hospital.
“Rehabilitation is an
important step in the
recovery process, and
we’re excited to be at
the forefront of this innovative area in health care.”
“Rehabilitation
is an
important
step in the
recovery
process, and
we’re excited
to be
at the
forefront.”
One of only a handful of
programs of its kind in
Ontario, the active, shortstay oncology rehabilitation
program helps people recover
from surgeries for abdomen, gastrointestinal and
other cancers. Patients were first admitted to
the program during a pilot phase in late 2005.
Referrals are now accepted from hospitals and
physicians throughout Ontario.
The program meets a growing need in Ontario’s
health care system. With ongoing advances in
technology and treatment throughout the
health care system, more and more people can
look forward to moving on with their lives
following cancer. Active, specialized rehabilitation care specifically tailored to cancer survivors
is the key to rebuilding strength, independence
and hope to make the transition to a healthy,
productive life.
St. John’s Rehab’s comprehensive multidisciplinary team focuses on the whole person –
body, mind and spirit – to ensure maximum
recovery and a smooth transition home
and into the community.
See Cancer Rehab on page 2.
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Building for our future
Hospital unveils 2006-2010 strategic plan
In recent years, St. John's Rehab Hospital has made
great strides and achievements.We’ve launched new
rehabilitation programs, forged key partnerships and
embarked on an exciting expansion plan.
But knowing that we cannot simply rest on past
accomplishments, St. John’s Rehab has set out new
corporate goals in Building for our future, the 20062010 strategic plan.
Building for our future is shaped from the hospital’s
existing focus on treating the whole person: mind,
body and spirit.With extensive input from our staff,
our board and our community, we have built a guideline for our activities, our decisions and our patient
care for the next five years
and beyond.
We will reach our goal
to be at the forefront
of rehabilitation care by
focusing on six key areas:
our patients, our team,
our academic mission,
information management,
funding, and commitment and accountability.
Want to find out how St. John’s Rehab is Building
for our future? Download your copy today at
www.stjohnsrehab.com.
Support of stroke survivors helps peers persevere
Resources include support group, adapted yoga
“It’s a shock – this immediate and drastic change
happens overnight and you have no time to adjust.”
That’s how Gwen Brooks describes the sudden effects
of stroke – a brain attack that gives little warning,
but leaves behind effects that alter the lives of
survivors and their loved ones.
Gwen’s stroke entered her life June
2000. Following four weeks of acute
care, Gwen came to St. John’s
Rehab Hospital
in north
Toronto,
where she
spent five
weeks as an
inpatient
and a year
in outpatient rehabilitation.
Now celebrating its fourth year, the group comes
together on the third Monday of each month.
Attendees gather to meet peers, chat and hear
about stroke-related issues from a roster of
guest speakers.
Topics focus on coping with challenges, maximizing
activities, preserving health and wellness, treatment
options and other relevant topics. In 2004, the group
became part of the Stroke Recovery Network of the
Ontario March of Dimes.
“Realizing
there are
“Realizing there are
others out there
others out
who understand the
challenges survivors
there who
face is a major help in
facing fear, anxiety and
understand is
frustration,” Gwen
explains.
a major help
Gwen’s initiative in
providing better
in facing fear, Following her
Gwen Brooks leads a session of the
services for stroke
Stroke
Support
Group
survivors didn’t end
anxiety and sherehabilitation,
found that there weren’t a lot with the support group. She soon found yoga teachers
of local resources to emotionally
who would offer specialized sessions geared towards
frustration.” support
people post-stroke.
people with disabilities.Yoga can be tremendous
Knowing that Gwen’s determination to
reclaim her life helped her make major
strides in her recovery, St. John’s Rehab social
worker Sandy Cayne suggested that Gwen start a
stroke survivors’ support group. Sandy felt Gwen
could be a great motivator to others and benefit
from building relationships with peers.
In February 2002, Gwen’s courage in facing her
personal challenges culminated in the founding of the
Stroke Support Group at St. John’s Rehab Hospital.
in helping these individuals maintain flexibility and
for relaxation.
For the past three years, classes have been led each
Wednesday at St. John’s Rehab by instructor Brian
Bezaire, who modifies the exercises to accommodate
each individual. “I have learned so much from these
valiant survivors,” Brian says.
“Stroke recovery is a life-long journey,” Gwen remarks.
“Rebuilding a life can be a daunting undertaking. But, bit
by bit, the pieces do come together again.”
Patient care – every day of the week
Continued from page 1.
Cancer rehab
Individually customized treatment includes
physiotherapy, occupational therapy, physiatry,
social work, nursing care, speech-language
pathology, nutrition, psychology, pharmacy and
pastoral care.
The oncology program’s major acute care
referring partner is Sunnybrook Health Sciences
Centre. St. John’s Rehab and Sunnybrook have
formed a partnership to ensure a smooth,
expedited transition from acute care to cancer
rehabilitation.The St. John’s Rehab team is
specially trained to care for the unique physical
and psychosocial needs of cancer survivors
through a joint learning program between the
two hospitals.The partnership will give each
patient the care they need sooner while
ultimately reducing wait times for cancer care
in Ontario’s health system.
The announcement builds on St. John’s Rehab
Hospital’s experience in rehabilitation for
cancer survivors.The hospital already provides
care following orthopaedic reconstruction
and neurosurgery where cancer is a secondary diagnosis.
Prevention the
best cure for
workplace disability
St. John’s Rehab Hospital knows that the best
cure is often a little prevention when it
comes to workplace injuries.
Prevention is a big part of the hospital’s new
Disability Management Centre, a comprehensive line of services that helps employers
avoid workplace disabilities, while helping
injured employees return to work sooner
and in better health.
Launched this past winter, the Disability
Management Centre provides many services
including workplace audits and assessments,
disability prevention programs, specialized
counselling and early rehabilitation intervention.The centre also delivers quarterly
disability management workshops, and offers
complimentary analysis to interested health
care organizations.
The Disability Management Centre builds on
St. John’s Rehab’s experience and expertise
as a leader in multi-disciplinary WSIB specialty
rehab clinics for burns, amputees and trauma
as well as in the management of health-care
sector employees impacted by SARS.
St. John’s Rehab Hospital recently announced that
it has opened inpatient admissions to seven days
per week for total joint replacement rehabilitation.
Patients who are ready for rehabilitation late in
the week no longer have to wait in their acute
care hospital bed until Monday to begin their
rehabilitation.
to reduce wait times and improve efficiency across
the continuum of care, both at St. John’s Rehab and
at acute care hospitals.
The diverse programs involve highly-skilled
clinicians, and are individually tailored to let
organizations control their operating costs
and invest in their workforce.
The move comes after a successful pilot project
that began in April 2005 to extend inpatient
admissions to Saturdays.
For more information about the Disability
Management Centre, please call 416-2243170 or visit www.stjohsrehab.com.
This initiative provides more timely access to
rehabilitation services and makes the hospital even
more responsive to patient needs. By opening
inpatient beds sooner, the hospital is helping
St. John’s Rehab understands that patient needs
continue during weekends.The hospital was one of
the first rehabilitation hospitals in Toronto to provide
patient care every day of the week.
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Correction
On page 2 of the Fall 2005 Community Report, a story
about Ms. Gail Middleton-Hunter’s hip replacement rehabilitation misstated the location of her surgery. Her surgery
was performed at North York General Hospital in Toronto.
Rebuilding Lives:
St. John’s Rehab Capital Campaign
RBC Financial Group first corporate
donor to Rebuilding Lives
Shnaider family
pledge supports
redevelopment project
The entire hospital community turned out to celebrate
RBC Foundation’s $250,000 gift to the Rebuilding Lives
campaign as the first corporate donor to this historic
fundraising inititative.
Stephen Voisin (left), RBC Foundation Executive Director,
was joined by St. John’s Rehab Hospital President and
CEO Malcolm Moffat (centre) and Elizabeth Martin,
Chair of the hospital’s board of directors.
Alex and Simona Shnaider recently showed their
strong support for specialized rehabilitation by
making a $250,000 pledge to the hospital’s expansion and redevelopment project.
This acknowledged support of the hospital’s vision to
create a centre of rehabilitation excellence is aligned
with RBC’s corporate responsibility objectives: “to build
prosperity by contributing to the health and wellness
of communities.”
The Shnaiders had deeply personal reasons for
supporting our unique rehabilitation facility.
TD grants advance education at St. John’s Rehab
A gift of $250,000 from the TD Bank Financial Group
has established a new education fund to advance
the hospital’s position as a leader in rehabilitation
best practice.
“But thanks to the expertise of the rehabilitation
professionals at St. John's, she can walk unassisted
again.The dedication and kindness demonstrated by
the staff at St. John's won me over, and I am very
proud to support this valuable institution.”
The TD Grants in Rehab Excellence will provide
$50,000 a year over the next five years for St. John’s
Rehab Hospital clinicians to pursue academic education and skill development.
“TD’s generous gift assures an even brighter future
for outstanding rehabilitation care,” says President
& CEO Malcolm Moffat. “By improving access to
education funding, we’ll be able to help our dedicated
professionals achieve important educational goals
while enriching rehabilitation knowledge and practice
at the hospital.”
“Like many others, I became aware of the specialized treatment offered at St. John's Rehab Hospital
through an unfortunate experience,” Mr. Shnaider
said. “When my grandmother fell and broke her leg,
we were concerned about the impact that such a
debilitating injury would have on her mobility, as
well as her quality of life.
From left: Elizabeth Martin, St. John’s Rehab Hospital Chair;
Georgina George, TD Canada Trust Branch Manager;
Joe Carabetta, TD Bank Financial Group District VicePresident; Malcolm Moffat, St. John’s Rehab Hospital President
& CEO; Joyce Bailey, St. John’s Rehab Foundation Vice-Chair.
Foundation unveils St. John’s Rehab’s first-ever donor wall
Room named for Mrs. Jean Martin during recognition event
St. John’s Rehab Foundation has been fortunate to receive the support
of many generous donors who believe in the good work we do at the
hospital. But until recently, there was something missing from the
hospital that would truly recognize how much we value their contributions in helping to rebuild people’s lives.
Mr. Alex Shnaider (second from right) celebrates the naming of
the future Mr. & Mrs. Alex Shnaider Treatment Room with (from
left) Rebuilding Lives Campaign Cabinet members Moshe Ronen
and Paul Pellegrini, President & CEO Malcolm Moffat, and
Hospital Board Chair Elizabeth Martin.
That all changed on October 26, when hospital President and CEO Malcolm
Moffat and Foundation Board Chair Sarah Agnew unveiled St. John’s Rehab’s
first-ever donor wall.This lasting and visual tribute recognizes all those
whose cumulative contributions have reached $5,000 and up.
The evening was capped off by a birthday surprise for Mrs. Jean Martin,
a long-time hospital volunteer whose family donated $125,000 to the
Rebuilding Lives campaign in her name.
Mrs. Jean Martin with Malcolm Moffat at
the entrance to the newly-named Jean
Martin Occupational Therapy Room.
Self-help tips: Stroke warning signs
Partially adapted from Heart & Stroke Foundation
website: www.heartandstroke.ca, March 2006
Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in Canada, but as many as 60 per cent of stroke patients are discharged
from the hospital to home or to rehabilitation.
Strokes seem to appear suddenly and transform the lives of survivors.They affect all ages: children, youth, adults and
older adults and sometimes seemingly healthy individuals. People who have survived stroke are also susceptible to
another brain attack, with 20 per cent experiencing a second stroke within two years.
But the life-threatening and life-changing effects can often be reduced with quick action during the onset of
stroke.This is why everyone – survivors, caregivers and everyone else – should be aware of the following:
Stroke warning signs
Sudden experience of one or more of the following may mean you are having a stroke:
• Weakness, numbness or tingling in the face, arm or leg • Severe and unusual headache
• Difficulty speaking or understanding speech
• Dizziness or loss of balance, especially with any
of the above signs
• Loss of vision, particularly in one eye, or double vision
What to do
in case of stroke
Call 911 immediately if you suspect
you or someone else is having a stroke.
The passage of time can often worsen
the effects of stroke. Newer treatments
such as Tissue Plasminogen Activator
(tPA) can only be administered immediately after the onset of stroke.
For more information about stroke
statistics, prevention and management, please visit www.heartandstroke.ca.
For information about stroke rehabilitation at St. John’s Rehab
Hospital, our Stroke Support Group,
and our community
wellness clinics, please call
416-226-6780 or visit
www.stjohnsrehab.com.
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Upcoming events
15th Annual Hip Hip Hooray!
Sunday, May 28, 9 a.m.
Join orthopaedic patients, their families, caregivers, and the Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation
for this nation-wide short walk to support orthopaedic health, research and care.
Proceeds are allocated locally and
nationally, with funding for hospital
equipment and education coming
directly from the dollars raised in
their respective areas. Proceeds also
support the Canadian Orthopaedic
Foundation’s research, education
and social policy programs.
The Greater Toronto Area event is
held at St. John’s Rehab Hospital,
285 Cummer Avenue (near Yonge
St. & Finch Ave.) on Sunday, May 28.
Registration begins at 9 a.m.
For more information, contact Barb
Storey at 416-226-6780 ext. 7174
or visit www.hiphiphooray.org.
Roger Larocque enjoys the booths during Hip Hip
Hooray! 2005. Roger raised more than $1000, the
largest total by a St. John’s Rehab patient.
Monday, June 12, 11 a.m.
Golfers of all skill levels are invited to enjoy this exciting
day-long event, which includes a putting
contest, BBQ lunch, reception,
dinner and silent auction.The
format is a four-person team
scramble at the Summit Golf
& Country Club, 11901 Yonge
Street, Richmond Hill.
All proceeds go to the St. John’s
Rehab Foundation Rebuilding Lives
capital campaign. For information
about registration, packages
and sponsorship opportunities, contact
Barb Storey at 416-226-6780 ext. 7174
or e-mail bstorey@stjohnsrehab.com.
ST. JOHN’S REHAB
MASSAGE THERAPY CLINIC
68th Annual Garden Party & Alumni Reunion
Saturday, June 3, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
There’s something for everyone
at the Garden Party! Come out
to the hospital’s 25 acres of
beautifully landscaped property
and enjoy a great day of fun
for everyone!
Lots of great activities, including
live music, DJ, BBQ, flower
market, bake sale, arts and crafts,
carnival games, and so much
more! Joining us are Toronto
Fire Services and Toronto
Police Services.
St. John’s Rehab alumni are invited to meet and mingle with other former patients and your rehab
caregivers at 10 a.m., then join the party!
Admission and parking to both events are free. Event will be held rain or shine. Proceeds go
to the St. John’s Rehab Auxiliary. For more information, call 416-226-6780 ext. 7297 or e-mail
info@stjohnsrehab.com.
Continued from page 1.
9th Annual St. John’s
Rehab Golf Classic
New era of Rebuilding Lives
$10.2 million towards the expansion project – 68 per cent of its $15 million goal. For more
campaign news, see page 3.
“The hospital’s redevelopment project will bring us closer to our vision of being at the
forefront of specialized rehabilitation care,” says Elizabeth Martin, Chair of the St. John’s Rehab
Hospital Board of Directors. “With this investment by the province and the generosity of
the community, St. John’s Rehab can continue to excel at delivering highly specialized services
to people who have experienced life-changing injuries or medical conditions.”
Sore muscles and joints? Recovering from
an injury? Simply fatigued?
The Massage Therapy Clinic can help!
Massage therapy can alleviate:
• Muscle tightness and restrictions
• Pain
• Swelling
• Muscle spasm
• Anxiety and stress
Massage therapy
can improve:
• Joint mobility
• Circulation
• Tissue health
• Relaxation
• Immune system function
We also offer Aquatic Massage Therapy in our warm
water pool for people with conditions such as ar thritis,
sleep disturbances, fatigue and fibromyalgia.
Our Registered Massage Therapists are licensed by
the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario.
Most extended health insurance providers cover
massage therapy. Appointments are available days
and evenings from Monday – Friday.
For an appointment or more information:
Phone: 416-226-6780 ext. 7019
Visit us: Ground Floor, Agnew Wing,
St. John’s Rehab Hospital
285 Cummer Avenue (between Yonge Street
and Bayview Avenue).
Community Report is published twice per year by Public Affairs,
St. John’s Rehab Hospital. For information about any of the
articles in this newsletter, please contact us at:
St. John’s Rehab Hospital Phone: 416-226-6780
285 Cummer Ave.
Fax:
416-226-6265
Toronto, ON M2M 2G1 E-mail: info@stjohnsrehab.com
Editor: Marcus Staviss, Public Affairs
Visit us online at www.stjohnsrehab.com
Artist’s rendering of the future aquatic therapy pool.
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