A publication of St-Boniface Hospital

BelieveFall/Winter 2015

ISSUE 4.2

Paul Albrechtsen’s transformational gift

Medication safety – it takes a team

Nourishing body and soul in Palliative CareClean sweep

BelieveBelieve is a publication of St-Boniface Hospital.Believe is published twice annually and is a bilingual, joint publication of St-Boniface Hospital and St-Boniface Hospital Foundation. It is intended to inform you about improvements to patient care, innovations in research, and fundraising initiatives. This publication is also available online at saintboniface.ca. All materials are the copyright of St-Boniface Hospital.

St-Boniface Hospital 409 Taché Avenue Winnipeg, MB R2H 2A6 Tel: 204-233-8563

St-Boniface Hospital Foundation C1026 – 409 Taché Avenue Winnipeg, MB R2H 2A6 Tel: 204-237-2067 Fax: 204-231-0041

St-Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre 351 Taché Avenue Winnipeg, MB R2H 2A6 Tel: 204-235-3206 Fax: 204-235-0793

Writers: Heather Olynick, Karine Verot, Stu Slayen Design: Bounce DesignPrinting: Premier Printing Photography: Carlos Fuentespina, Cory Aronec, Robert Blaich

PM 40064250 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: St-Boniface Hospital Foundation C1026 – 409 Taché Avenue Winnipeg, MB R2H 2A6

4

Keeping patients on their feetReducing the risk of falls and injuries

8

The art of healingImproving health through the arts

12

The heart is close to homeExpressing gratitude through giving

14

Nourishing body and soulPalliative Care programs comfort families

15

Taking the pulse of vascular healthStudying the potential of  Manitoba crops

On the coverIn 1954, Paul Albrechtsen came to Canada with $50 in his pocket. Today, the owner of Paul’s Hauling has the largest giving record in the history of St-Boniface Hospital Foundation. See story on page 10.

2 | Believe | Fall/Winter 2015

On September 16, Dr. Michel Tétreault passed away after a brief illness.

In his years as President and CEO, he continually challenged the Hospital and its partners to change our approach to the delivery of care. He firmly believed we could do better. His impact on St-Boniface Hospital was profound and we are forever grateful for his vision and commitment to the patients we serve and the Hospital.

In this issue of Believe, you will read about strategies to improve patient flow and ensure beds are available for patients in need, prevent medication errors, reduce the risk of falls, and reduce the transmission of infections through detailed attention to cleaning. You will also read about music and art programming and ground-breaking research at St-Boniface Hospital, made possible through the generous support of our Auxiliary, Foundation donors, and community partners.

These strategies and programs, among others, help create an environment focused on the whole person, aimed at enhancing the patient’s experience and the care they receive at St-Boniface Hospital. The involvement and active participation of employees, doctors, students, volunteers, patients, families, and donors is critical and at the very heart of Dr. Tétreault’s vision and legacy to St-Boniface Hospital.

Ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu wrote: “Kindness in words

creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.”

Paul Albrechtsen has created such confidence, profoundness, and love. His words have inspired us; his keen understanding of research has impressed us; and his generosity has changed us. Paul’s endowed gift of $5 million will generate significant annual income to support cardiac research at the newly named St-Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre.

Endowments are the soul of any foundation; a healthy endowment establishes stability and helps attract leading medical personnel, among other benefits. That said, a foundation cannot survive on endowments alone. We need our loyal monthly donors; generous annual givers; enthusiastic lottery ticket buyers, and more. All of this giving is kind – and it all creates love.

While Paul has left an important financial legacy, I also want to reflect on the professional legacy of Dr. Michel Tétreault, President and CEO of St-Boniface Hospital. His recent passing saddened us immensely. Michel was an outstanding leader; a skilled physician; and a friend. He was driven by the continual pursuit of higher levels of excellence. We honour his memory by continuing the pursuit – for the sake of our patients, their families, our donors, and the entire community.

Charles (Chuck) LaFlèche, cpa, cma, fcma President and CEO St-Boniface Hospital Foundation

Dr. Bruce Roe Acting President and CEO St-Boniface Hospital

In memoryDr. Michel Tétreault June 11, 1953 – September 16, 2015

It is with heavy hearts that St-Boniface Hospital pays tribute to the memory of Dr. Michel Tétreault, President and CEO.

Dr. Tétreault joined St-Boniface Hospital as Chief Medical Officer in 2001 and was appointed President and CEO in February 2005.

Dr. Tétreault was a passionate advocate for patients, and actively engaged the Hospital’s leadership, staff, and physicians in making St-Boniface Hospital a better place for patients. He had incredible pride in the people at St-Boniface Hospital and the great things we were accomplishing together. He found most joy working alongside staff and teams, encouraging them to see and solve problems together to improve care for all patients.

The Board of Directors and the Leadership Team at St-Boniface Hospital remain committed to fulfilling Dr. Tétreault’s legacy and the legacy of the Grey Nuns.

Fall/Winter 2015 | Believe | 3

Every year, 22,500 falls are reported throughout the Winnipeg Health Region in hospitals, personal care homes, and in the community.* With a growing population of elderly patients, St-Boniface Hospital has been creating awareness and initiating strategies to reduce the risk of falls and injuries.

Lynda Mandzuk, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Rehabilitation Geriatrics Program, says falls are a big concern for health professionals. Falls with injury can impact a person’s independence and quality of life and add days to a patient’s hospital stay.

“As health professionals, we work to help keep patients safe,” says Mandzuk. “Although all patients are at risk of falling, we are focused on elderly patients who are at greater risk due to age, balance or mobility issues, impaired vision, cognitive impairment, side effects from medications, or due to their medical conditions.”

In the last year, several units within the Geriatrics, Family Medicine, and Internal Medicine Programs began trialing initiatives to reduce the risk of falls and injuries for all patients. The first involves assessing the patient’s fall risk, health issues, current mobility, and medications, within one hour of their arrival on a unit. A care team including nursing, pharmacy, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy, assesses the patient’s fall risk and develops a personalized fall prevention care plan. The plan is shared with the entire care team, including the patient and their family.

“Patients and families are invited to participate in the development of the fall prevention care plan,” says Mandzuk. “When they understand the risks, they may be more likely to call for help and continue some of the strategies when they return home.”

Other strategies include placing equipment on one side of the hallway to reduce clutter, removing tripping hazards from patient rooms such as unnecessary equipment, ensuring patients have non-slip footwear and walking aids, and reminding patients to call for help if needed.

Despite best efforts, patients still fall. When patients fall, they are immediately assessed for injuries, the team reviews what occurred and why, and the fall prevention care plan is revised.

“We try to determine why the patient fell to address the root cause and prevent future falls,” says Mandzuk. “If someone has fallen once, they are at higher risk of falling again.”

As a result of these initiatives, all three units have seen a seen a decrease in falls with injuries. The successful fall prevention initiatives will be shared with other areas of the Hospital in early 2016.

*Source: Winnipeg Regional Health Authority

Nurse Aisha Ali ensures Dr. Francis Patrick Doyle is wearing non-slip footwear and his call bell

is within reach while seated in the chair.

Defining a fall A fall occurs when a patient unintentionally comes to rest on the ground, floor, or another lower level, with or without injury.

Keeping patients on

their feetReducing the risk of

falls and injuries

4 | Believe | Fall/Winter 2015 | Hospital

Medication safety It takes a teamWhen medication errors occur, the risks can be high. Receiving medications at the wrong time, the wrong dose, or the wrong medication can have unintended side effects and cause harm, longer hospital stays, and in extreme cases, death.

In keeping with St-Boniface Hospital’s focus on patient safety, the Pharmacy Department works with staff and physicians to prevent harm to patients.

“Errors may occur at various steps in the medication system including when the medication is prescribed, dispensed, or administered,” says Sheri Dyck, Program Support Manager, Pharmacy.

Pharmacists and Pharmacy Assistants play an important role in preventing medication errors, including preventing harmful drug interactions for patients who are often prescribed a wide range of medications.

Pharmacists review patient medications at important transitions in their care, including admission to and discharge

from the Hospital. Pharmacy staff aim to complete medication histories within 24 hours of the patient’s admission. Pharmacists work with the health care team to determine which medications the patient needs to continue taking and which new medications are needed to treat new symptoms. Upon discharge, pharmacists may review medications with the patient or family and contact the patient’s pharmacist in the community to explain changes made while in Hospital.

Medication errors often result from misunderstandings or not being able to read a prescription. Although orders are no longer handwritten at St-Boniface Hospital and are entered into the electronic patient record (EPR), errors can still occur if the order is placed for the wrong patient or for the wrong dose. Medications with similar sounding or looking names but different uses can also cause errors. To reduce the risk, pharmacists review orders before medications are given to patients.

“The electronic system doesn’t replace the critical thinking required of pharmacists,” says Dyck. “We still review orders to ensure the drug and dose is appropriate for the patient before the prescription is released for a nurse to administer.”

Standardization is key to reducing the risk of medication errors. The 1,800 different medications managed by pharmacy staff are received, stored, prepared, dispensed, and disposed of following standard procedures. Medication errors are reviewed by St-Boniface Hospital’s Medication System Safety Committee, made up of nursing, pharmacy, and patient safety staff.

“The committee reviews medication errors to look for trends, whether certain drugs or drug categories generate more errors and require more education, or if processes are not being followed,” says Dyck. “Our role is to understand the errors so we can prevent them from occurring again in order to improve and create safer medication use.”

(clockwise from back) Nurses Hazel Malana and Blake Morden, Dr. Eric

Jacobsohn, and pharmacist Jennifer Wiebe work together to review a

patient’s medication needs.

Hospital | Fall/Winter 2015 | Believe | 5

“A clean environment contributes to the healing process.”

Unit Support Worker Melanie Delorme.

Improving the flow of patients throughout St-Boniface Hospital is a team effort and a priority for all staff as they work towards a common goal – ensuring patients receive the care they need, when and where they need it. Behind the scenes, Housekeeping staff work non-stop to ensure rooms are cleaned and beds are available for the next patient.

“Housekeeping staff contribute to patient care in the quality of work they do and they play a large role in patient flow,” says Ron Colliou, Housekeeping Supervisor. “If a room is not clean, the patient cannot be moved into a room.”

Admitted patients are transferred to a patient care unit once a room is available and clean. Housekeeping staff aim to have rooms cleaned within 30 minutes of a patient leaving the room. A flag system is used in some units to alert staff when a room needs attention. A red flag above the door means the room needs cleaning; a green flag means the room is clean and ready for the next patient. In other units, Housekeeping staff attend morning huddles with the health care team to learn about upcoming discharges and rooms that need to be cleaned.

In all areas, communication is key to a timely cleaning.

Cleaning a patient room is about more than cleaning the washroom and mopping floors. It is about creating a healthy environment for patients and helping reduce the spread of hospital-acquired infections. Housekeeping staff have set protocols for daily, discharge, and isolation cleaning of inpatient rooms to ensure a high standard of cleanliness is maintained.

Housekeeping staff follow a standard room cleaning approach which divides the room into zones. They begin in Zone 1, cleaning high touch areas commonly touched by staff and visitors, before moving on to Zone 2 and cleaning the washroom. Zones 3 and 4 focus on cleaning patient areas. Housekeeping staff finish cleaning in Zone 5, sweeping and mopping floors. Cleaning this way prompts Housekeeping staff to change gloves and cloths when moving from one zone to the next. If they are interrupted when cleaning, they can easily pick up where they left off.

Clean sweep

6 | Believe | Fall/Winter 2015 | Hospital

Coming clean

21 average number of minutes spent cleaning a private room  with washroom every day

24 number of hours the Housekeeping Department operates every day

43 average number of minutes spent cleaning a private room following a discharge

200 number of full-time,  part-time, and casual housekeeping staff

300 number of patient rooms cleaned every day

517 number of washrooms cleaned every day

1,500 average number of isolation rooms cleaned every month

21,768 number of discharged patient rooms cleaned in 2014

“I get compliments from patients about the way I clean, but I always say ‘this is for you,’” says Melanie Delorme, Unit Support Worker, Surgery (A7W). “I don’t want anyone to get sicker while they are in the hospital.”

Keeping over 1.3 million square feet of space clean and free of infections is no small task. From public spaces to patient rooms, housekeeping staff work around the clock to improve patient flow and keep the hospital clean.

“Housekeeping is about more than just picking up garbage and making beds,” says Delorme. “It’s about making patients and their families feel safe and comfortable, knowing they are in a clean space.”

All patient rooms are cleaned on a daily basis, as well as other public areas throughout the Hospital including visitor lounges and the Everett Atrium. Housekeeping supervisors perform regular audits of the cleaning process using an ultraviolet lotion marker invisible to the naked eye. The solution is non-toxic and easily removed with soap and water. The supervisors place markers in high traffic areas. After the space is cleaned, supervisors use a black light to reveal if the UV lotion marker has been removed – remaining lotion will glow brightly under the black light. The audits ensure cleaning protocols are followed to reduce the spread of infections and keep patients safe. Audit scores are high, between 87 to 90 per cent. The Housekeeping Department’s goal is to maintain a 90 per cent average.

“Our goal is to maintain a high standard of cleaning to ensure a safe environment for patients, staff, and visitors,” says Brenda Mulvaney, Evening Housekeeping Supervisor. “A clean environment contributes to the healing process.”

Hospital | Fall/Winter 2015 | Believe | 7

Artists in Healthcare Manitoba musician Keith Price performs in

the Palliative Care Unit.

Art has the power to change a patient’s experience and heal the body, mind, and spirit. In 2001, Artists in Healthcare Manitoba (AIHM) was established to bring the arts to patients in hospitals and personal care homes throughout the province. St-Boniface Hospital was the first to welcome the program to enhance the patient experience.

“Our goal was to reduce anxiety and stress associated with illness and the effects of being in an environment where the focus is on the treatment of illness,” says Shirley Grierson, Executive Director, Artists in Healthcare Manitoba. “Studies show listening to music can decrease anxiety and improve outcomes for patients.”

Through AIHM, more than 710 hours of music programming were offered last year at St-Boniface Hospital. Musicians perform in the Buhler Gallery, the Everett Atrium, and common areas throughout the Hospital. Musicians also perform on demand for patients and families in patient rooms, providing comfort and a welcome distraction.

The art of healing Music to heal the soul

8 | Believe | Fall/Winter 2015 | Hospital

“Many times musicians have been invited to play for a patient, sometimes even as the patient passes away,” says Grierson. “It gives families and patients a sense of comfort.”

The music program is funded through donations to St-Boniface Hospital Foundation and a variety of grants, including the Hospital Auxiliary, the Winnipeg Foundation, the Manitoba Arts Council, and the Johnston Group.

Staff, families, and patients say the music that drifts through the halls has a soothing effect, “like a breath of fresh air that humanizes the often sterile environment.”

“Ten years from now, I think music will be played in places where it may not have been seen to have value before,” says Grierson. “We know music makes a difference for patients. It makes them feel good and the musicians feel good knowing they are making a difference. It is therapeutic for everyone.”

If you would like a musician to perform for St-Boniface Hospital patient, contact Volunteer Services at 204-237-2442.

To make a donation to support arts programming at St-Boniface Hospital, go to saintboniface.ca and click “Donate Now.”

Art therapy When looking for volunteer opportunities close to home, Lisa Sheridan, a retired high school art teacher, learned about the Art at the Bedside Program at St-Boniface Hospital. Established through a grant from the Winnipeg Foundation in 2010 as part of Artists in Healthcare Manitoba’s programming, Art at the Bedside brings visual art projects to the patient’s bedside.

Thirteen volunteers participate in the Art at the Bedside Program, offering a welcome distraction for patients. Volunteers visit with patients and their families while working on a variety of art projects, including collages, painting, paper weaving, and beadwork.

“My first day I was a little nervous, I didn’t really know how to approach adults,” says Sheridan. “The minute I walked in and said hello, I realized they were happy to see me, to see someone who wants to come and spend time with them. The fact that you are going to do an art project is a bonus.”

Recently, the program has evolved to offer group sessions in common areas, encouraging patients to come out of their rooms and interact with each other. Once a week, Sheridan makes her way to E4 Geriatrics with her art cart filled with art supplies. Patients look forward to her visits.

“Art is therapeutic,” says Sheridan. “When a patient is involved in a project, you see their demeanour change. They relax, they forget why they are in the hospital. For that time, they aren’t patients… They feel like people again.”

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer at St-Boniface Hospital, complete a “Volunteer Application form” available online at sbgh.mb.ca/contactus/volunteer4.html.

Volunteers Mandy Jiang, Lisa Sheridan, and Recreation Therapist Erin Patton participate in a group Art at the Bedside session with a patient.

Hospital | Fall/Winter 2015 | Believe | 9

“There’s a guy here writing a story about me. Maybe it will help me find another job,” Paul Albrechtsen tells a caller. “I want to quit my paper route.”

The phone banter marks the good humour of a man who has enjoyed a long and successful career – grateful, relaxed, and still serving as President of Paul’s Hauling, the trucking juggernaut he launched in 1957.

Ask his age and he’ll invoke the spirit of the late comic Jack Benny who insisted for four decades that he was only 39 years old. Whatever his age, Albrechtsen has reached a stage in life where he is taking stock, and giving back to a province that welcomed him as an immigrant in 1954. His latest gift to St-Boniface Hospital Foundation is a $5 million endowment whose income will help support cardiac research. Add this to a previous $2 million donation, and Paul Albrechtsen is the largest donor in the history of St-Boniface Hospital.

“I can only describe Paul’s gift as transformational,” says Charles (Chuck) LaFlèche, President and CEO of St-Boniface Hospital Foundation. “We’re moved not only by his generosity, but by his enthusiasm and trust. Supporting research takes foresight and vision.”

Albrechtsen’s own story is also characterized by foresight and vision, not to mention hard work. The business story does, in fact, begin with a paper route in a small Danish town. When Denmark was occupied by the Nazis in 1940, Albrechtsen needed to help support the family. At the age of 10, he raised

rabbits; at 12, he hauled peat moss; at 13, he worked on a farm; at 15, he apprenticed as a mechanic.

As the war ended, the entrepreneurial Albrechtsen noted a demand for used motorcycles. He bought, repaired, and re-sold motorcycles before 18 months of compulsory military service.

“When I was done with the army, I wanted to see the world,” says Albrechtsen. “I sold my inventory of bikes and made my way to North America with $50 in my pocket. That’s all I was allowed to take.”

Jobs were scarce, but he found work as a mechanic with the Mercury dealership in Virden earning 65 cents an hour. He ultimately took a job with an oil company, taking care of their equipment. On the side, he bought and repaired a used International Harvester KB-7 truck, and started hauling water, salt water, and oil in his off hours. Between his job and his sideline, Albrechtsen worked over 100 hours a week while living in a tool shed and surviving on Klik sandwiches.

“I saved my money and kept buying trucks and hiring drivers,” he says. “By 1957 I was in business as Paul’s Hauling and I had seven trucks.”

Albrechtsen diversified by buying a failing trucking company in Brandon. Paul’s Hauling steadily expanded – 1,100 trucks at its peak. Along the way, he also bought and sold a salt company and invested in resorts and other businesses. He did well, and he’s grateful.

Giving it his haul “Transformational” gift to support cardiac research

Chuck LaFlèche, Paul Albrechtsen, and Dr. Grant Pierce outside the Research Centre.

10 | Believe | Fall/Winter 2015 | Foundation

 

“If our forefathers didn’t invest in research, we wouldn’t have what we have today.”

Paul Albrechtsen (standing, far left) with his first Paul’s Hauling truck.

A healthier futurebegins with a legacy giftWhat will health care be like in 50 years? It’s a question many health care leaders at St-Boniface Hospital face as they plan for the next generation of patient care with new technologies, treatments, and training.

The road to better care is being built today, and with the right support, these plans can become reality.

Leaving a gift in your will is a simple, effective way to ensure this support is available to St-Boniface Hospital, and those in need, for generations to come.

To begin your legacy, consider these easy steps:

➊ Determine your donation. Decide the gift type and amount you would like to leave in your will. We encourage you to discuss your intentions with your legal and/or financial advisors to help choose the best gift for you.

➋ Choose where to make a difference. Allow St-Boniface Hospital to direct your gift to the area of greatest need, or specify a Hospital program or area where you would like your gift to be used.

➌ Create or update your existing will. When describing your gift, please specify “St-Boniface Hospital & Research Foundation Inc.” as the beneficiary.

➍ Tell us! Let us know you have left us a gift in your will so we can ensure your intentions are fulfilled according to your wishes.

To learn more, visit saintboniface.ca/foundation.

“I’ve enjoyed a successful career,” he says. “I’m happy to give back to a community that has been so supportive and welcoming.”

Since establishing the Paul Albrechtsen Foundation, he has committed about $45 million, including gifts to St-Boniface Hospital Foundation, Assiniboine Park Conservancy, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, St. Paul’s High School, and the Reh-Fit Centre where he was once rescued after a heart attack with a portable defibrillator he himself had funded.

His gifts to St-Boniface Hospital Foundation are an expression of gratitude for the ongoing care he receives. “I go to St-Boniface Hospital to have my implanted defibrillator checked every six months,” he says. “They treat me well and I’m proud to give while I can see some of the impact of the gift. I’d rather give with a warm hand than a cold one.”

“Paul Albrechtsen understands the importance of research,” says Dr. Grant Pierce, Executive Director of Research. “His gift will fund the work of young researchers and support the physical infrastructure we need to do our work.”

On September 29, Paul Albrechtsen was honoured at a special ceremony, unveiling the renamed St-Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre. For Albrechtsen, though, what happens in the building is more important than the name that goes on the building.

“I believe very strongly in medical research,” he says. “If our forefathers didn’t invest in research, we wouldn’t have what we have today. And my story might have been very different.”

Foundation | Fall/Winter 2015 | Believe | 11

Celebrating state-of-the-heart-technologyTEE event thanks donors Attendees view 3-D images of a heart surgery, captured by TEE technology.

Thanks to many generous donors, St-Boniface Hospital is now using four Intraoperative Transesophageal 3-D Echocardiography (TEE) units in cardiac care. At a special appreciation dinner on April 30, 2015, donors were introduced to the cutting-edge technology.

“We can now see 3-D images of a heart during procedures and modify a procedure in progress if we have to,” explains Dr. Scott MacKenzie, Medical Director, Cardiac Anesthesia. “The technology gives us more confidence than ever that each procedure is being performed accurately and completely.”

Leo Shearer is 86 years old and walks three miles, three times a week. He also recently went the distance for St-Boniface Hospital Foundation with a major donation to express his gratitude for his life-saving heart surgery in 2014.

“I noticed a change in my health and went to my doctor,” says the semi-retired Winnipeg businessman. “I ended up getting a valve replacement and bypass surgery.”

He was so impressed by the care he received, he decided to contribute to a cardiac surgery simulation room. It was his second major gift to the Foundation, having contributed to the purchase of an ultrasound machine a number of years ago.

“I always like to give,” says the Beausejour-born Shearer. “I feel they are doing a superb job at St-Boniface and if I can afford it, I should help.”

Shearer believes charitable giving is a key factor in the success of health care. In fact, until about a decade ago, he was an active volunteer fundraiser for the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore where he had prostate surgery many years ago.

His heart, though, is closer to home.

“I want people to know there is not much better care you can get in the world than at St-Boniface Hospital. We’re very lucky to have this facility and these people.”

Heart-to-heart conversationsGroup sessions offer information and connection

Since 2011, the Heart Failure Clinic at St-Boniface Hospital has been bringing together patients and their families and caregivers for a Heart Failure Support Group.

“They want to talk to people who are on the same journey,” says Estrellita Estrella-Holder, a Nurse Practitioner who coordinates the group. “As medical personnel, we can address the technicalities of the illness, but the group lets them talk about other aspects of living with heart failure.”

Heart failure is a chronic condition where the heart does not pump efficiently, causing swelling, fatigue, weakness, and other symptoms.

The group’s 90 participants meet three times a year to discuss topics such as nutrition; getting travel insurance and the frustrations and challenges faced by caregivers.

Estrella-Holder notes group members find comfort in each other’s friendship. “They feel free talking to each other,” she says. “It reduces the emotional impact of having heart failure.”

To learn more about the support group, call Estrellita Estrella-Holder at 204-235-3149 or email eestrell@sbgh.mb.ca.

Foundation news

The heart is close to home Donor shows gratitude for successful surgery

12 | Believe | Fall/Winter 2015 | Foundation

Gifts of Hope

St-B to hit airwaves November 13, 2015680 CJOB will broadcast a celebration of giving when it airs St-Boniface Hospital Foundation’s 14th annual Radiothon of Hope and Healing, presented by the Vickar Automotive Group, live from the Hospital’s Everett Atrium.

This full day of radio will highlight the many ways patients, staff, and researchers benefit from the life-changing care happening at St-Boniface Hospital, thanks to generous donors.

Tune in to 680 CJOB: Friday, November 13, 2015 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Learn more, and be a part of something life-changing at saintboniface.ca/foundation.

Lottery winner books off earlyWinner and husband retire on jackpot

Loraine with lottery spokesperson Sylvia Kuzyk.

On April 9, 2015, Loraine Trudeau of Ste. Anne won St-Boniface Hospital Foundation’s Mega Million Choices Lottery. It didn’t take long for Trudeau, Steinbach’s head librarian for the past 15 years, and her husband, a truck owner/operator, to decide to retire early on the $1.125 million jackpot.

While the win is exciting and life-changing, the couple is pleased that their many ticket purchases over the years have supported health care.

“People who know me are now more inclined to buy tickets,” says Trudeau, “but I tell them ‘don’t buy to win; buy to support the hospitals.’”

Just in time for the holidays, St-Boniface Hospital Foundation has launched Gifts of Hope – an online giving experience for donors looking to spread some philanthropic cheer.

Gift givers looking to make a charitable donation in honour of those they love can support items like a heart pillow for cardiac surgery patients. A personalized card can be sent to their loved one, letting them know a gift has been given in their honour, and how it will help those in need.

Visit saintboniface.ca/giftsofhope.

Foundation | Fall/Winter 2015 | Believe | 13

Caroline McIntosh prepares for tea time on the Palliative Care Unit.

Nourishing body and soul

Palliative Care snack program comforts families

At St-Boniface Hospital, palliative care is a journey focused on providing quality comfort care to patients and their families.

Thanks to generous St-Boniface Hospital Foundation donors, a new snack program enriches the time visitors spend with their loved ones. For three evenings a week, volunteers serve healthy, energizing snacks so visitors can spend time with their loved ones without leaving the Palliative Care Unit for food. The goal is to expand the program to seven days a week.

“It’s a time of crisis, vigil, and bonding. Sharing that time together builds relationships,” says Sandy Bell, Director of Family Medicine, Rehab/Geriatrics, Palliative Care at St-Boniface Hospital. “It’s a wonderful comfort for patients and families to remain on

the Unit, without having to leave to get nourishment. Some of the visiting families fly in from other cities and arrive in the evening. Having snacks on the Unit maximizes the quality time visitors can share with their loved ones.”

The idea came from a former palliative care patient observing families on the Unit. The Palliative Approach to Care Committee shaped the idea; Foundation donors funded it; Hospital Kitchen staff prepare it; and volunteers deliver it.

The evening snack program is an extension of the popular, long-running tea program where volunteers serve tea to visitors every Thursday afternoon.

Caroline McIntosh is one of those volunteers. She visited her father frequently in the Palliative Care Unit, and was moved by the experience of being served tea while visiting.

“I will never forget the feeling,” says McIntosh. “Being served tea in a china cup made me feel like I was at home.”

Now retired, McIntosh returns the kindness by serving tea to visitors and patients. “Often, people will say ‘you don’t know what this means to me.’ But I do,” she says. “I have walked a mile in their shoes. I can’t change a patient’s lot in life, but if I can give them a few moments where it doesn’t feel like they are in the Hospital, I’ve made a difference in their journey.”

“Everything about our tea and snack programs reflects the tradition of the Grey Nuns who founded the Hospital,” says Bell. “It’s about demonstrating hospitality and care. Sharing food and drink is a key part of that.”

 

From a Grateful Family“We have chosen to support the St-Boniface Hospital Palliative Care snack program to help others and give back – principles our mom/wife, Dale Klassen, lived by in both her professional life as a nurse and her personal life. We experienced devastating grief and fear when she was admitted to the palliative floor. We feel the snack program is a small step towards keeping the caregivers of the precious patients brave and courageous as they help their loved ones. We will be forever grateful to the staff of the floor as they helped us navigate what to this date has been the most difficult and overwhelming experience of our lives. They treated our mom/wife with an unparalleled level of dignity and respect.”

The Klassen Family

14 | Believe | Fall/Winter 2015 | Foundation

As a farm girl raised near Oak Lake, Dr. Carla Taylor grew up knowing certain foods are good for you. As a scientist, she spends her time figuring out how and why.

Western societies used to think of food strictly as a source of nutrition. In more recent decades, science has started to understand how specific foods and food components can prevent and even help treat various diseases. When it comes to understanding the potential benefits of foods growing in Manitoba soil, Dr. Taylor and her colleagues lead the way.

“Our work goes beyond the basics of nutrients like fat and carbohydrates,” says Dr. Taylor, Principal Investigator, Metabolic Nutrition, Canadian Centre for Agri-food Research in Health and Medicine (CCARM) at St-Boniface Hospital. “We’re looking at ‘bioactive’ ingredients – the components that are not nutrients, yet have specific, positive benefits for health.”

One of the major pieces of Dr. Taylor’s research is her focus on Manitoba pulse crops – dry beans, peas, chickpeas, and lentils – and working with her colleagues to study their impact on the health of blood vessels.

“We gave people with peripheral artery disease who have atherosclerosis (thickening and hardening of blood vessels) in the legs half-a-cup of pulses every day for eight weeks. We were able to show they had better blood flow to the legs and lower blood cholesterol,” explains Dr. Taylor. “This is in a group of people who were being managed with the best medical care and were on all the appropriate medications – yet diet still made a difference. That’s an important message – diet can make a difference for management of certain forms of cardiovascular disease, even when medications are needed.”

Dr. Taylor and her team are also studying the potential impact of canola oil – another Manitoba staple – on people at risk of Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Their hypothesis is that canola oil can help prevent blood vessels from becoming stiff. Participants in the 12-week study enjoy muffins, chicken fried rice, pad thai, Spanish rice, pasta salad, and more – all made with canola oil.

Two upcoming studies will look at the health benefits of locally grown crops. Foods made from a variety of Manitoba products (Saskatoon berries, pinto beans, dried peas, buckwheat, oats, and flax) will be studied for the prevention of Type 2 diabetes in people showing early signs of the disease. Saskatoon berries will be studied in healthy young adults to learn more about the berry’s glycemic index and anti-oxidant properties.

Proving the benefits of pulse crops, canola oil, and Saskatoon berries requires the same research rigour and evidence as any other medical or pharmaceutical endeavour.

“We want to be recognized for the quality of the research,” says Dr. Taylor. “And we’re very excited about proving that there are Manitoba-made ways to prevent and manage chronic disease.

To learn more about these upcoming studies, please call 204-258-1207 or e-mail studyinfo@ccarm.ca.

“…diet still made a difference.”Dr. Carla Taylor, Principal Investigator,

Metabolic Nutrition, Canadian Centre for Agri-food Research in Health and Medicine, St-Boniface Hospital.

 

Research | Fall/Winter 2015 | Believe | 15

Taking the Pulse of Vascular HealthResearch points to the health benefits of Manitoba crops

Giving. Remembering. Honouring.Thank you to our many compassionate donors who have chosen to make gifts to St-Boniface Hospital Foundation to remember or honour those people listed below. Gifts recognized were made between March 1, 2015 and July 31, 2015.

In memoryAlanna Hogue AielloMarjorie AlbiHenrique AmaralFred AndersonRon AppleyardRoger R. BaekelandLiam BarclayJacob BeckerRobert BelbasStan BernasMorley BlanksteinPatricia BlobelAntoinette Bourque

BouvetJohn R. BrownRobert BydakRuth CantorRobert CarretteRichard ChannonBaby Lukas Paul

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MurphyAudrey Murray

Ella OrmshawEstate of Jim

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PaulhusDorothy PellowDouglas PenhallElfriede S. PetersPauline PomarenskiAllan PottTara Lynne RaaflaubEarl RobinsonLise RobitailleRebecca L. RosnerRivian RuskinFrederick RymanLeonard SaultJeffry SchentagDr. Roman SeiferCarol SelbyDaniel ShandroskiSharon SharbovskyErvin ShottMyer SilversteinPeter SmarzGerald D. SmithJoseph William

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BlomartAverie Hope BookPeter ConnellyFrank DelbridgeLillian DuboffJames HandfordEldon HearnEleanor HerstEsther KatzStella William &

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HousekeepingThe Engagement of

Tali and NathanJoe TravassosDr Alexander VajcnerTracy WhiteThe Hon W. Scott

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Donors’ names appear in the manner and language in which they wish to be recognized.

2015-2016 Board of Directors

St-Boniface Hospital Mr. Murray Kilfoyle, Chairperson Mr. Haig Vanlian, Vice-ChairpersonMs. Carolyn Duhamel, Vice-ChairpersonDr. Marcus Blouw Mr. Tom CarsonMrs. Mary CourcheneMr. Drew CringanMr. Gabor Csepregi Mr. Romel DhallaMs. Monique FillionDr. José FrançoisDr. Gary GlavinMr. John GrahamMs. Linda HughesSon Excellence Monseigneur Albert LeGattMs. Naomi LevineMr. Robert PrudenMr. Jean-Marc RuestMr. Daniel Lussier (ex-officio)

St-Boniface Hospital Auxiliary Inc. Mr. Daniel E. Lussier, ChairpersonMs. Michelle Ferguson, Vice-ChairpersonMs. Karen JohnsonMr. Richard ClémentMs. Leanne EdwardsMs. Sophie EthierMr. Normand GousseauMr. Kyle PicardMr. Rennie Zegalski

St-Boniface Hospital FoundationMr. John Graham, ChairMr. Kevin T. Williams, Past ChairMr. Neil Duboff, Vice-ChairMr. Carmine Militano, Vice-ChairMr. Frank Plett, Secretary-TreasurerMs. Karen Banfield-ThorvaldsonMs. Tanya BenoitMr. Jim DowneyMr. Joe FiorentinoMr. William FraserMr. Domenic GrestoniMs. Caroline KivaMr. Jonathan LetkemannMr. George RajotteMs. Heather ReichertMr. Doug StephenMr. Louis TrepelMr. Larry Vickar

16 | Believe | Fall/Winter 2015 | Foundation