Media Release: YCH 1st Hospital in YR To Receive BPSO

Media Release - York Central First Hospital in York Region to Receive Best Practice Spotlight Organization Designation

April 30, 2012

Richmond Hill, ON – York Central Hospital is honoured to announce it is now designated as a Best Practice Spotlight Organization (BPSO) through the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO). Achieving this designation recognizes that our hospital has successfully implemented an unprecedented 17 recommendations of the RNAO’s internationally recognized Best Practice Guidelines (BPGs) over the three year program.

The BPSO journey engaged nurses and other professionals from a variety of roles and specialty areas to actively collaborate in implementing evidenced based practice. As well as improving clinical outcomes, these projects empower and invigorate nurses and allied health members, strengthen nursing practice and raise the profile of nurses as knowledge professionals.

In addition, the BPSO program has significantly contributed to the hospital meeting many strategic objectives. By implementing these 17 BPGs across the hospital, York Central Hospital is demonstrating its commitment to creating a practice environment that actively supports clinicians in applying the best evidence to practice. From caring for children with asthma and helping new moms with breastfeeding to caregiver strategies for older adults with delirium, dementia and depression, this process will continue to benefit patient care across the healthcare continuum.

Read more: http://qrs.ly/ui1ti74

Strides for Stroke 5K Walk/Run Promo Video

Strides For Stroke Kick-Off Next Week!

Volunteers Celebrate 50 Years of Giving to Community

Yorkregion.com, February 17, 2012

This story appeared in the latest Heartbeat of our Community

Volunteers are often the first people you meet upon entering York Central Hospital or one of its community locations.

On Jan. 30, the Volunteer Association of York Central Hospital celebrated its 50th anniversary of commitment to the organization and the community, with a reception honouring 50 years of giving. Even before York Central Hospital was open to its first patients, volunteers played a vital role.

For 50 years, women, men and teenagers have supported patients and staff, and have conducted fundraising events to enhance services at the hospital.

Our dedicated volunteers come from across southwest York Region including

Richmond Hill, Thornhill, Vaughan and King Township.

At the reception in January, hospital president and CEO Altaf Stationwala said, “Our volunteers have consistently demonstrated their dedication to providing the best service to the community. When asked to spread the word that a hospital was coming to Richmond Hill or sew bed sheets before its opening, our volunteers responded. Without our volunteers, York Central Hospital would not be the friendly and caring organization it is known to be.”

Dina Palozzi, chair of the hospital’s board of directors added, “I would like to thank all of the volunteers from the past, present and future, who help shape the volunteering commitment. Our volunteers are truly valued members of the health care team.”

Over the years, approximately 30,000 people have volunteered their time and talent, enhancing the hospital experience for countless patients and families. Currently, more than 900 volunteers offer their time by lending assistance in the hospital or by raising funds for much needed equipment.

To inquire about student or adult volunteer opportunities at York Central Hospital, contact volunteer and community resources at volunteers@yorkcentral.on.ca.

YCH Offers Advanced Sports Medicine

YCH offers advanced sports medicine

Yorkregion.com, February 21, 2012

This story appeared in the latest Heartbeat of our Community

From weekend warriors to national competitors, injured athletes of all stripes are referred to Dr. Robert Wang, an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in sports medicine and arthroscopic surgery.

Dr. Wang completed his surgical residency at the University of Toronto before heading to the United States for training in sports medicine and arthroscopic surgery. He then returned home to the GTA and joined the orthopedic surgery department at York Central Hospital in 2008.

Because of York Region’s growing population, Dr. Wang was able to quickly build a practice focusing on his specialties, which include arthroscopic surgery. Arthroscopy is part of a general trend in surgery towards minimally invasive procedures. An arthroscope (a long, thin tube with a light and video camera) is inserted through a small incision into the interior of a joint to evaluate an injury; small surgical instruments can be inserted through a second incision to repair damage.

The advantages to this type of surgery versus traditional open surgery include shorter hospital stays, reduced scarring, less pain and faster healing. The latter can be particularly important to competitive athletes who want to get back in the game sooner.

Dr. Wang largely treats injuries to the shoulder, such as rotator cuff tears, dislocations or joint separations, and knee, including ligament tears, and injuries to the meniscus and cartilage. They can result from long-term wear and tear (such as a knee injury caused by decades of long-distance running) or traumatic injury (such as a dislocated shoulder resulting from a football tackle).

“A large percentage of my practice is treating athletes,” he says, adding they range in age from young adult on up and cover the whole spectrum of sport from recreational to competitive. “These are people who enjoy working out to stay fit and healthy.”

Dr. Wang recommends non-surgical treatment, which can include rest, physiotherapy and bracing, which is the starting point for many sports related injuries. For certain injuries or when non-surgical options have failed, he recommends surgery.

Pam Richards, manager of perioperative and surgical ambulatory services at

York Central, says demand for arthroscopy is growing, and to have a surgeon with Dr. Wang’s training at York Central is good for the hospital and its patients. “He has more specialized training than most sports medicine surgeons in Canada,” she says. “He uses the latest technology and ensures he stays at the forefront of the most current techniques and best practices.”

For example, Dr. Wang was one of only three North American surgeons chosen by the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine to participate in a training fellowship to Asia last fall. He visited the Philippines, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand to meet, observe and share ideas with surgeons there.

Inspirational Gift - Lamanna Family

On January 25, 2012, Joe & Lucy Lamanna and their family members were honoured at a recognition celebration at York Central Hospital. More than 30 guests attended the plaque unveiling and reception including York Central Hospital staff and physicians as well as Foundation staff and volunteers.

Their event celebrated the recent success of a charity golf tournament that they organized for Joe’s 70^th birthday. The event raised $55,000 towards the Urology Program at York Central Hospital.

They have also supported the Foundation’s Signature Events through sponsorships and donations. Their daughter, Lee Zanetti, is on the Foundation Board of Directors as well as a member of several volunteer committees.

Thank you Joe & Lucy for Caring to make a difference!

2011 Moonlight & Magic Gala - Highlights Reel

President's Corner - Let's Talk

Today, I’ll be participating in a national conversation to break the stigma associated with mental illness.

The second annual Bell Let’s Talk Day is taking place nationwide.

The initiative seeks to break the often negative stigma associated with mental illness. In support of the event, Bell Canada will contribute five cents for every long distance call and text message its customers make to support mental health related programs across the country.

Olympian Clara Hughes will help kick off the conversation, which includes an online portal at http://bell.ca/letstalk.  Visitors to the site can post their comments and questions while learning about mental illness and how they can begin their own conversations at home and in the workplace.

The event is part of the largest ever mental health initiative by a Canadian-corporation. The five-year $50 million Bell Mental Health Initiative was announced in September 2010 and focuses on 4 pillars: anti-stigma efforts, improving care and access, research support, and new workplace initiatives.  

It’s important to recognize mental illness can affect anyone. It could be your neighbour, your family member, a friend or even yourself.

To help treat this patient population, York Central Hospital launched a pilot project at Alexander Mackenzie High School. From December 2011 to June 2012, an on-site mental health professional will be at the school one day a week to connect students with the appropriate resources and to also provide an immediate link to York Central Hospital, if necessary.

“The presence of the on-site mental health worker aims to reduce the stigma often associated with mental health as well as provide students with the information they may require in a comfortable and familiar environment,” says Donna Spevakow, Senior Project Manager & Operations Director of the Mental Health Program at York Central Hospital.

The project was made possible by the James Peek Memorial Golf Classic. The tournament was created to support mental health initiatives in honour of James Peek, who suffered from mental illness as a teenager. Since the first tournament 12 years ago, the James Peek Memorial Golf Classic has designated more than $250,000 towards the mental health program at York Central Hospital.

York Central Hospital offers many other Mental Health Inpatient and Outpatient services including a Psychiatric Inpatient Unit, Day Treatment Program, Day Hospital and Crisis Intervention Services, to name a few. Our dedicated team of mental health experts works hard to ensure those suffering from mental illness get the care they require.

To find out how you can help support mental health initiatives at York Central Hospital, please give me a call at 905-883-2032 or email bleacy@yorkcentral.on.ca

In the meantime, I hope you will join me in the conversation.

Wishing you the best of health,

Bill Leacy

President & CEO

Third Party Event - Vaughan Mompreneur Showcase

The Vaughan Mompreneur Showcase is taking place on March 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Paradise Banquet Hall. The event showcases the talents of local mom-owned businesses.

Proceeds from admission and the silent auction will go towards Zack's Dream Room at York Central Hospital. Visit www.vaughanmompreneurs.com for more details.

Volunteer Association Celebrates 50 Years of Giving Back!

On January 30, 1962 in the midst of a blinding snow storm community minded residents of the town of Richmond Hill, met at the Lions Hall to discuss what they could offer to help the then-future hospital and its patients.

That night, the Volunteer Auxiliary (now called Volunteer Association) was born along with a lifelong commitment to giving for many community residents.

Fifty years later, volunteers continue to play a vital role at York Central Hospital.

Today, York Central Hospital hosted a special ceremony to celebrate 50 years of volunteering at York Central Hospital.

YCH Achieves Impressive Results - Year in Review

Over the last two years, York Central Hospital has made tremendous progress in creating a great patient care experience and a healthy bottom line despite the challenges of caring for one of Canada's fastest growing communities.


Click here to see some of our recent achievements.

MIS Community Connection Segment - Rogers Television

Last month, York Central Hospital Foundation had the privilege of collaborating with Rogers Television York Region to produce a segment for Community Connection on Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS).

The segment features MIS Surgeon Dr. Rohan Shahani, York Central Hospital Foundation President & CEO Bill Leacy and John Jenah, President of the Paul B. Helliwell Foundation. The Paul B. Helliwell Foundation was the lead donor in both of York Central Hospital’s MIS Suites.

Click here to view this educational segment.

Thank you to Rogers Television for allowing us the opportunity to showcase some of York Central's services to our community and recognize our incredible donors!

To find out how you can help support health care in our community, please email foundation@yorkcentral.on.ca or call 905-883-2032.

World Diabetes Day - November 14, 2011

November 14 is World Diabetes Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness of and funds for this disease. More than 9 million Canadians are affected by diabetes and thousands are right here in our region.

To help patients in our community manage this disease, York Central Hospital established a Diabetes Education Centre in 1992.  

The goal of the centre is to provide adult pregnancy induced (gestational) and pre-diabetes patients, with the tools, support and education they need to self-manage their disease. Although the goal for each patient is the same, the way they get there can vary.

“Every patient is treated independently,” said Gillian Burley RN, one of 11 Diabetes Educators working in the centre. “Each patient’s program is tailored to their specific needs.”

The Diabetes Education Centre is staffed with Registered Nurses, Registered Dietitians, a coordinator and a visiting Chiropodist. All of the Educators are experts in diabetes education.

Patients can self-refer or can be referred to the centre by a health care provider.   The centre offers comprehensive diabetes care including individual initial assessments with regular follow-ups to assist with monitoring and self management of blood sugars, medication adjustment, diet education, insulin pump therapy and a foot care clinic.  More than 700 patients were seen through the centre last month alone.

In order to meet the needs of our diverse diabetes patients, the Diabetes Education Centre staff offers education in a variety of languages including English, French, Cantonese, Mandarin, Italian, Farsi, Urdu, Punjabi and Hindi. Cooking classes are also part of the program and include sessions tailored towards several ethnic groups and taste preferences.

The Diabetes Education Centre is an important part of our hospital services and requires the support of our community. 

Your generosity in helping to support this program will help ensure this dedicated team of diabetes experts has the equipment and technology they need to continue serving this specialized patient population.

To find out how you can support this program, please contact the Foundation office at 905-883-2032 or donate securely online at http://yorkcentral.on.ca/donate.htm.

Third Party Event - Joy of Aging Raises $30K for YCH

On Sunday, October 23^rd 2011, more than 350 women gathered at Copper Creek Golf Club to raise funds for York Central Hospital, learn about fitness and healthy aging and build new friendships at the Joy of Aging event.

The fundraiser was organized by financial advisors, Tina Tehranchian and Janine Purves and their team at the Richmond Hill Branch of Assante Capital Management Ltd.  Ms. Tehranchian is also Board Member at York Central Hospital Foundation.

Tracy Moore, the host of CityLine on Citytv, hosted the third annual event.  The morning started with the beautiful sounds of Dave McLaughlin's saxophone, followed by a speech by Vivian Risi, owner of Royal LePage Your Community Realty, Director of York Central Hospital Foundation and the Platinum Presenting Sponsor of the event. Ms. Risi spoke to the guests about her history of philanthropy and her special relationship with York Central Hospital. 

Next, financial advisors, Tina Tehranchian and Janine Purves, also the Platinum Presenting Sponsors, delivered a fun and entertaining presentation about women and money followed by a money quiz.

Mysterion, the mind reader, dazzled and intrigued the audience with his ability to read minds. The keynote speaker, Susan Sommers, inspired the audience with her life story, recounting how she ran her first marathon at age 61 and her second at age 63, and offered useful tips for women on fitness and staying in shape.  With the engaging and informative keynote speaker, fun activities, an energizing fitness break sponsored by Vive Pilates and interesting sponsor booths to visit, the morning proved to be enjoyable and entertaining for the attendees.

“We are thrilled with the end result of this event and are pleased to be able to support a worthy organization like York Central Hospital,” said Tina and Janine. “Our guests, sponsors and volunteers of the Joy of Aging are helping to make a difference for the patients at our community hospital.”

The event helped raise $30,000 that will be used to fund three new and state of-the-art intravenous infusion pumps for York Central.

Over the past three years, the Joy of Aging has raised more than $70,000 for York Central Hospital.

Inspirational Gift: Dalton & Shirley Hicks Urology Clinic

On September 28, 2011, York Central Hospital Foundation celebrated the opening of the Dalton & Shirley Hicks Urology Clinic.

Donors, Hospital Staff, Foundation Board Members and Foundation staff attended the event to recognize the outstanding contribution of the Urology Clinic donors to our hospital.
 

We truly appreciate your commitment to our hospital and our grateful patients. Thank you for Caring to make a difference™!

Thank you to the following donors for generously funding the

Dalton & Shirley Hicks Urology Clinic

 

Pasquale Caggianiello

John Di Poce Family

Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc.

Dalton and Shirley Hicks

Joe and Lucy Lamanna & Family

Donald and Anna Little & Family

Ron and Marlene Lecompte

Proud Partners Golf Classic 2011

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Third Party Event - Salon Allure: Results

Employees at Salon Allure in Woodbridge recently held a fundraiser in support of York Central Hospital’s Oncology Program. The August 28 event was a great success, raising more than $2,000!

Thank you to all donors, clients and of course, the staff at Salon Allure for Caring to make a difference™.

Your support, generosity and commitment to improving health care for our community’s oncology patients is truly inspiring!

Community Fundraiser: The Joy of Aging 2011

Mock Surgery

Last night, a Mock Surgery event was held in the Paul B. Helliwell Foundation Minimally Invasive Surgery Suite.

Dr. Rohan Shahani, a Minimally Invasive and General Urologic Surgeon at York Central Hospital along with Pam Richards, Manager, Surgery Program at York Central Hospital, provided guests with an informative and interactive evening. Sally Rogers, Operations Director, Surgery and Woman & Children Program also attended the event and provided assistance.

Guests were invited to try the surgical equipment, which is a sample of the equipment used to suture patients in the operating room. Dr. Shahani made the demonstration seem easy but everyone was surprised to learn it was much harder than it looked when they each took a turn!

Equipment for the demonstration was generously provided by Jim Dean of Johnson & Johnson.

All of the guests asked great questions and enjoyed refreshments after the demonstration.

A very special thank you to Dr. Rohan Shahani and Pam Richards for their interactive demonstration and for providing our guests with informative answers to their questions. We sincerely appreciate your gifts of time and talent and look forward to the next Mock Surgery event!

Press Release - York Central Hospital Receives Approval to Build New Hospital in Vaughan

For Immediate Release:

Thursday July 21, 2011

Media Release

York Central Hospital Receives Approval to Build

New Hospital in Vaughan

Vaughan, ON. – Today it was announced that York Central Hospital has been approved to build a new hospital in Vaughan. The Honourable Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care made the announcement alongside Greg Sorbara, MPP for Vaughan.

Today’s announcement confirms the approval of a new hospital for Vaughan in the provincial infrastructure plan. Under the leadership of York Central Hospital, the new hospital in Vaughan will be publicly owned, publicly controlled and publicly accountable. The new hospital in Vaughan will be part of York Central Hospital’s two-hospital model for health care services and will ensure people living in the rapidly growing communities of Southwest York Region, including Vaughan and Richmond Hill, have access to high quality, state-of-the-art health care, closer to home.

This announcement follows York Central Hospital’s project milestone in April, when its Stage 1 Proposal was delivered to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care as part of the government’s capital planning process. The proposal outlined York Central’s plans to create a Major Regional Health System for Southwest York Region, with a new hospital in Vaughan at Jane and Major Mackenzie as well as further development at the existing York Central Hospital on

Trench Street

in Richmond Hill. The hospitals would also operate alongside community-based locations and will be linked to a regional network of providers.

Planning is underway for a new hospital in Vaughan that will offer:

·         A state-of the art Emergency Department

·         New Modern Surgical Services and Operating Rooms;

·         Access to Acute Inpatient and Intensive Care Beds;

·         Technologically Advanced Diagnostic Imaging;

·         Specialized Ambulatory Clinics;

·         80 per cent single acute care patient rooms for superior infection prevention and control; and,

·         A flexible design to permit adaptation over time as new thinking and best practices emerge.

The new hospital will be enabled by an efficient organizational structure with a single governance, administration and medical staff as part of the two-hospital model. York Central Hospital is currently undergoing a rebranding exercise to represent our expanded mandate as a new major regional health system.

Quotes

“We are working with our community to develop a new brand for York Central Hospital that will better communicate our expanded mandate to create a Major Regional Health System including the building of

a new hospital in Vaughan and further development of the existing Richmond Hill hospital site,” said Dina Palozzi, Chair, York Central Hospital Board of Directors. 

“I am delighted to have the government’s support for our vision of creating a Major Regional Health System by approving our organization to build a new hospital in Vaughan. The new hospital will benefit the citizens of Vaughan and all of Southwest York Region,” said Altaf Stationwala, President and CEO of York Central Hospital.

“Achieving our hospital approval is an extremely important milestone for our community. This much-needed investment will improve local access to quality health care for our residents. I'd like to thank the people of our community, the City of Vaughan, and the many devoted volunteers who have contributed so much of their time and energy to our hospital project. While we still have important work to do, today's announcement gives us reason to celebrate what we have worked so hard to achieve."
- Greg Sorbara, MPP, Vaughan

 “I know how important this new hospital is to the people of Vaughan and I’m proud to see it move forward. For Vaughan and area-residents, new hospital services not only mean faster and easier access to high quality health care services much closer to home, but also greater peace of mind.” 

- Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

“I want to thank the province for taking this important step and thank the community for its unwavering support of our goal to build a hospital in the City of Vaughan. Today’s announcement is an example of how different levels of government can work together with the community to improve health care services in our city.  I want to personally thank everyone involved in this process for their hard work, commitment and dedication. In the coming months and years, discipline, cooperation and focus will be required to bring this project to fruition. The City of Vaughan and its citizens are up to the task. Today's announcement is great news for Vaughan!"

 -Maurizio Bevilacqua, Mayor, City of Vaughan

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Media Contact:

Elizabeth Barnett                                              Melina Cormier

Consultant, Communications and Public Affairs   Chief, Communications and Public Affairs

York Central Hospital                                        York Central Hospital

Tel. (905) 883-1212 ext. 7490                             Tel. (905) 883-1212 ext. 7492

 E-mail: ebarnett@yorkcentral.on.ca                      E-mail: mcormier@yorkcentral.on.ca

Strides for Stroke Wrap Up Article

Strides for Stroke record-breaking event for foundation

Record fundraiser. The sixth annual Richview Manor Strides for Stroke raised a record $125,000 for the York Region District Stroke Centre. Mike Cheliak Photo

York Central Hospital Foundation’s sixth annual Richview Manor Strides for Stroke 5K Run/Walk raised an all-time high of $125,000 for the York Region District Stroke Centre, exceeding its original goal of $75,000.
“There were many athletes of all abilities at Strides for Stroke, but the true winners of this event are the patients of the York Region District Stroke Centre,” said Joseph Gulizia, chair of the Strides for Stroke committee and a foundation board member.
More than 700 participants, the largest number in history, attended the May 7 event held at Richmond Green in Richmond Hill. The event included a 1K Scamper for children under 12, 1K Hip Hip Hooray race for York Central Hospital’s orthopaedic patients and 5K run/walk.
Participants enjoyed post-race massages courtesy of Hillsview Massage and Therapy Centre and walked through the health fair, which featured several local businesses and organizations. The event’s proud naming sponsor for the second year in a row was Richview Manor, a 137-bed retirement home located on Eagles Nest Golf Club. The retirement home is scheduled to open November 2011. TD Canada Trust and Freedom 55 Financial also provided outstanding support to the event again by registering corporate teams and raising $27,000 and $12,000 respectively.
“We cannot thank the sponsors, volunteers, donors and participants enough for their outstanding support and commitment to the patients of the York Region District Stroke Centre,” said Mr. Gulizia. “A lot of effort went into planning this event and we couldn’t have asked for a better result.”
Dr. Vince Basile, a neurologist and medical director of the York Region District Stroke Centre at York Central Hospital, said funds raised from the event will have a dramatic impact on patient care.
“We try to go above and beyond the standard quality of care for patients and Strides for Stroke certainly helps us in achieving that goal,” he said.
Funds raised will go towards the purchase of vital equipment and technology including computer software that will help to rapidly identify the extent of damaged brain areas affected by a stroke. Rehabilitation software purchased will help patients regain functions previously lost or damaged from stroke including speech and mobility. The funds will also help to purchase rehabilitation equipment, fund educational opportunities for staff to enhance their knowledge and skills as well as increase access to care.
The centre provides the entire spectrum of stroke care from acute stroke reversal to stroke prevention and community reintegration. Last year, more than 750 patients were seen through the centre either as inpatients or outpatients.
“We have physician specialists in neurology, vascular surgery, intensive care, internal medicine and anti-coagulation, as well as speech language pathologists, occupational and physical therapists and a number of other allied health professionals that help to rehabilitate our patients,” said Dr. Basile. “We provide all of the care that is necessary to treat and prevent stroke symptoms right here at York Central Hospital.”
Dr. Basile noted that although the stroke centre often provides life-saving care and support to stroke patients and their families, there is something that patients can do to help themselves or loved ones further.
“If anyone has symptoms of a stroke, we encourage them to get to a hospital as fast as possible,” he said. “There’s a lot we can do to restore patients back to their normal function if they get to us within 4-1/2 hours from the onset of their symptoms. The faster patients get to us, the less potential there is for permanent brain damage. After this crucial time window the focus of care is rehabilitation and prevention.”

Save The Date! The seventh annual Strides for Stroke 5K Run/Walk has been booked for Saturday, May 5, 2012 at Richmond Green.

Originally published in The Liberal. Visit http://www.yorkregion.com/community/health/article/1017451--strides-for-stroke-record-breaking-event-for-foundation