Latest News & Events
Keep up to date with the latest goings on from the Squamish Hospital Foundation. Add your thoughts and comments to the individual posts using the comment forms provided.
Health centres, hospital get $200,000 each for emergency services
The three main healthcare centres in the Sea to Sky corridor are to get a cash injection from the provincial government to improve public access to emergency services.
Squamish General Hospital, Pemberton Health Centre and Whistler Health Centre will each immediately receive $200,000, a spokesman for the Ministry of Health confirmed.
The province announced in July 2011 that $10 million would be spent around B.C. to provide financial assistance for rural, fee-for-service physicians who commit to ensure reliable public access to emergency services is maintained at local hospitals.
This can include hiring additional doctors, incentives for working weekends, holidays or night shifts and health authority-approved equipment purchases. Physicians will work with their regional health authority to develop community-specific plans.
Source: The Pique News Magazine
Warm-ups key to reducing knee injuries. Corridor pilot project educates young athletes on ACL injury prevention
Dr. Alexandra Brooks-Hill knows what she’s talking about when she says anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries have become an epidemic among soccer players and ski racers.
She has been treating patients with these injuries through her work as an orthopaedic surgeon, and by the end of her sporting career in field hockey, she had undergone five knee surgeries on her left knee and two on her right knee. She is facing the possibility of knee replacement surgery in the future, which is why she is so passionate about prevention.
That, she said, has led her to spearhead an ACL injury prevention program in the Sea to Sky Corridor.
A pilot project aimed at young athletes, it serves as an introduction to a set of warm-up exercises specifically designed to prevent ACL injuries. Brooks-Hill has teamed up with Dr. Sally Clark and physiotherapist Maggie Phillips-Scarlett, from Reach Physio, to deliver education sessions to interested groups in Pemberton, Whistler and Squamish, through the support of the Triboard Health Care Foundation.
One such session took place on Thursday (Feb. 9) at Brennan Park Rec Centre, and the room was packed with soccer players, coaches, parents and community members.
The message from the health professionals was clear. “We don’t want you guys to end up in the same situation,” said Brooks-Hill at the start of the presentation.
“To give you an idea of how common [ACL injuries] are, take this number — 80,000 in the United States,” she said, drawing attention to her PowerPoint presentation on the screen.
“When you take the numbers and break it down, it’s one injury for every 200 exposures. It means that one kid on every soccer team (with an average of 20 players) after the age of 14… will have an ACL injury. That is a dramatic number and if there’s anyone in here in a team where it hasn’t happened, it just means there’s another team where it’s happened twice.”
On a positive note, added Brooks-Hill, a lot of research has proven that if you incorporate specific stretches into your warm-up, you can actually reduce the likelihood of an ACL injury.
“What we are saying is try the 20 minute warm-up, have someone come in and coach the coaches and then you know exactly what you are looking for in the warm-up. Let’s reduce the number of knee injuries that we have here in the corridor — that’s the ultimate goal.”
Brooks-Hill said if the program is followed by many teams in the region so that it becomes commonplace, the impact it will have in reducing ACL injuries is higher than the impact of teeth-brushing on reducing cavities.
The year-long pilot project aims to present the issue to all three communities in the corridor, with Phillips-Scarlett working with a select number of teams in each area to learn how best to implement the program.
“The biggest thing is the trickle-down effect of coaching the coaches and parents, who are on the sidelines and can monitor what’s happening,” Phillips-Scarlett said, adding that from a training standpoint the biggest thing to emphasize is the quality of movement.
“Anyone can do a warm-up but it’s more how they’re doing it, specifically the neuromuscular control. Education is the key — start off on the right foot, so to speak, and get them to buy in and from a quality standpoint, I think that makes a big difference,” she said.
Brooks-Hill said the project would not have been possible without the assistance of the Tri-board Health Care Foundation, which agreed to support the pilot project. Once completed in April, the trio will present their recommendations to the foundation, with the hope of garnering more funding to continue their work.
For more information on the program email acl_injury_prevention@seatoskyorthopaedics.com.
Source: The Squamish Chief
ACL Injury Prevention presentation to be held at Brennan Park on February 9th, 2012 at 7pm – All Welcome
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are extremely common in young athletes. In particular, they have become an epidemic in soccer. Although the ACL can be reconstructed surgically, the long-term consequence of the ACL injury is osteoarthritis of the knee that can eventually be debilitating.
The Triboard Health Care Foundation is supporting an initiative in the Sea to Sky Corridor to help prevent ACL injuries by teaching Squamish soccer players how to warm up with proper movement techniques using a proven ACL-prevention program
Athletes, parents, coaches, teachers, and community members:
Please join us on Feb 9th at 7:00 at Brennan Park for a 30 minute presentation to learn more about ACL injuries (including epidemiology, method of injury, and surgical techniques) and the prevention program.
Presenters:
Dr Alex Brooks-Hill:
Dr Sally Clark
Maggie Phillips- Scarlett PT
The Squamish Hospital Foundation approves funding for new medical equipment
January 27th, 2012 – Patients, residents and new moms and their babies will benefit as a result of a generous contribution from the community through the Squamish Hospital Foundation. The organization’s Board of Directors has approved funding for new equipment that will help patients feel more comfortable and in one case will improve staff safety.
The new equipment includes:
- Two Aleris Syringe Driver Modules to allow patients to administer their own pain medication when needed.
- Ceiling lifts for 3 rooms at Squamish General Hospital, which will result in improved patient and staff safety.
- A breastfeeding chair for the breastfeeding clinic held at the Public Health Office
- Roho Mattress and heel pads for Hilltop House
As a result of the continued generosity of our community this funding announcement highlights the ability and commitment of the Squamish Hospital Foundation to provide Squamish residents with annual funding for medical equipment at the Squamish Hospital and other health facilities in Squamish.
Apart from the medical benefits the equipment will provide, annual funding of medical equipment and facility upgrades from the Foundation is of great benefit in attracting and retaining health professionals, reducing operating and maintenance costs of aging equipment and improving patient safety.
The contribution of the community through the Squamish General Hospital Foundation significantly enhances the delivery and quality of care in Squamish, especially at a time marked by an increasing need for care.
A shorter Name and a Fresh New Look.
November 17th, 2011 -The Squamish Hospital Foundation, (formerly the Squamish Health Care Foundation Society), is excited to launch its new branding this month. Recently, through a thorough process of review and design, the Foundation decided on a fresh, energetic new look, to better represent the organization today.
Part of the rebranding has been to rename the Foundation. The Squamish Hospital serves the entire region from Lillooet to Squamish, not just the direct community of Squamish. Changing the name to the Squamish Hospital Foundation, will help to ensure that people outside of the District of Squamish understand that they too benefit from the funds raised by the Foundation.
Established by the late Doctor Laverne Kindree in 1995, The Squamish Hospital Foundation is dedicated to raising funds to help meet the health care needs of the residents and visitors of Squamish and the Sea to Sky Corridor. Donations help to ensure that our healthcare professionals have the resources they need to provide quality health care. Gifts to the Foundation from generous supporters are used to purchase state of the art equipment for the Squamish Hospital and other community health care service providers. Donations to the Foundation are instrumental in ensuring the needs of our growing community are continually being met.
Recently the Foundation has contributed to the much needed upgrades to the pharmacy unit. The new pharmacy will accommodate increasing demand for service, provide a safer environment that meets WorkSafe BC requirements, and will be fully equipped to accommodate chemotherapy preparation for patients undergoing out?patient treatment for cancer at Squamish General Hospital.
Other recent equipment purchases paid for by donations made to the Foundation, are a fetal monitor, a surgical table, C-arm X ray, CT Training, large screen TV for palliative care lounge, a vital signs monitor, and a cast saw.
For more information please go to the Foundation’s new website squamishhospital.com or check out the very impressive new donor recognition board with interactive display in the main admitting area of the Squamish Hospital.
As our community grows, the health care needs grow also. Please consider making a donation today in person, by mail or online. Ways to donate include; becoming a monthly donor; making an annual donation; donating in someone’s name; or giving a one time gift.
Your community. Your Health. Be a part of it! Donate Today
Contact:
www.squamishhospital.com
squamishhospitalfoundation@gmail.com
PO Box 763, Garibaldi Highlands, BC, V0N 1T0
604 892 6090
Capital upgrades at Squamish General Hospital
Capital upgrades at Squamish General Hospital, Pemberton Health Centre will benefit patients and care providers along Sea to Sky corridor
Capital upgrades worth $1.8 million are slated for the pharmacy at Squamish General Hospital and the lab at the Pemberton Health Centre. The projects are both high priority items that will improve the functionality of the respective health care facilities they serve.
Total costs for the two projects are estimated at $1.2 million for the Squamish pharmacy expansion and $600,000 for the Pemberton lab.
The Sea to Sky Regional Hospital District will contribute a 40 per cent share toward the total cost of the projects the local communities identified as key. A generous contribution has also been made by the Squamish Rotary Club toward the pharmacy expansion in Squamish in the amount of $197,000.
The Squamish pharmacy project will improve the quality of sterile medication preparation as well as patient and staff safety. The new space will meet national accreditation standards as well as WorkSafeBC workplace standards.
The new pharmacy will accommodate additional demand for service as beds are opened in Hilltop House seniors residence, and will be fully equipped to accommodate chemotherapy preparation for patients undergoing out patient treatment for cancer at Squamish General Hospital.
The Pemberton lab project will result in the addition of a small onsite lab facility at the local health centre, and dedicated office space for the chief technician. The additional space will improve patient confidentiality and care, reduce overcrowding of equipment and supplies, and will provide a larger floor space to accommodate additional transfusion services for emergency situations.
In total, VCH received $29.4 million in provincial critical maintenance funding this year. There are currently 11 funded projects which are integral to the continued function of health care facilities across the health authority.
Quotes:
Joan McIntyre, MLA, West Vancouver/Sea to Sky:
The BC government is committed to working with local fundraising partners to continue to identify and meet the health care needs of families along the Sea to Sky corridor. These-2-
upgrades at Squamish General Hospital’s pharmacy and Pemberton’s lab are welcome additions to the range of excellent health care services provided here in our region.
Wendy Hansson, Chief Operating Officer, VCH Coastal:
These two projects will enable VCH to provide Sea to Sky residents with safe, high quality care they need, when they need it. When complete, the pharmacy and lab will ensure that hospital staff is working in spaces that not only function better technically, but also protect their safety. These projects prove that by working in partnership with the community the Sea to Sky Regional Hospital District and Squamish Rotary Club can accomplish more for health care than we can when working in isolation of each other.
Paul Lalli, Chair, Sea to Sky Regional Hospital District:
I am very pleased with the recent announcement for funding of our key capital projects in the Sea to Sky corridor. On behalf of my board, we are pleased to contribute 40 per cent towards these projects. It proves that with hard work and co-operation, we can get things done especially in hard economic times. I personally want to thank the Squamish Rotary Club for its large contribution. This work will ensure that residents of Squamish and Pemberton can receive the essential services they need without leaving their home communities.
George McKenzie, Squamish Rotary Club
As a long time member of the Rotary Club of Squamish and also as chair of the Squamish Health Care Foundation, I am very happy to see these projections come online. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my fellow Rotarians and all who contributed to our recent fundraiser as well as thank each of the board members of the Squamish Health Care Foundation, the Whistler Health Care Foundation and the Pemberton Health Care Foundation for all their dedication and hard work to help make this happen. Well done!
Background:
VCH is responsible for the delivery of $2.9 billion in community, hospital and residential care to more than one million people in communities including Richmond, Vancouver, the North Shore, Sunshine Coast, Sea to Sky corridor, Powell River, Bella Bella and Bella Coola.
VCH received a total of $29.4 million in provincial critical maintenance funding this year.
Other VCH critical maintenance projects funded include:
- Elevator upgrades at St. Paul’s and Mount Saint Joseph hospitals $4.7 million
- Electrical system upgrades at St. Paul’s Hospital $12.5 million
- Lions Gate Hospital acute domestic water & waste piping systems upgrade $1.5 million
- Domestic water piping system upgrades at VGH and Bella Coola General
- Hospital $3 million and $666,000, respectively.
13th Annual Golf Classic planned for Friday, September 10th, 2010
The Squamish Health Care Foundation has teamed up with Squamish Rotary to make an even bigger impact on our community in 2010 to fund both a CT Scanner for Squamish General and support the Squamish Breakfast Club program that feeds the youths-in-need in our schools. The Squamish Health Care Foundation Golf Classic has raised $513,000 over the past 12 years funding thirty-two pieces of equipment at Squamish General Hospital, touching over 19,000 lives. Fifty-five businesses in the community supported last year’s event.
In an effort to accommodate the community, Squamish Valley Golf Club has re-structured the Golf Classic to give everyone a chance to golf at anytime on Friday, September 10th with the perks normally associated with the traditional Golf Classic.
The day includes 18 holes of golf at the Best Value in BC, First Tee gift, complimentary food, KP & LD awards, team prize, complimentary range balls, over $5,000 in draw prizes, refreshments, team putting contest, as well as some fun events. Players can enter in groups of (2) or (4) @ $140 per person (tax receipt for $100). Carts are extra.
Sponsorship opportunities are available.
To book your preferred tee time at the Pro Shop soon to avoid disappointment by calling 604.898.9691 ext.1 (credit card required to confirm booking.)
The strength of business and community is often measured by the quality of their health care services and education so the opportunity obliges everyone to be involved on September 10th in some capacity. For more information about the Squamish Health Care Foundation, please contact us at 604.892.6060.
New Emergency Department and Expanded Hilltop House
January 18, 2010
SQUAMISH Today’s opening of two newly renovated health care facilities in Squamish will provide Sea to Sky residents with timely, accessible care in their own community.
Work began on plans to renovate and expand Hilltop House residential care home and Squamish General Hospital’s Emergency Department four years ago. Both projects were officially opened today to serve residents and visitors to the Sea to Sky corridor.
Squamish residents of all ages will benefit with better access to quality care with the official opening today of the new emergency department and the completion of the renovation to Hilltop House, said West Vancouver-Sea to Sky MLA Joan McIntyre. The successful completion of both projects is a testimony to the working partnerships in the community, focused on improving health care in the Sea to Sky region.
Combined, the Hilltop House and Squamish General Hospital Emergency Department renovation projects represent a $22.56 million total investment in Sea to Sky health care. Hilltop House, a $19.47 million project, was jointly funded by a $13.47 million contribution from the Ministry of Health Services $6 million from the Sea to Sky Regional Hospital District.
“We are pleased to be one of the key funding partners that have helped to deliver these new and improved facilities for Squamish and the Sea to Sky Region said Susie Gimse, Chair, Sea to Sky Regional Hospital District. The Regional Hospital District is very supportive of these types of health care projects which deliver what our residents want and need.
The original Hilltop House was built in 1984. The facility did not have the bed capacity nor the specialized rooms required to support the varied spectrum of needs posed by patients who require 24-hour supervision and continuous professional care in a care facility.
The renovated Hilltop House will offer seniors throughout the Sea to Sky corridor immediate access to 73 residential care beds, up from the previous 61 beds. The renovated Hilltop House will also provide for improved quality of care by keeping residents close to home in Squamish rather than on the North Shore.
The Hilltop House expansion will improve the quality of life for these patients by providing them with the care they need, when and where they need it, said Mary Ackenhusen, Chief Operating Officer, VCH Coastal. This project, along with the ED expansion, marks VCH’s ongoing commitment to enhancing care and improving health services for those who live within the Sea to Sky corridor.
The $3.09 million Squamish General Hospital Emergency Department expansion was made possible through contributions from the Ministry of Health Services ($1.3 million), the Sea to Sky Regional Hospital District ($1.17 million) and the Squamish Hospital Foundation ($620,000).
The new emergency department contains 12 treatment beds as well as new waiting, triage and trauma rooms. The reconstructed Emergency Department also includes two ambulance bays that replace the single portico-style ambulance entrance.
Today is slightly bittersweet as the person whose name is most associated with this very hospital Dr. LaVerne Kindree — passed away in September, said George McKenzie, Chair, Squamish Hospital Foundation. Dr. Kindree would have been so proud today. In his honour, I will repeat what we at the foundation say often: The gift you give to your hospital is the gift you give to yourself. Thank you everyone who donated.
VCH is responsible for the delivery of $2.9 billion in community, hospital and residential care to more than one million people in communities, including Richmond, Vancouver, the North Shore, Sunshine Coast, Sea to Sky corridor, Powell River, Bella Bella and Bella Coola.
Media Contact:
Vancouver Coastal Health
Trudi Beutel, Public Affairs Officer
Tel: 604-708-5282 Cell: 604-812-1847
Email: Trudi.Beutel@VCH.ca
http://www.vch.ca/about_us/news/media_contacts/news_releases/new_emergency_department_and_expanded_hilltop_house
Funds donated toward CT Scanner
Seniors distribute $84,500 in donations
Eight local organizations received a total of $84,500 from Squamish Branch No. 70 of the Senior Citizens Association of British Columbia.
November 20,2009
Neil Judson
njudson@squamishchief.com
Squamish Branch No. 70 of the Senior Citizens Association of British Columbia cleared its coffers this week by donating $84,500 to eight organizations in preparation for officially ceasing of operations at year’s end.
The local branch, which was formed more than 50 years ago to advocate for senior pensioners, was responsible for running a travel subsidiary program to support seniors visiting concerts, casinos and other activities around the Lower Mainland and Washington State. It has also run the Christmas Banquet for seniors for the last 36 years.
Although the association claims about 100 members, the current executive is aging, and new leadership is failing to come forward, said branch president Charles Schilberg.
We’re all getting old and we tend not to be able to attract younger people to the organization, Schilberg told members and donation recipients at a luncheon held at the Squamish Senior Citizens Home Society’s Cedman Lounge on Tuesday (Nov. 17). But our branch has a significant amount of dollars and we’d like to distribute that so that the legacy carries on for seniors.
The Squamish Health Care Foundation was the largest recipient, receiving $40,000 to assist in the acquisition of a CT scanner for the Squamish General Hospital.
Treasurer Don Christie accepted the donation in memory of past president Dr. LaVerne Kindree who died in September. The project is Dr. Kindree’s wish, so the funds are thankfully received and they will be faithfully applied, he said.
Bill Rempel accepted $30,000 for the Squamish Senior Citizens Home Society. The society will be celebrating its 40th anniversary in the spring and the buildings are approaching that age as well. Repairs and maintenance needs are increasing, so the funds will be put to good use upgrading some units with new floors and appliances, he said.
The district’s Squamish Seniors Centre director Carol Wynne accepted $5,000 to acquire items like furniture and equipment to fill out the building.
Over the years I remember all the support that the seniors organization has given to the district in the way of contributions, she said. It has been a great support for recreation in Squamish.
Selected students pursuing post-secondary education will continue to receive $300 for the next 15 years thanks to $4,500 donated to the Howe Sound Secondary School Scholarship Fund.
Meanwhile, the Hilltop House Support Society is being assisted by a $2,000 donation.
The Squamish Helping Hands Society, the Squamish Food Bank Society and the Squamish Historical Society each received $1,000 donations.
Copyright 2010 Glacier Media Inc.
Sea to Sky Benefits from Olympic Games Legacy Gift of a CT Scanner
October 23, 2009
WHISTLER The new Whistler CT scanner was officially unveiled today, a gift to the residents of Whistler, Squamish and Pemberton from GE and the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) that will become a health care-enhancing legacy of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter games.
In addition to economic benefits, today’s opening of the Whistler CT scanner illustrates how hard work and opportunity have brought health care benefits to residents of Whistler, Squamish and Pemberton, said West Vancouver-Sea to Sky MLA Joan McIntyre. Thanks to GE and VANOC, this Olympic legacy gift will ensure Sea to Sky residents and visitors receive the high quality and timely care they expect and deserve.
The new 64-slice CT scanner will be available for use before, during and after the upcoming Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter games.
GE and VANOC are delighted to provide a legacy gift to Whistler for its residents and visitors, enabling greater access to GE’s innovative technology, said Peter Robertson, General Manager GE Healthcare. This technology will not only be a great asset during the Olympic and Paralympic Winter games, but also to the community after the competitions.
The people of Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton now have a lasting health care legacy from the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, said Dr. Jack Taunton, the Chief Medical Officer with VANOC. This scanner represents a demonstration of how partners can work together to achieve great things.
It’s expected that as many as 2,000 patients will receive CT scans at the Whistler Health Care Centre each year once the service is up-and-running. Vancouver Coastal Health will fund the new CT scanner’s $200,000 annual operating costs.
Vancouver Coastal Health is committed to enhancing care and improving services for residents in Whistler, Squamish and Pemberton, said Mary Ackenhusen, Chief Operating Officer for VCH, Coastal. Today’s opening of this new CT scanner facility better enables VCH to provide Sea to Sky residents with the care they need, when they need it.
CT (computed tomography), sometimes called CAT scan or CT scan, uses special x-ray equipment to obtain image data from different angles around the body and then uses computer processing of the information to show a cross-section of body tissues and organs.
As a diagnostic tool, CT imaging is particularly useful because it can show several types of tissue including bone, soft tissue and blood vessels with great clarity. This allows radiologists to more easily diagnose cancers, cardiovascular disease, infectious disease, trauma and musculoskeletal disorders.
Although the scanner itself is a legacy gift, the diagnostic equipment required construction of a new facility to house it. The construction project had a total cost of $2.28 million and was jointly funded by the Provincial Government ($275,000), the Sea to Sky Regional Hospital District ($1 million), and the health care foundations of Whistler ($901,000), Squamish ($75,000) and Pemberton ($29,000). In addition, the Squamish Hospital Foundation contributed $20,000 for Diagnostic Imaging training.
The communities of Whistler, Pemberton and Squamish collectively came together to raise the funds needed to build a specialized facility in which to house the donated scanner, said Marnie Simon, Chair, Whistler Health Care Foundation. Although the new CT scan is located in Whistler, the credit for it being here must go to all Sea to Sky residents who donated generously to the fundraising campaign.
The new CT scanner goes into service in early November. Having a CT scanner in Whistler means patients no longer have to travel to North Vancouver or beyond to access the diagnostic service.
I’d like to congratulate the project partners who worked collaboratively to bring this new CT scan project through to fruition, said Susan Gimse, Chair, Sea to Sky Regional Hospital District. A great deal of recognition must also be extended to residents within the Sea to Sky corridor for generously supporting this project through their local tax dollars and their support of the many fundraising initiatives. This grassroots momentum has resulted in the opening of this new facility in Whistler today.
Vancouver Coastal Health is responsible for the delivery of $2.9 billion in community, hospital and residential care services to over one million people in communities from Richmond through Vancouver, the North Shore, Sunshine Coast, Sea to Sky corridor, Powell River, Bella Bella and Bella Coola.
CONTACT
Vancouver Coastal Health
Trudi Beutel, Public Affairs Officer
Phone: 604-708-5282 Cell: 604-812-1847
Email: Trudi.Beutel@vch.ca
GE Canada
Kim Warburton
Phone: 905-858-5678 Cell: 416-561-8316
Email: Kim.Warburton@ge.com