Chez nous - The MCH Employee Newsletter

Welcome to the Web edition of Chez nous! Here you’ll find all articles from the current printed edition of Chez nous as well many news items, events and other information found only on the online edition.


April 23, 2009 Edition


NEWS

A very special programme for the Awards of Excellence Breakfast
There will be even more cause to celebrate during this year’s Awards of Excellence Breakfast, as the MCH Foundation will officially launch the next phase of The Best Care for Children Campaign to build the new MCH-the Staff Campaign. +

Message from Dr. Harvey Guyda, Associate Executive Director, MCH
Transition from pediatric to adult care
The MUHC has established a Transition Department to oversee and facilitate the numerous changes required for the redevelopment of the MUHC... +

Nursing shortage felt coast to coast and around the world
MCH uses creative strategies to recruit and retain nurses
Canada's nursing shortage has reached what many are calling critical proportions. The Canadian Nursing Association anticipates Canada will be short 78,000 registered nurses by 2011 and 113,000 by 2016. The Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services predicts the province will be short 21,000 nurses by 2018. +

One-third of Canadian nurses report on-the-job abuse from patients
Stats Canada recently published a detailed report on the issue of patient abuse of nurses in the healthcare setting. +

Post-op instructions for patients now available on MCH Website
Nurse Thao Le has recently coordinated revisions to a number of post-op instructions for patients. Parents and caregivers can now download information on caring for children at home after day surgery, herniorrhaphy, hydrocelectomy, or an orchidopexy, insertion of P.E. tubes, circumcision, laser treatment, otoplasty and strabismus surgery.

To see the complete list, go to the Pre-Operative Assessment Clinic page in the department section of the MCH Website.

MCH and MUHC collaborate on Quebec Action Plan for Asthma
Since 2004, Quebec’s Conseil du medicament has made asthma one of its priorities, and within the context of developing optimal usage of medications for asthma, the Conseil developed l'Outil d’aide à la decision dans le traitement de l’asthme in 2006. They followed this in 2007 with the Plan d’action pour l’asthme with the objective of helping patients control their asthma and prevent asthma attacks. In the course of developing this action plan, it became apparent that an action plan for the emergency setting was needed, which resulted in the Plan d’action pour les crises d’asthme – situation urgence.

This helpful tool was designed to help healthcare professionals in emergency work with patients suffering from asthma attacks. The Action Plan was developed in collaboration with the MUHC and many experts in the field. Among those participating was MCH emergency physician Dr. Dominic Chalut.

To learn more about the action plan or to download materials visit the Conseil du médicament Website.

Take a look!
This spring, the construction of our new hospital will be announced above many of Montreal’s major highways. While infrastructure work gets underway around the Glen Campus, the MCH Foundation will launch a lively billboard campaign, once again featuring our adorable ambassador, Shilvi, as part of The Best Care for Children capital campaign. +

In the lives of volunteers anything can happen—even miracles
She is petite. She is beautiful. She is an angel in the eyes of many. She is a volunteer who is helping make a difference. Elizabeth Macdonnell is just one of approximately 420 volunteers who generously devote their time at the Montreal Children’s Hospital. Over the last year they selflessly gave 22,324 hours. +



@T WORK
Meet some of your MCH colleagues. +



EVENTS

May 6 at the Pepsi Forum: Roll up your sleeves and give blood
Patients like 14-year old Marc Normandeau need your help. The young man is battling leukemia for the second time and last year alone he had 33 blood transfusions. That’s why Marc is asking all of us to roll up our sleeves on Wednesday, May 6, to give blood during The Montreal Children’s Hospital’s annual blood drive at the Pepsi Forum. +

Harvey Guyda Day at the MCH Wednesday June 3, 2009
The MCH has set up a day of activities to celebrate Dr. Harvey Guyda’s long-standing dedication to children's health, as the Dodds Professor and Chair, Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, MCH Physician-in-Chief, MUHC Pediatrician-in-Chief and world-renowned pediatric endocrinologist.
 
Come and spend a half-day at the MCH with eight Leading Medical Specialists, followed by a Gala Dinner in his honour at the Hilton Bonaventure Montreal.

For more information, visit Dr. Guyda's Website

Lunch & Learn
Back by popular demand! Guitar 101
Luke Quin, communications coordinator at the MCH Foundation, and former guitarist for Canadian ska group General Rudie, is offering another group guitar lesson for beginners and intermediates during a Lunch & Learn hour at the MCH. Also known as the “guitar doctor”, Luke believes that with a little guidance, everyone can improve their skills regardless of their level.

Date: Thursday, May 14
Time: 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.
Room: C-1112
RSVP: Terry at 24307
Presented by the Quality of Life at Work Committee

Caring for Kids Radiothon just days away!
On Thursday, April 30, your favourite hosts from Astral Media Radio’s CHOM 97.7, CJAD 800 and Virgin Radio 96 will broadcast live from the MCH cafeteria for the annual Caring for Kids Radiothon to raise funds for the MCH. +

Live Healthy, Live Happy: one-day fair promotes healthy living for kids
The McGill University Medical Students’ Society is organizing a day-long health fair for parents and others interested in children’s health and well-being. +

Celebrating Nursing Excellence at the MCH
The 2009 MCH Nursing Awards of Excellence Committee is pleased to announce the names of this year's recipients of the Nursing Awards of Excellence:

Nursing Practice - Clelia Coccia
Nursing Leadership - Nadia Eldaoud
Nursing Professional Development - Lisa Carruthers
Nursing Assistant/Patient Care Attendant - Donna Sullivan
Nursing Partners in Practice - Yann Djellid

Everyone is welcome to attend this very special celebration and we invite you to join us in congratulating our 2009 recipients. The Awards ceremony will be held on:
Monday, May 11
2:00 p.m.
MCH Amphitheatre (D-182)

Looking forward to seeing you there! - MCH Nursing Awards Committee
 

THECHILDREN.COM

MCH Media Portal adds new podcasts for parents
Pre-op prep, Coming to the ER, and Mini-Med 2008 lectures now available for downloading
 
Pre-op nurse Thao Le and Daniel Héon from Medical Multimedia have created a great video to help children prepare for surgery. The podcast is now available for viewing on the MCH media portal. The production was a team effort of the Preoperative Assessment Clinic, Child Life department, Anesthesiology Department, Postanesthesia Care Unit and the Operating Room.
 
Parents can also get helpful tips about what to expect at Emergency at the MCH with a new video titled "Waiting at the Montreal Children’s Hospital ER". And in an effort to alleviate some of the overload in ER, the video also aims to help parents decide if they should come to Emergency.
 
Lectures from the 2008 Mini-Med series can be viewed on the portal as well; available podcasts include Dr. Evelyn Constantin’s presentation on sleep-related issues in children, Dr. Mark Anselmo’s discussion of asthma, and Dr. David McGillvray’s presentation on fever symptoms and treatments.


IN FOCUS

MUHC Vaccine Study Centre: Saving lives from infectious diseases
Immunization is our name, protection is our game they proudly declare at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) Vaccine Study Centre, one of the four largest vaccine research centres in an academic setting nationwide that tests new vaccines for children and adults. +


OUR PEOPLE

All in a life’s work…

“I love life,” says Dr. Jean-Martin Laberge. “I am a very optimistic person. And I think that if you treat others the way you would like to be treated then you are one step ahead.” +


OUR HEROS

Inspiring a community through courage 
Last winter, in support of their star goaltender, each member of the team shaved their head just before Marc began to lose his own hair to chemotherapy. This act of solidarity touched many people in Marc’s community of St-Lazare, and inspired a chain of fundraising efforts, all in support of Marc. +



ARCHIVES