Inter-professionalism, teamwork, and client-centered care
By Sonja Redden
The first ever lymphedema conference in the Northern Health Region of British Columbia was hosted in Prince George in the fall of 2024. It consisted of an interdisciplinary “Lymphedema Education Day” (LED) for physicians and health care professionals on November 22, and a half day “Lymphedema Workshop Day” (LWD) for health care professionals on November 23.
The LED was organized by a planning committee1 consisting of dedicated volunteers, physicians, and Northern Health employees. Over 100 health care professionals and physicians attended either in person or online. The event was accredited for continuing medical education for physicians. We are incredibly thankful for the support we received from Northern Health, BC Rural Continuing Medical Education, the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation, and the BC Lymphedema Association. The LWD was made possible by generous industry support and provided an opportunity for health care professionals to learn practical skills as well as learning about the availability of products used to treat lymphedema.
The objectives of this conference were to learn about best practice lymphedema management and to discuss accessibility and affordability issues, and strategies to improve access to care for patients in Northern Health’s various Health Service delivery areas.
As in many other areas across Canada,
lymphedema in B.C. is underdiagnosed, undertreated, and underfunded. It is not hard to imagine how challenges in lymphedema care are compounded by our vast geography (600 square km) in the many rural and remote communities in our
Northern health Region. The development and distribution of lymphedema related resources and practice tools for physicians and health care professionals were identified as important components in developing first steps to improved care.
Sonja Redden, BScPT, CLT has focused her work on treating patients with lymphedema ever since becoming a certified lymphedema therapist (Vodder) in 2005. She is the owner of Healing Rivers Physiotherapy (Prince George, B.C.), and has volunteered for the Canadian Lymphedema Framework since 2013.
Themes and values
Inter-professionalism, teamwork, and client centered care were overarching themes throughout these education days and are key to successful lymphedema management.
LED topics and presenters
The main presenter at the LED was Dr. David Keast, Chair of the Canadian Lymphedema Framework (CLF).
Dr. Keast talked about lymphedema as an under-recognized and under-treated condition. He reported on the new prevalence study (published in the Winter 2024/2025 issue of Pathways), concluding that about 1.25 million Canadians suffer from chronic edema/ lymphedema.
Dr. Keast covered best practice treatment of lymphedema, including skin hygiene and exercise, the effectiveness of various compression, and the roles of manual lymphatic drainage, current surgical approaches and lifestyle changes. He elaborated on challenges of lymphedema care and concluded with several case studies. In the afternoon, Dr. Keast spoke about cellulitis infections and wound management in lymphedema.
1. Planning Committee members: Dr. Dick Raymond, Dr. Khalid Bashir, Dr. Brian Hillhouse, Sonja Redden PT, Lila Reynolds, Jayleen Emery, Santaya Garnot, Diane Sarmiento, and Natalie Allan.
2. Source: https://www.bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/annual_reports/2005_2006/hlth/appendix_1.htm
We are thankful for Dr. Keast’s invaluable knowledge which has set us on a trajectory of ongoing improvement in health care for people living with lymphedema in Northern BC.
Other speakers included Dr. Paul Winwood, Associate Vice President, Division of Medical Sciences, University of Northern BC, who provided a warm introduction to the event and contributed to the panel session. Jenna LaFleche, RMT, a member of the board of directors of the BC Lymphedema Association, spoke on compression modalities and her experience in cancer-related lymphedema care. Sonja Redden, PT, a past member of the Education Working Group of the CLF, spoke on the challenges of compression therapy in non-cancer related lymphedema care.
Patient perspectives
The presentations of two people living with lymphedema reminded us of the human aspect of medicine. These patients were grateful to be able to share their stories about
the impacts of the disease on everyday life, ongoing management challenges, and the fear of recurring, life-threatening cellulitis infections.
Resources
An overview of resources available included a directory of therapists and garment fitters, services provided through the BC Lymphedema Association, and information about a regional lymphedema garment fund housed within the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation.
Concluding panel
assessment skills and discuss treatment planning using a case-based learning approach. Attendees were also able to practice multi-layer bandaging and learn about the application of Velcro Reduction Kits, provided by our industry partners.
In conclusion
Lastly, a panel session provided an opportunity to ask questions to spark discussions on how to move lymphedema care forward in our vast health region.
LWD topics and presenters
The Lymphedema Workshop Day gave health care providers the opportunity to apply
This event was a great success. It not only provided new insights but also stimulated increased interest in lymphedema. Many attendees who work in public practice confirmed the need to have coordinated lymphedema services provided through the public health care system. We plan to carry this momentum forward in the hopes that lymphedema will be recognized and treated not just as a symptom of some other disease, but as a chronic disease in its own right. Lymphedema deserves its own continuum of care model, from prevention to long-term management, which needs to be publicly funded. LP
