Keeping up with Kensington January 2019

KEEPING UP WITH

Volume 3 | Issue 1 January 2019

K E N S INGTON

WELCOMING 2019 TOGETHER

It’s hard to believe 2018 is over, and what an amazing year it was! I want to say a sincere thank you to everyone at Kensington who made this past year so special. Excellent patient care is at the heart of everything we do, and I am proud of the care we provide day-in and day-out to our patients, residents, families and caregivers.

I hope each and every one of you had a nice break over the holiday because this new year is going to be busy and no doubt a transformational one for Kensington Health. Here are a few things on the horizon for 2019:

John Yip, President and CEO of Kensington Health

One strong brand for Kensington

We do so many amazing things at Kensington, and a strong unified brand strategy will help us communicate what we do and who we are in way that truly demonstrates all the hard work we do here! In order to do this, Kensington Health will be partnering with The Kensington Health Foundation to embark on a new, unified brand strategy for the entire organization.

A continued dedication to Quality Improvement

Our Quality Team put on an outstanding all staff Quality Day event in November. In case you missed the keynote speaker, Catherine Wang, Vice-President of Imaging and Clinical Diagnostics at UHN, you can watch her talk by visiting this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaWpN7athZ4 In 2019 you will see a number of new quality improvement initiatives at Kensington including: a renewed focus on customer service, using digital solutions to improve care, and enhanced quality improvement tracking and reporting across the entire organization.

Living Well

In 2019 we will begin to build the Kensington Hospice expansion at 45 Brunswick Avenue, which will increase our hospice bed total to 19 beds at Kensington Health. In addition to the expansion, Kensington will also be growing its community care programs to potentially include a community day hospice, a nurse-led clinic in partnership with the Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network, and additional resources for people living the community who need support.

We will also see a number of new services offered at in our Kensington Clinics. The Kensington Vision and Research Institute is looking into adding a new clinic to support its growing number of patients. Also, the Kensington Screening Clinic is expanding its infusion services for patients living in the community with Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

Stay tuned for more information about these exciting projects in our upcoming issues of Keeping up with Kensington!

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me to ask: jyip@kensingtonhealth.org

KENSINGTON HIGH

EYE BANK STUDY GETS PUBLISHED

As Medical Director of the Eye Bank, Dr. Chan oversees the collection, processing and distribution of donated human eyes and tissue for sight-saving transplants.

In 2018, Dr. Clara Chan’s study about Corneal Transplant was published in the medical journal Cornea: The Journal of Cornea and External Disease. The cornea is the thin layer of clear tissue that covers the front of the eye. To read the abstract of the article, visit: http://bit.ly/2CKM3gW Dr. Chan’s study helps to predict the thickness of the cornea after it is precut by a technician.

Predicting the thickness of the cornea will help reduce tissue waste and will increase the amount of eye tissue available for corneal transplant.

PREVENTING GLAUCOMA Q. What can you do to prevent developing glaucoma?

A. Glaucoma is known as the silent thief of sight. In glaucoma, the peripheral vision usually deteriorates first, and then central vision. That is why it is so important to have your eyes checked regularly, especially if you have a family history of glaucoma.

You should have regular follow ups with your eye care provider. A healthy lifestyle has also been associated with lower risk of glaucoma.

- Dr. Matthew B. Schlenker, Glaucoma, Cataract & Anterior Segment Surgeon at Kensington Vision and Research Centre

EYE HEALTH AROUND THE WORLD A number of KEI staff and physicians, including Donna Punch, our VP, Ambulatory Services and Dr. Sherif El Defrawy, our Ophthalmologist-in-Chief, and Dr. Peter Kertes, Vitreo-retinal Surgeon have volunteered on Orbis missions.

Throughout Dr. Kertes’ career, he volunteered as faculty on many missions on the Flying Eye Hospital and other Orbis hospital-based programs. Dr. Kertes has had the opportunity to volunteer in China, India, Malaysia, Vietnam, Nepal, and more.

His most recent Flying Eye Hospital trip was to Bangladesh in 2017.

There are many memorable moments on board of the Flying Eye Hospital.

“When you take a patch off a patient after their surgery, particularly if he or she hasn’t seen in a long time, and see the smile on their face when they realize that they can now see, it can be immensely gratifying.” - Dr. Kertes

HLIGHTS OF 2018 UNIFYING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES As part of the Living Well strategy, we enhanced our Volunteer program under the leadership of Nadine Persaud, Director of Client Services.

Volunteers are an integral part of Kensington’s culture. The new program supports the corporate need for volunteers at Kensington Health.

Rachelle Maguire (pictured on the left) and Tory Durbano (pictured on the right) are Volunteer Coordinators at Kensington Health.

“Our new program will train every volunteer for multiple roles across Kensington,” - Tory

“Without our volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to provide personalized, quality and compassionate care to the community that we serve.

Our volunteers play a significant role in our life-enhancement programs.” Rachelle To learn more about our volunteering opportunities, please visit: https://bit.ly/2zjbdlV

CARING FOR CAREGIVERS

Teri Henderson offers free group support to caregivers in our community through the Caregivers’ Club, every Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 25 Brunswick Ave. Caregivers’ Club is a space for caregivers to receive support, learn, relax and share a meal with each other.

It is a caregiver respite program offered through the Second Mile Club.

To register please contact Teri Henderson at thenderson@kensingtonhealth.org, or call at (416)-597-0841 x 3615. at 25 Brunswick Ave.

FINDING JOY IN AN UNEXPECTED PLACE

Valerie would have never thought herself to be a dog-person. But while caring for her late husband Bryan, during his time at Kensington Hospice, a familiar ball of fur would constantly bring happiness to the couple.

Doug the hospice dog, a Havanese puppy owned by Debbie Emmerson, the Director of Hospice Care, is part of the team every day.

Doug the Hospice Dog provides comfort to visitors at Kensington Hospice.

Bryan was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2009. He spent seven weeks at Kensington Hospice before he died in 2012. During Bryan’s care at the hospice, the couple found comfort in Doug, who would spend hours playing, jumping and showing affection to the couple.

“I remember that Doug would run into the room to play and hang out with us,” said Valerie. “It was a good diversion from what was happening with Bryan.”

Valerie and her new Havanese puppy Max. Doug became much more than just a friend, but also a companion in Valerie and Bryan’s battle. He left a loving impression on the couple.

EXPANDING THE SCREENING CLINIC The Kensington Screening Clinic (KSC) provides colonoscopy and endoscopy procedures to screen and prevent disease, including colorectal cancer.

Many don’t know about KSC’s Infusion Clinic, where patients come to receive their medication in a comforable, warm setting.

In the new year, the screening clinic is expanding to provide injection training for patients. Our highly skilled nurses will now be able to train patients on how to administer their medication in the comfort of their own home.

KSC will also start their Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Nursing Support Program in 2019. Stay tuned for more details.

MEET THE TEAM AT OUR DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING CENTRE

Valentina Gorea is a senior sonographer at the Kensington Diagnostic Imaging Centre (KDIC). Her expertise is general ultrasounds including abdomen, pelvis, obstetric, transvaginal and thyroid. Valentina is originally from Romania, where she was as an emergency room physician. Since moving to Canada, Valentina has worked at a few diagnostic imaging clinics, including the clinic at 340 College St. for over 15 years. In 2016 the clinic joined Kensington Health and is now called The Kensington Diagnostic Imaging Centre. Most of the clinic stayed through the transition under Jill Taylor’s leadership.

“I’ve stayed here all of these years because of the team. We have an amazing team at KDIC,” - Valentina Zach Cohen, a student from Canadian National Institute of Health Inc., completed a student placement at KDIC. Valentina and Zach both agree that the best part about working at KDIC is when you share moments of joy with patients.

Zach Cohen, Sonography student (left), is shadowing Valentina Gorea, Senior Sonograoher (right) during his placement at Kensington Diagnostic Imaging Centre.

“The look on new parents’ faces when they see their baby on the ultrasound screen is priceless,” - Valentina

KISSING GAME WITH A CHARITABLE TWIST When Grant Hurley and Christina Turner got married on August 11, they had a unique stipulation for their guests: whenever someone would clink their glass signaling the couple to kiss, they would have to donate to the newlyweds charity of choice, Kensington Hospice.

“Contributing to Kensington Hospice is very important for us. We’ve both seen the benefit of a hospice first- hand,” says Grant, a librarian at the nearby University of Toronto. “My mother Francine and Christina’s stepmother’s father, Noel, passed away after a struggle with cancer, but both benefitted from palliative care. We’ve realized that hospice care is something beneficial and important, and it should be accessible to all that need end-of-life care.”

Grant and Christina chose to donate to Kensington Hospice even though their family members received end-of-life care elsewhere. The couple lives in the community and passes by the Kensington Hospice on their daily commute.

After doing diligent research and learning more about our work, they selected the Hospice as the recipient of their generous gift.

Find out how you can support by making a donation: https://bit.ly/2iKDrjc