The Checkup Summer 2015 Celebrating 30 Years of impact on Health care in Wood Buffalo New spinal surgery program sees great success in Wood Buffalo Health Foundation supports program growth With support from the Wood Buffalo community, a new orthopedic spinal surgery program offered at the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre continues to grow and accommodate patients in the best way possible. The Surgical Department of the Health Centre does a wide variety of procedures in the areas of general surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, ears, nose and throat procedures, dental surgery and orthopedics.
Pre-Op Clinic and surgical booking. “In November, we sent two staff members to Edmonton to the University of Alberta Hospital for spine surgery training for four days. When they returned, they were able to assist in the education and orientation of the other staff in the Operating Room.”
According to Dr. Manolescu, who leads the new spinal program, back pain is a common ailment Dr. Andrei-Razvan Manolescu and Karen Espersen with their with approximately orthopedic spinal surgery team at the Health Centre. one in five people experiencing it at some point in their lives. Because of this, surgery is in Orthopedic surgery in and of itself provides patients in high demand. the Wood Buffalo region with a variety of services. This discipline is currently led by orthopedic surgeons, “Because back pain is so common, there’s a huge Dr. Andrei-Razvan Manolescu and Dr. Irfan Tahir demand for spine surgery. In our facility, the spinal Qureshi, with assistance and support from a team of program addresses primarily degenerative spine nursing staff including Karen Espersen, Manager of the disease.” he says. “This is especially the case with the Operating Room. population living here in Fort McMurray. In many communities, you see degenerative spine disease in “We repair fractures – fractured arms, wrists, legs and people that are in their 70s or older. However, here it ankles,” she says. “We do a lot of trauma surgery and tends to affect younger people between the ages of now spine surgery as well.” 25 and 55 with a traumatic component. We see a lot of young people who are of the labourer population, “The spinal surgery program is brand new to this facility so they work hard and their spine takes the hit.” and began being offered this past December,” says Espersen, who oversees the Health Centre’s Continued on next page Operating Room, Recovery Room, Day Surgery,
The Checkup
summer 2015
Because the high demand for spinal surgery, it’s had a significant impact on wait times throughout the province of Alberta and subsequently on patients’ health. Outside of Fort McMurray, the program is currently only offered in Calgary, Edmonton and Grande Prairie. Dr. Manolescu goes on to say that chronic back pain is a complex ailment and requires a multidisciplinary approach to treatment. “Chronic back pain is a multi-faceted, multi-factorial entity. It’s treated nowadays not only by a spinal surgeon and nurses but with a multidisciplinary team, including a physiotherapist, a pain management specialist and a pain psychologist,” he says. “In our program, we’ve done our best to emulate this holistic approach. Due to the fact that we know these people have been suffering for so long, they’re seen by me and by our physiotherapy team. We also work with a pain clinic in Edmonton to connect patients with pain management specialists and pain psychologists.”
three months, then they have their surgery within two months. Within five months we have someone operated on, whereas anywhere else you go, it would take probably 18 months or more just to have the consult with the spine surgeon,” he says. “The most optimistic statistic is that we’re three times faster than anywhere else in the province right now. This is fully acknowledging that we’re just getting off the ground and it may not stay that way, but this is the situation right now.” These exceptional wait times haven’t gone unnoticed, with spinal clinics in Edmonton beginning to refer some patients to Fort McMurray. Dr. Manolescu sees this as a positive. “It raises our profile within the landscape of health care in our province,” he says. Both he and Espersen go on to commend the Operating Room multi-disciplinary team and the nursing team for the success of the spine program thus far. “We really commend the nursing staff for making this program possible. A tremendous amount of work has gone into making this program a success, to the point that our department has actually been recognized by our peers through an Alberta Health Services (AHS) SPIRIT of Excellence award for teamwork,” says Espersen.
“Anesthesiologists also play a huge role in the care we provide because they help determine what medications the patients will need in dealing with their pain moving forward,” he says. According to both Dr. Manolescu and Espersen, the spinal program has seen very good successes for the people they’ve treated so far.
Dr. Manolescu and Richard, a former spinal surgery patient at a recent AHS media event where Richard shared his experience.
“We’ve had people who were severely disabled where they can’t work, they can’t stand or even hold a coffee cup, make significant improvements as quickly as two weeks after surgery,” says Dr. Manolescu. “It’s unbelievably rewarding to see and a great service offered to the community,” says Espersen.
According to Dr. Manolescu having the spinal surgery program offered in Fort McMurray has made a tremendous impact on wait times for those patients awaiting spinal surgery in our community. “Due to the fact that we started this program, we’re able to offer spine surgeries with an unheard of wait time. Patients tend to see me in two and half to
To ensure the spinal program’s continued growth and success, the Northern Lights Health Foundation recently funded over $300,000 in equipment.
“Ideally we would own two to three sets of equipment for the surgeries. However, due to funding restrictions, we needed to rent the equipment and only had access to one set. This put huge stress on everyone involved from the nursing staff to the patients,” says Dr. Manolescu. “With only one set, if something happens like the equipment falling on the floor, you have to postpone the procedure.” In purchasing the appropriate equipment, the surgical team can minimize patient risk and wait times. “Having two to three sets on hand means that we don’t need to stop the procedure if something happens. We can simply use another set, then we’re able to complete the patient’s procedure as planned with no additional risk or wait,” says Dr. Manolescu.
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Union makes $1 million commitment to local health care The Northern Lights Health Foundation has received a $1 million commitment over three years from a group of 13 building trades unions in support of health care in Wood Buffalo. The General President’s Maintenance Committee’s (GPMC) gift will go to the Health Foundation’s unrestricted fund, providing the means to fund areas of greatest health care need in the Wood Buffalo region. Last year’s installment of $400,000 resulted in the Health Foundation funding pieces of equipment vital to the ongoing success of a new spinal surgery program offered at the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre. Dr. David Matear and Paul Taylor, the Health Foundation’s Board Chair join the GPMC Executive Committee for a recent cheque presentation.
The Jeremy Snook Memorial Car Raffle launches in memory of young Fort McMurray man The Northern Lights Health Foundation recently launched the Jeremy Snook Memorial Car Raffle, in partnership with Brian and Gail Snook whose son passed away at the age of 19. Ticket purchasers have the opportunity to win a 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392, with a retail value of $62,559. All proceeds raised from the Car Raffle will support enhancements to palliative care services in the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre. Jeremy will always be remembered as an enthusiastic, loving young man. He had many friends and a passion for the outdoors. Diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in late 2012, Jeremy spent his last days surrounded by family and friends, receiving palliative care treatment in the Medicine Unit of the Health Centre.
The Snook Family - Brian, Jeremy and Gail.
Following Jeremy’s passing, the community came together to start an in-memorial campaign in support of the Health Foundation. Over 75 people contributed to the campaign, raising over $30,000 to improve health care delivery in Wood Buffalo. Wanting to further their impact on health care in our community, the Snooks are actively raising funds to help expand and renovate palliative care services in the Health Centre. Renovations will include new patient suites with adjoining family rooms which will provide a home-like atmosphere where patients and
their loved ones can be comfortable during end of life care. “The Health Foundation is so pleased to be partnering with Brian and Gail on this initiative. Their passion for making a difference in the name of their son is truly phenomenal,” said Susanne Chaffey, Executive Director of the Health Foundation. “The funds the Snooks are raising, including those raised through this raffle, will play a critical role in enhancing services for terminally ill patients and their loved ones in our community.” Tickets for the Car Raffle are now sold out.
Reception honours physicians for commitment to community On Wednesday, June 10, the Northern Lights Health Foundation and the Wood Buffalo Health Advisory partnered to host a Physician Appreciation Reception. Both medical residents and long serving
Many of the physicians in attendance at the reception.
physicians were awarded certificates for their dedication to local health care. The physicians recognized have collectively contributed over 500+ years of service in our region.
Monique Janes and Dr. Lorne Zuk celebrating Dr. Zuk’s 30+ years of service to the region.
Emergency Department nurse recognized for outstanding care The Northern Lights Health Foundation was proud to recently celebrate a special nurse on the Emergency Department through our Honour Your Hero program. Ruth Lichti, an Emergency Department Nurse at the Northern Lights RegionalHealth Centre was recognized through the program by a patient that was so impacted by her care that they made a gift to the Health Foundation. As part of the celebration, Ruth received a special pin, a thank you letter, and Tim Hortons’ goodies for her and her team. To learn more about the Honour Your Hero program, visit www.northernlightshealthfoundation.ca.
The Emergency Department team gathers to celebrate Ruth Lichti who was recognized through the Health Foundation’s Honour Your Hero program.
Northern Lights Health Foundation
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