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JANUARY 2015
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INTOUCH
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Social worker Leanna McCarney, CCAC coordinator Khadra Mohamed and case manager Linda Lo plan a Trauma Neurosurgery patient’s transition from the hospital to home. (Photo by Yuri Markarov, Medical Media Centre)
Taking two for the team By Kate Manicom
Like most units at St. Michael’s, Trauma and Neurosurgery on 9 Cardinal Carter has a lot to cover during its daily and weekly rounds. Many of its patients have complex injuries and illnesses and most require continued care after they leave the hospital. What sets these rounds apart is that in addition to nurse practitioners, social workers and case managers, they are attended by the same two CCAC coordinators every week, Khadra Mohamed and Katherine Chow. Mohamed and Chow attend bullet Printed on 100 per cent recycled paper
rounds on 9 CC twice every week as well as weekly ALC rounds. The result is improved communication and understanding between the unit and CCAC and a faster transition for patients who are ready to recover at home or elsewhere in the community. “We had a patient who was admitted after a violent attack,” said Ingrid Kuran, a social worker on 9 CC. “His injuries left him with behavioural issues that would have made any placement challenging. Because Khadra and Katherine were aware of all aspects of his treatment needs, Continued on page 3
How health-care providers are reducing the risk of alcohol use and injury By Evelyne Jhung
Of the 677 severely injured patients seen by the St. Michael’s trauma team in 2013, 180 of them, or 26.5 per cent, had a positive blood alcohol level. Each one of them – no matter what the alcohol level was—had an alcohol screening intervention from a social worker. “There is a clear link between alcohol use – and not necessarily alcoholism – and injury,” said Laurie DeOliveira, a Trauma and Neurosurgery social worker. “In fact, the majority of injuries that include the use of alcohol Continued on page 3 JANUARY 2015 | IN TOUCH | 1