At a recent Emergency Department (ED) Education Day at VGH, the team met not one, but two, former trauma patients: Bjorn Morris and Mike Svereloh.
Read more about their patient stories here: VCH News: Patient Stories
Year: 2017
Dr. Jeff Brubacher presents at the House of Commons
Our own Dr. Jeff Brubacher appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights last month and presented a statement regarding their study of Bill C-46. The bill proposes new measures to combat impaired driving including random breathe testing of drivers for alcohol and introducing per se levels for THC. Both topics are related to Jeff’s research.
Congratulations on a job well done and keep up the good work, Jeff!
You can listen to the meeting here.
Dr. Shirzad the new Assistant Dean of Admissions
Congratulations to our own Dr. Shahin Shirzad, who has been appointed Assistant Dean, Admissions, Undergraduate Medical Education effective September 1, 2017!
Read about his appointment here: UBC Appointments
Campaign to raise funds for VGH ED underway
VGH ED Physicians share their stories to raise funds for the Emergency Department. Read more here: Double Your Impact
Protected: Temporary Diversion of Air Ambulance from RCH
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Cyclospora Outbreak in BC
BC is experiencing an outbreak of Cyclospora infection with 6 locally-acquired cases reported since May 1.
Cyclospora cayetanensis is a parasite which causes a prolonged gastrointestinal infection. Symptoms include frequent watery diarrhea, anorexia, abdominal cramps and bloating, nausea and flatulence. Symptoms typically last several weeks to over a month and wax and wane in intensity. People are infected by ingesting contaminated food or water. The infection is not spread from person-to-person. See here for more details on Cyclospora infection: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/cyclospora-infection
Cyclospora is not endemic in Canada. Most people are infected when visiting an endemic country in Latin America or South East Asia in the spring and early summer. When cases occur in Canadians who did not travel, an outbreak investigation is launched. Most outbreaks occur in the spring and early summer and are due to imported produce such as berries or herbs.
Cyclospora infection is diagnosed by a stool ova and parasite (O&P) examination. A special request must be made for Cyclospora diagnosis to ensure the appropriate stain is used by the lab. See here for BC Guideline for Ordering Stool Specimens: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/practitioner-professional-resources/bc-guidelines/infectious-diarrhea
If patients present with Cyclospora-compatible symptoms between now and August, please request a stool O&P and indicate on the lab requisition “Cyclospora diagnosis”. This will help accurately diagnose the infection and assist the outbreak investigation.
Dr. Jeff Brubacher receives the Noni MacDonald Award
The Noni MacDonald Award recognizes an article in the Paediatrics & Child Health journal that has positively affected paediatric medicine. This year’s prize goes to the lead author, Dr. Jeff Brubacher of the article published in the May 2016 issue of the journal, titled “The impact of child safety restraint legislation on child injuries in police-reported motor vehicle collisions in British Columbia: An interrupted time series analysis”.
Emergency Department Wins at People First Awards!
Congratulations to all of the People First Winners!
Award of Excellence in Innovation:
- Dr. Kendall Ho, Emergency Physician, Vancouver General Hospital & TEC4Home Lead
Award of Excellence in Teamwork and Collaboration :
- Mobile Medical Unit Deployment Team, Vancouver Acute & Vancouver Community:
Lori Korchinski, Afshan Nathoo, Miranda Compton, Dr. Eric Grafstein, Michelle de Moor, Dr. Keith Ahamad, Dr. Annabel Mead, Caitlin Etherington, Dr. Stan de Vlaming, Tim Chu, Ross Maguire, Marsha Simons, Joe Acker, Peter Hennecke, Krista Golden, Nathanial Lim
Award of Merit in Teamwork and Collaboration :
- Chest Pain Working Group, Emergency, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver Acute:
Lori Korchinski, Jaime Gallagher, Susan Harrison Salt, Sarah Turner, Lori Quinn, Cassie Wright, Sean Freeze, Bruce Hartnett, Dr. Heather Lindsay, Dr. Tong Lam, Dr. Chad Kim Sing, Erin Collins, Liz Crane, Darlene Davelaar, Christine Davie, Carole Dion, Michelle Dodds, Suzanne Fayle, Tracy Johnson, Tony Kumar, Gertrude Lee, Scott Maher, Penny Merletti, Trang Nguyen, Simona Pavlikova, Suzanne Pell, Evangeline Portillo, Jean Power, Gosha Roman, Sinead Ryan, Joanne Scott, Heather Sengara, Alexia Simeoni, Lindsey Bott, Angela Tait, Lindsay Tarasoff, John Tino, Veronica Tsang, Cindy Vanderbyl, Tracy Visser, Adrienne Zawyrucha, Carole Stevens, The Heart Services Cardiology Technologist team
What Matters To You?
Tomorrow is “What Matters to You?” Day in the VGH ED.
“What Matters to You?” Day started in Norway in 2014, with the simple goal of encouraging meaningful conversations between patients, caregivers, and families, and their health care providers.
On June 19, 2017, health care providers in the VGH ED are being challenged to add one simple question to every patient interaction, in order to improve care. That question is, “What matters to you?” Anyone who works with patients in health, social, or community care is invited to participate.
VGH EPs win inaugural Health Professional-Investigator Awards
Congratulations to DEM faculty members Dr. Jeff Brubacher and Dr. Kendall Ho for each being granted one of the 11 inaugural 2017 Health Professional-Investigator Awards from the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (MSFHR). This success is a major achievement, both for Drs. Brubacher and Ho, and for the DEM as a whole. The MSFHR Professional-Investigator Award provides funding to support exceptional health professionals focused on answering questions derived from their practical experience and clinical expertise.
Dr. Brubacher was recognized for his study titled: “Health related quality of life following road trauma: An emergency department inception cohort study”.
Dr. Kendall Ho was recognized for his study titled: “TEC4Home: Telehealth for emergency-community continuity of care connectivity via home monitoring”.
The recipients of this award represent health professions ranging from emergency physicians to midwives and psychologists across BC. More information on this award, and well as a full list of the 11 recipients, is available on the MSFHR website.