A minimally invasive surgical (MIS) suite has officially opened its doors at South Shore Regional Hospital. The first operation using the much sought-after MIS suite took place today, Tuesday, April 30. Minimally invasive surgeries are now standard in operating rooms (ORs) across the province and opening this suite has long been a high priority for South Shore Regional Hospital. The equipment used in MIS suites completes surgery through a few small incisions rather than one large opening, resulting in less pain, faster recovery and shorter hospital stays for patients.
NSHA Public Health is advising the public of a potential exposure to measles at the Halifax Infirmary’s emergency department. An individual travelled through Halifax and visited the emergency department at the QEII Health Sciences Centre on April 17 for symptoms unrelated to measles. However, the individual later developed measles and they were communicable at the time of their emergency department visit in Halifax. Public Health officials in New Brunswick are currently investigating the case in the Saint John area.
Aberdeen Hospital‘s first music therapist, Kelsey MacDonald, plays an important role in improving the health and quality of life for the hospital’s patients and families.
Denice Klavano sits in her office at the Halifax Infirmary. A stained glass ornament in the shape of a green ribbon, a symbol for organ and tissue donation, hangs from the cork board above her work station. Her son, Brad Howell, died tragically as a result of a fork lift and army motor vehicle collision in March 2006. He was18 years old and had just recently registered as a donor.
Several years ago, Dorothy MacAskill drove all night to see a loved one who’d been admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) in the province. When she arrived, she was told she couldn’t visit. As manager of an ICU herself, and now interim director, it hit home for MacAskill that restricting family access to loved ones wasn’t serving the patient or family.
Compassion and kindness. Our volunteers embody both every day. As we cap off National Volunteer Week, join me in thanking everyone who chooses to give their time and talent to improving the health of Nova Scotians through volunteer programs; auxiliaries; foundations; community health boards; patient, family and public advisory committees; quality teams; long-term care programs and our board of directors.
If you walk into Aberdeen Hospital in New Glasgow on a Thursday morning, you’re sure to see a smiling Jane Marshall ready to point you in the right direction. Marshall is one of 7,000 volunteers who selflessly give their time and energy to help Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) make patients and our province healthier.
Change is hard. But what if fear of change is preventing us from being open about the opportunities for better health and better care? How much could we stand to gain?
