Medical research company receives FedNor funding
RNA Diagnostics Inc., a medical research company based in Sudbury, has been awarded $100,000 from FedNor to help the company complete the development of an innovative diagnostic product used in cancer management.
The RNA Disruption Assay (RDA) was developed during breast cancer clinical trails by Dr. Amadeo Parissenti, former Cancer Research Chair for Sudbury Regional Hospital's Regional Cancer Program.
The process can help oncologists asses the effectiveness of chemotherapy.
“We are very excited about the positive impact this funding will have on our ability to bring to market a new product that holds the prospect of revolutionizing how cancer treatments are administered here in Canada and throughout the world,” Parissenti said.
The funding was provided through FedNor's Northern Ontario Development Program.
Sudbury Regional gets funding for new programs
Sudbury Regional Hospital is receiving more than $2.8 million from the provincial government to support its diabetes treatment and management programs.
The sum of $2,544,930 will go towards the Centre for Complex Diabetes Care (CCDC) with the remaining $321,000 allocated to fund self-management educational programs.
“About 25 per cent of patients admitted to our institution have conditions linked to diabetes, which is why the Diabetes Complex Care Centre is so important in helping these patients better manage their diabetes outside of an acute care hospital setting,” said Dr. Dennis Roy, Sudbury Regional president and CEO.
“This centre is a prime example of how we are rethinking and redesigning health care to better meet the needs of our patients.”
The province has also allocated $710,000 to support the hospital’s new Heart Failure Clinic and Medical Day Clinic.
The Medical Day Clinic provides treatment to patients who require hospital care, but do not require full admission. Treatment at the clinic includes blood transfusions, infusions of medication and minor procedures.
The province has also agreed to fund 90 per cent of the costs of a 20,000 square-foot learning centre for medical students. Existing hospital space will be renovated to accommodate the centre.
Twenty-eight telemedicine nurses wanted for northwest
The North West LHIN is investing $2,034,860 to hire nurses to deliver health care via telemedicine, improving access to high quality health care for people in the region.
Organizations from across the region will be able to hire 28 new telemedicine nurses, who will use the latest technology for virtual patient consultations, assessments, training and knowledge exchange.
As a result of this investment, more residents will receive care closer to home, decreasing the need for travel and increasing the number and types of services available across the northwest through telemedicine.
“Nurses are the hands and hearts of the health-care system,” said Catherine Collinson, CEO at Nipigon District Memorial Hospital. “Their specialized knowledge and training provide care and support to patients and their families 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.”
In 2010/11, the use of telemedicine in the North West LHIN resulted in more than $11 million in avoided travel costs, and more than 27 million kilometres in avoided patient travel. There are 134 active OTN sites and 210 active systems in the northwest. In 2010/11, northwestern Ontario hosted 23,426 clinical events on the network.
North East LHINfunds hotline for mental health patients
The Sudbury-Manitoulin branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association has received funding of $170,000 from the North East LHIN for a toll-free “warm-line” telephone service that will be available to people across northeastern Ontario who are in need of after hours mental health and addiction support.
The funding is part of the NE LHIN’s strategy to enhance mental health and addiction services while helping to decrease the number of repeat visits to emergency departments across the region. The need for more mental health and additional services for people living in northeastern Ontario was stated loudly and clearly at recent public engagement sessions that attracted more than 600 people across the region. The number to call is 1-800-WARM or 1-705-671-9276.
North East LHINfunds hotline for mental health patients
A registered nurse at Sudbury Regional Hospital has been invited to speak at an international conference for nurses in Israel.
Carol Cameletti will give a presentation about the impact of electronic health records on front line nursing at the International Nursing Conference in Jerusalem, June 4-7, 2012. The conference is being hosted by the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO) and Hadassah University Medical School in Jerusalem.
Cameletti has been a nurse at Sudbury Regional for over 25 years.
She is also the RNAO eHealth peer leader for the North East Local Health Integration Network.
Her presentation in Israel will focus on the Nurse Peer eHealth Network (NPEN) that she developed in partnership with the LHIN eHealth lead. The purpose of the Nurse Peer eHealth Network is to give nurses from across northeastern Ontario a forum to learn about and provide feedback on the latest developments in eHealth.
“The input provided by the nurses through NPEN will make eHealth initiatives more effective in terms of patient care,” said Cameletti. “Their front-line experience and input will help refine both the information included in a patient’s electronic health record and the tracking of a patient’s treatment and progress, which makes for better care.”
Study emphasizes need for physical activity in call centres
Sitting behind a desk all day can impact negatively on your health. This is the finding of a recent study conducted by Sheila Renton, an occupational therapist and faculty member of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine’s Division of Clinical Sciences.
Emerging evidence from other research has shown that prolonged and uninterrupted sitting may have negative effects on health even if counteracted by moderate-intensity physical activity at other times of the day.
Managers in 10 of the 12 call centres operating in Sudbury at the time of the study were interviewed about physical activity in their workplace. Study participants were asked to describe the barriers that exist for the promotion of physical activity in call centres and what help they need for the implementation of physical activity initiatives.
“I was pleased to learn that several local call centres currently have some practices in place designed to promote physical activity amongst their employees, such as posting information about the importance of exercise and negotiating corporate discounts at fitness facilities. Some of the smaller call centres may need more assistance. The Sudbury Contact Centre Network could be a big help for sharing information and resources,” said Renton.
Managers involved in this study had generally positive responses to the Ontario government’s recommendations for physical activity promotion in the workplace as outlined in the 2004 Chief Medical Officer of Health Report: Healthy Eeights, Healthy Lives. Some of the participants felt they needed fresh ideas and guidance and some knew about the workplace wellness information available through the Sudbury & District Health Unit. “There are many resources available to help workplaces promote physical activity. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of increasing awareness,” said Renton.
The findings were recently published in an international journal, Health Education Research.
The study was undertaken by Renton as part of her Master of Public Health degree from Lakehead University, and was completed under the supervision of Dr. Nancy Lightfoot with Dr. Marion Maar as committee member.
North East LHIN allocates funds for senior care
The North East Local Health Integration Network has allocated $2.6 million to enhance services for seniors who have behaviours associated with complex and challenging mental health, dementia or other neurological conditions.
This region-wide investment will allow local health service providers to hire new nurses, personal support workers and other health-care providers and train them in the specialized skills necessary to provide care for these patients.
The LHIN has also allocated $500,000 for assisted living services to support residents moving into the Lepokoti residence at Finlandia Village in Sudbury. The investment will help seniors to live safely, comfortably and with proper support outside of a hospital or long-term care home.
An additional sum of $190,000 will enhance portering services at Pioneer Manor in Sudbury.
In northeastern Ontario, 17 per cent of the population is age 65 and older – a number that is expected to increase to 30 per cent by 2020.
Health minister announces plan for house calls
Ontarians will be able to count on house calls from their family doctors and nurses under a new Ontario Liberal plan, according to Health Minister Deb Matthews.
“House calls are coming back to Ontario, so anyone who has difficulty getting to appointments will be cared for right in their homes,” she said.
The program will offer services ranging from a health professional’s visit (such as a doctor, nurse or occupational therapist), to phone and online consultations — all making access to health care easier and more cost effective.
The pre-election pledge didn’t explain how the service would be provided or how health-care professionals would be paid.
Home First program credited for ALC relief
More than 400 seniors in northeastern Ontario have benefited in the past year from the Ministry of Health’s Home First program, which helps seniors return home from hospital after treatment.
The North East LHIN, in partnership with the North East Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) and the community support services sector, began to implement Home First in Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins and North Bay one year ago.
Home First is a shift in thinking that helps seniors return home from hospital once the acute phase of their hospital stay is complete, and before any longer-term decisions are made about future care.
Since Home First began in northeastern Ontario, 424 seniors have been sent home from hospital to receive the care they need. Of those, 243 are living in the comfort of their own home and 61 have been supported in their home pending admission to a long-term care home. Even the 120 seniors who needed to return to hospital following their discharge benefited by being able to spend up to three additional months in their own homes with appropriate care and supports.
If all of them had remained in hospital for seven days, the cost for their care would have been $2.5 million. That compares to the one-week price tag of $374,000 for caring for them in a long-term care home, and $125,000 for caring for them at home.
“Home First is an example of how health-care leaders are working together to deliver health care to our aging population,” said North East LHIN CEO Louise Paquette.
To support Home First, the North East CCAC worked with hospital partners to develop new roles for integrated discharge services in Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, North Bay and Timmins. Integrated discharge planners strive to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions and improve hospital patient transition to home and community.
The number of alternate level of care patients in acute care beds has dropped by more than half to seven per cent at the northeast region’s four urban hospitals since last August.
Funding announced for dementia patients
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is investing $40 million to enhance services for seniors who exhibit behaviours associated with complex and challenging mental health, dementia and other neurological conditions.
The funds will allow long-term care homes, hospitals and community services to hire nurses, personal support workers and other health-care providers.
The North East LHIN and North West LHIN will receive $2.64 million and $1.23 million, respectively, and are scheduled to develop and implement their plans by February 2012.
“The Alzheimer Society of Ontario applauds these much‐needed investments that will strengthen the capacity of both families and our health‐care system to improve the quality of life for this group of Ontarians,” said Gary Gale, CEO, Alzheimer Society of Ontario. “ (This) announcement responds to solutions suggested by family caregivers and health‐care personnel coping with these challenges every day, whether they’re in hospitals, long‐term care facilities or in their own homes. The Alzheimer Society looks forward to working with the LHINs in implementing this important project.”
According to Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care statistics, 65 per cent of long-term care home residents have dementia. By 2010, this number is expected to increase by 40 per cent, accounting for 220,000 Ontarians.
