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Personal Information Booklet
RVHSF's guide to assist you in compiling and documenting
personal and estate information. |
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Download a copy here | |
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Greetings!
We have received hundreds of heartfelt Gift from the Heart messages this month, and there's still time to add yours if you haven't sent one! Post your message on our Facebook Discussion Board or come into our office to fill out a card.
Siva stopped by one of our Heart Month booths and wrote the following message for everyone to see: "The heart is wonderful and precious organ.... We are proud to know that we are cared for well and treated well when we are in the good hands of Rouge Valley's medical team."
Kerry McLeish
RVHSF Communications Officer |
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H O S P I T A L S T O R I E S |
 Initiative successfully tackles hospital-acquired infections
A new initiative introduced at Rouge Valley Health System (RVHS) is helping to reduce hospital-acquired infections. The program, in partnership with Safer Healthcare Now (SHN), focuses on two of the most fatal hospital acquired infections -- ventilator-assisted Pneumonia (VAP) and central line Infection (CLI).
"SHN's mandate is to provide optimal care for patients based on evidence generated from current clinical research. This program has helped the ICU teams to implement an evidence-based approach in the care of critically ill patients and to significantly decrease these potentially fatal infections" said Dianne Tomarchio, clinical practice leader, post-acute care unity and Rouge Valley's SHN champion.
Patients at RVHS have significantly benefited from these positive changes. Between April and December 2008, not a single patient acquired VAP at Rouge Valley Centenary (RVC). Similar results have been achieved in the pursuit to prevent CLI. At the end of December 2008, it had been 12 months since the last patient was diagnosed with CLI at RVC and eight months for Rouge Valley Ajax and Pickering.
Photo by Akilah Dressekie |
 News from the Valley
The February/March 2009 issue of Rouge Valley Health System's official magazine, Echo, is now available for download.
Feature stories include A New Facility is Born, Celebrating Transformation Themes, and the full article on the hospital-acquired infections initiative noted above. |
| D O N O R S T O R I E S |
 Son honours late mother's bequest to purchase wheelchairs
Shui Ying Cheng cared about her local community hospital enough to include Rouge Valley in her will. Four wheelchairs have been purchased for Rouge Valley Centenary's Emergency Department with a generous bequest from her estate.
"I feel very rewarded making the donation according to my late mother's will," said her son Hanson Cheng. "The staff are absolutely thrilled that we have this much-needed equipment to offer our patients," said Carole Chabot, the Foundation's Vice President, Development.
Photo by Jennifer Collins |
 Cardiac Care Program "Gifts from the Heart"February is Heart Month and on Valentine's Day shoppers at the Pickering Town Centre and the Scarborough Town Centre gave a meaningful "Gift from the Heart" in support the Rouge Valley Health System's Cardiac Care Program.
 For a donation of $2, visitors to the information booths wrote messages to loved ones that will be displayed in the hospital for the rest of the month. Through the generosity of the community, we raised nearly $1,800. Visitors also learned about the Cardiac Care Program and ways in which to be proactive with their heart health. Photos by Kerry McLeish and Jennifer Collins |
| V O L U N T E E R S T O R I E S |
 Tom Leon remembered
We announce with sorrow the passing of Thomas Anthony Leon. Tom was a committed philanthropist, who regularly contributed to many great causes.
From 1989-1996, Tom was a member of our Foundation Board, where he served as Board Chair. He also headed the "Expect the Extraordinary" capital campaign in the early 1990s. At the completion of his term as Chair, RVHS dedicated the Tom Leon Health Resource Centre in his name. This electronic library is located in the front foyer of RVC.
 Tom Leon was perhaps best known for being the Board Chair of Leon's furniture, a company founded by his father, and one of Canada's largest home furnishings retailers.
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 Town of Ajax Volunteer Awards nomination deadlineEach year, the Town of Ajax recognizes and honours the achievements and contributions of community volunteers. These prestigious awards express the Town's appreciation of the many individuals, groups and businesses who are helping to create a community where people feel a sense of belonging and responsibility to each other, and are active participants in its development.
The nomination deadline is Friday, March 13. For more information about the program, please call Andrew Norris at 905-619-2529 ext. 7248. |
| P A T I E N T S T O R I E S |
 Eleven days from ER to cardiac defibrillator "an absolute miracle"
October 31st, Halloween, was particularly beautiful this year. I took advantage of this and headed to the garden to make it ready for winter. I don't know what happened. One moment I was walking towards the garage, the next I awoke, struggling to understand why I was lying in a garden bed with my face scraped, sore and bleeding. I had fainted and hit my face against the brick wall of the house.
With the help of my neighbour, I got to my feet and found my wife and together we headed to the emergency department at Rouge Valley Ajax and Pickering hospital. We were greeted by the warm and caring staff. They attended to me immediately and their quiet confidence and professionalism instantly put me at ease. I felt cared for and I knew I was in good hands. They said I needed tests done to find the cause of my fainting spell, and I was thankful to have such an excellent facility in my community.
As I lay in the emergency, a nurse came and took my pulse and set me up on a monitor which kept track of my vital signs. I was moved to the ICU for further observation and that's where it was determined that I would need to have a defibrillator inserted to help my heart manage its regular function.
On November 10th, at Rouge Valley Centenary hospital, I had a defibrillator inserted in an operation that took only about an hour and a half. The very next day -- Remembrance Day -- I was on my way home.
To me, that seemed an absolute miracle.
Sincerely,
Ralph Sutton
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| F U N D R A I S I N G E V E N T S |
 A&W Fundraiser
Proceeds from the sale of Root beer and Onion Rings will be donated to Rouge Valley Ajax and Pickering
Dates: February 23 - March 22, 2009 Locations: Pickering Town Centre food court and 310 Harwood Avenue South (Ajax) Contact: Maureen Dowhaniuk, 905-683-2320 x1212
 Paint the Town Rouge Gala
Join us for an evening of fine dining, dancing, an excellent silent auction and more as we raise funds for equipment purchases for the Cardiac program at both hospital campuses, brought to you by the RVHS Foundation. Date: March 27, 2009 Location: Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex Time: 5:30 p.m. - 1 a.m. Cost: $300 Contact: Heather Montague, 905-683-2320 X1501 Website: http://www.rougevalley.ca/rvhsf/gala09.html
 Cardiac Walkathon
Date: April 25, 2009 For: Cardiac Rehabilitation at RVC Location: 11th Floor, Rouge Valley Centenary Contact: Amber Heath
 Baby Steps Walk-a-thon
Date: May 24, 2009 For: Birthing and Newborn Centre at RVC Time: 9:30 a.m. Location: Departing from the Malvern Town Centre Contact: Maureen Dowhaniuk, 905-683-2320 x1212
Lancaster Ball
Date: May 30, 2009 For: RVAP Redevelopment Location: Deer Creek Golf and Country Club Contact: Pat Brooks
 Run the Lake
Date: June 20, 2009 For: Equipment for RVAP Host: Ajax and Pickering Rotary Clubs Location: Rotary Park, Ajax Contact: Maureen Dowhaniuk, 905-683-2320 x1212
Craig Jones Memorial Golf Tournament
Date: June 29, 2009 For: Orthopaedic equipment at RVC Location: Scarboro Golf and Country Club Contact: Maureen Dowhaniuk, 905-683-2320 x1212
 19th Annual Golf ClassicDate: August 6, 2009 For: Vital Signs Monitors at RVC Location: Sleepy Hollow Golf Club Contact: Heather Montague, 905-683-2320 x1501 | |
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