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February 14, 2011
  This
Valentine’s Day brings news that will touch many hearts
in Northwestern Ontario. Today, Thunder Bay Regional Health
Sciences Centre President & CEO Andrée Robichaud
officially opened the new Angioplasty short-stay area where
patients recover from angioplasty procedures. “We’ve
made tremendous strides in the provision of cardiac care in
a short period of time,” she says. “Today’s
celebration is another important milestone representing an
advanced standard of care for the cardiac patients of Northwestern
Ontario.”
The first patient, Patricia MacPherson, was welcomed to the
new area by Robichaud and interventional cardiologist Dr. Mark
Henderson. MacPherson previously received service in the cardiac
catheterization lab at the Health Sciences Centre. She will
not only be one of the first patients to stay in the new Angioplasty
short-stay area, but will be the first to experience recovery
in both areas. In the cardiac catheterization lab, the team
is focused on patient preparation, therapy and recovery. In
the new area, healthcare providers can focus solely on patient
recovery.
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“Patricia can anticipate
a quieter, calmer recovery experience,” Henderson
says. “This new area offers enhanced privacy
for the patient and family. Equally as important,
immediate support is available from the 2C inpatient
team should any complications occur during recovery.”
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Today’s opening of the Angioplasty short-stay area
is part of an expansion of cardiology services, including
a second cardiac catheterization lab at Thunder Bay Regional
Health Sciences Centre. This project has long been on the
wish list for Northwestern Ontario, where cardiac disease
rates are the highest in the province.
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The move from a vision to a reality is the result
of a supportive community, according to Tony Bossio,
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation
board director. Almost $5 million has been donated
in support of advanced cardiac care at the Health
Sciences Centre. Less than $500,000 remains to be
raised for the second cardiac catheterization lab.
“The people of our community clearly understand
the value of world-class cardiac services close
to home,” he says. “Their investments
are realizing great returns for many families.”
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The expansion of cardiac services, including the Angioplasty
short-stay area, has been a top priority of community leaders
for years. The Ontario government provided over $8 million
to make the full expansion possible.
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“It is incredibly
satisfying to see this expansion of cardiac care come
to life for patients in Northwestern Ontario,”
says Bill Mauro, MPP Thunder Bay – Atikokan.
“Our priority is always to meet the needs of
the people of this community.”
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Michael Gravelle, MPP Thunder
Bay – Superior North, noted that health care
for all Ontarians remains a government priority and
is pleased to see expanded cardiac services and facilities
to benefit Northerners. “I’m absolutely
delighted to see this expansion of the Anglioplasty
area,” Gravelle remarked. “Cardiology
services at the Regional are world-class, with dynamic
and efficient innovations, and are producing life-saving
results for the people of Northwestern Ontario.”
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Previously, there were six patient stretchers in the cardiac
catheterization lab. Now, there are six short-stay stretchers
in the Angioplasty short-stay area on 2C. Once completed,
the expanded cardiac catheterization lab will house an additional
ten, for a total of 16 stretchers dedicated to patients of
the cardiac catheterization lab. “The increase in stretchers
speaks to the increased services the second catheterization
lab will enable,” notes Henderson.
“We celebrate today’s achievement as a confirmation
of our standing as an academic health sciences centre with
a focus on patient and family centred care,” says Robichaud.
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