I look forward to volunteering every time I come here. If I can find one thing to help make a patient a little more comfortable, then I’ve done my job.
Gerry Johnston, Red Deer Regional Health Centre patient experience advisor
It can be the littlest of things—like a warm blanket or someone helping them find their way. We think we know what matters to our patients and families, but they’re the only ones who truly can tell us.
Marilyn Wacko, senior consultant at the Patient and Provider Experience Office at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton on the What Matters to You? Day campaign
We work hard to make our patients better and get them home. But when we can’t do that, how can we be more compassionate for the family and be respectful at the end of this person’s life?
Teri Donald, clinical nurse educator in medicine at Grande Prairie’s QEII Hospital, describing the philosophy behind the White Rose program that places an image of a white rose on the door to the room of a deceased patient to let staff know that a family is grieving, to leave the room in peace, and that scheduled tests or cleaning may no longer be needed
As the leader of the healthcare system in Alberta, I take full responsibility and ownership for what happened. It hurt me to hear of what our staff had done. That people were capable in thinking of others in those offensive terms … We know how hurtful these words are to Indigenous Peoples inside and outside of our organization.
Dr. Verna Yiu, president and CEO of AHS, visited the Kainai Nation to apologize for a racial slur incident involving two AHS employees last summer. The two are no longer with AHS
We took into account the diversity of opinion around the issue and ensured the rights of everybody would be protected by what we put in place. We tried to design a system for the entire province, not just Alberta Health Services, and one that works for everyone—including those who object to medical assistance in dying.
Dr. Jim Silvius, AHS provincial medical director for Seniors Health and the senior medical director for the Seniors Health Strategic Clinical Network. He was named the 2017 recipient of the Canadian Medical Association’s Dr. William Marsden Award in Medical Ethics for his leadership in helping create Alberta’s response to the 2015 Supreme Court ruling that paved the way for medical assistance in dying.
This Canada Day, I celebrated the resilience and strength of all Indigenous People, whose cultures have survived and continue to grow in strength. I celebrated the diverse fabric of our many people.
Keith King, AHS accreditation advisor
People in this high-risk and marginalized population often come from situations where they don’t typically seek medical care. You have to be open-minded and put biases aside— being professional and self-aware is key. You treat everyone equitably, regardless of why they’re here.
Jordana Schmitz, nurse clinician with the Correctional Health team at the Lethbridge Correctional Centre
Remember that you are standing in what in essence is ‘my bedroom’—the only space I have within the hospital to call my own. Acknowledge me as an individual and give me the courtesy of introducing yourself and explaining why you are seeing me—these things matter.
Michelle Stasiuk, patient advisor volunteer and also also co-chair of Calgary Zone’s Patient- and Family- Centred Care committee, offering a patient’s viewpoint
(I’m inspired) to help patients with end-stage disease who are otherwise condemned to certain death—and providing that quality of life and an increased length of life through successful transplantation. My ongoing motivation is to ... innovate here in Alberta to help revolutionize how we do transplantation.
Dr. Jayan Nagendran, who performs heart and lung transplants at the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute in Edmonton
Patients can see they’re getting the best treatment possible. The new Linacs add functionality, such as CT imaging and body mapping, which will allow us to enhance accuracy while reducing treatment times.
Wendy Smith, director of Medical at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary, on upgrades there and at Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton to each hold two new linear accelerators—called Linacs—which use X-rays to destroy cancer cells
Within the unit, there’s a lot of peer support when things don’t go well—and we want staff to know that it’s OK to talk about it. We also arm staff with tools like non-violence crisis intervention training and trauma-informed education so they know how to best approach a patient who may get aggressive or violent.
Chidi Nwofor, clinical nurse educator at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton
We want people to have a sense of preparedness, which includes some peace and calm when you’re in a situation that causes the opposite of that. Maybe you don’t talk to your neighbour all that much but it will make you aware of who’s in your neighbourhood, who might need help.
Jodi Sperber, an AHS health promotion facilitator working for E-Prep, offering emergency preparedness workshops in Fort McMurray
No patient should ever acquire influenza from our staff while in our care... Get the shot, get it early, and encourage your colleagues to do the same.
Dr. Stephen Tsekrekos, medical for Workplace Health and Safety
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