We are happy to bring you the following news from the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation.  You can read more about the activities of the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation in our annual report & newsletter publications.

YHF Nursing Scholarships

YHF Nursing Scholarships

Hospitals are bustling, complex systems full of skilled and educated individuals, any of whom the healthcare system would not be able to function without. But ask anyone and they will tell you – the beating heart of any hospital is its nurses.

Deborah Janke, YHF nursing scholarship recipient

One of these nurses is Perioperative Team Lead Deborah Janke. Having been an LPN in the operating room for 10 years, she decided to further her training and become an RN. “An RN is often in charge of a care plan or in charge of more acute patients, but they also do more management and take on more of an educator role,” Deborah explains. But beginning any such journey can be daunting, with financial concerns substantial consideration. As Deborah remembers, “I still had a mortgage, still had car payments, still had all those things in life that I had to pay for.” Luckily, the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation was here to help.

With a number of nursing scholarships specifically available for students attending the Dalhousie University Bachelor of Science Nursing program (Yarmouth Campus), we at the foundation are proud to support the next generation of nurses. “Many others in my class received them,” says Deborah “and everybody who had them was grateful for the help! The school was really helpful in letting us know about the scholarships and showing us how to apply, etc. I was very happy about it.”

If you’re taking the next big step in your education at Dalhousie School of Nursing (Yarmouth Campus), check out our scholarships today!

Unsung Heroes of the Hospital

The folks on the Environmental Services team at the Yarmouth Regional Hospital are used to being called “housekeepers” – but there’s far more to what they do than simple cleaning work.

“Anything that needs cleaning top to bottom – offices, delivery rooms, operating rooms, patient areas, lobby, all the bathrooms, entrances – you name it, they take care of it all,” says Robbie LeBlanc, Assistant Manager of Facilities Support Services. “But really, we’re here to keep the hospital safe. Infection control is a big thing!  We keep germs from spreading from room to room, from patient to patient, and from staff to staff. It’s not only about the patients. We’re keeping everyone who walks through our doors safe.”

An Environmental Services worker standing by her cart.

Environmental Services team member Felicia Hirschfeld is ready to get to work! With six weeks’ experience on the job, she is one of the newer members of the team.

The training that goes with the position is extensive, and proper use of personal protective equipment is vital, given the staff’s proximity to illness and infectious disease. In fact, due to the level of care and attention given to the cleanliness and safety of our hospital, some Environmental Services workers can use up to 50 pairs of disposable gloves per day.

The job can be quite physically demanding as well, but there’s a large team to handle it all. “We have about 45 or 50 people who work here during the day and night. We’re at it 24 hours a day!” explains LeBlanc.

Here at the foundation, we’re sure you’ll agree that this is an invaluable team. So this Environmental Services Week, let’s give our thanks to the professionals who work so hard to keep us, our hospital, and our loved ones safe!

Introducing YHF Board Chair – Ann Jones

Ann Jones, the newly appointed Chair of the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation’s board of directors, brings a lot of experience and passion to her new role. “I’m a volunteer at heart,” she says. “I love being active in my community, and I’ve been on many boards, including SHYFT, the Canadian Mental Health Association, and the Boys and Girls Club Board. I’m also a partner in the Yarmouth Waterfront Gallery.” When an opportunity to serve as a board member came up, she leapt at that chance. “It’s really important that I do this,” she realized.

The foundation’s mission, of course, is to support and enhance the Yarmouth Regional Hospital. And, as Ann explains, one of the chief ways we do so is by making the hospital an appealing place for doctors. “If we don’t have a hospital with the latest technology, we don’t attract the doctors or other healthcare professionals that we absolutely need. Without them, we can’t give the best care possible. So, I’d like to continue our strong collaboration with all partners involved. The hospital is a system, and all parts of that system need to work together.”

Continuing the foundation’s work of supporting our regional hospital may be her focus, but she has another goal as well – keeping the joyful atmosphere she sees in all the foundation’s endeavors. “When I see events like the WE CARE Radiothon, people are happy about giving. I think that excites me the most, that the foundation is so respected in this community. People know who we are, and they know that we deliver. So, when they give, they give from the heart. And we live in a very giving community.”

Kathy Ogden — A Life of Dedication

The work in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is high-tech, fast-paced, and critical — and Kathy Ogden loves it. After graduating from the Yarmouth School of Nursing in 1978, Kathy was a nurse for 20 years when she took an assignment in the ICU and fell in love. She’s still in love with this position even after 25 years, so much so that she’s not ready to retire 10 years after she became eligible.

There are seven patient rooms and one treatment room in ICU, which allows for a variety of procedures, even the installation of temporary pacemakers. ICU is for critically ill patients, often those with heart or respiratory illnesses and those needing new acute dialysis requiring additional monitoring. These patients often require one-on-one care from a nurse, or perhaps one nurse can look after two or even three patients — but no more.

Kathy has been team leader for 10 years. While the nurses work 12-hour shifts — four on days, four on nights — the team leader works 7-3 Monday through Friday. Given her knowledge base and experience, she can provide support and advice to the other nurses. She also handles needed paperwork and fills in when a nurse needs assistance or a break.

In addition, up to 12 patients also can be monitored on 3-East or 3-South, and that’s because they have monitors that are connected to ICU. “We in ICU monitor them to determine if they need help, from asking the floor nurses to check on them to rushing to the bedside to deal with a critical development. We keep a close eye on them to determine if they need help and what kind,” Kathy says.

Years ago, many ICU patients would have been transferred to Halifax or Kentville for specialized care, but that happens much less often, Kathy says. “Now they can be treated right here at home,” she says. She attributes this to technological improvements and to the fact that ICU now has more internal medicine doctors, including a cardiologist and an intensivist, along with internal medicine fellows (doctors completing their training).

She credits the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation for funding many of the machines and devices that provide life-saving care — from the portable ultrasound that is used daily to ceiling lifts to special chairs that allow patients to sit up properly. “I get excited when we get some new equipment that the foundation has purchased,” Kathy admits. “The foundation has been very supportive when the need is there.”

The Community Stepping Up – RBC

It’s not every day you get a call asking for volunteer opportunities, and even rarer when they offer to pay for the privilege! But we at the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation were very happy to hear from Danny Reid, an investment retirement planner at Yarmouth RBC. As part of RBC’s Employee Volunteer Grant program, eight volunteers offered to spend a couple of hours weeding and gardening in front of Veteran’s Place at Yarmouth Regional Hospital. The resulting donation of $1,500 will help us fulfill our mandate of supporting and enhancing healthcare in our region!

 

The RBC Volunteers presenting YFH Managing Director Mary Surette with their donation.

The RBC Volunteers presenting YFH Managing Director Mary Surette (second from left) with their donation.

As Nonie Crowell (Assistant Bank Manager, RBC Yarmouth Branch) says, “The Yarmouth Hospital Foundation is a very important part of the community. Whenever we can, we will give to them.” Indeed, RBC has also assisted with our WE CARE Radiothon for numerous years. It’s all part of their employee initiative that aims to help our communities thrive.

Community-led fundraisers such as this enable the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation to expand our support throughout the Yarmouth Regional Hospital. If you’re interested in hosting a community fundraising event, give us a call at 902-749-1669. We’d be happy to help with promotion!

 

Fostering the Next Generation of Nursing

A generous Yarmouth couple has endowed the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation’s newest scholarship — an annual $1,000 scholarship for students enrolled in the LPN program at the Burridge campus of Nova Scotia Community College.

“It’s our way of giving back,” say foundation supporters Ron and Bev Smith. They decided to make this incredible contribution as an endowment to the Licensed Practical Nursing program because it’s a gift that keeps on giving. (An endowment means that the principal is invested and the return on the investment covers the scholarship each year.)

Ron knows about investments — he had a career as chief financial officer in several industries. Ron and Bev also both have strong connections to the healthcare field — Bev as a nurse and Ron as a former chair and director of the IWK Health Centre. They both grew up in Yarmouth, but they moved back from the Halifax area in 2006 when they retired. They quickly found their ideal home with a huge picture window giving them a beautiful view of Lake Milo.

Bev and Ron are particularly concerned about the stresses aging baby boomers like themselves are placing on healthcare and the need to step up recruitment of professionals in the field. “Our scholarship is a way to make a tangible difference for years to come,” Ron says, adding they hope their gift will inspire others to contribute.

Bev remembers how important it was to her own nursing career to receive a $500 scholarship. That was in 1970, she says. It paid her tuition and some other expenses.

The Smiths’ scholarship joins two others for the Burridge program that are funded by the foundation. The foundation also administers nine scholarships to the Dalhousie School of Nursing, Yarmouth Campus.

LPNs may make up to 50 percent of the nursing staff in some departments at the Yarmouth hospital, and the Burridge program has a reputation for more hands-on clinical experience than available at similar programs elsewhere in the province. “We hope our scholarship can inspire some young people to enter the nursing field,” Bev says.

Further details regarding scholarship applications will be available in September.

A True ‘Run for Good’

Here at the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation, we’re always thrilled to see local organizations as excited about supporting and enhancing our regional hospital as we are. So, this spring, our hearts were warmed to hear about the Run for Good 5K, organized by Boatskeg Distilling, Strong Tides Crossfit, and Apollo Sport & Wellness Centre. The run’s proceeds went to us here at the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation, specifically to be put towards the Inpatient Recreation Therapy program at our regional hospital.

This program aims to support individuals mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually by aiding in accessing recreation/leisure activity. As co-organizer Jocelyne D’eon said “We wanted to try and help with mental health — it touches everyone.” And mental health is a huge component in recreation therapy! As recreation therapist Emily Jackson explains, “The program uses recreation and leisure to support motivation, overall mood, self-esteem, and social connection by providing purpose and quality of life.”

With just under 70 runners signed up, the Run for Good 5K was a popular one for the local running community as well, and the bright and sunny weather only added to the great vibes. Door prizes were given out, and many enjoyed a few drinks after the run when they headed to the nearby Boatskeg Distillery (with portions of the drinks’ proceeds also going to the Inpatient Recreation Therapy program).

“The recent donation has a big impact on the program,” Emily Jackson went on to say. “We have implemented a garden space at one of the hospital entrances, and this donation helped us purchase supplies for the patients to connect with the outdoors and gardening. Each day the recreation therapy team brings patients to the space to care for the garden and enjoy some sunshine!”

When the community comes together to support healthcare, we all win. And thanks to gracious community partners such as by Boatskeg Distilling, Strong Tides Crossfit and Apollo Sport & Wellness Centre, the staff at our regional hospital can feel truly supported.

 

 

Funding a Vital Chemotherapy Tool

The New Biological Safety Cabinet

When facing a cancer diagnosis, we can expect thorough treatment that mitigates as many risks as possible. But there’s often more that goes into our treatment than we realize!

For instance, patients receiving chemotherapy at the Yarmouth Regional Hospital have their chemotherapy drugs mixed onsite in the Pharmacy Department. To make sure that each dose is safe and sterile, they all need to be mixed in a biological safety cabinet. Not only does this keep the doses safe, it keeps the pharmacy staff safe as well as they mix these cytotoxic drugs. It’s just one example of the behind-the-scenes work that must take place for our healthcare system to run efficiently, smoothly, and safely.

When we were approached by Maggie Arenburg (Manager, Pharmacy South West Nova Scotia) and Pam Robichaud (Manager, WZ Cancer Care Program) and told of their need for a new biological safety cabinet (at a cost of $25,318), we knew we had to step in to help. According to Pam and Maggie, “Given the rising number of cancer diagnoses in recent years, the replacement of our old, antiquated equipment was essential and timely.”

Karen Gorst and Kristen Pulsifer at Work (L-R)

Put simply, the hospital’s patients and staff both deserve to be as safe as possible – and we were proud to do our part. In spring of 2024, the new cabinet (sometimes colloquially referred to as a “chemo hood”) were installed in the Yarmouth Pharmacy Department. Without this, provision of lifesaving chemotherapy in Yarmouth would be either impossible or significantly delayed. And it’s all made possible because of our inspiring donors who understand the need for supporting and enhancing healthcare in our regional hospital!

The YHF 2024 Annual General Meeting

The Yarmouth Hospital Foundation is holding its Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, June 11th, 2024, at 5:30pm. It will be held in the Bluenose Room, at the Yarmouth Regional Hospital.

Everyone is welcome to attend — however, only members are eligible to vote. Eligible voters are those individuals who have made a donation since last year’s AGM.

For more information, reach out via email at info@yarmouthhospitalfoundation.ca, or by phone at 902-749-1669.

Updated Laparoscopic Suites

An Exciting Upgrade

The new laparoscopic suites at Yarmouth Regional Hospital (YRH) are to the ones installed a dozen years ago as smart phones are to flip phones. Almost everything in the two operating rooms is brand new  — lights, monitors, screens, beds, cameras and all of the other technology and specialized equipment our surgeons need to do their work, says Gina Leaman, nurse manager for Perioperative Services. (Perioperative is the term for the whole process from admitting to procedure to recovery.)

An Upgraded Laparoscopic Suite

One of YRH’s two upgraded laparoscopic suites.

The new minimally invasive surgical (MIS) suites were made possible thanks to the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation, which covered the full cost of $1.5 million. “The old suites were a big improvement but the new suites are a thousand times better,” says team leader Deborah Janke. “The technology is so much better for patients, as well as the staff.” It allows the surgical staff easy visual access to x-rays, CT-scans and MRIs, and that improves accuracy and speed, Deborah says.

Since Yarmouth Regional is a teaching hospital, medical residents and student nurses often attend and the camera system and monitors can shift around to get the best views for the surgeons and nurses and to help them teach. About half of all surgeries are laparoscopic, but the equipment is also a major asset for open surgeries, making detailed visual information available at the push of a button.

What is Laparoscopic Surgery?

Gina Leaman (Nurse Manager for Perioperative Services)

Gina Leaman — Nurse Manager for Perioperative Services

Laparoscopy is a less invasive surgery than open surgery and requires less recovery time. A laparoscope, a thin lighted tube that has a video camera, is inserted via a tiny incision to examine and treat the organs of the abdomen. Hernias, gall bladders, appendixes and bowels are the four most common surgeries performed in Yarmouth. Often five or six procedures are performed in each of the suites daily, but some surgeries, like bowel surgery could take a whole day, Gina says.

Laparoscopic technology is also used to give physicians a clear and detailed picture of a patient’s condition, to allow the physician to determine how that condition should be treated. For example, many of the scopes for hip and knee problems are done here, which frees up OR time in Kentville where the more complex surgery is done.

Besides the surgeon, each operation requires an assistant, an anesthetist and three OR nurses. YRH has four general surgeons, two gynaecologists, one ENT (ear, nose and throat) specialist, one ophthalmologist, five visiting urologists two days a week and six visiting orthopaedic surgeons. They are assisted by 22 OR nurses, plus part-time and casual RNs.

 

 

Community Fundraisers for the WE CARE Radiothon

Fundraising for the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation’s WE Care Radiothon starts long before we hit the airwaves on Feb 29th.

One of the most ‘talked about’ events for the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation is just around the corner … the WE CARE Radiothon!  2024 is a leap year and on Thursday, February 29th, we, along with presenting sponsor Y95, invite you to take a leap forward with us in support of your regional hospital once again.

The entire Tri-County community of Yarmouth, Digby & Shelburne will benefit from the new cardia rehab program coming to your regional hospital, so we are calling on the entire Tri-County community to support this important fundraiser!

Community fundraisers in support of WE CARE Radiothon:

Bruce Group Yarmouth: Honda, Chrysler & Kia are offering a donation to the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation for every test drive and vehicle sold during the month of February.

Next time you are in Wilson’s Home Hardware in Barrington Passage or Carleton Country Outfitters in Carleton, drop your loose change into one of the WE CARE Radiothon red jugs.

Here’s some other ways you can be part of WE CARE Radiothon 2024:

  • Friendly competition is one of the best motivators out there! Challenge a co-worker to meet or beat your fundraising total or throw a company-wide collection challenge.
  • Give a donation instead of exchanging Valentine or birthday gifts.
  • Sell secret valentines or candy-grams.
  • Host a“trivia night” and ask friends to make a donation to attend.
  • Have a bake sale, a craft sale or a cake walk.
  • Save all of your loose change and donate it – Little Chevrolet has once again pledged to match all coin donations on Radiothon day up to $5,000!

Show us how much YOU CARE! It’s community support that will enable your regional hospital to provide the best health care possible to the residents of  Digby, Shelburne and Yarmouth counties.  Every bit helps!

WE CARE Radiothon Trivia is back!

You loved it last year, and it’s back again!

WE CARE Radiothon Trivia is back!

How much do you know about Yarmouth Regional Hospital, and Yarmouth Hospital Foundation?

Yarmouth Hospital Foundation and our presenting partner Y95 – CJLS radio station are once again jointly hosting a trivia contest in the lead up to this year’s WE CARE Radiothon with prizes donated generously by Rayanne and Aldric Robicheau (thank you so much!).

Every (business) day from Wednesday February 14th to Wednesday, Feb 28th (not including the Feb 19th stat holiday) there will be two opportunities to win a gift card worth $25 for gas at the PetroCan station at the corner of Starrs Rd. and Haley Rd.

Each day, Y95 – CJLS will ask one trivia question and pick their daily winner. YHF will be posting a different trivia question each day at 8am on our Facebook page.

To win on Facebook, you must —

1) Answer the trivia question correctly!

2) Agree to the contest’s terms and conditions.

All contestants who answer correctly will be entered into a random draw to win, and the winner will be notified the same day! We will then message you to make arrangements to get you your prize.

By answering the trivia question on our Facebook page, your agreement to the following terms is implied.

Terms & Conditions

  • The daily Facebook trivia closes at 3:30pm Atlantic Time every business day from Feb 15 – 28. Business days do not include weekends or the statutory holiday on Monday, February 19. Entries posted after 3:30pm Atlantic Time will not be entered into the daily contest.
  • The daily winner will be randomly selected and posted here no later than 5pm Atlantic time the same day.
  • Only one winner will be selected each day on Facebook, and one additional winner will be selected through Y95 and their version of this contest.
  • The trivia contest is limited to residents of the Tri-Counties of Yarmouth, Shelburne & Digby, Nova Scotia.
  • Facebook/Meta is not affiliated in any way with this contest and by participating in this contest, you agree to fully release and hold Meta harmless from liability.

Four new state-of-the-art radiant infant warmers are on their way.

The newest, littlest residents of the Tri-Counties will have a ‘warm start’ in life thanks to YOU!

Once again we at Yarmouth Hospital Foundation are in awe of our donors and are delighted to announce that the Christmas Appeal in support of the Women & Children’s Health unit was a great success because of you!

Our regional hospital touches the lives of many individuals and families from the Tri-County region every single day of the year. Health care equipment is expensive, and the technology is continually updating. Your donations, like the ones that are funding these radiant infant warmers for Women & Children’s Health, continue to provide our care teams with the essential resources they need to provide the best care possible in keeping our families and our community healthy.

It is you that is making a big difference in health care and for that, we are extremely grateful. THANK YOU!

Why I give to the foundation

“It’s good to give to the foundation. I see what donors’ dollars do every day, for our doctors and nurses, and even for us ward clerks. It’s important. It helps the hospital. And it honours our beautiful little boy. We still miss him so much.”

 

Lynette Hayward-Byrd has worked for Yarmouth Regional Hospital for 22 years. She’s a ward clerk for 4B, Complex Care. She’s also a regular donor to Yarmouth Hospital Foundation through our memorial program and has a very special reason for her donations.

Six years ago, Lynette’s step-grandson Mason, along with three other children, passed in a tragic house fire in Pubnico. “Mason was the sweetest little boy ever.” she said. “He was a kind old soul in a little, adventurous body! He loved going fishing with his dad and travelling with family. We all adored him and many, many people miss him.”

Since the tragedy, Lynette has donated to Yarmouth Hospital Foundation’s memorial program three times a year: for Mason’s birthday, at Christmas (she loves to see his name on our memorial tree) and for the WE CARE Radiothon since it falls close to the anniversary of the fire. “I give to the Foundation to keep his name out there. I love that you put the names up on social media every month, and love seeing it on the tree: it keeps his name alive. He was so loved and it’s good to see his name out there.”

Also, since she works in the hospital, Lynette said, “It’s good to give to the foundation. I see what donors’ dollars do every day, for our doctors and nurses, and even for us ward clerks. It’s important. It helps the hospital. And it honours our beautiful little boy. We still miss him so much.”

You Bought This!

Your donations at work at Yarmouth Regional Hospital

Last Fall, Yarmouth Hospital Foundation held our first-ever Sou’West Walkathon to raise money towards the purchase of eight specially designed Broda tilt and recline wheelchairs for the ICU.

Well, here’s the exciting news: you bought them!

With the contributions made from the walkathon, as well as the ongoing generosity of donors like you, Yarmouth Hospital Foundation purchased all eight Broda chairs, and they’re already in use at your regional hospital! Sharon Harvie, Health Care Manager – ICU, Acute Care 3B/3C told us, “I am very appreciative of the support of the community in providing much needed equipment for our patients.  The staff, patients and families truly appreciate it!”

Because our walkathon walkers were so instrumental in making this purchase happen, we invited the highest fundraising team and individual to come and see these exciting new wheelchairs, and to meet some of the staff who will be using them. Team ‘Lumberjack Legacy’ was comprised of Denise Nickerson and Angele Scott, and our highest fundraising walker was Yarmouth Hospital Foundation board member, Jim Smith.

Angele Scott, a NS Health employee, has seen the impact of the foundation’s donors around the hospital, but she and Denise had a more personal reason for supporting the walkathon. Rob Kane, Denise’s partner, spent three weeks in the ICU last November. “It really brought it home,” Denise told us, “how much we all need the hospital. We wanted to give back.”

Angele, Rob’s cousin, agreed: “Helping the hospital is always a good cause, but this was personal since we had Rob in the ICU last year. That kept us walking, even on the rainy days.” She also noted that the online fundraiser format meant that other members of their extended family who they might not see in person were able to donate towards their fundraising efforts.

Hannah Wray, Team Lead for Acute Care 3B/3C was enthusiastic about the equipment: “These wheelchairs hugely improve care and comfort and are so much safer for our staff! Many thanks to everyone who donated to help make this a reality for our patients!”

Jim Smith, Yarmouth Hospital Foundation board member is an avid walker on an ordinary day, and he took the foundation’s walkathon as a personal challenge. “It meant that I couldn’t miss a day, not even for the rain,” he told us. “Ultimately, the needs of the hospital are so great, and fundraisers like this are a good ‘exercise’ towards helping meet unlimited needs,” Jim said.

Kathy Ogden, Team Lead for the ICU, knows just how ongoing and unlimited the needs of the hospital are. She’s worked for Yarmouth Regional Hospital for 45 years, and the ICU specifically for 25 years. “I’m always excited when the foundation brings us new equipment, like these chairs or our recent ceiling lifts! I could name every piece of equipment that the foundation’s donors have bought for us, the new equipment, the updates and the upgrades. Hospital technology is always advancing, and your donors are so generous and so appreciated!”

Thank you so much for making a difference in health care in the Tri-Counties!

Yarmouth Regional Hospital’s Women and Children’s Health Unit needs 4 radiant infant warmers for Christmas

Thanks to donors like you, over the last ten years Yarmouth Hospital Foundation has purchased almost than half a million dollars worth of equipment for the Women’s and Children’s Health Unit, the regional maternity site for Yarmouth, Digby and Shelburne counties. Much of the equipment is designed specifically to improve the birthing experience for mothers and their newborns, and this Christmas we are reaching out for community support to purchase four infant radiant warmers — a crucial piece of equipment for every single baby born in the Tri-Counties.

Dominique Lacroix, who lives in Brooklyn, gave birth to her beautiful daughters, Blake and Andi, at the Women’s and Children’s Health Unit in 2022 and 2023. Like all newborns, both girls spent time in radiant infant warmers as part of their immediate care as needed, including over Blake’s initial two-day stay in the unit.

Dominique only has lovely things to say about her experiences at Yarmouth Regional Hospital. “Both times I had a great labour and delivery,” she says. “The nurses were awesome and the doctors were super calm. They explain everything and were very kind.”

Immediately after birth, during their first critical hours of life, all newborns spend some time in a radiant infant warmer as they adjust to living and breathing on their own. They are also used for vulnerable infants who have returned to the hospital for care. The maternity ward has five radiant warmers but four of them are nearing end-of-life and urgently need replacing. Will you help us help the Women and Children’s Health Unit give children like little Blake and Andi Lacroix a ‘warm welcome’ to our community this Christmas?

2023 Nursing Scholarship Winners Announced

Yarmouth Hospital Foundation awards scholarships to first year students accepted and enrolled full-time in the Dalhousie University Bachelor of Science Nursing Program at the Yarmouth Campus (Direct Entry or Advanced). Preference is given to candidates who, upon graduation, plan to seek employment at Yarmouth Regional Hospital. This year, eight scholarships were awarded.
“Nurses are the most-frequent touchpoint for patients in our regional hospital. Yarmouth Hospital Foundation is honoured to be able to support them from the very beginning of their careers,” says YHF Board Chair Angela Greene.
This year’s winners are:
YHF SCHOLARSHIP $5,000: Erin Smith
DAVID R. HALL SCHOLARSHIP (in memory of Dr. Margaret Churchill) $5,000: Katherine Gilliat
SCHOLARSHIP A $3,000: Sarah Warner
SCHOLARSHIP B $3,000: Andrea Ferguson
SCHOLARSHIP C $3,000: Erin Amirault
DRs. RAJENDER & ASHA PARKASH SCHOLARSHIP $2,500: Jilliann Hatt
EILEEN R. MORISSET SCHOLARSHIP $2,000: Gracie Nickerson
LINA & ALPHIE COMEAU MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP $1,500: Chaley Surette

Tusket Toyota Matches Monthly Giving to Yarmouth Hospital Foundation

This Giving Tuesday, Yarmouth Hospital Foundation is thrilled to announce the incredible expansion of our Heart of the Hospital Monthly Giving program as Tusket Toyota have stepped up for health care in your community! Thanks to the generosity of Tusket Toyota, our new Matching Partner, your dollars just doubled. If you sign up today to donate monthly to Yarmouth Hospital Foundation, Tusket Toyota will match your monthly donations every month! This means that your money will go further — twice as far, in fact! — and it will have even more impact for Yarmouth Regional Hospital.

Tusket Toyota have supported Yarmouth Hospital Foundation for over eighteen years, and are featured in the Leaders category on our Wall of Honour. In fact, we consider them one of our loyal Corporate Partners in Healthcare — and now they’re your partner, too, doubling your monthly gift to your regional hospital, and multiplying your impact.

Monthly Giving donors are a special kind of donor, which is why we call them the Heart of the Hospital. Their reliable, regular contributions provide an invaluable resource of sustained funding for Yarmouth Hospital Foundation, allowing our regional hospital to invest money where it’s needed most and to plan for long-term projects that will change patients’ lives for generations to come. That’s the power of monthly giving.

Last year, our Monthly Giving Donors’ funds went towards the purchase of a PhysioGait Dynamic Unweighting System. The equipment is an essential piece for the Rehabilitation department as it allows patients to safely mobilize without having to fully bear their own weight. Natalie Bourque, manager of Yarmouth Regional Hospital Rehabilitation Services told us that “this equipment allows patients to work on their gait while having their weight supported. It decreases the risk of falls and creates a safe environment for both the patients and the staff member. Without this equipment, staff would be unable to safely mobilize patients who require a higher level of physical support.”

Giving Tuesday is the perfect time to join the Heart of the Hospital program as a monthly donor. It’s easy and convenient to set up a regular monthly contribution that works within your budget. You can give in any amount of your choosing and may adjust your amount or cancel your donation at any time. A little money every month goes a long way for local health care, right here at home.

Yarmouth Hospital Foundation Managing Director Mary Surette says, “Monthly giving is a simple and powerful way to have a significant and long-term impact on health care in the Tri-Counties: that’s why I’m part of the Heart of the Hospital Program, too. The impact of monthly giving is very real, and now it’s only going to be greater thanks to Tusket Toyota.”

 

Maple Grove students STOMP over to Yarmouth Hospital Foundation with a generous donation!

Maple Grove students fundraise for Yarmouth Hospital Foundation

When Grade 8 students — now graduates — Leila Ben Mohamed and Chris Coggins arrived at the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation office at the Yarmouth Regional Hospital to present a cheque for $759.15, the Maple Grove students were excited to share how they came to raise the money and why they chose to donate to the foundation. They were part of STOMP, a pilot project aimed at helping students in grades 7 to 12 develop an understanding of the factors influencing tobacco use and vaping and the consequences.

STOMP stands for Students Together Moving to Prevent Tobacco Use, explained faculty adviser and Grade 7 teacher Max Taylor. The group consists of student council members, athletes and kids who have experienced vaping themselves. Vaping is pretty common among students especially in the bathrooms, Leila and Chris agree. Smoking not so much. Kids perceive that vaping is a healthier alternative to smoking and don’t appreciate the dangers, their teacher pointed out. It’s more accessible and “you’re not walking around smelling of it.”

“It’s a program where you’re helping the community, you’re helping kids and your friends be aware of vaping and it’s a powerful message,” said Chris.

Leila explained that they made presentations to each class, followed by making posters inspired by the STOMP message. Leila and another student, Faith Lewis, were interviewed about STOMP on Y95. They also had donation jars in each classroom, Chris added. “If you raised a certain amount of money, Mr. Taylor would get pied in the face.” He wasn’t the only teacher to volunteer to get up close and personal with a whipped cream pie. And there’s video — lots of video!

Chris said the program has had a good response and made at least one convert. A friend of his stopped after hearing their presentation.

“We chose the foundation to donate to because most people affected by smoking or vaping have to come to the hospital if they are having problems,” Leila said. “Everyone needs the hospital one time or another.”

“We love to see donations from student groups and schools,” said foundation managing director Mary Surette. “We really appreciate their generosity at a young age. A huge thank you to these extraordinary young people!”

Maple Grove is one of about a dozen test locations across Canada for STOMP, an initiative of Physical Health and Education Canada. The two-year pilot project was launched at Maple Grove for the 2022-23 school year.

Spring Appeal 2023: to bring a new Women’s Health service to Yarmouth Regional Hospital

Imagine for a moment, a woman suffering with pain and abnormal uterine bleeding symptoms caused by polyps or fibroids is told that these tissues must be removed. Well, thanks to advances in medical technology, this can be done in a safe, efficient and accurate way with the MyoSure® tissue removal procedure. This procedure is an alternative to major surgery, it typically doesn’t last more than half an hour, causes minimal trauma to the uterus and surrounding area and, incredibly, most patients can go back to their daily routine in one to two days!

But here’s a bit of shocking information – Yarmouth Regional Hospital is the only regional hospital in the province that does not have a MyoSure® device! This means that women in our community requiring this medical procedure need to travel two to three hours to Kentville or Halifax to have this done!

Together we can change that! This Spring, Yarmouth Hospital Foundation has committed to fund the purchase of a MyoSure® device for Women’s Health at a cost of $76,912.50, bringing this new service here at your regional hospital. The MyoSure® tissue removal procedure will revolutionise hysteroscopic treatments, especially those for uterine fibroids and polyps. Uterine fibroids, in the past, could lead to abdominal pain, heavy bleeding, painful cycles and infertility.

Dr. Elissa Cohen, the OB/GYN physician in Yarmouth Regional Hospital, told us: “The MyoSure® device would also allow us to identify and resect (surgically remove) cancers and thus reduce the morbidity and mortality among the women that we serve. Additionally, this instrument not only helps identify and resect lesions under direct visualization, it helps diagnose malignant and benign conditions that impair the quality of life and function for the women of our community.”

Will you join us in supporting your regional hospital with a donation towards this important equipment?

You can donate by e-transfer to info@yarmouthhospitalfoundation.ca or online at yarmouthhospitalfoundation.ca.

“The women in our community deserve the safest, most up to date standard of care treatment, and that includes MyoSure® for management of their gynecological concerns,” Dr. Cohen added, and we couldn’t agree more! Together, we can make this a reality for the women of the Tri-Counties.

YHF AGM 2023

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) for Yarmouth Hospital Foundation will once again be held virtually, on Tuesday, June 13th, 2023 at 5:00pm via ZOOM.

Yarmouth Hospital Foundation is pleased to support Virtual Care @ Yarmouth Hub. Please join us and our guest speakers to learn more about this new exciting project that provides assistance to those who need help accessing virtual care.

For more information and to register: 902-749-1669 or info@yarmouthhospitalfoundation.ca

Everyone is welcome to attend, however, only members are eligible to vote. Eligible voters/members are those individuals who have made a donation since last year’s AGM.

Yarmouth Hospital Foundation Charity Art Auction 2023 to raise money for Women’s Health

Yarmouth Hospital Foundation is hosting an online auction as part of our fundraising drive towards a new service for Women’s Health this spring! We are raising money towards the purchase of a MyoSure® system, which will provide an alternative to major surgery or travel for many gynecological conditions: we’re very excited about this, because Yarmouth is the only regional hospital in the province that doesn’t have this equipment —YET!

Local artists and artisans have donated their paintings, pottery, sculptures, and stained glass towards this endeavor, and you can see all of these treasures at the Yarmouth Mall before you bid!

Help raise money for your regional hospital, and take home something beautiful and unique! Our 100% online auction can be found at www.32auctions.com/2023YHFArtAuction and runs from May 20th until June 20th!

Good luck and happy bidding!

Your contribution will help provide the safest and most up-to- date standard of care treatment for the women of the Tri-Counties, right here at your regional hospital.

New service launched to improve access to virtual care at Yarmouth Regional Hospital

Introducing a new service launched to help patients access virtual care!The Emergency Department at Yarmouth Regional Hospital has been facing increased challenges, due to staffing shortages and overcrowding. Complicating this further is the fact that so many of us don’t have a family doctor, so many folks have to come to the E.D. for primary care — especially if you’re someone who may have barriers to booking or accessing virtual care appointments via Department of Health and Wellness approved applications.

Yarmouth Hospital Foundation has partnered with Nova Scotia Health to reduce barriers to accessing virtual care through the Virtual Care @ Yarmouth Hub six-month pilot project, a free public service. This was announced in a press release last week — but what does it mean, in practical terms? It means that, thanks to the generosity of donors like you, we have been able to provide broadband internet-connected computers and mobile devices that have been set up in a safe room at Yarmouth Regional Hospital Learning Centre, for confidential virtual appointments from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday, supported by Lacey d’Entremont, the new virtual care technician. Lacey is trained on virtual care technology and processes and will help people who are not comfortable or struggle with using the technology.

“Everyone is very excited about this project because it is an opportunity to provide personal help to people who may have trouble or questions about accessing virtual care options,” said Tracey Watkins-Allen, site leader at Yarmouth Regional Hospital. “We also expect this to relieve some pressure on emergency departments by providing an option to people who have primary care needs but can’t otherwise access services.”

Meet Lacey d'Entremont, the virtual care technician ready to assist you

With the assistance of Lacey, the new Virtual Care @ Yarmouth service can assist patients with any digital health needs where patients have access barriers, such as:

  • scheduling virtual appointments (i.e. Zoom)
  • attending VirtualCareNS registration and appointments
  • accessing mental health and addictions apps
  • accessing patient portals

in a safe, secure space.

Yarmouth Hospital Foundation managing director, Mary Surette, said: “In response to the increased urgent need of ways to access primary health care, we are only too pleased to be a partner in the Virtual Care @ Yarmouth Hub project. Helping those in our community who experience challenges or have limited access to technology to use virtual care is important. Because of our donors, this is one way that we can assist in closing that access to health care gap.”

Everyone on the Need a Family Practice Registry is eligible to sign up for and use VirtualCareNS to access a family doctor or nurse practitioner online. Yarmouth area residents can book space and the technology for virtual appointments at Yarmouth Regional Hospital by:

Telephone: 1-833-394-1832
Email: VirtualCarePatientSupport@nshealth.ca

Radiothon Reflections, 2023

So, it almost goes without saying that we were extremely excited that the 2023 WE CARE Radiothon was planned to be open to the public again, thanks to Yarmouth Mall for hosting Radiothon Headquarters once more and the Y95 radio station being able to host visitors again. Last year’s virtual Radiothon was a unique experience, but the entire committee, under the leadership of our co-chairs Joy Gillespie and Peggy Green, was absolutely enthused at the thought of getting to bring the public into Radiothon again!

And what a year to do it: the YHF board selected three pieces of equipment (a portable ultrasound, a bladder scanner & an electrocardiogram machine) for the Yarmouth Regional Hospital Emergency Department as our fundraising focus! If there’s anything that we can all agree on, it’s that the Emergency Department needs our help! It was the second year for the online auction, which was, in itself a great fundraiser with generous donations from businesses and artists throughout the Tri-County area. Everything was building to a perfect day…

And March 2nd came in ‘like a lion’: it started out snowy, and it got snowier! But that didn’t stop the Tri-Counties for coming out for the Emergency Department in a big way: we raised over $160,000! This included $18,000 to purchase the bladder scanner outright from the Yarmouth Professional Fire Fighters Assoc. Local 2094, and over $11,000 from our auction!

With the day turning out like that, even with the weather going the way it did, all we can say is THANK YOU, TRI-COUNTIES for showing, once again, just how much you CARE!

Yarmouth Hospital Foundation Christmas Appeal was a great success: Thank you!

The Christmas Appeal in support of Medical Device Reprocessing (and additional urology services) was a great success!THANK YOU: Once again we at YHF are in awe of our donors and are delighted to announce that the Christmas Appeal in support of Medical Device Reprocessing (and additional urology services) was a great success!

Yarmouth Regional Hospital will gain the capacity for low-temperature sterilization! This means that, for example, our urologists will be able to offer a 10-minute cystoscope procedure that patients in the Tri-Counties previously have had to travel to Kentville or Bridgewater to undergo. Imagine the relief for these patients!

Our regional hospital touches the lives of many individuals and families from the Tri-County region every single day of the year. Health care equipment is expensive, and the technology is continually updating. Your donations, like the ones that funded this V-Pro Low Temp Sterilizer for Medical Device Reprocessing, continue to provide our care teams with the essential tools they need to provide the best care possible in keeping our families and our community healthy.