2. We are pleased to announce that Lori Hicks will be taking on a role in the WRHA Access Office, scheduling and supporting patients awaiting cardiac catheterization. While her official start date isn’t until July 4, she has been getting oriented to the office for a few weeks now. We’re glad to have you in this new role, Lori!
3. Farewell and best wishes to Barb Pambrun, who is retiring as of June 30. Barb has worked as a secretary and then administrative assistant in the program since 2007, providing excellent support to a number of cardiac surgeons. Her dedication and organization will be sorely missed, as will her willingness and skill in party-planning! A get-together in her honour will be held the afternoon of June 29 on CR3017. Congratulations, Barb, and we hope you enjoy your well-deserved retirement!
4. Congratulations to Rolly DeJuan, who will start in a new role as Charge Technologist for EKG/Holter at Health Sciences Centre on June 27. Rolly comes to the position with experience at SBH.
5. Last week, the Cardiac Sciences Program’s Standards Committee marked its tenth anniversary. The committee held its inaugural meeting on June 15, 2006. Four current members were at that first meeting, and have been valuable committee members throughout: Dr. Keith Warrian, Dr. Nasir Shaikh, Dr. Ivan Barac and Dr. Michael Raabe. Thank you for your contributions!
6. Join us in extending a hearty “congratulations” to Brigitte Chappellaz, who recently completed training as a cardiovascular perfusionist at The Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences. In recognition of her achievement as the individual who completed the perfusionist training program with the highest grade point average, she was awarded the Board of Governor’s Gold Medal of Excellence. This award will be presented to her at the graduation ceremony on June 25. We’re very proud of you, Brigitte; well done!
7. Effective June 20th, Registered Cardiology Technologists will begin to provide the service of applying a magnet to Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) for adult patients between the hours of 0800-2300 in an area that does not have the trained personnel or equipment to safely do so independently. This service by RCTs will be available only at St. Boniface Hospital.
This service was previously provided by Pacemaker and Defibrillator Clinic nurses. The purpose of this service is to apply a magnet and monitor the patient’s rhythm during a planned or urgent operative or other procedure (i.e. endoscopy) when there is a high risk of Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) which may result in inappropriate sensing and/or delivery of therapy by an ICD.
8. Cheers to Claudia MacKenzie, who has recently accepted the position a Clinical Resource Nurse for the Cardiac OR at SBH. Claudia, who has 17 years of OR experience, will start this position on July 18.
9. The ICD Support Group of Manitoba held their spring meeting at the Albrechtsen Research Centre on Saturday, June 4th, 2016. Pictured are Dr. Bill McIntyre (Cardiology Fellow), Greg Smith (Board Member), Dr. Colette Seifer (Medical Director, Arrhythmia Program), Larry Sherman (Board Member), and Dr. Justin Cloutier (Internal Medicine Resident). The lecture on Patient-Centered Research, given by Drs. McIntyre and Cloutier, was very well received.
10. And a chuckle for those of you who read through to the end:
Two paramedics described the time they went to the aid of an elderly man. As one took down his information, the other opened is shirt to attach EKG cables. “Any history of heart trouble?” asked the first.
“None,” said the patient.
Looking at the telltale scars of bypass surgery, the second paramedic wasn’t so sure. “In that case,” he said, “do you remember when the lion attacked you?”
