ST. MARY’S GENERAL HOSPITAL’S 2004-2005 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY

Reflectionsof

ExcellenceReflections

of

Excellence

(l to r) Vivian Zochowski, Past Chair; Dr. Kevin Smith, CEO;

Marion Bramwell, COO; Dr. Doug Letson, In-coming Chair;

Moira Taylor, President

BOARD OF TRUSTEE S 2 0 0 4 - 2 0 0 5

Ms. Vivian Zochowski Dr. Doug Letson Mr. Allan BeaupreChair Vice-Chair Past-Chair

Mr. Rob Way Dr. Kevin Smith VacantTreasurer Secretary President, Medical Staff

Dr. Vinita Bindlish Ms. Oonagh Burns Mr. James HarperVice-President, Medical Staff St. Mary’s General Hospital Foundation

Ms. Chloe Callender Mr. Tom Hunter Mr. Larry Kotseff

Dr. Brian Kelly, V.P. Medical Affairs Ms. Martha Stauch Ms. Victoria Sillsand Interim Chief of Staff President, Volunteer Association Staff Representative

Mr. Gary Kieswetter Mr. Geoff Lorentz Mr. Bill StraussCouncillor - City of Waterloo Councillor - City of Kitchener Councillor - Region of Waterloo

Sister Teresita McInally, C.S.J. Ms. Joan McKinnon Ms. Dianne Moser

If you have had the opportunity to visit St. Mary’s over the past yearyou will certainly agree that it is an exciting place to be. Our commitment to be a healthcare leader in this community can be characterized by the continued growth of our

programs and the expansion of our facility.

Our strategic direction over the next several years is to continue to develop our Centres ofExcellence in Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, Respiratory and Thoracic Care, and Minimal-AccessSurgery. We are proud of the innovative approach to patient-centred care that has defined theseprograms and as such, the theme of this year’s annual report is ‘Reflections of Excellence’. We havefocused our attention on the development of our Centres of Excellence and the impact that theseprograms have had on the lives of our patients.

To support the development of our Centres of Excellence, St. Mary’s took a leadership role in thedevelopment of a Regional Nuclear Medicine program this past year. This partnership with GrandRiver Hospital will provide patients with greater access to this important clinical service, and ourhealth care teams with the tools to diagnose and treat patients in a timely manner.

As our programs grow, so too will our clinical space as the final phase of our $89 millionredevelopment project continued to progress this year. Construction of a 3-storey addition thatwill accommodate the expansion of our ambulatory and surgical programs is scheduled tocommence this fall and be complete by the summer of 2008.

Also of note, the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation (CCHSA) granted St. Mary’sfull Accreditation status in January. This process re-affirmed St. Mary’s as a centre of excellence anda community of caring. The most notable practices and successes highlighted in the finalAccreditation Survey Report included: a structure that effectively delivers services to patients; agood structure for risk management and patient safety, a continuous quality improvementprocess; a strong ethical framework; a strategic planning process; an evolving governance model;and, a strong financial position.

Finally, we would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the staff, physicians and volunteers whodedicate themselves to delivering the innovative, compassionate care that the community hascome to expect from St. Mary’s. Our improved facilities and enhanced programs will parallel thequality of our people. It is upon each of you that we truly reflect excellence.

EXCELLENCE IN L EADER SH I P

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ST. MARY’S GENERAL HOSPITAL’S 2004-2005 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY

“The care I received at St. Mary’s was so great

that it was hard to leave.”

“The care I received at St. Mary’s was so great

that it was hard to leave.”

Performances by legendary guitarist and blues musician Mel Brown leaveaudiences breathless, wanting more. Those same performances leave Mel breathless, butfor an entirely different reason. Mel has been battling emphysema for several years.

Mel has fought disease before in his life. In fact, a childhood illness that left him bed riddenfor months led to his passion for music and paved the way for an illustrious career. However,on an evening when he was supposed to be celebrating his birthday with friends and family

at a club in Toronto, Mel was rushed to the hospital as he struggled to breath.

Once his condition stabilized, Mel was transferred to the St. Mary’s Chest Program, whichspecializes in thoracic surgery and respiratory care. Our Chest Program includes a consolidated

in-patient care area known as the Chest Unit, which groups patients with acute and chronicrespiratory disease.

Since Mel was suffering from an acute respiratory disease, he required the care of a team thatspecializes in this area of medicine. Respirologists, nurses and therapists that work in the ChestUnit have the skill, knowledge and expertise to care for patients with respiratory illnesses. Theteam manages the 27-bed unit, which includes a four-bed intermediate care area that hascardiac monitoring and the ability to monitor patients on BiPAP, a device used to providepositive airway pressure.

Following a short stay in the Chest Unit, Mel was admitted to our Short-Term Rehabilitation Unit.The dedicated team in the rehabilitation unit works with patients recovering from respiratoryillnesses, as well as those referred from surgical and cardiac programs. Mel worked with therehabilitation team to increase his independence through strength building and education on themanagement of the illness.

Now at home, Mel continues the battle to overcome his disease. Thanks to the skill andcompassion of the people that cared for Mel, he has the tools and knowledge to manage his illnessand can continue to touch the lives of others through his music.

EXCELLENCE IN R E S P I ROLOGY

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ST. MARY’S GENERAL HOSPITAL’S 2004-2005 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY

(l to r) Dr. Martin Strban, Respirologist; Jenny Harris, RN; Deborah Armitage, RN;

Jason McDonald, RN; Shannon Lefebvre, RN

“When people ask me how my surgery went I always tell them that out of 10 I give St. Mary’s a 12!”

“When people ask me how my surgery went I always tell them that out of 10 I give St. Mary’s a 12!”

Richard Schmidt is a normal, healthy 68 year old man. He is ingood physical shape following a career with the Waterloo Regional Police Services thatspanned 33 years. He keeps active by working part time at Deer Ridge Golf Course and

volunteering with a local Shiners Club. He is upbeat, enthusiastic and has a smile that could bringwarmth to any room.

However, this past March, Richard was dealt some news that would have a tremendous impact onhis life. Following a routine physical examination by his family physician he was diagnosed withprostate cancer.

The news was a complete surprise to Richard, as he had no medical conditions that would indicatethat he had prostate cancer. In fact, the examination itself went fine. It wasn’t until the results ofthe blood work were made available that the cancer was detected.

Although thoughts of fear raced through his mind, he remained optimistic. He was referred to asurgeon at St. Mary’s for further examination. ‘I was amazed how quickly I was able to see asurgeon,’ said Richard. ‘When I was first diagnosed with prostate cancer I wasn’t sure how long Iwould have to wait for treatment.’

St. Mary’s is developing a Centre of Excellence in Minimal Access Surgery with an emphasis onurology, ophthalmology, and ENT. Each year, over 14,000 procedures are performed at St. Mary’s,of which 87% are done as day-surgery cases where our patients return home the same day as theirsurgery. The use of minimally invasive techniques has also resulted in shorter hospital stays andquicker recovery periods.

The development of a surgical Centre of Excellence at St. Mary’s requires the support of a skillfulteam that is able to provide innovative, compassionate care. For patients like Richard, care andcompassion can turn a frightful experience into a positive one. ‘I knew I was in good hands themoment I walked in the door,’ adds Richard. ‘The surgical team was very informative and providedanswers to all my questions. I knew what to expect before, during and after my surgery. They weresimply awesome.’

EXCELLENCE IN SURGERY

(l to r) Dr. Ted MacKinnon, Chief of Anesthesia; Dirk Fletcher, OR Attendant; Kathleen Bomans, OR RN;

Ruth Ann Weaver, RPN OR Technician; Dr. Dante Pocrnich, Ophthalmology Lead Physician

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ST. MARY’S GENERAL HOSPITAL’S 2004-2005 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY

“Having these servicesavailable in our community is convenient for the patient

and their family.”

“Having these servicesavailable in our community is convenient for the patient

and their family.”

During a routine morning workout Ron Green felt a slight pain in his chest.He quickly dismissed it as a muscle strain from lifting weights and finished exercising.Afterwards, Ron went home but the chest pain became so intense that he decided to go

to the hospital. At the St. Mary’s Emergency Department, it was diagnosed that the chest pain Ronwas feeling was actually a heart attack.

The diagnosis was a shock to Ron who for the past 30 years had exercised regularly andmaintained a healthy lifestyle in an effort to beat the heart disease that had claimed the life of hisfather. Equally as shocked with the diagnosis was Ron’s wife Lois, who is a Registered Nurse andworks at St. Mary’s with the Cardiac Rehabilitation team.

Upon learning of her husband’s condition Lois had to make the transition from nurse to wife. ‘It was difficult for me to come to St. Mary’s as a relative of a patient, not as a nurse,’ said Lois.‘Through my experience as a nurse I know that when a loved one is ill it has a tremendousemotional and physical impact on both the patient and their families. Being on the other sidereinforced just how much it impacts a family.’

In the days that followed his emergency visit to the hospital Ron had an angiogram, followedby angioplasty to clear the obstructed heart valve that caused his heart attack. St. Mary’s RegionalCardiac Care Centre has been providing cardiac surgical services since July 2003. TheRegional Cardiac Care Centre includes Cardiac Rehabilitation, two Cardiovascular OperatingRooms, a Cardiac Catheterization Suite, an 8-bed Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit and a 20-bedCardiac Surgery Ward.

Ron has since recovered from surgery and has started his rehabilitation program with St. Mary’sCardiac Rehabilitation. ‘Having these services available in our community is tremendous for thepatient and their family,’ said Ron. In addition to heart healthy exercises, the rehabilitation teamwill also teach Ron how to plan a heart healthy diet and educate him on the management ofcardiovascular disease.

Both Ron and Lois are grateful for the care and expertise of the staff. ‘As a nurse at St. Mary’s I know that we have the most caring, compassionate and professional staff and this experience hasmade me proud to be part of such a great organization,’ adds Lois.

EXCELLENCE IN CARD IAC CARE

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ST. MARY’S GENERAL HOSPITAL’S 2004-2005 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY

In February 2005, the Board of Directors of St. Joseph’s Health System (SJHS) together with representatives of memberBoards of Trustees, Foundations, and the SJHS CEO Group, met to discuss

current challenges and opportunities.

The goals of the Retreat were:• To ensure clarity of existing responsibilities and accountabilities of the

Corporate and member Boards.

• To review existing reporting mechanisms between parties and establishmore effective reporting where indicated.

• To begin dialogue on developing a governance structure to best meet theBoard’s responsibilities and accountabilities.

During the Retreat there was considerable discussion on the current health careenvironment including the introduction of Local Health Integrated Networks(LHINs) and the potential impact on our health care ministry. A number of WorkGroups were established to address key themes consistent with the Retreat goals.These Work Groups will be preparing reports for the June SJHS Board meeting.

We would like to commend Mr. Jay Ayres and the SJHS Purchasing Group for theirwork with the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care in the Ontario-widepurchase of MRI/CTs. This initiative was the first of its kind in Ontario andunderscores the respect that SJHS enjoys throughout the province.

The following highlights are but a few examples of the new and excitingdevelopments taking place in the System.

St. Mary’s General Hospital, KitchenerIt was announced at the recent Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) conferencethat St. Mary’s was a recipient of the 2004 OHA Healthy Hospitals InnovatorsAward. The award was developed in partnership with the National QualityInstitute and recognizes a commitment to developing a long-term strategicapproach to the development and sustainability of a healthy workplace and as arole model for others in the community.

The Board and senior staff continue to work with our colleagues at Grand RiverHospital to complete the implementation of the directions under the Investigator’sReport, as well work continues to develop a plan to address the community needsfacing health care in Kitchener-Waterloo over the next 2 to 3 years.

St. Joseph’s Health Centre, GuelphSt. Joseph’s Health Centre assumed responsibility for the Wellington TerraceOutreach Program on January 1, 2005. Our staff provides an excellent Seniors’Day Program and we are recognized as leaders in this area. We look forward toproviding this quality service for Wellington County residents so more seniors canhave access to the many benefits provided.

Five additional rehabilitation beds were opened in January 2005 for a total of 15.The additional beds are part of our ongoing plan to provide rehabilitation servicesto meet our community need. We are also working with our community partnersto provide integrated seamless rehabilitation care.

St. Joseph’s Villa, DundasIn January a special event recognized the contributions of the Guild volunteers. A special plaque was unveiled to celebrate their contributions over a 43-yearperiod to the residents, families, staff and volunteers at the Villa.

There was a major effort during the year by the Board, management, and staff toensure that the 97% occupancy target was attained. This was a difficult year toreach this goal due to ongoing construction and the opening of many additionallong-term care beds in the community. Congratulations to all in meeting thisimportant target which has had a major direct impact on resident funding levels.

St. Joseph’s Home Care In January 2005, the Board of Directors approved the change in name to St. Joseph’s Home Care (formerly SEN Community Health Care). This namechange reinforces membership in SJHS and the linkage to the health care Ministryof the Sisters of St. Joseph.

The Minister of Health and Long Term Care appointed the Honourable ElinorCaplan to review the Managed Competition process used by the CommunityCare Access Centres throughout the province. We await her final report withhopeful anticipation that there will be appropriate recognition for thecontribution of long standing not-for-profit providers of home care services.

St. Joseph’s Healthcare HamiltonGeorge Smitherman, Minister of Health, visited the Centre for Ambulatory HealthServices (CAHS) on December 10th. The Minister announced final approval forconstruction of the 26-Station Satellite Dialysis Centre. The Minister has alsoindicated funds may be announced for additional cataract surgeries shortly.

The new SJHH Tower is almost complete, and programs will move onto floors 2 to 10 by April 2005. The official opening is scheduled for Friday, June 10, 2005,coinciding with the hospital’s 115th anniversary.

St. Joseph’s Lifecare Centre, BrantfordThe new long term care centre is now fully operational. 205 residents weretransferred from the John Noble Home starting October 26, 2004. All rental spaceis now fully utilized including: Child Day Care, physician offices, a chiropractor, aphysiotherapist, the diabetes association, and psychiatric outreach.

The Stedman Hospice held a very successful opening on December 2, 2004.Currently day programming is available with the expectation that residential carewill open in January 2006.

FoundationsOur member Foundations continue to support our redevelopment programs forSJHS members. This important contribution to our health care ministry directlyimpacts on patient and resident care.

The ongoing development of St. Joseph’s Resource Development System Board,chaired by Mr. Bernie Miller, ensures consistency at a policy and governance levelthroughout the System.

International Outreach ProgramOur International Outreach Program continues to provide assistance to thedeveloping world through the participation and commitment of our SJHS family.

Several containers of much needed medical equipment and supplies were sent toour programs in Haiti, Uganda and Yemen. In addition, training opportunities forvisiting medical residents and faculty were provided in cooperation with theFaculty of Health Sciences of McMaster University.

As we reflect on the many ways in which we serve God and God’s people throughour Ministry in Health Care, we are very much aware and recognize withgratitude the ongoing commitment by our Board members, staff, physicians andvolunteers who are so adept at making dreams a reality!

EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNANCE

Sister Anne Anderson, President & Chair, St. Joseph’s Health SystemSister Margaret Kane, General Superior, The Sisters of St. Joseph of Hamilton

St. Mary’s General Hospital is a 191-bed adult acute-care hospital located inKitchener, Ontario. The hospital’s 1,100 employees provide innovative, compassionatecare to the residents of Waterloo Region and surrounding municipalities.

Programs and services offered at St. Mary’s include:• 24/7 Emergency services • Regional Advanced Cardiac Care Centre• Surgery • Chest Program • General Medicine• Regional Nuclear Medicine Program • Diagnostic Imaging • Out-patient clinics • St. Mary’s Counselling Service • Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence Treatment Centre

Our Vision: St. Mary’s General Hospital will be a leader in health care excellence characterizedby compassion, innovation and respect for the individual.

Our Mission: To continue the healing ministry of Christ consistent with our Catholic traditions and values.

F INANC IAL HEALTHThe number of patients cared for at St. Mary’s increased in 2004/2005. Much of the increasedvolume is related to the development of our Centres of Excellence - a trend that will continue asour programs evolve.

As St. Mary’s continues to develop its Centre of Excellence in Minimal-Access Surgery, the numberof surgical cases performed each year will likely grow. Last year, over 19,500 surgical procedureswere performed at St. Mary’s where Day-Surgery remains a preferred choice and increased by5.8% in 2004/2005. The use of minimally invasive techniques in surgery has resulted in a decreasein the average length of stay by 12%.

St. Mary’s Regional Cardiac Care Centre continues to treat an increasing volume of patients.Cardiac catheterization increased by 20.4% over last year, while cardiac surgery increased by33.5% and with the addition of a second Cardio Vascular Operating Room capacity will increasein the coming year.

St. Mary’s ended the year with a surplus of $1,555,530. The hospital will continue to work with theMinistry of Health and Long Term Care to address future funding decisions so we are able toprovide the same quality, compassionate care that the community expects from St. Mary’s.

EXCELLENCE IN A L L WE DO

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ST. MARY’S GENERAL HOSPITAL’S 2004-2005 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY

St. Mary’s is currently raising funds to helpbuild our New Surgical Suite, complete with 7 operatingrooms. We plan to raise over $1,000,000 by the end of this

year to prepare our Surgical Suite for its first patients. We areexcited to share that since launching this appeal last November,we have raised over $500,000!

Please help us improve your hospital, so your family has a placeto go in a medical crisis.

Your gift to our Surgical Suite appeal will help our caringphysicians and health professionals do their best work, with themost recent technology available.

Every day at St. Mary’s we save lives, and give comfort andsupport to those who need it most.

HE L P U S B R I NG TH I S ROOM TO L I F E !

Sincerely,

André AndersonFoundation President

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