Numerous Accomplishments and Solid Financial Position Highlight Annual General Meeting
ST. CATHERINES, ON (June 12, 2008) – In a time when adding or expanding programs and services in hospitals and having a balanced budget are rarities on their own, being able to accomplish both in the same year is an outstanding achievement. This was the case for Hotel Dieu Shaver Health and Rehabilitation Centre for the past fiscal year.
Board Chair Dr. Ron McTavish praised Hotel Dieu Shaver’s management and staff at last night’s annual general meeting. “We have come a long way in three short years and in particular this past year has been one to remember for all the right reasons,” Dr. McTavish said. “Managing to be fiscally responsible and improving upon and expanding our services is something to be very proud of and the entire staff deserves a tremendous amount of credit,” he added.
The healthcare facility, which specializes in rehabilitation, complex continuing care and geriatric services, finished the year with a surplus of $26,091. Hotel Dieu Shaver’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Jane Rufrano also directed praise towards staff. “The managers were very disciplined in their spending and I’m sure if you asked them they were tired of me always reminding them of the fact that we must balance the budget at the end of the year but to their credit they did a remarkable job,” said Mrs. Rufrano. “We tried to prioritize and relate everything back to our strategic plan when we looked at where we would spend our resources. I think keeping that focus was key,” added Mrs. Rufrano. “We are also fortunate to have a very supportive Foundation and it is through their support that we can upgrade equipment and improve our facility.”
Highlighting the list of accomplishments was the three-year accreditation awarded to Hotel Dieu Shaver from the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation. What made this achievement impressive was that Hotel Dieu Shaver was considered a new organization as a result of the transfer of governance and management in 2005 and what normally is a three-year process for hospitals had to be accomplished in 18 months.
Other accomplishments for the year include numerous facility upgrades such as new flooring, eye wash stations, patient lifts, windows, mattresses and electric beds. A number of health and safety initiatives were undertaken including a mock evacuation of the second floor as well as fire training for staff.
From a program and service perspective Hotel Dieu Shaver launched a virtual rehab program, one of the first in Canada, using green screen technology as well as the Nintendo Wii system. Fifteen rehabilitation beds were added thanks to additional funding from the Local Health and Integration Network (LHIN). These beds helped ease pressures in acute care hospitals by ensuring more patients are in the right bed at the right time in the right facility. A pilot project was also launched which will give slow-paced rehabilitation to patients who traditionally would not receive any. To date the results have been overwhelmingly positive as both the physical and mental health of the participating patients has improved significantly.
Renowned geriatrician Dr. William Molloy has partnered with Hotel Dieu Shaver assessing and treating patients regularly. Dr. Molloy is based out of St. Peter’s Hospital in Hamilton.
More than 80 nursing students received clinical training at Hotel Dieu Shaver as well as more than 30 students from other clinical disciplines such as occupational and physiotherapists.
“We feel that as an organization we’ve had a successful year but the key is to keep it going and not rest on what we have done. We must continue to focus on the future and grab hold of the opportunities to make this organization better and in turn do our part to help improve healthcare in Niagara,” adds Mrs. Rufrano. “Of course we can’t work in isolation and we will continue to work with our LHIN and all of our healthcare partners within our LHIN to continue to move healthcare forward and provide the best services possible.”
For more information contact:
Kevin Vallier
Director, Development & Communications
905-685-1381 ext. 4826
Herzog Foundation donates $75,000 in support of therapy pool project
ST. CATHARINES, ON (March 3, 2008) A lead gift from The Leonard B. Herzog Memorial Foundation has allowed Hotel Dieu Shaver to begin work on renovating its therapy pool this month. Community leaders and Herzog Foundation Board members Archie Katzman and Victor Muratori presented a cheque for $75,000 to the health centre's Foundation Board.
Patients who are recovering from a joint replacement, fracture, stroke, multiple trauma and those who have MS or severe arthritis rely on Hotel Dieu Shaver’s specially heated pool for improving mobility, strength and function through a supervised program that focuses on each patients specific individual needs.
Just some of the benefits to our patients include improved muscle strength and tone, reduced stress, improved morale and increased cardiovascular function and circulation.
To make a donation in support of this project please call
905-685-1381 ext. 4216 or ext. 4826.
Patients Test Positive for C. Diff at Hotel Dieu Shaver
Hospital Implements Outbreak Procedures
for the Protection of Patients and Staff
ST. CATHARINES, ON (April 23, 2008) – Hotel Dieu Shaver currently has two patients on their Complex Continuing Care unit who have tested positive for Clostridium Difficile (C. diff), a bacteria that infects the intestines and the most common cause of infectious diarrhea in hospitals and long-term care homes.
“As soon as we realized there was even the possibility of patient-to-patient spread we put our outbreak precautions in place immediately,” said Manager of Infection, Prevention and Control, Elizabeth Pearson. “Some of our patient population is particularly susceptible to C. diff in that they possess some, if not many, of the risk factors including being elderly, on antibiotics and/or having a serious underlying disease,” Ms. Pearson added.
What makes C. diff so difficult to contain is the ease with which the bacteria spreads. When a person has this disease, the bacteria can contaminate surfaces such as toilets, handles, bedpans or commode chairs. Once human hands come into contact with any of these surfaces they then become infected and the cycle continues. The activities of those patients infected will be restricted until they are free of symptoms for at least two days after treatment is completed. All staff or visitors will need to wear a gown and gloves when entering the infected patients’ room. “But perhaps the most important message is, and this holds true not just for people in a hospital environment but for all of us in our daily lives, we must consistently and properly wash our hands. “That is the single most effective way of preventing disease and outbreaks.”
Other precautions and preventative measures Hotel Dieu Shaver has in place include a double cleaning of infected rooms and an overall heightened cleaning practice, education for staff and designated staff for the outbreak area.
Symptoms of C. diff include watery diarrhea, fever and/or abdominal pain or tenderness.
Outbreak precautions will be lifted when there are no new cases identified in a two week period.
Herzog Foundation donates $75,000 in support of therapy pool project
ST. CATHARINES, ON (March 3, 2008) A lead gift from The Leonard B. Herzog Memorial Foundation has allowed Hotel Dieu Shaver to begin work on renovating its therapy pool this month. Community leaders and Herzog Foundation Board members Archie Katzman and Victor Muratori presented a cheque for $75,000 to the health centre's Foundation Board.
Patients who are recovering from a joint replacement, fracture, stroke, multiple trauma and those who have MS or severe arthritis rely on Hotel Dieu Shaver’s specially heated pool for improving mobility, strength and function through a supervised program that focuses on each patients specific individual needs.
Just some of the benefits to our patients include improved muscle strength and tone, reduced stress, improved morale and increased cardiovascular function and circulation.
To make a donation in support of this project please call
905-685-1381 ext. 4216 or ext. 4826.
silicon knights donates nintendo wii systems
to hotel dieu shaver
ST. CATHARINES, ON (February 1, 2008) – Hotel Dieu Shaver will be expanding its virtual rehab program thanks to the support of Silicon Knights. The local and highly successful video game developer has generously provided the healthcare facility with two Nintendo Wii systems, as well a number of games. These systems and games will be used primarily by the recreation therapy department to make patients’ rehabilitation more fun and exciting.
“We are very grateful to Denis and Joanne Dyack and the entire team at Silicon Knights for providing us with these systems,” said Jane Rufrano, Hotel Dieu Shaver CEO. “Adding the Wii consoles to our virtual rehab program will allow us to bring a fun and entertaining form of rehabilitation to our in-patients, some of whom may not be able to use the green screen systems that we currently have,” explained Mrs. Rufrano.
Silicon Knights President Denis Dyack says that connecting video games with healthcare is one of many positive roles video games can contribute to the greater good of all. “It’s exciting to see the technology found in video games helping people rehab from serious medical conditions,” said Mr. Dyack. “This was something we wanted to be a part of and help out where we can.”
Not only are there therapeutic benefits to incorporating virtual rehab, in this case using the Nintendo Wii, but it also helps boost the patients moral during their hospital stay. “Some of our patients are here for weeks at a time and we are caring for younger patients, so it is important to provide them with a form of therapy that will help motivate them and keep their spirits up,” added Mrs. Rufrano.
Hotel Dieu Shaver continues to explore research and partnership opportunities in order to help develop virtual rehabilitation. “Our goal is to help take virtual rehab to the next level and work with other rehab centres and software developers to advance this technology in a rehab specific direction,” said Mrs. Rufrano.
Hotel Dieu Shaver Launches Virtual Rehab Program
October 19, 2007 (St. Catharines, ON) – An exciting new program for rehab therapy has just been launched at Hotel Dieu Shaver. Now patients can play soccer, volleyball, skydive and swim with dolphins all in a virtual world.
Niagara’s only specialized complex continuing care and rehabilitation facility officially launched its virtual rehab program today. Using green screen technology patients who are able to stand, are confined to a wheelchair, young or old can receive rehab therapy that is much more fun and entertaining than the traditional methods.
“In the world of rehab medicine this all very new and it’s exciting to get in on the ground floor and be a part of its development,” said Dr. Rick McMillan Chief of Rehab Medicine at Hotel Dieu Shaver. “I think what are equally as important as the physical benefits are the psychological benefits. “Patients really gain confidence and motivation and for some it’s the first time they have smiled and laughed in a long while,” Dr. McMillan added.
The technology works by having the patient stand in front of a green screen facing a small camera and a large screen television. The patient is immersed into a virtual world seeing themselves on the television screen. Therapists can set parameters such as range of motion, speed, what side of the body and what specific limb to work on. “Being able to set these parameters and the fact that the patients see themselves and not a cartoon-like character are the key differences between this technology and the traditional video game systems,” said Dr. McMillan. There are a wide range of applications for patients to try, anything from jumping out of a plane to daily activities like sorting laundry.
Hotel Dieu Shaver CEO Jane Rufrano said that developing a virtual rehab program is exactly what the healthcare facility needs to do in order to help cement its status as a centre of excellence in complex continuing care and rehabilitation. “You have to continue to try and improve your services and find new ways of treating patients so that they can reach their optimal functional abilities and make it enjoyable at the same time,” Mrs. Rufrano said. “The next step for us is to participate in research and hopefully assist in developing this technology even further.”
For more information:
Kevin Vallier
Manager, Development & Communications
905-685-1381 ext. 4826
Hotel Dieu Shaver Dedicates New Flag Staff and Flag to Niagara’s Veterans
ST. CATHARINES, ON (Aug. 8, 2007) - Hotel Dieu Shaver Health and Rehabilitation Centre dedicated its new flag staff and Canadian flag to the veterans of the Niagara Region. For decades now the various Niagara Branches of the Royal Canadian Legion have made numerous donations to Hotel Dieu Hospital, Shaver Hospital, Niagara Rehab and now the Hotel Dieu Shaver.
“They have given so much to this country while serving in the military and they continue to give so much to their communities by the work they do through the respective Legions,” said Hotel Dieu Shaver CEO, Jane Rufrano. “We wanted to pay them special recognition and we thought what better symbol than the Canadian flag,” she added.
Donations, primarily through their poppy fund, have exceeded $100,000 over the years. “The have been constant supporters and we owe them so much,” said Foundation Executive Director, Bob Bell. “Every year, without fail, they make a generous gift to our organization.”
A plaque was unveiled at the ceremony that reads “Flag staff and flag dedicated to the veterans of the Niagara, August 8, 2007”.Healing Garden:
Community Comes Together for Inspiring Project
ST. CATHARINES, ON (June 1, 2007) – Dozens of community volunteers have rallied around the Healing Garden project at Hotel Dieu Shaver. They’ve built fences, they’ve painted, they’ve shoveled and they’ve created beautiful pieces of art specifically for the garden. On Saturday, June 2, all of their hard work will be on display as the healthcare facility officially opens the garden at 5 p.m.
“It has truly been an amazing project to watch develop,” said Jane Rufrano, CEO. “So many people have come on board and given selflessly of their time, talent and money that it’s hard to express how grateful we are as an organization.”
One of the more inspirational donations came from three young men, who, through the support of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), the United Way and the Trillium Foundation, started their own welding company this spring (Custom Metal Works Niagara) and made the Healing Garden their first project. Donating their time and materials they built a custom made fence that surrounds part of the garden. Built into the unique black rod-iron fence are pictures of various types of birds.
“We are very proud of these young men,” said Bob Barkman of the CMHA. “Not only have they created a remarkable piece of work but they themselves wanted to be a part of this project, they wanted to give back to the community,” Mr. Barkman added.
The garden will be wheelchair accessible and patients will be able to explore, smell and touch the flowers, trees and shrubs and enjoy the stimulating art work. They will have a chance to get out and enjoy beautiful, colourful surroundings, get some fresh air and visit with family and friends outside of their patient room.
“One of our goals for this facility is to deinstitutionalize it and get away from the typical hospital environment and this garden certainly helps us reach that goal,” added Mrs. Rufrano.Hotel Dieu Shaver Receives Three-Year Accreditation
May 1, 2007 (St. Catharines, ON) Hotel Dieu Shaver Health and Rehabilitation Centre has been granted a three-year accreditation status by the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation, a remarkable achievement given the fact that Hotel Dieu Shaver was considered a “new” organization for this review.
Two surveyors visited Hotel Dieu Shaver April 1-4 of this year meeting with staff, physicians, community partners, volunteers, patients and their families. The overall objective of an accreditation survey is to evaluate the quality of Hotel Dieu Shaver’s services by comparing them against the national accepted standards. The survey itself includes a review of documentation, team interviews, facility tours and focus group meetings with various stakeholders.
The main areas of focus included: Leadership and Partnership, Environment, Human Resources, Information Management, Complex Continuing Care and Rehabilitation.
The overall results were very positive. Some of the successes and strengths noted by the two surveyors included: the successful integration of cultures of the previous organizations as a result of the transfer of government and management; the dedication and commitment of the Board of Trustees; a positive working relationship with the Niagara Health System, the local LHIN and other healthcare providers in the Region; and the numerous renovation projects and upgrades to the facility.
Of particular note, and perhaps most importantly, was the specific praise for the quality of care provided by staff and the high levels of satisfaction by patients and their families. The report stated, “The clients and their families, without exception, were highly complimentary of the care and services they had received while at HDSHRC. “Overall, clients and family members could not say enough about how well they were treated by staff members at Hotel Dieu Shaver Hospital. “Staff went above and beyond the requirements of the profession. “As one family member put it, the staff helped to ‘cure the spirit and heal the heart.’”
“While our results are very positive, with a survey as thorough as this one there are always going to be areas identified for improvement,” said Mrs. Rufrano. “Items like evaluating the effectiveness of the quality, risk and safety plans and developing more formal employee appraisal systems were identified in our report and work is proceeding in these areas.”
Hotel Dieu Shaver CEO Jane Rufrano praised the staff for their exceptional efforts which lead to the praise from the accreditation surveyors. “I couldn’t be more happy and proud of our staff and it is nice to receive feedback like this that reinforces the excellent care they provide every day.”
For more information:
Kevin Vallier
Manager, Development & Communications
905-685-1381 ext. 4826
Gentle Persuasive Training Helps Staff Deal
with Aggressive Patients
January 15, 2007 – (St. Catharines, ON) Dealing with a potentially aggressive patient due to dementia can be one of the most uncomfortable and sometimes frightening situations a healthcare employee can find themselves in. That is why Hotel Dieu Shaver Health and Rehabilitation Centre has decided to train all of their staff as well as physicians and selected volunteers in the Gentle Persuasive Approach.
The goal of the program is to teach staff to use a compassionate and gentle persuasive approach to respond respectfully, and with confidence and skill to a patient displaying a challenging behaviour associated with dementia.
Some of the key factors in this approach include: realizing that patients with dementia are human beings with inherent value; all behaviours have meaning, both what the patient does and what staff do; and to understand the patient’s behaviour staff must know the patient behind the illness.
Patients with dementia can act aggressively if they feel threatened. Aggressive behaviour is best understood as their attempt to defend or protect themselves. “If we understand the triggers for a patient, we can prevent their behaviour from escalating and if a patient does become aggressive, we need to ensure their safety as well as the safety of our staff until the patient becomes calm,” said Karen Tribble Hotel Dieu Shaver’s Director of Clinical Services.
All employees, whether they have frequent direct patient contact or not, will receive this important training. “We felt it was extremely important for all our employees to go through this program because at any one time any employee can be faced with an aggressive patient,” said Ms. Tribble. “Essentially we want our employees to choose strategies that serve to diffuse challenging behaviours rather than escalate them.”
For more information:
Kevin Vallier
Manager, Development & Communications
905-685-1381 ext. 4826Hotel Dieu Shaver Health and Rehabilitation Foundation Launch 2nd Annual Snowflakes & Angels Campaign
ST. CATHARINES, ON (Dec. 4, 2006) – What could be more important for someone who requires a long hospital stay than to have a comfortable bed in which to rest and recover?
Our Angels Cassie and Jordan, think that providing our patients with a comfortable, state-of-the-art electric bed is very important. That is why they are asking the people of Niagara to give generously to the Hotel Dieu Shaver Health and Rehabilitation Foundation’s annual Snowflakes and Angels Christmas Campaign. The money raised through this year’s campaign will help purchase brand new “state-of-the-art” beds for our patients. They are electronically operated and can turn the patients to provide relief from pressure pains and help prevent skin breakdowns.
With these beds patients are able to independently move from lying down to sitting up simply by pressing a button. The beds are also very staff friendly because they can be moved up or down to an appropriate height so that our dedicated team of healthcare professionals can more safely provide the care that is needed.
“Some of our patients are with us for as long as 60 days, for them, these beds are vitally important,” said Mr. Bob Bell, the foundation’s Executive Director. “Last year’s campaign was a tremendous success and for the sake of our patients I hope this one will be too.”
Anyone interested in more information about the campaign or would like to make a donation can call 905-685-1381 ext. 4216 or ext. 4286.
Hotel Dieu Shaver Opens New Palliative Care Room
Nov. 1, 2006– (St. Catharines, ON) Donors, staff and patients gathered at the Hotel Dieu Shaver Health and Rehabilitation Centre today to officially open its new, beautifully decorated palliative care room.
The new room was made possible thanks to the generosity of hundreds of individuals, service clubs and businesses from across the region who donated to the hospital’s Snowflakes and Angels Christmas campaign. “Last year’s campaign was a tremendous success and now our donors and staff are able to see for themselves the results of such generosity,” said Shaver Foundation Executive Director Bob Bell.
There is a tremendous need for a second palliative care room as the current room, which opened in the spring of 2005, is in constant use. The room is a place of privacy and comfort for patients and their families to spend their final moments together.
“Each and every human being deserves to die with dignity and respect and that’s what a dedicated palliative care room helps to provide,” said Jane Rufrano, Hotel Dieu’s Chief Executive Officer. “The philosophy of our organization has always been to provide a holistic approach to healthcare – caring for the mind, body and spirit,” Ms. Rufrano added.
The room, which was professionally decorated to ensure a calm and peaceful environment, features a state-of-the-art electric bed to help patients be as comfortable as possible and two chairs that transform into beds so family members may stay over night if they desire.
Hotel Dieu Shaver Announces New Physician – Recent Grad Returns Home to Practice Physical and Rehab Medicine
October 19, 2006 – (St. Catharines, ON) Dr. Jack Luce, Chief of Staff at Hotel Dieu Shaver Health and Rehabilitation Centre is pleased to announce that Dr. Omar Khan will be joining the medical staff. Dr. Khan specializes in the area of physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R).
Born and raised in St. Catharines, and a graduate of Brock University, Dr. Khan is returning home to practice medicine. A recent graduate (June, 2006) of the University of Ottawa PM&R residency program, Dr. Khan will be working with Dr. Rick McMillan providing rehabilitation care to the patients at Hotel Dieu Shaver. Both physicians will also be accepting referrals from physicians throughout Niagara.
“This is a great opportunity for me to return to my hometown and be close to my family while building on and helping to improve physical medicine and rehabilitation care in St. Catharines and Niagara,” said Dr. Khan. “The other advantage is that Dr. McMillan and I compliment each other very well as we specialize in different aspects of rehab medicine,” added Dr. Khan.
Dr. Luce said it’s a real plus to have a young, talented physician like Dr. Khan joining the team at Hotel Dieu Shaver. “We are very pleased that Dr. Khan has decided to work here at Hotel Dieu Shaver,” said Dr. Luce. “Of course those who will benefit the most from his presence are the patients in the region who require this type of specialist to improve their health and help regain their quality of life.
Hotel Dieu Shaver Nurse heading to Nicaragua as Part of Nursing Mission Team
ST. CATHARINES, ON (May 9, 2006) – As hospitals across the province celebrate the profession of nursing over the next five days as part of Nurses Week (May 8-13) one Hotel Dieu Shaver nurse is preparing to apply her professional nursing skills to help patients in a country where clean water and sterile environments are the exception not the norm.
Lorna McLeod, a registered nurse at the Hotel Dieu Shaver Health and Rehabilitation Centre, is preparing to join a team of colleagues, including her husband Ron who is a personal support worker, on a mission to Nicaragua. The team leaves on June 14 for one week.
“One of the most exciting aspects of the nursing profession is the unique opportunities that are available to learn more about nursing, and to practice our skills in a foreign environment,” said Mrs. McLeod. “I feel very fortunate and I am excited to be participating in this adventure,” she added.
It will take three plane trips and 24 hours to get to Nicaragua from Toronto followed by a three day boat trip down the Rio Coco River to reach the tiny east coast village of Puerto Cabezas. The indigenous people of this village, the Miskitu, have no access to health care. Members of the team have been collecting medicine and medical supplies (200 pounds) to take to the clinic where Ms. McLeod and her nurse colleagues will assess and treat the locals who have health concerns.
The team will have the opportunity to visit a hospital, a home for pregnant women, an orphanage, a school and the jail. They will also visit the one university in the country that has a nursing program.
Hotel Dieu Shaver will be recognizing all of their nurses through various activities throughout the week. “We are proud of the very talented and caring group of nurses at Hotel Dieu Shaver who are incredibly dedicated to their specialty of complex continuing care and rehabilitation,” said hospital CEO Jane Rufrano.Auxiliary donates $140,000 to Hotel Dieu Shaver
ST. CATHARINES, Ontario (April 11, 2006) – The Auxiliary of Hotel Dieu Shaver Health and Rehabilitation Centre presented the Hospital Board of Trustees with a cheque worth $140,000 at tonight’s board meeting.
Their donations, raised during the hospital’s 2005-2006 fiscal year, will support capital and ongoing annual needs of the healthcare facility, explained auxiliary president Anna DiFilippo.
“We are proud to be associated with this great organization and to help address the equipment needs that will benefit the patients and staff,” Mrs. DiFilippo said.
A prioritized list of medical equipment is being developed from which a number of items will be purchased thanks to the auxiliary’s substantial donation.
The ongoing support of the auxiliary is vital in helping our organization provide care with the most advanced and patient friendly equipment,” said Jane Rufrano, Hotel Dieu Shaver’s Chief Executive Officer. “The dedication that these ladies and gentlemen have shown is remarkable and we are truly blessed to have such a great group of volunteers. “These funds will help purchase the kind of new equipment that Hotel Dieu Shaver needs to be a centre of excellence in complex continuing care, rehabilitation and geriatric services,” added Mrs. Rufrano.
The auxiliaries of Hotel Dieu and the Shaver/Rehab joined together on Aug. 8, 2005 to form one auxiliary in support of the Hotel Dieu Shaver Health and Rehabilitation Centre. The organization raises funds through its gift shop, break-open lottery tickets, raffles, card parties, and other special events. Membership is open to men and women of all ages. The Hotel Dieu Shaver Auxiliary remains one the largest single sources of annual donations for the hospital.
Hotel Dieu Shaver to Implement Paid Parking
Feb. 15, 2006– (St. Catharines, ON) On May 1 of this year the Hotel Dieu Shaver Health and Rehabilitation Centre will begin charging a nominal fee for parking at the Glenridge Avenue healthcare facility. Trustees approved the motion to establish a fee-for-parking process at last night’s Board meeting. Board Chairman Frank Bagatto said it wasn’t a decision that they wanted to make but rather one they felt they needed to make.
“All hospitals in the province have been instructed by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care to balance their budgets by 2006/2007 and to do this the Ministry has asked hospitals to tap into all revenue generating sources including charging a fee for parking if not currently doing so,” Mr. Bagatto explained. “Of course if you don’t find ways to generate revenue the other alternative is to cut programs or layoff staff and those just aren’t options we were prepared to even entertain,” Mr. Bagatto added.
Staff who park at the facility will be charged a monthly fee, while visitors and patients can pay either by the half-hour, by the day or by a discounted monthly rate.
“The revenue generated from the parking fees will go directly back into the organization, helping us fund the many programs and services that so many people in the Region rely on,” said Jane Rufrano, CEO. “We’ve worked hard to strike a balance where the hospital generates revenue while at the same time making sure the parking fees are as low as possible,” Mrs. Rufrano added.
The paid parking system will work as a “pay and display” set up. Machines will be placed in the parking lot where people can purchase a ticket that they will then display in the windshield of their vehicle.
Hotel Dieu Shaver able to build Second Palliative Care Room thanks to success of Snowflakes and Angels Campaign
January 13, 2006– (St. Catharines, ON) The Dr. C.G. Shaver Foundation and the Hotel Dieu Shaver Health and Rehabilitation Centre’s first annual Snowflakes and Angels Christmas fundraising campaign has raised more than $85,000 to help construct a second, and much needed, palliative care room at the St. Catharines healthcare facility.
“Thanks to the generosity of hundreds of donors from across the region the Snowflakes and Angels campaign was an overwhelming success,” said Shaver Foundation Executive Director Bob Bell. “I think it speaks volumes to the support of the work that is done here at Hotel Dieu Shaver.”
There is a tremendous need for a second palliative care room as the current room, which opened in the spring of 2005, is in constant use. The room is a place of privacy and comfort for patients and their families to spend their final moments together.
“Each and every human being deserves to die with dignity and respect and that’s what a dedicated palliative care room helps to provide,” said Jane Rufrano, Hotel Dieu’s Chief Executive Officer. “The philosophy of our organization has always been to provide a holistic approach to healthcare – caring for the mind, body and spirit,” Ms. Rufrano added.
The second palliative care room is expected to open this spring.
Hotel Dieu Shaver and Dr. C.G. Shaver Foundation combine Christmas fundraising campaigns
ST. CATHARINES, ON (November 16, 2005) - The Hotel Dieu Shaver's Act Like an Angel and the Dr. C.G. Shaver Foundation's First Snowflake Christmas fundraising campaigns have joined together to form the Snowflakes and Angels Campaign in support of the Hotel Dieu Shaver Health and Rehabilitation Centre.
Funds from Snowflakes and Angels will help Hotel Dieu Shaver build a second, much needed, palliative care room. This past spring the first palliative care room was opened to the appreciation of patients, families and staff alike. "The room is in constant use and we often hear from families how nice it is to have a comfortable, pleasant, and private space for family members to spend time with their loved one during their final moments together," explained Hotel Dieu Shaver's CEO, Jane Rufrano. "Unfortunately at this point in time, with only one palliative care room, we cannot accommodate each and every family's request which is why having a second room is so important," Ms. Rufrano explained.
The two Christmas fundraising efforts joined forces this year as a result of the Hotel Dieu assuming governance and management of the complex continuing care, geriatric and rehabilitation facility. The Hotel Dieu has operated its fundraising activities through their development department and the Shaver foundation has existed for decades to support the Glenridge Avenue health complex. With each organization having successful Christmas campaigns those responsible for fundraising wanted to find a way to bring them together. "Obviously the Angel campaign has been very successful and has become somewhat of a tradition and the Snowflake campaign was very successful in its first year last year so we didn't think it was appropriate to pick one over the other," said Bob Bell, Executive Director of the Dr. C.G. Shaver Foundation.
"Snowflakes and angels are certainly synonymous with Christmas and the holiday season, so bringing the campaigns together was really a natural fit," said Kevin Vallier, Hotel Dieu Shaver's Manager of Development and Public Relations.
The campaign will be officially launched December 5. Anyone interested in more information about the campaign can call 905-685-1381 ext. 4216 or ext. 4286.
Hospitals Sign Legal Documents to Complete Transfer of Governance and Management
Monday, August 8, 2005
ST. CATHARINES, ON: The transfer of governance and management between Hotel Dieu Hospital (HDH) and the Shaver/Rehab Site of Niagara Health System (NHS) was finalized this morning when both organizations completed the signing of the legal documents to enact the transfer. The NHS is now the sole provider of acute care services and the HDH the provider of complex continuing care services in St. Catharines and Thorold and various rehabilitation services for the region of Niagara.
The Hotel Dieu will operate under a new name, Hotel Dieu Shaver Health and Rehabilitation Centre and the Hotel Dieu building will now be known as the Ontario Street site of the Niagara Health System.
"This was an incredibly complex and detailed undertaking. We set a target date of August 8 and through a lot of long hours from everyone involved over the past several months we have met that target," said Mrs. Debbie Sevenpifer, President and Chief Executive Officer of the NHS. "This transfer of governance and management, coupled with the upcoming program transfers between the Ontario Street site and the St. Catharines General site is a major step in developing an effective patient focused healthcare system for St. Catharines and Niagara," added Mrs. Sevenpifer.
Hotel Dieu's Chief Executive Officer, Jane Rufrano, says that although having independent but complementary roles for the two organizations is what's best for the community and region, it has been a difficult time for staff. "Many of our staff have been Hotel Dieu employees for decades and so this change has been hard for them. Having said that, as the new Hotel Dieu we must move forward in our new role and focus on delivering the best complex continuing care and rehabilitation services we can," said Ms. Rufrano. "This really is an exciting opportunity for us and we are looking forward to it," she added.
Mrs. Sevenpifer noted that in the five short years since the NHS amalgamation, the staff, medical staff and volunteers of the Shaver Rehab site have left an indelible mark on the health system. "While our time together as the NHS has been relatively short, we will sincerely miss our colleagues at Shaver Rehab and wish them the best of success under their new leadership."
The programs and services currently offered at the Hotel Dieu Shaver facility will remain the same. Through the next two months, the NHS will begin to move in-patient programs from the Ontario Street site to the St. Catharines General Site. The NHS Ontario Street Site Emergency Department will convert to a Prompt Care Centre as of October 6, 2005.
For more information:
Kevin Vallier
Manager, Development & Communications
905-685-1381 ext. 4826