The Jewish General Hospital: A picture of health

SUMMER 2009
KEEPING STAFF INFORMED: YOUR JGH – YOUR NEWS
The Jewish General Hospital:
A picture of health
As you might expect,
people are always coming
to the Jewish General
Hospital. But now, as you
might not expect, the JGH
is going to the people. To
celebrate its 75th anniversary,
an exhibit of archival
photographs hits the road
on June 29 after a week-long
display at the hospital. The
Jewish General Hospital at
75: A Retrospective highlights
the milestones in the
JGH’s history and explains
the historical reasons for the
hospital’s launch in 1934.
The exhibit of 12 posters,
each containing a collage of
enlarged photographs, is intended
to appeal to viewers
of all sorts, especially those
who have never visited or
been treated at the hospital.
The accompanying bilingual
text describes the JGH’s
achievements, services and
policy of providing “Care
Cont’d on page 2
Arlene Greenberg (centre) reviews the JGH’s archival photo collection
with Linda Lei (left) and Shiri Alon.
“What the JGH
means to me”
To mark the JGH’s 75th
anniversary, we’ve asked
members of staff to describe
what the JGH means to
them. Here are a few of the
replies:
------------------------------------
I’m going to amaze you:
being at the JGH is an opportunity
to travel all over
jgh.ca
the world—while staying
in my office. I meet people
from around the world each
day, right here. The setting
lends itself to surprise, because
the Côte-des-Neiges
neighbourhood is known
for its multiplicity and diversity,
a fertile ground for
exchange, for encounters,
for communion among cultures.
At the JGH, it’s the human
being who interests us, not
the “case”, not even the “ill-
Cont’d on page 2
IN THIS ISSUE:
Herzl Adolescent Clinic ............................... 5
Staff Family Fun Day ................................. 10
Social Work’s valued role ............................ 11

Continued from page 1
...a picture of health!
for all”, serving patients from all
backgrounds from across Montreal
and throughout Quebec. At the same
time, the exhibit offers a revealing and
often entertaining peek into the way
medicine was practiced during the
early decades of the 20th century.
“During this special anniversary
year, the JGH has looked to its distinguished
past in order to prepare for a
bright future,” says Chief Librarian,
Arlene Greenberg. “This exhibit is
the hospital’s gift and tribute to you—
the patients, staff, benefactors and vol-
“One of the most urgent needs of our city at the present time is additional
hospital capacity, and your decision to keep the hospital, when built, entirely
free from all racial, religious and sectarian distinctions, shows the
true Montreal spirit of mutual race tolerance and inter-racial amity. You
have my fullest endorsation.”
– Montreal mayor, Camillien Houde, in a letter to Allan Bronfman, founding
President of the Jewish General Hospital, and Michael Hirsch, first
Vice-President of the JGH, August 22, 1929.
Continued from page 1
...what the JGH means
ness”, but the person who lives with it.
The hospital takes an overview of humanity
through humanization of care,
which spans not only doctors, nurses
and technicians, but the heroes we
seldom hear about—the music therapist,
Dr. Clown, the ladies who bring
pets to cheer up patients, the many
volunteers…. The JGH is full of everyday
heroes, in what I call the “little
village” within the global village. The
hospital is a daily reminder that we all
inhabit the same world.
Marc Renaud, Eye Clinic
------------------------------------------------
The Jewish General Hospital is hope,
faith, and love. Hope is as essential to
life as air and water. You need Hope to
Cope. It comes from having purpose.
At the JGH, people finish their tasks,
fulfill their responsibilities, keep their
promises and complete their commitments.
They make themselves available
to serve. They want to be ready
to jump into service when called on
and they pay attention to needs. They
2 PULSE • SUMMER 2009
unteers who have made the JGH such
a vital element in the life of Montreal.”
The retrospective is largely chronological,
explains Archives Assistant
Shiri Alon. It traces the hospital’s history
from its medical precursors, such
as the Hebrew Maternity Hospital and
the Herzl Dispensary (Canada’s first
Jewish clinic) to the “Your Tribute Everlasting”
fundraising campaign. Also
included are the hospital’s groundbreaking
and construction, the founding
of the Women’s Auxiliary (now
known as The JGH Auxiliary), clinical
perform every task with equal dedication
and “with all their heart.”
Mary Rose Macapuno, Sterilization
Department and Enviro-Services
------------------------------------------------
Thirty-two years ago my husband
was admitted for surgery at the JGH.
He was here for one week and during
this time, I was able to really observe
the functioning of the hospital and all
its workers. I decided I wanted to be
part of the staff. I applied for a position,
was hired and have been here
ever since. I have never regretted my
decision and am proud of being part
of the JGH.
Patricia Beck, Administrative technician,
Nursing Resource Centre
------------------------------------------------
Arriving in Canada from post-war
Poland, my parents always felt they
could come to the Jewish General
Hospital without fear of rejection.
This hospital was built to give people
like them a place where they could feel
Where to see the exhibit
The Jewish General Hospital at 75: A Retrospective will travel throughout
Montreal in libraries, a university and even “centre ice” at the old Forum.
If you are interested in planning a group visit to one of these locations,
please contact Linda Lei at 514-340-8222, ext. 3277.
June 18 - 26 Jewish General Hospital
June 29 - July 24 Pepsi Forum
July 27 - Aug. 21 Westmount Public Library
Aug. 21 - Sept. 4 McGill University’s McLennan Library
Sept. 4 - 25 McGill University’s Osler Library
Sept. 25 - Oct. 16 Gelber Conference Centre, 2 Cummings Square
Oct. 16 - Nov. 13 Eleanor London Côte Saint-Luc Public Library
Nov. 13 - Dec. 18 Jewish General Hospital
activities in the early years, the founding
of the JGH School of Nursing, and
research and clinical initiatives. “The
exciting aspect in putting this exhibit
together is that the archival materials
come right from the hospital,” says
Ms. Alon. “We did not have to go far
to research the hospital’s past.”
Linda Lei, Archival Consultant,
says, “From the forerunners of the
safe and be treated without prejudice.
Throughout its 75 years, it has been
a safe haven of caring and comfort,
overseeing the health of its community.
It is now a centre whose doors
welcome all religions and race, and
whose heritage has remained strong.
I am proud to be a part of its keen
knowledge, its ongoing strength and
its warm heart.
Brenda Ajzenkopf, Social Work
------------------------------------------------
The JGH makes me feel secure, cared
about, warmly supported, and truly
valued. For 33 years as a nurse, I’ve
encountered many healthcare professionals
that portray similar attitudes
and values. In spite of large numbers
of employees and numerous depart-
JGH in the 1910s to the latest expansion
of Radiation Oncology and the
main entrance on Côte-Sainte-Catherine
Road, this collection of photographs
is not only a reflection of the
close, long-standing bond between
the hospital and its community, but a
look into the bright future. The JGH
is proud of its legacy because it is a
legacy of serving patients.” u
ments, I have always been treated with
respect and have felt a valued member
of every team. I tip my hat to you, and
may we have this beautiful relationship
for many more years.
Bonnie Selcer, Transfusion Safety
Nurse
------------------------------------------------
What is it that makes this hospital
more than just a place of work? Some
would say it is the staff, who are more
than just staff, they are friends. Some
would say it’s the care given by the
doctors and nurses and all in between,
but it is more than just care: it is caring.
We’re all in this together and nowhere
is that more apparent than here
at the JGH – It’s where life lives.
Nicholas Brand, Admitting Department
u
The Jewish General Hospital extends its thanks to the following companies,
which have generously donated prizes for the JGH’s 75th anniversary raffle:
Arbone International, The JGH Auxiliary, Costco, Diesel, Dtox, Java U, Max
Mass and Associates, Miss Sixty, More Magazine, NuWave Promotions,
Parasuco, Pelle Salon, Point Zero, Puma, Le Sanctuaire, TD Meloche
Monnex and the YM-YWHA.

All aboard the bed board
All JGH patients are now on
board—the bed board, that is.
Operated by the Admitting Office, the
bed board tracks the use of the hospital’s
637 beds, indicating whether each
is occupied, vacant or reserved. This
past spring, it was streamlined when
a computerized version replaced the
manual system that had been in use
for many years.
Once a patient is admitted and assigned
a bed, the electronic board
records that person’s name, date of
admission, physician or department
(such as Palliative Care), diagnosis
and bed number.
The new system lets staff find and
reserve beds more quickly and easily.
In addition to determining the status
of beds in their own departments,
nursing directors and unit agents can
tag any bed that will soon be free, so
that Admitting can make plans to assign
it to a new patient.
Several Emergency Department
physicians will also be able to view
the electronic board instead of calling
Admitting to ask which beds are free.
This eases patients out of Emergency
more quickly and makes room for
new patients. Annie Le Scraigne, an
IT Project Manager who is continually
refining the system, says it enables
“the correct, secure information
to reach the right people at the right
Annie Le Scraigne and Nicholas Brand with the new electronic bed board.
Accreditation process boosts safety
Since improving patient safety is
Accreditation Canada’s ultimate
objective, it uses the accreditation
process to identify unsafe practices
and support the efforts of healthcare
organizations to promote safe care.
In addition to establishing standards
that address the challenges related
to patient safety, Accreditation
Canada has developed Patient Safety
Goals and Required Organizational
Practices (ROPs) that are integral to
the accreditation program.
A Required Organizational Practice
is an essential practice that healthcare
organizations must implement
in order to enhance patient safety and
minimize risk. Accreditation Canada
has identified seven Patient Safety Ar-
moment. The electronic bed board
helps make the JGH one of the most
technologically advanced hospitals in
the province, in terms of computing.”
By contrast, the old system consisted
of two large wooden panels, with
637 slots (one per bed) divided according
to hospital unit. An occupied
bed was represented by a paper information
card in the appropriate slot.
When the patient was discharged or
eas—culture, communication, medication
use, worklife/workforce, infection
control, fall prevention and risk
assessment—each with its own ROPs,
for a total of 31.
A few examples of ROPs:
• Establish a reporting system for
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Public Affairs and Communications
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Stephanie Malley - Contributor
transferred to another unit, the card
was thrown away or moved to a new
slot. This made for a slow, cumbersome
process. Having worked with
the manual system for decades, Anna
Abramowicz, former Assistant Chief
of Medical Records and Admitting
Services, jokes that “no more gymnastics
are necessary. The new system
is more efficient, with less room for
error.” Barbara Streicher, a booking
sentinel (extremely serious) events,
adverse events and near misses, including
appropriate follow-up
• Implement verification processes
and other checking systems for highrisk
activities
• Implement and evaluate a fall pre-
JEWISH GENERAL HOSPITAL • SUMMER 2009
3755 Côte-Sainte-Catherine Road, Room A-106, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1E2
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Arlette Leveillé - Translation
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JGH Audio Visual Services - Photos
This outdated manual bed board is going
by the boards.
agent in Admitting, enthuses: “After
working with the old boards for 26
years, I’m truly pleased at how easy it
was to adapt to the new system.”
It’s also environmentally friendly,
says Nicholas Brand, a booking agent
in Admitting. “The amount of paper
this will save, while reducing waste,
demonstrates the JGH’s commitment
to our environment.” u
vention strategy to minimize the impact
of client falls
For more information, visit accreditation-canada.ca
or contact Jocelyne
Pepin at extension 5925. u
– Jocelyne Pépin, 2009 Accreditation
Coordinator
jgh.ca
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communications@jgh.mcgill.ca
or call local 4120. Room: A-106
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errors, misspellings or omissions. Please note that to our knowledge at press time, all information in this publication was accurate.
PULSE • SUMMER 2009 3

Names in the news....
Welcome
Rosemary Steinberg
Rosemary Steinberg has joined the
Jewish General Hospital as Local
Commissioner of Complaints and
Quality of Services. In this role, Ms.
Steinberg assists patients and their
families, using the complaint process
not only to mediate in various
situations, but to identify areas where
hospital services can be improved. “I
ask myself three basic questions,” she
says. “Could or should anything else
have been done in a particular situation?
Could anything have been done
better? Is there anything we can learn
from this situation?” A social worker
by training, Ms. Steinberg has extensive
experience as a clinical social
worker, a manager and a Complaints
Commissioner, including 15 years at
the Ville Marie Social Service Centres.
Mario Beaulieu
As the JGH’s new industrial hygienist,
Mario Beaulieu is identifying potential
workplace hazards and developing
ways of improving safety in the hospital
and in the Lady Davis Institute for
Medical Research. Mr. Beaulieu will
also study working conditions from
an occupational health and safety
perspective, while assessing possible
physical, chemical and biological
hazards. In addition, he will develop,
design and update programs relating
to the identification, evaluation and
monitoring of the workplace environment.
Mr. Beaulieu has more than 10
years of experience in risk management,
planning and the implemen-
4 PULSE • SUMMER 2009
tation of institutional and industrial
hygiene prevention programs in the
healthcare sector.
Appointments
Dr. Howard Bergman
Dr. Howard Bergman stepped down
in April as JGH Chief of Geriatric
Medicine to accept an appointment
as Vice-President and Scientific Director
of the Quebec Fund for Health
Research. However, Dr. Bergman,
Chief of the Division since 1991, will
remain a member of the JGH medical
staff and an investigator at the JGHbased
Solidage Research Group on
services for the elderly. In addition,
he will stay on at McGill University as
the Dr. Joseph Kaufmann Professor in
Geriatric Medicine, and as Professor
in McGill’s Departments of Medicine,
Family Medicine and Oncology. In
his new position, Dr. Bergman will
play a key role in enabling the Quebec
Fund for Health Research to provide
funding for research, contribute to
training, and establish partnerships
related to research and innovation in
Quebec.
Lyne St-Louis
Lyne St-Louis, a Clinical Nurse Specialist
in the Intensive Care Unit, has
been appointed for a six-year term to
the Critical Care Nursing Certification
Examination Committee of the
Canadian Nurses Association (CNA).
Ms. St-Louis, one of only eight people
chosen from across Canada, will serve
as a representative of the Central Region.
Among her tasks is to assist her
peers in reviewing the final nursing
specialty examination, setting the
pass mark and recommending final
approval of the examination to CNA.
She will also act as a CNA ambassador
by promoting certification at professional
development activities.
Congratulations
Joyce Arsenault
Joyce Arsenault, a nurse, certified
diabetes educator in the Division
of Endocrinology and member of
Team Diabetes Canada, participated
in the 113th Boston Marathon on
April 20, finishing in four hours and
10 minutes. This is the “holy grail”
of marathons, a hilly, challenging
42.2-kilometre course. Ms. Arsenault
was among 25,000 runners from 60
countries.
Louise de Bellefeuille
A hearty “well done” to Louise de
Bellefeuille, Head Nurse on 4East
(Psychiatry), who was awarded the
2009 Laureate in the Florence Prize
in the Health Promotion category by
the Order of Nurses of Quebec. Ms.
de Bellefeuille received the award for
having “dedicated herself wholeheartedly
to the cause of mental health, to
meet the needs of the patients and
families affected, to improve their
quality of life, and wipe away the prejudices
associated with mental illness.
Her leadership and determination
have led her to actively participate in
many committees and develop a range
of programs and services, to improve
the quality of care for patients suffering
from mental illness.”
Brahms E. Silver
JGH Social Worker Brahms E. Silver
has successfully completed all requirements
necessary for certification as an
Oncology Social Worker, granted by
the Board of Oncology Social Work.
Oncology Social Work Certification
promotes excellence in psychosocial
care to oncology patients, their
families, caregivers and the public. In
obtaining certification, Mr. Silver was
informed that he showed a high level
of competency and experience in this
field with a knowledge base, ethical
standards and skill sets specific to oncology,
palliative and end-of-life care.
Brenda Ajzenkopf
Author, author! Brenda Ajzenkopf,
a member of the Social Service Department
for the past 16 years, has
published Secondhand Shoes, a compilation
of poems, short stories for
children and photographs of her family,
dating from from the pre-World
War II era to the present. In the past at
the JGH, Ms. Ajzenkopf has displayed
her poetry in a Cafeteria art exhibit
organized by Art Therapist Mona
Rutenberg. u

Herzl initiative answers teens’ questions
Teenagers can be a boisterous
bunch, but when issues affect their
health, they may sometimes be reluctant
to speak up. That’s why the Teenage
Health Unit at the Herzl Family
Practice Centre was created nearly
25 years ago by Dr. Michael Malus,
Chief of Family Medicine. Today the
unit continues its original mission,
and even if some of the issues have
changed, the need is just as great.
“Teens may be too shy or fearful of
talking about their problems, while
doctors’ concerns don’t always coincide
with the youths’ concerns,” says
Dr. Malus, who co-directs the clinic
with psychologist Dr. Perry Adler.
To promote the Teenage Health
Unit, Dr. Malus has also developed an
outreach program in cooperation with
the English Montreal School Board.
Every Tuesday, a Herzl team–consisting
of a staff physician, resident, medical
student, and nurse clinician–visits
a different Montreal-area high school
and “gives students an opportunity
to ask written, anonymous questions
about teenage health and life prob-
lems,” says Dr. Malus.
Team members answer
teens’ questions, which
include concerns about
sexuality and reproductive
health, drug and
alcohol use and abuse,
depression and anxiety,
body image, attention
difficulties and more.
Herzl residents are
trained in ways to approach
teens, whose
needs are different
from those of children
and adults. In the process,
the residents get a
sense of whom the teen
interacts with at home,
at school and among friends and family,
what their interests are, and what
activities they participate in.
“Our outreach approach clearly
works,” says Natasha Bossé, a Herzl
nurse clinician who specializes in
adolescent medicine. “It’s a brave step
for them to seek help, so we work
hard to create a safe place for them.”
The Herzl team (from left): Howard Magonet, social worker; Michael Gasse, student; Dr.
Andre Jakubow, medical resident; Catherine Gasse, student; Dr. Tiffany Gasse, medical
resident; and Natasha Bossé.
Ms. Bossé also works with Herzl’s
interdisciplinary teams, acting as a
nurse navigator to keep team members
informed about their teenage patients.
“Our goal is to have no teen fall
through the cracks,” she says.
Ms. Bossé points out that today’s
teens face many different sorts of difficulties
than when the clinic opened
Outreach effort
scores a basket
“Technology and the breakdown of
the family have left a lot of teens feeling
isolated. What hasn’t changed is
that they lack much of the knowledge
they need in order to cope. The team
is there to help them find answers to
their questions and accompany them
through their experiences concerning
their health.” u
Herzl Adolescent Clinic workers joined with volunteers at Saint
Columba House, a community centre in Point St-Charles, in organizing
a basketball game and sexual health quiz for teens on April
18. The “docs” were pleasantly surprised at how many youths took part.
What came as no surprise was how easily they outplayed the healthcare
professionals and other volunteers, who were simply referred to as “the
adults”.
When everyone returned to Saint Columba House for the quiz, pizza
and refreshments were served, adding to the already relaxed and comfortable
atmosphere. Laughs were shared during the learning session,
but more importantly, many crucial subjects on sexual health were discussed.
The youths were extremely receptive—something that should
encourage healthcare professionals to become more involved in activities
aimed at guiding young people. Adolescents are eager to use the time
and information we give them. Our thanks to Saint Columba House for
the opportunity to interact with their amazing adolescents. u
– Dr. Tiffany Gasse, Medical Resident, Herzl Family Practice Centre
PULSE • SUMMER 2009 5

NURSES’ WEEK
Revealing the full scope and depth of nursing
The general role of nurses is well
understood, but the profession has
so many new facets that even other
healthcare professionals don’t always
appreciate its full scope. Telling the
full story of modern nursing was the
goal of Nurses’ Week at the JGH from
May 11 to 15.
“Although nurses are very visible
in the hospital, not everyone knows
what a nurse does,” says Fabienne
Germail, Head Nurse on 4 West.
“Nurses’ Week allows us to share our
work and commemorate the founding
leadership of nurses at the JGH
and in the profession. In activities
throughout the week, we also show
how today’s nurses are upholding that
Opening visitors’ eyes
to Jewish tradition
“
If we’re treating a Jewish patient in
Drummondville,” a nursing student
asked during a recent visit to the
JGH, “what can we do differently to
help this patient in a special way?” He
could not have come to a better place
for an answer. Along with 32 fellow
second-year students from CEGEP
Drummondville, he was in a hospital
that prides itself on providing “Care
for all”. In effect, he had found an institution
that could provide “one-stop
shopping” in cultural sensitization.
The JGH had responses at the ready,
because Marsha Ptack, JGH Coordinator
for Nursing Recruitment and
Retention, had organized an information
session specifically to acquaint
the students with Jewish tradition.
Director of Pastoral Services Rabbi
Raphael Afilalo offered explanations
about kosher food, Jewish staff who
work on religious holidays, and the
use of special elevators on the Jewish
Sabbath. He also posed a question of
his own: “Can you estimate the number
Jews in the world?” Although the
correct answer is approximately 13
6 PULSE • SUMMER 2009
leadership role in innovative projects
and research.”
Nursing booths were organized by
clinical, bedside and manager nurses
to display projects in various specialties,
from skin care to breastfeeding
and palliative care. Clinical specialists
and educators also introduced nurses
to their presentations at healthcare forums
nationally and internationally.
Director of Nursing Lynne McVey
toured the hospital units and ex-
jgh.ca website version 4.0
In June, the JGH will be launching the latest version of its website, located at jgh.
ca. As well as continuing to offer pertinent information to patients and visitors, the
new site has features allowing for a more current web experience, with videos,
blogs, a dedicated career corner and improved graphics. For more information,
contact the Public Affairs and Communications Department, ext. 5818.
million, the students’ answers ranged
from 100 million to a billion. Daniel
Nahmias-Léonard, Communications
Specialist with the Department of
Public Affairs and Communications,
went on to note that most of the staff
and patients of the JGH are not Jewish.
The opportunity to interact with
patients from so many ethnic backgrounds
has been enriching professionally,
said Melanie Sabbagh, a
JGH Clinical Nurse Specialist in the
Mother-Child area. “As a nurse in
such a multi-ethnic environment, you
have to be open and sensitive toward
patients’ traditions. When they have
special requests or needs, we do our
best to help them. It is fascinating and
rewarding to share in these different
experiences.”
Sophie Pouliot, President of the
JGH Council of Nurses, said the
“wonderful atmosphere of the hospital’s
multi-ethnic environment and its
reputation for excellence” led to her
JGH career. u
pressed her appreciation for the commitment
and dedication of JGH nurses.
Her visits also sparked discussion
about the value that the JGH places
on family involvement in patient care,
as well as nurses’ leadership role in
the medical team. Other highlights
included dinner with doctors and
nursing management, and a meetand-greet
session with Ms. McVey
and the Nursing Directors.
At the General Assembly of the
Council of Nurses, new members
were elected and prizes were distributed
for innovative nursing projects.
Among them were the winners of
the Amgen Innovation Competition
which, according to Council Presi-
Belle’s View
At the JGH, every doctor, nurse and healthcare professional has
a fascinating story to tell—and Belle Ziniuk is an avid listener. As
an author and volunteer, Belle loves meeting and writing about the
people who make the hospital great.
Be sure to check out her blog at jgh.ca/belle.
PHarmacy PHacts
Generations
of medications
With the Jewish General Hospital celebrating its 75th anniversary, this is
an appropriate time for a brief but panoramic look at the beginnings of
the field of pharmacy, one the JGH’s most important areas.
Pharmacy practice has evolved over centuries, with the earliest known record
of pharmaceutical use in the sixth century B.C.E. The ancient Egyptians
and Chinese were among the first to use medicinal plants to treat ailments.
By the ninth century, advances in chemistry and botany in the Middle East
contributed to the development of pharmacology, the study of interactions
between medications and the body. In Europe, rudimentary pharmacies
were established during the 12th century. Modern pharmacy practice includes
the conventional notion of preparing and dispensing medications.
However, it has evolved to encompass other services related to patient care,
including clinical and consulting services, evaluating existing and trial medications
for safety and efficacy, and coordinating with medical institutions
to provide the best patient care possible. Hospital pharmacies, like the one
that serves the JGH, are much different from commercial pharmacies. Their
medication management is generally more intricate and they tend to stock
a wider scope of specialized medications. Hospital pharmacists and trained
pharmacy technicians also prepare a broad range of medications in a sterile
environment, following strict guidelines to ensure patient safety. u
– Megan Martin, Pharmacy Communications Officer
dent Sophie Pouliot, “recognizes
the value of nurses’ contributions to
the safety and quality of patient care
at the JGH. We hope to keep developing
these projects and make them
eligible for the 3M Grand Prize in
Innovation, awarded annually by the
Order of Nurses of Quebec.”
Meals were offered throughout
one day to the nurses on the night,
day and evening shifts by the nurses’
union, the United Health Care Professionals,
who offer advice and promote
the rights of nurses. The Week’s
festivities also included all JGH staff,
who were treated to a barbeque,
alongside JGH nurses. u

Getting in motion – with emotion
Milena Crosato and Annie Rompré
stand knee-deep in plastic
fruit, as they chat about their work
as organizers of Researchers in Motion.
The brightly coloured pieces of
fruit are actually hard containers that
store the edible variety, sold by team
members and volunteers at a hospital
booth. Proceeds go to a team of researchers
from the Segal Cancer Centre
and the JGH Lady Davis Institute
for Medical Research who participate
in the Weekend to End Breast Cancer
and Ride to Conquer Cancer. “We
thought fruit was especially symbolic,”
says Ms. Crosato. “A healthy diet
and nutrition are important for cancer
prevention.”
The fruit sale is one of many fundraising
activities planned by Ms. Crosato
(Administrative Coordinator
of the Segal Cancer Centre research
laboratories) and Ms. Rompré (Associate
Director of Administration of
the Centre). They’re also organizing
movie nights, bake sales and garage
sales to generate funds while encouraging
JGH staff to participate in and
volunteer for the two events. Funds
are used to buy equipment and provide
scholarships to PhDs and Postdocs
in cancer research. So far, seven
researchers are enrolled in the Weekend,
while eight are set to ride in the
Ride.
Among them is Dr. Annette Hollman,
Research Associate at the LDI.
“I lost two friends, both in their 40s,”
she says. “One, a non-smoker, died of
lung cancer and another of glioblas-
Researchers in
Motion logo,
designed by
Milena Crosato.
toma. A few years ago, I considered
participating in the Weekend, but the
thought of raising $2,000 was too intimidating.
But the Ride to Conquer
Cancer, a bike ride from Montreal to
Quebec, is just too cool to pass up. Being
with a team gave me hope that I
might reach the fundraising goal.” u
Colourful fruit containers were sold by Researchers in Motion to raise funds for the Weekend
to End Breast Cancer and the Ride to Conquer Cancer.
Participants in the WEBC foot clinic.
Back row, from left: Dr. Alan Spatz, Dr.
Koren Mann, Dr. Mark Basik, Christian
Young, Cynthia Guilbert, Dr. Andrew
Darnel, Cathy Tkaczyk and Dr. Marc
Tischkowitz. Front row, from left: Annie
Rompré, Dr. Adriana Aguilar, Milena Crosato,
Dr. Annette Hollman and Dr. Naciba
Benlimame.
Walking or riding, you’ve got support
Now that warm weather is here to stay, the cyclists and walkers of the
Ride to Conquer Cancer and the Weekend to End Breast Cancer are
training in the streets—and they’ve got help.
While some participants in the Ride are athletes, the event is open to
anyone with the motivation to cycle from Montreal to Quebec City. All
you need is a bike, a helmet and some determination to get in shape. To
help equip registered riders, many of Montreal’s finest bike shops are offering
discounts on equipment. Once participants have their bikes, they
can visit a partner gym for discounts and special classes. To see a full list
of the Ride’s official outfitters and training partners, or to register, please
visit conquercancer.ca and follow the links on the left.
Taking a stroll is one thing, but walking 60 kilometers in two days is
another; it takes preparation and the right shoes. Luckily, the Weekend to
End Breast Cancer website is full of useful information. At the Resources
link, walkers can download training schedules and stretching charts. A
click on the Training Walks link brings up a list of free, organized walks.
On May 28, the Weekend again hosted its popular foot clinic, featuring
foot assessments by podiatrists Dr. Bluma Girzon and Dr. Charles Faucher.
For more information or to register, please visit endcancer.ca. u
– Siobhan O’Brien, Associate Coordinator, Special Events, JGH Foundation
PULSE • SUMMER 2009 7

Healing by design
Patients and staff on 8 Northwest
are now enjoying blooming flowers
all year long. Brightly coloured,
backlit murals in a floral pattern
adorn the corridors, adding beauty
and cheerfulness to the redesign of
the Medical Oncology Department.
The six-month renovation was completed
near the end of 2008. “The fresh
look of the flowers and the colours of
hope promote healing,” says Isabelle
Caron, Nursing Director of Medicine,
Geriatrics and Psychiatry. As Head
Nurse on 8 Northwest, Véronique
Roger says she is pleased by the reactions
of patients who “comment on
how lively, light and airy the unit is.
You should see their faces!”
Architect Georges Elbaz explains
that patients “spend a lot of time in
corridors, so we wanted an upbeat environment
to complement the more
muted rooms.” Nursing Director
Lynne McVey adds that the changes
in layout resulted from close collaboration
among the architectural and
technical teams, and the clinicians
who work on the unit.
A major accomplishment is the replacement
of four-bedded rooms with
semi-private or private rooms which
8 PULSE • SUMMER 2009
are less cramped and offer greater privacy
and comfort in a quieter setting.
“This also contributes to patient safety
by helping to prevent the spread of infection,”
says Dr. Joseph Raffoul of
the Division of Internal Medicine. “If
infection poses less of a risk, we can
have an easier flow from the Emergency
Department. It means we can
bring patients up sooner because they
have access to private rooms.”
Ms. Caron says patient safety and
staff efficiency are also enhanced by
nursing stations that are integrated
with the medical equipment needed
by nurses. Also, new sinks were installed
outside patients’ rooms for
handwashing—a better means of controlling
infection, since staff should
not wash in the patient’s room.
At the ribbon-cutting ceremony for
8 Northwest, Executive Director Dr.
Hartley Stern praised the “superior
planning and beautiful architectural
design. It not only reduces the risk
of nosocomial (hospital-acquired)
infection, but enables patients with
multiple illnesses, and particularly
cancer, to improve their health in a
lovely setting.” u
This colourful flower is typical of the design that lifts the spirits of patients in 8NW.
From left: Dr. Hartley Stern, Lynne McVey, Véronique Roger, Isabelle Caron, Dr. Joseph
Raffoul and Dr. Gerald Batist, Chief of Oncology.
CONSTRUCTION
UPDATE
PALLIATIVE CARE
(4 Main)
COMPLETED
WOMEN’S HEALTH CENTRE
(Pavilion H, third floor)
COMPLETED
CARDIOLOGY
(Pavilion E, second floor)
RENOVATIONS ONGOING
MAIN ENTRANCE
(Côte-Sainte-Catherine Road)
OPENING JUNE 18

Instituting new roles
at the LDI
Cells aren’t all that are multiplying at the Lady Davis Institute for
Medical Research: multiple roles have been “cultivated” as part of a
restructuring plan. Four positions have been created to share responsibilities
that were previously handled solely by the Director of Research.
The new associate directorships cover Faculty Development and Training,
Infrastructure, Clinical Research and Research Space.
The development of a leadership team for the LDI will greatly
strengthen the Institute and provide informed insight and in-depth interaction
with the program heads and LDI researchers. This will enable
the Director of Research to provide overall direction and interact more
intensively with McGill University, its affiliated institutions and other
research organizations in Quebec and around the world.
“We’ve grown as a result of our success,” says LDI Interim Director
Dr. Stéphane Richard in explaining the extra research activities at the
JGH and LDI. “The strength of the LDI is its people. We have great scientists
and clinicians who collaborate on medically-oriented research
in a hospital-driven research environment.”
With leading, new and expanding centres and labs at the JGH and
LDI, such as the Segal Cancer Centre and the HIV/AIDS Bio-containment
Laboratory, “we have been attracting internationally renowned
scientists,” says Dr. Richard. “We are also looking to recruit more highcalibre
researchers to work alongside our own staff in cancer, cardiovascular
disease, aging, epidemiology and psycho-social issues. We
may even expand into other areas.” u
Among those present for the commemorative cutting of the JGH anniversary cake at the Faye
Fox Education Day were Executive Director Dr. Hartley Stern (holding knife) and Director of
Nursing Lynne McVey.
Conference advises nurses
how to “be well to treat well”
While healing at the JGH is focused
on patients, the well-being
of healthcare professionals is also of
concern. That’s why the 27th Annual
Faye Fox Education Day, organized by
the JGH Department of Nurses, chose
to highlight Healing at Work: The Well
Nurse Initiative on May 1.
“Nurses at the bedside understand
what constitutes a healthy workplace,
because they know they have to be at
their best to do the best for patients,”
says Valerie Frunchak, Nursing Director
of Maternal-Child Health and
Co-Chair of the event with Lynne
McVey, Director of Nursing. “They
take great pride in their healthcare environment
and try to remove as many
obstacles as possible. Nurses take a
leadership role in fostering more open
and respectful channels of communication
with colleagues and patients.
On a technical level, they determine
whether proper equipment is being
used to treat patients and whether it
is functioning properly.”
Faye Fox Day attracts nursing students
from CEGEPs and universities,
as well as nurses from other hospitals.
The day is named for a nurse
who joined the JGH on its opening
in 1934 and ultimately set up and ran
the JGH central supply room until her
retirement as Supervisor of that area
in 1974. Ms. Fox was also an anti-infection
specialist who helped develop
standards for sterilization.
As part of the year-long commemoration
of the JGH’s 75th anniversary,
Ms. McVey invited the conference
speakers, JGH nursing alumni and
committee members to help cut a celebratory
cake. Keynote speakers included
Dr. Judith Shamian, President
and CEO of the Victorian Order of
Nurses and a former JGH nurse who
presided over the hospital’s 50th anniversary
celebrations in 1984. “We’re
delighted to welcome Judith back,”
Ms. Frunchak said. “She has always
had a creative, innovative and unconventional
approach to nursing and
has been an excellent role model.”
At the conference, Dr. Irmajean
Banjok, Director of the International
Affairs and the Best Practice Guidelines
Program, and life coach Stephanie
Staples explored ways to create a
healthy, safe workplace environment
inspired by initiatives in healthcare
institutions across Canada. They also
explained how nurses can stay in
good physical condition for their own
benefit and that of their patients. u
PULSE • SUMMER 2009 9

ID Cards
Mandatory
10 PULSE • SUMMER 2009

Social Work’s
valued role
When patients are admitted to the
hospital, they receive treatment
and care from many professionals who,
quite understandably, are concerned
about their physical needs and recuperation.
However, patients and their relatives
have more on their minds while
they wait for the body to heal. Often,
illness becomes a catalyst for the development
of social and psychological
pressures that must also be considered
in bringing relief to the patients and
their loved ones. This is the need that
social workers help to fulfill.
It is truly a great privilege and opportunity
to work with patients and their
families, who are often trying to cope
with the greatest distress they have ever
known. They may be struggling with
problems related to their own mortality,
complex questions about the quality
and fragility of life, and the burden
of enduring treatments and suffering,
both physical and emotional. The experience
of cancer, as an example, can
feel like placing a magnifying glass over
one’s life. It tends to bring out the good,
and amplify the strong supportive relationships
with family and friends.
However, the impact of illness can also
highlight the difficulties of everyday life
that are related, for instance, to marital
problems, family discord or family
communication difficulties. These may
add to the considerable anxiety of living
with cancer.
Social workers strive to validate the
patient’s experience and help ease tensions
within the family. They also provide
crucial information to patients and
families, address their psychological
and emotional needs, and offer guidance
on social skills. In addition, they
provide counseling on financial and
work-related issues, and even tend to
spiritual needs. As social workers, we
seek to help patients and families get on
with the very important job of coping
with illness at any stage in its development.Patients
also teach us about what
is most important in life: the relationships
we create and the appreciation of
life, the resiliency of the human spirit
and true determination. u
– Vivian Myron Moatti, Social Worker,
Palliative Care (4 Main) and Head and
Neck Surgery (4 Northwest)
Social workers indulge in smiles and kisses
What do a penny, a marble and
a Hershey’s kiss have in common?
Not much, on the surface. But
when you consider that each can
spark a smile or a moment of fun,
it’s no wonder they were part of an
anti-stress kit. These little gifts, and a
great deal more, were distributed to
staff of the Social Work Department
by the JGH Social Work Week Committee
to mark National Social Service
Week from March 22 to 28.
“The anti-stress kit was a tonguein-cheek
reminder of how vital it
is for members of staff to look after
themselves and one another,” explained
Judith Minorgan, a social
worker on the 7 Northwest/HIV
Service. “Ultimately, this helps them
meet patients’ needs more effectively.
Our work can be emotionally trying,
so it’s crucial that we retain a sense
of humour. The brightened mood
that the objects symbolize apply to
any caregiver or family member, and
even to patients.”
JGH activities during Social Work
Week were “as much about giving
staff and the public a better understanding
of the role of social work
in our hospital as about celebrating
the achievements of the JGH social
work team,” said Allan Ptack, Director
of Social Services. The week’s
highlights included mid-morning
snacks, a yoga session and a potluck
lunch that welcomed Executive Director
Dr. Hartley Stern. “Everybody
brought a part of themselves to
the table,” said Mr. Ptack’s assistant,
Brenda Demberg. “We shared food
from our various
cultures, and that’s
typical of social
workers who all
have something
special to offer as
members of the
hospital’s multidisciplinary
teams.”
In addition, a
booth provided
information about
Social Work, in-
cluding an explanation of how patients
are comforted when lines
of communication are opened up
among the patient, members of the
family and the appropriate healthcare
provider. u
Students see social workers up close and personal
“
Do you really walk so far every day?” “Do you ever
get lost in the hospital?” These were just some of the
questions that McGill University Social Work students
asked us at an open house and tour on March 27. These
events wrapped up a week of activities hosted by the
Social Services Department to celebrate Quebec Social
Work Week. During visits to the Emergency Department,
Maternity, the Segal Cancer Centre and other
areas, the students noticed that social workers were
involved in all facets of a patient’s hospital experience.
They were also interested to learn that hospital social
workers are involved in risk evaluation, helping families
cope with illness and loss, linking people to community
resources, and even helping individuals adjust to parenting.
As the students discovered, nearly 4,000 patients met
with JGH social workers during the past year. The tour
concluded in lively discussion with Student Coordinator
Sherrie Poplack and Social Services Director Allan
Ptack, who noted that “these sorts of activities help us
The Anti-stress kit… An eraser to make all those little
mistakes (and wrinkles) disappear
A string to hold it all
together when it seems
to be falling apart
A kiss to remind you
someone cares about you
A marble for those days when
you’ve lost all of yours
A rock to
give you
strength
A penny so
you will never
be completely
broke
An elastic
to help
stretch beyond your
current limits
Social Worker Brahms Silver comforts patient Bennie Perlman.
recruit students for internships, as well as potential staff
positions.” u
– Social worker Deborah Cobrin, 8 Northwest; Social
worker Judith Minorgan, 7 Northwest/HIV Service; Aline
Bogossian, social work intern, 8 Northwest; and Pauline
Orr, social work intern, 7 Northwest
Pauline Orr (left) leads a tour of McGill Social Work students.
PULSE • SUMMER 2009 11

JGH technician offers clear view of glaucoma’s threat
Marc Renaud wants to open people’s
eyes to the threat of glaucoma,
and he’s even gone underground
to do it. As an ophthalmic technician
in charge of the JGH low-vision laboratory
and project manager for the
McGill Claucoma Information Centre,
Mr. Renaud could have happily
made a career out of his day-to-day
activities in helping doctors to screen
patients and perform tests for glaucoma.
Instead, he has complemented his
work with volunteer activities, including
an event earlier this year where he
participated in a glaucoma information
and screening kiosk in the Berri-
UQAM metro station.
Mr. Renaud estimates the kiosk attracted
well over 1,000 information
seekers, of whom more than 70 took
an on-the-spot eye exam. “About 20
of them had signs that led us to believe
they could have eye problems,”
he says. “Several even had signs that
could definitely be called suspicious.”
Mr. Renaud adds that the event, part
of the 2nd annual World Glaucoma
Day, involved McGill University’s
JGH-based Glaucoma Information
Centre, with participation by the
Quebec Glaucoma Foundation, the
Canadian National Institute for the
Blind, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital,
the Montreal Glaucoma Insti-
As the spring and summer seasons
get greener, so does the JGH. So
far, the hospital has made encouraging
progress with recycling bins for
soda cans and a battery recycling program.
Now it’s embarking on some
initiatives that may be less visible, but
are just as important.
According to Ilan Elbaz, JGH’s Sustainable
Development Coordinator,
there are plans to purchase a new compacter
to process the growing amount
of recycled material. “Although the
hospital has grown a great deal, the
city collects the same amount. The
compactor will enable the hospital to
put more into the city’s bins.”
Kotiel Berdugo, the Director of
12 PULSE • SUMMER 2009
tute and the Zeiss optical company.
“The kiosk proved to be extremely
worthwhile,” says Mr. Renaud. “We
were working with Dr. Peter Karwatsky,
an optometrist and instructor
at the University of Montreal’s School
of Optometry (and former JGH lowvision
lab student). As a result, we
were able to refer a number of people
to various hospitals, including the
JGH.”
Especially gratifying to Mr. Renaud
was his participation in the first
World Glaucoma Day. In that event,
students from Montreal’s Fine Arts
Core Education (FACE) High School
formed a team to develop a presentation
about glaucoma. Coached by Mr.
Renaud, the students created a project
that proved so informative that it was
chosen for display in the regional finals
of the Bell Expo Science Fair at
the Biodome and informed thousands
of visitors about the threat of glaucoma.
Mr. Renaud says he feels strongly
about glaucoma because his professional
experiences have shown him
the key role it can play in causing
blindness. At the start of his 24-year
JGH career, Mr. Renaud intended only
to stay at the hospital for one year as
an ophthalmic photographer, having
trained in medical photography in
Staying green: garbage crunching
and rooftop gardening
Technical Services, adds that the installation
of a green roof on the sixth
floor of Pavilions A and B is also in
the works. The new roof will help
reduce the amount of energy the
hospital uses for heating and air conditioning,
since soil and vegetation
act as insulation. Best of all, staff and
patients will be able to use the green
space for breaks, meals or relaxation.
At the moment, architecture drawings
and the budget are being reviewed. u
At the glaucoma booth in the Berri-UQAM metro station, Marc Renaud (left) provides information
to a transit user.
Quebec City. However, after developing
an interest in ophthalmology, he
left photography behind, enrolled in
a training program and was offered a
position as a technician at the JGH.
At the JGH Eye Clinic, Mr. Renaud
has noticed that many glaucoma patients
do not regularly use eye drops,
even though medication is vital in
preventing a worsening of their condition.
“We asked ourselves how we
can change this attitude. The answer
is education.” Thus, Mr. Renaud holds
monthly JGH information sessions
for patients and their families from
across the city. Carole Desharnais, an
ophthalmic nurse, demonstrates the
proper way to administer eye-drops
and discusses the role of medication,
while Dr. Oscar Kasner, Director
of the JGH Glaucoma Service, is on
hand to answer questions. “As all of
our sessions have confirmed, there’s
a crying need for more information
about this insidious disease,” Mr. Renaud
says.u
The facts about glaucoma
Did you know that glaucoma…
• is the second-leading cause of blindness in
North America
• is rarely painful and shows no early
symptoms, which is why its diagnosis is so
unexpected
• can be controlled with medication and
other treatments, but has no known cure
• prevalence increases with age
For more information or to register for a JGH info session,
please call 514-340-8222, ext. 4954, or visit
jgh.ca/glaucoma.

10th anniversary Jazz Fest trumpets
JGH’s 75th birthday
A harmonious
happening
Coming soon: the sound of music!
No, not the Broadway musical, but
the JGH’s very own Jazz Fest, back for
its landmark 10th season from June
23 to July 3. This time around, festival
organizer and JGH Music Therapist
Bryan Highbloom has chosen the
theme of “Care Songs”, a tribute to the
“Care for All” that the JGH has provided
for the past 75 years.
“Care Songs” also celebrate the
musicians themselves and their
willingness to lift the spirits of
patients during the Jazz Fest
and in special performances at
other times of the year. Among
those scheduled to perform are
Wendajam, Open Standards,
the Nicolas Caloia 5, the Silvio
Clauser Blues Band and the free
tenors.
In a nod to the hospital’s 75th
anniversary, a sound and light
show will be presented at sundown
on June 28, 29 and 30,
The 20-member choir Higher Ground led
by Kathy Kennedy toured the 7th and 8th
floors of the Jewish General Hospital on
the night of April 30. Patients and staff
alike joined in the singing or clapped along.
Higher Ground seeks to offer hope and joy
through their music. They plan to return to
visit other wards and patients.
with archival photos of the JGH projected
on the hospital walls. The accompanying
music will be largely improvised
and will evoke memories of
the care the JGH has provided for so
long. Even the festival’s visual identity
has been spruced up by a new logo
designed by M. Robert Vignola.
For more information, please visit
jgh.ca/jazz. u
From left: Suzette Chung, Discharge Planning Nurse in the Emergency Department;
Jessica Emed, Clinical Nurse Specialist on the Thrombosis Team; Dave Morrison (as a
Super ClotBuster) and Alla Muladzanov of the Thrombosis Team at the DVT Awareness
Month kiosk in March. To raise awareness about this special month, the Thrombosis
Team organized various activities all month long, including Nursing Grand Rounds,
Resident Rounds and Quality and Safety Rounds, highlighting the ways deep-vein
thrombosis can be prevented. The condition occurs when a blood clot forms in the
deep veins, usually in the legs. Often it is painful and can lead to a potentially life
threatening clot in the lungs.
Job fair aims to fill nursing positions
The JGH’s first-ever internal job fair—organized by the Departments of Nursing
and Human Resources, along with the United Health Care Professionals
Union (UHCP-FIQ)—was held April 15 and 16 to fill 190 permanent positions
for nurses and nursing assistants. The goal, mandated by the Ministry of Health,
was to stabilize positions. According to UHCP President Naomi Engelhard-
Chemtob, “more options are now available to nurses who can choose to be
stabilized on their own unit or, if they want a change, to apply to another unit.”
Joanne Côté, Nursing Coordinator, Division of Cardiology, says the creation
of permanent positions “will bring more stability to the nurses’ lives. Basically,
it will allow them to better manage the work-life balance.” Ms. Côté praises the
“great collaboration” between the UHCP and hospital management, which she
views as “unique to this hospital. We all went to great lengths to customize the
positions to the staff ’s needs, and all within budget.”
“Over 90 nurses and nursing assistants attended,” adds Yves Morency, Chief
of Labour Relations. “The process ran very smoothly as a result of excellent collaboration
by all. We would like to thank all of the participants who made this
event such a success.” u
PULSE • SUMMER 2009 13

Clean hands save lives!
Hand hygiene efforts shift into high gear
Hands that are supposed
to help heal
can actually make patients
sicker. If not properly
cleaned, the hands
of doctors, nurses and
other hospital staff can
easily spread germs,
trigger infection and
cause serious illness. For
this reason, the JGH has
launched a high-profile,
high-intensity hand hygiene
program, with a
ribbon-cutting ceremony
for JGH leaders and
staff on March 19 in the
hospital’s Intensive Care
Unit. (For more, please
see the accompanying
article.)
The JGH has always
been conscientious
about hand cleanliness,
but the time has come to fight infection
more aggressively, says JGH Executive
Director Dr. Hartley Stern.
“It’s our responsibility to conduct
ourselves in such a way as to safeguard
patients when they’re at their
most vulnerable,” Dr. Stern says. “The
way to accomplish this is by creating
a culture among staff in which constant
attention to quality, safety and
cleanliness becomes second nature.
Everything snowballs from there. A
hospital with a reputation for quality
earns the trust and respect of patients
and the public.”
Proper hand hygiene is
essential because:
• Each year, 1 in 9 patients admitted
to a Canadian hospital acquires an
infection as a result of his or her
hospital stay.
• Of those infected hospitalized patients,
8,000 die.
• Handwashing may seem old-fashioned
and low-tech, but it remains
one of the fastest, cheapest and
most effective ways of stopping infection
in its tracks.
In fall 2008, the JGH was Montreal’s
first teaching hospital to join the national
Stop! Clean Your Hands hand
hygiene campaign of the Canadian
14 PULSE • SUMMER 2009
Patient Safety Institute (CPSI). The
JGH initiative was led by the Department
of Nursing in partnership with
the Infection Prevention and Control
team. In joining this campaign, 38
JGH departments signed a letter of
engagement, committing themselves
to setting aside time and providing
support for staff to learn about proper
hand hygiene.
A hand hygiene committee has also
developed ongoing, multi-disciplinary
activities to promote best practices
among hospital staff on a pilot-project
basis in four units: Medical Oncology,
Surgery, Post-Partum and Intensive
Care. One person in each unit serves
as a model for colleagues, while providing
information, feedback and
support.
The CPSI’s Hand Hygiene Campaign
Learning Module is one of
many tools that will be used to teach
staff and test them on their knowledge
of hand hygiene essentials. The interactive
module also offers instruction
on hand and skin care, and the “when
and how” of clean hands. Particular
attention is paid to the “4 Moments of
Hand Hygiene”, proper hand-washing
technique with soap and water, and
correct hand hygiene with alcoholbased
products. Staff who successfully
This past spring, members of the JGH Physiotherapy Department heard from a representative
of Deb Canada (specializing in occupational skin hygiene). The JGH Hand Hygiene Committee
and Deb also organized a booth in the hospital, and instructed staff on hand hygiene practices
in pilot units on 8 Northwest, 5 West, the Intensive Care Unit and 4 Northwest, as well as
Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy, Central Supply Department, Respiratory
Therapy and Social Services.
Clean hands are grand
Passionate kisses—right there in
the workplace! Whatever happened
to the customary handshake?
It turns out the kisses weren’t real,
but part of a brief video clip that drew
chuckles at the launch of the JGH
Hand Hygiene Program at Medical
Grand Rounds on March 9. Even
so, the underlying message was no
laughing matter. Angie Spiropoulos,
Assistant Chief Respiratory Specialist
in the Department of Respiratory
Therapy, included the clip in a
presentation as a dramatic reminder
that “shaking hands spreads more
germs than kissing.” For this reason,
staff must have clean hands when the
patient and healthcare professional
make contact.
Melanie Sherridan, Clinical Nurse
Specialist in the Emergency Department
discussed hand hygiene tech-
complete the module will receive a pin
inscribed with “Clean your hands” or
“Ask me if I cleaned my hands”.
“Creating a safe environment is at the
heart of the Jewish General Hospital
and is intrinsic to our corporate culture,”
says Director of Nursing Lynne
niques using alcohol-based foam (20
to 30 seconds) and soap and water
(40 to 60 seconds). She also noted
that the risk of contamination rises
among individuals who wear jewelry
on their hands and have artificial or
long, natural nails or chipped nail
polish.
When infection spreads in hospitals,
it causes serious illness, more
prolonged hospital stays, increased
waiting times, long-term disability,
increased mortality rates and
increased costs in providing healthcare.
Yet, says Dr. Denny Laporta,
Chief of Adult Critical Care, the
“single most effective measure to reduce
healthcare-associated infection
is the simple act of cleaning hands.
This cuts right through the complexity
of a patient’s disease and the complexity
of the hospital system.” u
McVey. Dr. Denny Laporta, Chief
of Adult Critical Care, adds that by
building awareness, providing education
and encouraging cooperation
among staff, the new program ensures
that “patients know they are not only
in good hands, but in safe hands.” u

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!
Health care for the ages, an extensive article by Aaron Derfel, Senior Health
Reporter for The Gazette, has positioned the JGH as a leader in Quebec for
its treatment of geriatric patients. The story, published on May 9, referred to
the hospital as “a microcosm of Quebec society—only two decades into the
future.”
Among the JGH healthcare professionals cited in the article were (in order
of appearance) Oncologist Dr. Doreen Wan-Chow-Wah; Dr. Ruby Friedman,
Director of Geriatric Medicine and Long-Term Care; Executive Director Dr.
Hartley Stern; Emergency Department Chief Dr. Marc Afilalo; and Judy Bianco,
Head Nurse in Geriatrics and Nursing Coordinator of Chronic Illness
and Aging. u
A ribbon-cutting in the ICU marked the launch of the JGH Hand Hygiene Program.
From left: Dr. Denny Laporta, JGH Chief of Adult Critical Care; Director of Nursing
Lynne McVey; Executive Director Dr. Hartley Stern; ICU Head Nurse Jacki Raboy Thaw;
and Paule Bernier.
Making a clean cut
Led by the Department of Nursing, the JGH has joined the Canadian
Patient Safety Institute’s Safer Healthcare Now campaign. Participants include
the ICU, 8 West, 5 West and 4 Northwest. The program targets all
staff who enter the patient’s environment, with each unit delegating a representative
to ensure compliance with the Hand Hygiene Program. Anyone
providing care or entering the patient’s immediate area must know
which products to use and proper hand hygiene technique, including the
“4 Moments of Hand Hygiene”. Audits on compliance will soon be standard
throughout the hospital.
Because of the differences from ward to ward, successful implementation
depends on each unit’s team. Thus, the ICU’s Continuing Quality Improvement
team has met with staff from various departments that work
in the ICU to identify problems and find answers. Measurement of results
is also planned in the coming months.
To familiarize you with hand hygiene techniques and the “4 Moment
for Hand Hygiene”, a 15-minute training module is available at jgh.ca/
cleanhands. A certificate is issued at the completion of training. u
– Paule Bernier, Dietitian, Intensive Care Unit
From left: Dr. Zeev Rosberger, Dr. Eva Libman, Dr. Margaret Purden, Dr. Karl Looper, and Dr.
Phyllis Zelkowitz.
To read the article, please visit jgh.ca/newsroom. Coping with the challenges
of chronic illness
It’s the height of irony: Canadian
hospitals that excel at treating acute
illnesses are not always ideally positioned
to help people cope with ongoing
conditions such as cancer, inflammatory
arthritis or insomnia. As
a result, patients’ lives are disrupted
and they feel helpless, with no end in
sight. This dilemma was tackled on
March 27 at the 4th Annual JGH Department
of Psychiatry Research Day.
“Chronic illness is this era’s greatest
healthcare challenge,” said Dr. Margaret
Purden, Scientific Director at
the JGH Centre for Nursing Research
and an expert on how patients adjust
to their illnesses over the long term.
Statistics confirm the problem: Nearly
one in three Canadians is affected by
chronic illness, with repercussions felt
at home and at work. These patients
and their families are compelled “to
make continual adjustments in their
daily lives,” explained Dr. Phyllis
Zelkowitz, Director of Research at
the JGH Department of Psychiatry.
“Therefore, an interdisciplinary approach
is needed to improve their
quality of life.”
Dr. Zeev Rosberger, Director of the
Psychology Division at the ICFP and
the Louise Granofsky Psychosocial
Oncology Program at the Segal Cancer
Centre, focused on young men
with cancer, noting that “fatherhood
is important to them, so it has to be
factored into an ongoing dialogue
with their healthcare team.”
Dr. Rosberger, who, in collaboration
with a multidisciplinary team,
has examined the biological and psychosocial
problems relating to infertility,
said young men who get chemotherapy
for testicular or lymphatic
cancer are initially focused on surviv-
ial. However, once informed about
the potential effect that the disease
and the treatment will have on their
fertility, they want to know more than
simply “can I” father a child—that is,
will their sperm be capable of reproducing.
They also want to know “will
I” become a father, based on their
evolving psychological preparedness
to become a parent.
The physical aspects of inflammatory
arthritis are more closely studied
than its psychosocial impact, said
ICFP Psychiatrist Dr. Karl Looper.
Decreased mobility and long-term
disability can affect personal finances,
while family life suffers when a spouse
or caregiver is under pressure. Dr.
Looper said distress and depression
are common, and this can exacerbate
the illness by weakening the immune
system.
Dr. Eva Libman, Associate Director,
Behavioural Psychotherapy and
Research Unit at the ICFP, says even
insomnia presents difficulties among
patients who feel their relatives don’t
understand the seriousness of the
problem. Even worse, health providers
do not know how to treat insomnia
effectively and sometimes even misdiagnose
it as anxiety or depression.
She suggested that objective testing be
used to better understand the patient’s
experience, but cautioned that testing
should complement the patient’s subjective
feelings about insomnia.
Treatment for chronically ill patients
requires “a whole-person perspective,”
Dr. Purden concluded.
“Psychosocial support is a key factor
in a patient’s adjustment to illness and
it can go a long way toward enhancing
the quality of their lives.” u
PULSE • SUMMER 2009 15

Pandemic rehearsal keeps
JGH on its toes
An aircraft, landing at Montreal-
Trudeau airport, carries two passengers
who display symptoms of an
unfamiliar virus. The JGH is informed
that the travellers will be brought to
the hospital for observation and treatment.
Within minutes, staff throughout
the JGH are all set. Not only do
the passengers get top-quality treatment,
the staff who care for them—
along with other JGH patients and
visitors—are kept safe from the virus.
That scenario hasn’t happened, but it
could. And if it does, the JGH is ready.
To test its preparedness, the hospital
participated in a province-wide exercise,
conducted by the Quebec Ministry
of Health, to ensure that hospitals
can deal effectively with a pandemic.
The exercise, organized by Isabelle
Caron, Chair of Pandemic Planning,
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received high marks from the Regional
Health Board. The simulated
enactment of the pandemic plan included
participation by representative
physicians, nurses, infectious disease
specialists and members of security,
communications and the Human Resources
Department.
By an interesting coincidence,
the pandemic rehearsal took place
one week before the outbreak of the
H1N1 virus. Although that virus did
not create pandemic conditions, it did
provide staff with the opportunity to
put their training to practical use.
JGH Executive Director Dr. Hartley
Stern congratulated participants
for their “tremendous response.
You deserve credit for your excellent
teamwork in responding so quickly
and efficiently.” u
Who were those masked women? Sonia Boccardi (left), a Nursing Education Consultant in
Surgery and Marineh Carapetian, a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Medicine.
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In grateful appreciation!
To the staff of the JGH:
From my admission on March 27 to my discharge on March 31,
I received excellent care and I want to thank you for it. My mind
was always put at ease when my questions were appropriately
answered by your exceptional staff. Everyone was able to make
this a positive experience that I will always remember.
Marcel Hébert
Winnipeg
To nurse Leslie Andino, Division of Cardiology:
I was transferred to your department on Feb. 9 for medical
attention and to prepare for delicate surgery under Dr. Felix
Ma. That night, around 10:00, I told you about something
related to my digestive system. You immediately ordered a
test that indicated a serious problem. Further exams by Dr.
Demarché revealed that my stomach was in a pitiful state
and the surgery was postponed.
A few days later, I was informed that if not for the prompt,
professional action by you and Dr. Demarché, I probably
would not be here to talk about it. To me, my family and
friends, you are real heroes—you, your supervisors and
colleagues. We wish you brilliant careers, already well
under way. To all other staff, we beg you to remain for
many years to come. We and many others are in urgent
need of professionals like you.
From the bottom of my new heart, thank you!
Sincerely and forever,
Jacques Bourdages
Montreal
To Dr. Michael Kapusta
(Chief of Ophthalmology)
and the Ophthalmology team:
I want to express my admiration for the skill
and professionalism of the operating team led
by Dr. Kapusta, who performed my eye surgery
on April 16, and my gratitude for the kindness
and compassion that all the members of the
team extended to me.
The acts of kindness shown by all really helped
me. For example, Dr. Simcha Kleinman, the
Chief of Anesthesia who was informed that I
was terrified of having a panic attack on the
operating table, came over while I was in the
corridor outside the operating room, introduced
himself and assured me that I would be well
looked after by Kim, who would be by my side
throughout. Dr. Kapusta’s assistant leaned
over while I was on the table and introduced
himself to me just before the procedure got
underway which made me feel that I was not
in a room with unfeeling surgical robots, but
compassionate human beings.
I also want to mention the remarkable patience
and empathy that nurse Carole extended to me.
She took the time to answer all my questions
and concerns about the procedure, and her
warmth and kindheartedness calmed me down
immeasurably.
I am awestruck by the team’s level of
excellence. They functioned like a Swiss
timepiece–smooth, precise, and efficient. Not
only was the team medically first-rate, but
also their consideration and reassurance were
exemplary.
Linda Gilman Novek
Montreal
PULSE • SUMMER 2009 17

Dates to Remember...
All of June: Stroke Awareness Month
All of June: Look for vendors at the Légaré
entrance for all of your shopping needs, to
benefit the JGH Auxiliary.
June 5: World Environment Month begins
June 11: Demystifying Drugs, a lecture by Edgar
Goldstein, Oncology Pharmacist. JGH Hope & Cope
Wellness Centre, 4635 Côte-Sainte-Catherine Rd.,
5:30 to 7:00 p.m. To register, please call
514 340-3616.
June 14: World Blood Donor Day
June 14: JGH Staff Family Fun Day, celebrating
75 years of Care for all with a BBQ, kids’ corner,
raffle, and much more. Légaré staff parking lot,
noon to 4:00 p.m. (Rain date: July 12).
June 15: Cancer Survivorship Celebration with
Olga and Laurie of CJAD radio station and
Eric Gralnick of En Famille. Block Amphitheatre
(B-106), 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. To register, please call
514 340-3616.
New JGH logo’s a go!
18 PULSE • SUMMER 2009
June 16: Protecting Your Skin, a lecture with
Dr. Manish Khanna, Dermatologist. JGH Hope &
Cope Wellness Centre, 4635 Côte-Sainte-Catherine
Rd., 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. To register, please call 514
340-3616.
June 21: Father’s Day
2009 marked the kickoff of the new JGH branding.
June 22: Glaucoma information session, offered
in French. Samuel S. Cohen Auditorium (A-102),
4:00 p.m.
June 22-July 3: JGH Jazz celebrates its 10th
anniversary with music whose theme is Care Songs.
June 24: Saint-Jean Baptiste Day – Statutory
holiday
July 1: Canada Day– Statutory holiday
July 6: Glaucoma information session, offered in
English. Samuel S. Cohen Auditorium (A-102),
4:00 p.m.
Please submit the announcement of your
upcoming event for the fall issue of Pulse to
Laure-Elise Singer, via Lotus Notes.
Deadline for submission is mid-July.
Many new forms of stationery are now available. Business cards and personalized stationery can be ordered through Purchasing. Those in
search of plain letterhead can head to Stores to fill out their orders. Similarly, an electronic version of the hospital letterhead is available on the
shared drive (“S drive”) under JGH Logo. You can also find numerous document templates and finance forms in this folder.
Please remember that all material displaying the hospital logo must be approved by Public Affairs and Communications before printing begins.
This includes both internal and external documents.
If you have any questions regarding the new branding, please contact Stephanie Malley at extension 2494 or through Lotus Notes. u