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Patients in the Quinte region will soon benefit from more complex kidney care closer to home thanks to new funding announced by the Provincial government today. MPP for the Bay of Quinte, Todd Smith and MPP for Hastings-Lennox and Addington Daryl Kramp announced that the government of Ontario has approved Kingston Health Sciences Centre’s application to expand the satellite dialysis unit in Belleville with one-time capital funding for up to $4.899 million to support the project.
The funding will support renovations to the 6,766 square foot space in Belleville that will increase the number of dialysis stations from 15 to 20 and increase space to provide training and specialized care to patients through a new Multi-Care Kidney Clinic (MCKC). MORE:
https://kingstonhsc.ca/khscconnect/news/ontario-announces-nearly-49-million-funding-expansion-kidney-care-quinte-region
If you are concerned about your moderate or symptoms, book a clinical assessment with the doctor at the Beechgrove Assessment Centre at
https://ygkcovidtesting.coconutcalendar.com/s/wJJ2Il or by calling 613.548.2376.
Open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
See below for more self-care tips.
It's not too late to purchase your tickets for this month's UHKF 50/50 draw in support of Kingston's hospitals. This month's jackpot is now more than $29,000.
Nearly five years to the day since Kingston General Hospital (KGH) and Hotel Dieu Hospital (HDH) staff gathered in City Park to mark the official creation of Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC), they gathered again today to mark KHSC’s fifth anniversary.
“At the time we planted a tree, between our two hospital sites to mark this new chapter for our organizations,” said KHSC President and CEO Dr. David Pichora. “So it’s only fitting that we gather here again on the occasion of our anniversary, beside our tree. Fifth anniversaries are traditionally celebrated with gifts crafted from wood to represent deep, strong roots. This is true for us at KHSC where over the last five years, we have built strong roots together.”
More:
https://kingstonhsc.ca/khscconnect/news/transforming-care-together
Seeing the person inside the addiction is critical to helping people heal. Two people with lived experience share stories about addiction, stigma & recovery:
https://youtu.be/CMEM19jqoC0. Like them, let's Stand Up to Stigma: Let's Talk Mental Health. And let's keep the conversation going!
https://bit.ly/3uG3EUf
As March comes to an end, so too does Pharmacy Appreciation Month a national campaign that shines a spotlight a department that often works in the background, but has a crucial role in delivering patient care.
KHSC Pharmacist William Lickley has only been in Kingston working at our HDH site for a few months, but is already making a huge impact for our patients.
“I always want to advocate for how much a pharmacists does because so much of what we do goes unseen. Most people think we’re just sitting behind a computer reading charts or counting pills. It is really so much more than that.”
“A big part of our job is answering questions to benefit our patients. For example a doctor may mention that a patient is having a hard time taking a medication, so I would research to see if we can we crush a medication to make it easier to take. It’s those types of interactions where I walk away at the end of the day and I feel like I made a difference.”
As medication experts, hospital pharmacy professionals make vital contributions to the healthcare system. Pharmacy teams play essential roles in the dispensary, compounding medications and preparing IV mixtures. They also conduct medication histories, ensuring the care team has accurate and up-to-date information about which medications patients have been taking at home.
“I didn’t know what I was getting into at the time when I got this position as the pharmacist at the Hotel Dieu site, but we have a lot of really interesting clinics, such as optometry, pediatrics and infectious diseases. This job is so much more than what I expected and I am really happy. There is so much to do here and I learn so much on a daily basis.”
Meanwhile, for a hospital pharmacist, it’s all part of a day’s work to develop pharmaceutical care plans to suit each patient’s unique needs and educate patients to make sure they understand their medication plans. Quality care is isn’t complete without hospital pharmacy professionals ensuring safe, effective medication use.
“One of the most interesting parts of my job is advocating for patients and requesting government approval for drugs that aren’t available in Canada for patients with very specific needs. We need to get some of these specialized drugs for people with conditions like cystic fibrosis. Then we need to get the drugs shipped often from the UK, US and France and also maintain stock levels for these patients. Sometimes it’s easy to do and sometimes it’s definitely not.”
On a more personal level, William’s overall transition from northern Ontario to Kingston to work at KHSC has been a positive experience.
“The move to Kingston has been amazing. It’s a beautiful city, the architecture makes me happy and being on a lake feels like home. It is so easy to get into nature and spend time in a park and there is so much good food. I’ve stopped asking people to recommend restaurants because my list of places to try has gotten so long!”
If you would like to share about a positive interaction or thank a member of the pharmacy team, make sure to use the hashtag
