When home is where you want to be 
 Palliative care team ensured a smooth transition to care at home
Proud mother Amina Ahmed with her daughter Fozia on her wedding day.
In October 2015, Amina Ahmed was diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer. 

The compassionate care she received from the Freeman Centre for the Advancement of Palliative Care  enabled her to maintain her dignity and control. Amina was able to spend the last weeks of her life at home surrounded by her children.  


Profile: Dr. Ron Somogyi, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon
Dr. Ron Somogyi, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, North York General Hospital
Dr. Ron Somogyi is passionate about minimizing the emotional and psychological harm breast cancer can cause.

He is among a growing group of plastic surgeons in Canada who work with general surgeons to restore the breast at the same time as the breast cancer surgery. 


HELP-ing patients find their moment of joy

Being hospitalized can be a very scary and overwhelming experience, especially if you are over the age of 65. For many older adults, there is a potential to develop delirium, a sudden change in mental status or sudden confusion that develops over hours or
"Delirium is common in older adults who are hospitalized and experiencing infection, dehydration, side effects of a certain medication and other medical complications," says Sarah Carney, an Elder Life Specialist at North York General Hospital. "It is important to treat delirium early."

With volunteers like Judy Fantham, NYGH's Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) is helping to decrease the rates of delirium among enrolled patients. 

Patient and Family Advisor Margo Twohig
 
Patient and Family Advisor Margo Twohig
As a former patient at North York General Hospital,  Margo Twohig  is grateful for the excellent care she received.

Margo's experience prompted her to join our Patient and Family Advisory Council and she is currently Co-Chair. Patient and Family Advisors work in partnership with the hospital to create a truly patient- and family-centred care environment and experience.
 
How to find your motivation 

Whether it is post-it notes on your mirror or a new app on your iPhone, a visual cue is a signal to your brain to act.
It's often hard to find the motivation to complete a task or turn a new activity into a regular practice. 

Dr. Neil Levitsky, a Psychiatrist at North York General Hospital, has tips  on how to rev your motivation into high gear. 

The power is in your hands

It is especially important to be vigilant with your hand washing when you are visiting a loved one at a hospital. Many patients in hospital are very ill, and a cold, the flu or a bug like the norovirus could be very damaging to their health and recovery.
The best way to stop the spread of germs is to wash your hands often with either soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub. It is especially important to be vigilant with your hand washing when you are visiting a loved one at a hospital.

North York General Hospital's Infection Prevention and Control Department gives us tips on proper hand washing and the important hand hygiene moments to remember at a hospital. 
 
LATEST NEWS

Accreditation success for Seniors' Health Centre

North York General Hospital's Seniors' Health Centre received the Three-Year Accreditation for Person-Centred Long-Term Care Community in November 2016, the highest designation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities International. Learn More
In the News: Innovative biopsy procedure for prostate cancer
Our hospital recently started using an innovative method of doing biopsies for prostate cancer to help prevent infections. The Gale and Graham Wright Prostate Centre at Branson Ambulatory Care Centre is the only place in Canada using this new approach. Watch the video by CTV News. Don't miss our February issue to learn more about this innovation. 

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