St. Joseph's Health Care London

Work is well under way for the next season of The DocTalks Podcast, and as we prepare to launch in the fall, we want to know - are you caught up? With four seasons of expert insights into your health, there's a topic for everyone. Listen today and stay tuned for the upcoming fifth season: https://bit.ly/4cJYzhA

When Joan was preparing for her cataract surgery at St. Joseph’s, she was afraid her lack of a support-person would force her to cancel her appointment. With family in the United States and friends dealing with their own health issues, Joan had no one to accompany her to her appointment. In a last-ditch effort, Joan called Volunteer Services, and she was in luck – the appointment assistant program had just started! This novel program trains volunteers to accompany patients from the beginning of their appointment, providing logistical support. For Joan, her appointment assistant was Monica – a volunteer that Joan says was her angel that day. Since cataract surgery requires patients to have a follow-up appointment the same day, Joan and Monica spent the entire day together. They were paired together again when Joan returned for surgery on her other eye a few weeks later. 26 St. Joseph’s volunteers are trained appointment assistants and ready to support you through your next appointment. If you’d like an appointment assistant next time you’re at one of our sites, please inform the clinic’s reception staff 10 days in advance of your appointment. Read more about Joan, Monica and the appointment assistant program: https://bit.ly/3Z9fln5

Maggie Perquin spent 8 years caring for her partner, Ruth, who lived with Alzheimer’s until she passed away in 2023. Ruth received care through several St. Joseph’s programs, and Maggie credits virtual care to improved appointment success with Ruth. She could be in the comfort of her own home without the distractions and stress of an unfamiliar environment, and hours of prep to get to in-person visit. Now, Maggie is a care partner at St. Joseph’s and uses her experience caring for Ruth to advocate for advancements in virtual care – like the digital navigator, who provides training and support for patients with virtual care appointments. Read more about Maggie and Ruth, and learn about virtual care: https://bit.ly/4dHVuzZ

On October 16, St. Joseph’s and London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) are launching the future of health research in London – and you won’t want to miss it! Get an up-close look at exciting breakthroughs and get hands-on experience with new, London-based health technologies that have the potential to change the world! Come meet some of the brightest minds in health research in a rare behind-the-scenes view of work they do to make an impact in the lives of patients at home and around the globe. Visit our website for more information, including times and locations for open houses: https://bit.ly/4cE03tG

The Thompson family has been instrumental in the enhancement and enrichment of care. On October 9, the annual St. Joseph’s Tribute Dinner will honour their remarkable philanthropy. Their legacy serves as an inspiration to us all, reminding us of the transformative power of generosity and the profound impact one family can have on an entire community. https://bit.ly/4dEZql0

St. Joseph’s acquired its first da Vinci robotic surgical system back in 2005 with support from community donations. This cutting-edge technology was a game changer, placing St. Joseph's at the forefront of robotic-assisted surgery in Canada. Fast forward nearly 20 years, and with your continued support, we’re raising the bar once again. Led by Dr. Stephen Pautler, one of Canada’s pioneers in robotic surgery, the surgical team in our Urology Program has achieved multiple national and world firsts, transforming patient care with procedures that offer smaller incisions, less pain, and faster recoveries. This year, we’re excited to introduce the latest da Vinci system, funded once again by our generous donors. This upgraded technology will feature enhanced visualization and advanced instrumentation, expanding our surgical capabilities to provide better patient care. https://bit.ly/4dFu7Ga

In the first Canadian study of its kind, Dr. Cheryl Forchuk is working with partners across the country to study #homelessness among women who are #veterans. More than just a census, the study examines obstacles and solutions that may be unique to women veterans experiencing homelessness. The $1.2M grant from Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada | Logement, Infrastructures et Collectivités Canada will help ensure veterans have the support they need. St. Joseph's Health Care London The Royal Canadian Legion https://lnkd.in/gynp7_xS

If science were a baseball game, Thuvaraha Jeyakumaran’s batting average would rank her an all-star in her first major-league season. For the third consecutive time, the research coordinator and knowledge-mobilization specialist at St. Joseph’s Parkwood Institute has become an award-winner for three different presentations at three research conferences. The latest in her three-for-three streak is receiving the early-career scholar award for an upcoming spinal-cord research conference hosted by the International Spinal Cord Society in Belgium, where her presentation shows the benefits of intentionally enlisting and embedding the insights of people with lived experience into research studies, from pre-grant planning through to implementation and impact. Learn more about Thuvaraha and her work: https://bit.ly/4dIOa6F Lawson Health Research Institute

Have you or a loved one received care at St. Joseph’s? We want to hear from you! St. Joseph’s is reviewing our Patient, Resident and Family Values Statement, and we’re looking for input into what values are important to you when receiving health care. If you’re a current or past patient, resident or family member of our programs, we invite you to participate in this survey, and optional subsequent focus groups: https://bit.ly/3yiD6OM

Ophthalmology resident Dr. Gaya Sivakumar had an eye-opening learning experience at India’s L.V. Prasad Eye Institute. As the inaugural recipient of the Dr. Mohan and Mrs. Kanta Merchea Award of Excellence in Ophthalmology, she used the award to fund this unique training in global health. The award was endowed by Dr. Mohan Merchea and inspired by his own career. “Global health is such an important part of medicine that I think all physicians can learn from,” Dr. Sivakumar says.