January 15, 2015

• Orthopedic surgical care appreciated

• Well-deserved kudos

• Pediatric Services provides continuing support

• Patient thankful for quality care

Continued on Page 2

Use of AED saves young man’s life Brian Tuckanow thought he was young and healthy and never imagined that his heart would suddenly stop at the age of twenty seven.

Tuckanow is a student at the University of Regina. On December 10, around 5 p.m., he was exercising in the University Fitness and Lifestyle Centre. As he was using the rowing machine, an employee of the fitness centre witnessed Tuckanow have seizure-like activity and fall to the ground. The fitness staff activated 911 and went to retrieve the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) located nearby.

In addition, there were two off-duty health care professionals at the fitness centre. One of them was Sheldon Reddekopp, who was attending the Saskatchewan Police College and has eight years of experience with Emergency Medical Services (EMS). The other responder was Matthew Harrison, a Respiratory Therapist that manages the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region’s (RQHR’s) Pulmonary Function Clinic, who also has experience working with EMS. They quickly came over to assess the situation.

From left to right: Trisha Hanson, Paramedic; Shannon Hynds, Paramedic; Sheldon Reddekopp; and Janell Senft, PAD Coordinator. Photo credit: University of Regina Photography Department.

As a way of saying thanks to

Reddekopp for successfully

recognizing a civilian’s need

for an AED, the RQHR’s

PAD Program Coordinator,

Janell Senft, attended the police

recruit’s graduation ceremony,

along with the Emergency

Medical Services crew that

responded to the call, to award

him the Citizen’s Recognition

Award in December 2014.

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Tuckanow’s heart had stopped, and he was in cardiac arrest. Harrison started chest compressions while Reddekopp applied the AED that the fitness staff had retrieved.

The AED analyzed the heart rhythm and told the responders that a shock was advised. Reddekopp pushed the shock button and delivered a lifesaving shock. Tuckanow’s heart started beating again.

“It’s one of the biggest feel good moments I’ve ever had,” said Reddekopp.

When RQHR paramedics arrived, Tuckanow was awake, able to answer questions and walk to the stretcher on his own. It was hard for the paramedics to believe that his heart wasn’t beating moments before.

Tuckanow was transported to the Regina General Hospital where he received an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator and was discharged a week after his cardiac arrest. He was home with his family for the holidays.

“I am thankful to Reddekopp, Harrison, and all those involved in saving my life,” said Tuckanow.

A citizen recognition award was presented to Reddekopp during his Sask Police College graduation in December. It was presented by Janell Senft, Public Access to Defibrillation Coordinator, on behalf of the PAD Program and the RQHR Paramedics that responded. Harrison also received the same award at a later date.

The PAD Program would like to stress the importance of the strength in each link of the chain of survival for someone to survive an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The links were strong on December 10; the event was recognized, and early CPR, early defibrillation and early advanced life support were provided.

The PAD Program registers AEDs with the 911 Dispatch Centre and can assist the caller to retrieve the closest AED.

Responders at the nearest AED are also automatically notified to retrieve the AED and assist. The U of R security staff did receive notification in Tuckanow’s case. When they arrived, the AED had already been taken to the emergency due to the quick actions of the fitness centre staff.

The chance of surviving an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is typically less than 10 per cent. When chest compressions are performed, the chance of survival increases to 30 per cent. If chest compressions and an AED are used, the chance of surviving increases to over 75 per cent.

The RQHR saw seven people return back home in 2013 due to the use of Public AEDs and the willingness of responders to provide chest compressions.

The PAD Program can assist any organization, business or residence with implementing an AED on-site and having a response plan in place in the event someone suffers an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

“Tuckanow’s story demonstrates the importance of the community being prepared for these unexpected events,” said Senft.

For more details on the PAD Program and AEDs, visit www.rqhealth.ca/programs/in_hospital_care/cardiosciences/cardiosciences_pad.shtml, call 306-766-6265 or 306-533-0027, or email pad@rqhealth.ca.

AED saves young man’s life, cont’d

e-link is published weekly by the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region. We welcome submissions. Please submit items no later than two weeks before publication. Submissions are subject to the editorial guidelines of e-link. For more information, contact Communications at 306-766-5227 or email elink@rqhealth.ca.

© Copyright 2015Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region

Friendly orthopedic surgical care appreciated Recently, I had orthopedic surgery on my right foot. The outpatient procedure at the Pasqua Hospital was efficient and all the staff were friendly and informative. Dr Ramanan Sivasundaram performed the surgery, and it was a success. He was very helpful and caring during the follow-up sessions after the surgery.

Submitted by Peter Gattinger bouquets

Well-deserved kudos I recently saw a man take off his shoes and socks and give them to someone who needed them more. It was cold, and he left barefoot in the snow. I’m not sure of his name, but I think he works at the Native Services Department. It’s nice to know the Region has folks like this in their midst!

Submitted by “Katie’s Mom,” original post on the RQHR’s Business Board

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In our efforts to provide high quality, safe services that will improve health outcomes of children in Southern Saskatchewan, we have made a number of changes. Please note the services available and the locations listed below.

Inpatient Services:Inpatient medical and surgical care are provided at the Regina General Hospital (RGH) by specialists and health professionals with pediatric expertise in pharmacy, therapies (physical, occupational, respiratory), social work, child life, dietetics and clinical nursing. A pediatrician is available on-site during the day.

Pediatric oncology care is provided through the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency’s pediatric oncologists and care team members from both the Region and the Agency.

• Adolescent psychiatric care is provided for youth from 11 to 18 years who have been admitted by a psychiatrist for crisis stabilization, assessment and treatment at the Adolescent Psychiatry Unit.

Outpatient Services: Infants to 18 years of age• The pediatric outpatient unit

provides a wide variety of services, including clinics for surgery, neurology, asthma, cardiology, cystic fibrosis and nephrology, among others,

as well as pediatric nursing to children and families from Southern Saskatchewan. Pediatric specialists travel from Saskatoon to RGH to conduct clinics and provide greater access to specialty care for children in Southern Saskatchewan.

• The Children’s Program, located at the Wascana Rehabilitation Centre in Regina, provides support and therapy services for children and youth who have physical disabilities, developmental challenges and/or communication disorders.

Emergency Services for children• Emergency Services for

children are provided at both the RGH and Pasqua Hospital Emergency Departments.

Intensive Care• Neonatal Intensive Care

Services (for newborns) are provided at the RGH.

• Children requiring pediatric intensive care services are assessed, stabilized and transported to Saskatoon to get the care they need. In most cases, children return to the RGH to recover when well enough following their critical illness.

Long-term vision for Pediatric Services in the Regina General HospitalThe long-term vision is to develop a newly designed and purpose built Pediatric Centre at the RGH that will encompass an inpatient unit, a high-acuity area, an outpatient unit, an adolescent psychiatry unit and pediatric friendly spaces within the Emergency Department.

Links for more information:Website: www.rqhealth.ca

To read on the Intranet, visit www.rqhealth.ca/programs/pediatrics/pdf_files/overview_pediatrics.pdf

Pediatric Services: www.rqhealth.ca/programs/pediatrics/index.shtml

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: www.rqhealth.ca/programs/in_hospital_care/nicu/nicu.shtml

Children’s Therapy: www.rqhealth.ca/programs/rehabilitation/childrehab.shtml

Allan Blair Cancer Centre: www.saskcancer.ca

Pediatric Services provides continuing support for children in Regina and Southern Saskatchewan

A miracle made possibleBy supporting the Hospitals of Regina Foundation, you made life better for people in Southern Saskatchewan. Watch our short video at http://video214.com/play/DdXxND2YH70impXivuc7tw/s/dark to see a few of the miracles your generosity made possible last year, like baby Levi who joined his family at

home at Christmas thanks to the care of the Regina General Hospital’s well-equipped Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. Wishing you a happy and healthy 2015.

Hospitals of Regina Foundation

Baby Levi, one of the many helped by HRF donations.

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Recently, I visited my optometrist, Dr. Marta Bakouris, to investigate a subtle sense of unevenness between the quality of vision in my left and right eyes. Through an initial battery of tests over the course of two days, it became apparent that I’d developed a peripheral visual field defect as a result of a neurological anomaly. Fortunately, Dr. Bakouris immediately recognized the severity of the issue and was able to secure a same-day appointment with ophthalmologist Dr. David Mervitz. Confirming Dr. Bakouris’ diagnosis, Dr. Mervitz referred me to Dr. V. Pillay, a Neurologist, who met with me the next morning and arranged for an MRI that afternoon. By 9 a.m., I was diagnosed with a tumour in the layer of tissue between my skull and brain and was soon scheduled to meet with Dr. Joseph Buwembo, a Neurosurgeon.

When it comes to your health in general – and brain surgery in particular – quality of care is of utmost importance. I’m not ashamed to say that my family and I seriously explored both out-of-province and out-of-country options for my treatment and, through this process, it became evident that the level of medical expertise and surgical wait time was either comparable or superior in Saskatchewan.

I was soon admitted to the Regina General Hospital for preparatory procedures and underwent a five hour neurosurgery two weeks after my diagnosis.

I am pleased to report that the surgery went fantastically, with the tumour believed to have been completely excised and initial pathology reports indicating that it was benign.

The success of this procedure is wholly attributable to the excellent work of Dr. Buwembo and his team,

Drs. Luke Hnenny and Zane Tymchak, interventional radiologist, Dr. Shanti Lala, and anesthesiologists, Drs. Kyle Raab and Ian Chan.

My experience with the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region (RQHR), from start to finish, was incredibly positive. Everyone I encountered, including doctors, the registered nurses and licensed practical nurses of the Surgical Intensive Care Unit and Ward 5A, technicians, porters and food services staff, were incredibly skilled, professional and kind, and they went out of their way to ensure my comfort during my hospital stay.

I have certainly benefited from the Government of Saskatchewan and the RQHR’s shared commitment to establishing a high-quality model of health care, and I truly thank you for your efforts.

Submitted by Victoria Swan

Patient thankful for quality care bouquet