THE BULLETIN

The Ottawa Heart Institute Alumni Bulletin
Volume 14 Issue 1 - Spring 2005

An important milestone has been reached in the Alumni's Bed Replacement Project, with the achievement of a total upgrade of the manual beds in non-critical care areas at the Heart Institute. Just over 120 powered Stryker Bertec beds have been bought, at a cost of some $500,000 funded by Alumni contributions.

The Alumni's bed replacement program is now focusing on specialized critical care beds. To support the Heart Institute in that area, a dozen Hill-Rom "Sport beds" have been funded, and a further 16 are apparently needed. These multi-function, highly sophisticated therapy beds cost upwards of $20,000 each.

Go Bed - Sue German, Manager Clinical Services,
Cardiac Reference Centre, with one of the new powered beds.

The electric Stryker Bertec beds are popular with patients, and considered a really great help by the nursing staff. For example, the mattress-adjusting functions on these wheeled beds are controlled by the push of a button from either the patient's position, prone or sitting up, or the foot of the bed.

These height-adjustable patient care devices are known as "Go Beds" because they are very easy to move and steer by one person, and can be used to transport patients (e.g. to X-ray,) without first transferring them to a stretcher or a wheelchair.

The critical care "Sport bed" gets its nickname from the Hill-Rom registered trade mark TotalCare Sp02RT® Pulmonary Therapy System. This name refers to the bed's vital capabilities in assisting with the avoidance or treatment of respiratory problems like pneumonia that can result when a patient has to be immobile in bed for a long time. The Hill-Rom "Sport bed" can be equipped with various programmable and therapeutic options, including one that allows the patient to sit fully upright, feet resting on the end of the bed as if it were the floor.

Recovered Heart Institute patients who went through critical care may find it amusing to reflect on the fact that their therapy included a period on a "Sport" bed.

President's Message

As I am writing this, the snow is still drifting down and I am starting to long for spring, which should be upon us by the time you receive this Bulletin.

With spring come two of our major annual events, the Spring Lecture and the Annual General Meeting.

On Tuesday, April 26, Dr. Marino Labinaz, Director, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory and Interventional Cardiology, will describe the highly successful STEMI Program and explain how it is saving lives.

Then, on Tuesday, June 7, at the Annual General Meeting, Dr. Robert Roberts, the Heart Institute President and CEO, will give an updated version of his presentation "My thoughts on the future of medicine", which enthralled those of us who attended the fall lecture. With the speed of progress in genetics research, I am confident that there will be considerable, new information for anyone who attended the fall lecture.

For many of us, it will be another opportunity to absorb and better comprehend the implications of the genetic research that Dr. Roberts so passionately pursues.

Renovations at the Heart Institute continue and the dedicated doctors, nurses, administrative and other staff, with their usual good humor, continue to keep things going effectively. In September, the new clinical services area, now called the Dr. Don Beanlands Ambulatory Care Centre in recognition of his exceptional contribution to the Institute, was opened. (I happened to have an appointment that first morning and it was a bit chaotic as staff and patients encountered new facilities, equipment and processes. However, not unexpectedly, things quickly smoothed out.)

Dennis Doucette

In October, Dr. Andrew Pipe and the Prevention and Rehabilitation staff moved back into their renovated quarters. On Nov. 3, an official opening was held, naming it the Minto Developments Centre in recognition of Minto's generous contribution. A plaque recognizing Alumni contributions to the Rehabilitation Program was unveiled in the track area.

In January, Alumni Director and Manager of the Cardiac Reference Centre, Sue German, and her team moved into their new quarters on the first floor.

In February, with Alumni support, the new Heart Health Education Centre celebrated its opening with a series of lectures. The featured speaker was well-known dietician, author and columnist Rosie Schwartz, whose presentation "Enlightened Eating for a Healthy Heart" provided up-to-date information on diet and food supplements, including facts on myths and misinformation regarding weight control. She emphasized the reality that caloric intake must be equal to or less than what you burn in order to maintain or lose weight.

On a final note, the Heart Health Education Centre is a multi-media facility located on the second floor of the Heart Institute, and is open to patients, family members and the public. Its mission is to provide the skills and knowledge needed to prevent or manage heart disease, leading to a heart healthy lifestyle. For more information, see the Heart Health Education Centre pages on the Heart Institute website at www.ottawaheart.ca/UOHI/HHEC.do.

And, just in case you missed it, on February 20, the Heart Institute Telethon raised a record $4,081,227. I had the pleasure of presenting the cheque representing your Alumni contribution of $308,043. Thanks to all for your generosity in support of the Heart Institute.

Dennis Doucette

Alumni gives for new track with "give"

Magazine takes food to task

Alumni members may find very instructive a 10-issue a year newsletter that contains pointed and candid information on nutrition and "best buy" healthy foods: the Nutrition Action Healthletter, published by the Centre for Science in the Public Interest.

Along with feature articles, each issue provides heart-conscious eaters with a wealth of advice on choosing the best nutritional alternatives from what's offered in the marketplace or the food court.

The Bulletin is not in a position to endorse this publication, but suggests readers may wish to evaluate it for themselves by ordering a free sample issue with a letter sent to:

Nutrition Action Healthletter
P.O. Box 70373
Station A
Toronto, ON  M5W 2X5

The new subscriber rate is $15/year; regular subscriptions are $24/year, $42 for two. Orders may also be placed by visiting www.cspinet.org where sample editorial material may be found as well. Published only in English.

NOTICE: NINETEENTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING THE OTTAWA HEART INSTITUTE ALUMNI INC.

June 7th, 2005 - 6:30 p.m.
at
CAPONE'S RESTAURANT
831 Industrial Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT: Pursuant to section III article 32-39 inclusive of the Constitution of the Ottawa Heart Institute Alumni Inc., the Nineteenth Annual General Meeting of the Alumni will be held on the 7th of June, 2005 at Capone's Restaurant, 831 Industrial Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are $27. Please respond at your earliest convenience for this very popular event, to:

The Ottawa Heart Institute Alumni Inc.
40 Ruskin Street
Ottawa, ON  K1Y 4W7
(613) 761-4370

Interim Financial Statements of
The Ottawa Heart Institute Alumni Inc.
Year ended December 31, 2004

Note: These statements have not been audited and are provided for the general information of the members. The figures could change to reflect some year-end and audit adjustments. Audited financial statements will be available at the Alumni's Annual General Meeting (AGM) in June.

For those who will not be attending the AGM but would like to receive the audited copy of the financial statements, please contact the Alumni office after June 7, 2005.

D.B. "Sam" Perrin
Treasurer

THE OTTAWA HEART INSTITUTE ALUMNI INC.
Interim Statement of Financial Position
December 31, 2004, with comparative figures for 2003

THE OTTAWA HEART INSTITUTE ALUMNI INC.
Interim Statement of Revenue and Expenses (Unaudited)
Year ended December 31, 2004, with comparative figures for 2003

The Ottawa Heart Institute Alumni Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements
Year ended December 31, 2004

1. Description:
   
   The Ottawa Heart Institute Alumni Inc. was incorporated on March 2, 1989 under the Corporations Act (Ontario) as a non-profit organization and, as a registered charity under the Income Tax Act (Canada) is exempt from income taxes. It provides information to educate and inform its members of advancements within the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and in the treatment of heart disease. The Alumni donates funds, raised from its membership, to assist the Heart Institute in providing total health services to its patients and ex-patients.
   
   
2. Significant accounting policies:
   
   (a) Revenue recognition:
   
   Membership fees, which are assessable on a calendar year basis, are recorded as revenue in the year in which they are earned. Membership fees that are received in the year that pertain to future years are recorded as deferred revenue.
   Donations are recorded as revenue in the year in which they are received.
   
   (b) Funds:
   
   The Organization has established the W.J. Keon Fund in accordance with the principles of fund accounting. The W.J. Keon Fund was established to fund the W.J. Keon Award, which is presented annually to an individual who has excelled in cardiovascular research, education, or practice. The Fund also supports the Alumni Award, which is presented annually in recognition of outstanding service by a Heart Institute employee.
   
   (c) Capital assets:
   
   Capital assets are expensed as purchased. Capital assets used by the Organization include computer equipment. No significant capital asset purchases were made in the current year.
   
   (d) Investments:
   
   Investments are recorded at cost, plus accrued interest, which approximates market value.
   
   
3. Commitment:
   
   The Organization has committed to donate the proceeds from the Ottawa Heart Institute Alumni 2004 fundraising campaign to the Ottawa Heart Institute in 2005.
   
   

Proposed Alumni Board of Directors 2005-2006

The following slate of Directors will be put before the Annual General Meeting on June 7, 2005, for a confirmation vote:

Current Board officers are:

President - Dennis Doucette
Vice-President - Gene Szabo
Treasurer - D.B. (Sam) Perrin
Secretary - Lenore Smith

* John Herzog was a partner of the PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting group from 1981 to 2001, when he retired from the partnership. He focused his consulting services on the federal public sector, leading large projects to effect organizational and operational changes. He continues to advise the Ottawa office of the firm, on a part-time basis. John grew up in Montreal and received bachelors degrees in commerce and arts from Concordia University. He is a recent National Chair of the Canadian Association of Management Consultants, and recipient of its highest honour of Fellowship. John became an alumni of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute after successful triple bypass surgery in the fall of 2002.

* Anne Stolarik is the Advanced Practice Nurse for the Cardiac Surgery Division at the Heart Institute. She has held this position for 10 years, after being the clinical nurse specialist for the ICU and emergency services at the Civic Hospital. Anne has worked as a staff nurse, nursing instructor, nurse educator and supervisor in hospitals in Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Ontario. Originally from Oshawa, she received her BSN at the University of Minnesota, and an MSN from the University of Pennsylvania. Currently, she is studying in the post-masters acute care nurse practitioner program at the University of Toronto. She recently received a joint appointment as an academic consultant at the University of Ottawa School of Nursing.

THE OTTAWA HEART INSTITUTE ALUMNI INC. PRESENTS A FREE LECTURE "The STEMI Program: A New Treatment for Heart Attacks"

by
Dr. Marino Labinaz
Director, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory
Program Director, Postgraduate Program
(Adult Cardiology)
Associate Professor of Medicine, U of O

on
Tuesday, April 26, 2005

Reception: 7:00 pm (with light refreshments)

Lecture: 7:30 pm

Foustanellas Auditorium
University of Ottawa Heart Institute,
2nd floor

Please call 761-4370 soon, to indicate your wish to attend this popular lecture
as seating is limited.

"In the talk I will define and explain what is a heart attack and specifically what is STEMI, briefly review the "old" way to treat it, explain PCI and how it is used to treat STEMI, and then provide some results of our program at OHI..."

The Bulletin

The Bulletin is published in Ottawa by the Ottawa Heart Institute Alumni Inc., a not-for-profit corporation located at 40 Ruskin Street. It is distributed free to members of the Ottawa Heart Institute Alumni and contains information on health and other matters of interest to members.

Contents do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Board of Directors nor does the Ottawa Heart Institute Alumni Inc. nor the producers nor the printers and distributors of the publication assume any responsibility for opinions expressed.

All communications and contributions should be sent to the address below.

PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40045889

RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO:

Bulletin Editor
Ottawa Heart Institute Alumni Inc.
40 Ruskin Street
Ottawa, ON  K1Y 4W7

email: alumni@ottawaheart.ca

Editor: Hugh J.M. Spence

Contents are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission.

The Bulletin is intended for general information only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific conditions. You should seek medical advice for any specific health issues and consult your physician before starting a new fitness regime.

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