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The new masthead on The Bulletin is reflective of the new Heart Institute image, while clearly identifying it as an Alumni publication. Our intention is to identify the Alumni as a distinct entity, yet a member of the Heart Institute family. We shall, as well, continue to recognize the origins of the Alumni through the annual Wilbert J. Keon and Mary Clinckett Alumni Awards, which acknowledge the support of Dr. Keon and the foresight of the Alumni's founder, Mary Clinckett. Renovations are being made to the main entrance area of the Heart Institute this spring. The Auxiliary information desk is being moved, probably across the traffic path to the east side. The Alumni office, which has been located to the right of the information desk, will be occupied by a Tim Horton's concession. The new Alumni Office will be in the area where the family lounges are, behind the old office location. Access to the Alumni office will be past the elevators, through a door on the right, just before the doors to the stairwell. The office is on the left side of the hallway, a few doors along. This work should be underway, if not completed, by the time you receive The Bulletin. Discussions continue regarding the respective roles and responsibilities of the Alumni, the Foundation and the Heart Institute as the Alumni's direction under the New Beginning evolves. Jacques Guerette, Vice-President of Communications at the Institute has assisted The Bulletin Editor John Herzog with the reformatting of The Bulletin, as well as providing input to articles. Foundation President Tom Hewitt is working with us to obtain the necessary approvals of issues that we have agreed upon, e.g., establishment, operation and possible increases to the Alumni fund, compliance with privacy laws and policies, and he has offered the support and assistance of Foundation staff to configure and use their database system to maintain our membership records. Your Board is redirecting its efforts to enhance the Alumni objectives of informing and educating the members and of encouraging and effecting two way communications between the Alumni Board and Alumni members so we can best represent you with the senior staff of the Institute. I will report on the status of these efforts at the Annual General Meeting in June. Meanwhile, if you wish to comment or to make suggestions, please write to us, telephone the Alumni office at 613-761-4370, email us at info@ottawaheartalumni.ca and, of course, feel free to post your suggestions and needs on our website's "Talk Heart! Forum" As information becomes available for publication, we will post it on our website at www.ottawaheartalumni.ca, which is regularly updated. We may, from time to time, directly email those members who have provided their email addresses. If you haven't, I encourage you to do so. At the Heart Institute Telethon on February 25th, I again had the pleasure of presenting your Alumni's contribution - this year for $239,000. The Alumni lecture series continues with the Spring Lecture on April 24th. Following on Beth Mansfield's excellent presentation on "Making Sense of the Foods You Eat" last October, Dr. Andrew Pipe, who is always an informative as well as an entertaining speaker, will tell us about managing risk factors for coronary artery disease on April 24th. His lecture is titled "Willie Sutton, Louis Pasteur and John Snow: The Three Stars of Prevention?" The twenty-first Annual General Meeting will convene on June 5th. Following the business meeting, dinner and the awards presentations, the Heart Institute's musical surgeons, tenor Dr. Fraser Rubens and pianist Dr. Marc Ruel will reward us with a concert for attending the meeting. This year's Annual General Meeting will complete my third year, and my term, as President of the Alumni. It has been a hectic time, with major changes that were not foreseen when I became President, but overall it has been a rewarding experience. I am confident that the plans that the Board of Directors is developing for the New Beginning will strengthen the Alumni's place in the Heart Institute family and make it more pertinent to you, the members. In closing, my thanks to the members of the Board for their efforts, advice and guidance; to our Executive Director, Angie Ross, for her dedication and assistance; and, finally, to the dedicated group of volunteers who have persevered through some difficult times to process memberships and donations, to respond to your queries and to keep the office running. Have a great spring and summer. It will be interesting to see what climate change brings us. 
Spring Lecture - April 24, 2007
Jean-Guy, married to Elizabeth with one daughter Cindy, was in his early 30s when heart disease struck. In the next seven years he would undergo two bypass surgeries but his diseased heart would not mend. The 42-year-old truck driver from Nepean would become the first heart transplant recipient at the Institute on May 29, 1984. Just days later he sat flanked by Drs. Wilbert Keon, Don Beanlands and Ross Davies as he was introduced at a news conference as a shining example of the advances in modern medicine. The Doctors knew Jean-Guy would be with them every step of the way from that day forward as the Institute's reputation for excellence grew. He became one the Institute's "core" volunteers and fundraisers. Just two years later, in April 1986, a young wife and mother of a teenaged daughter joined Jean-Guy in the history books of "firsts" at the Institute. Indeed, Noëlla Leclair was the first Canadian to be implanted with the Jarvik 7-70 artificial heart as a bridge to transplant. Seven days later when a human donor heart was implanted in her chest she became the 11th transplant recipient at the Institute. This was new science, it was not an easy recovery but Noëlla fought with all her might to regain her life. She was a devoted wife to Simon and doting mother to Sophie and returned to her full and active life, filled with family and friends. Yet somehow she managed to carve out a very special place for her doctors and the Institute, reluctantly stepping into the spotlight if it was to help her beloved Dr. Keon and his hospital. From organizing weekly bingos, attending church suppers, hosting Telethons and meeting royalty, Noëlla did it all with tireless grace. She raised hundreds of thousands of dollars, raised awareness for organ donation, and raised the profile of the Institute in the community. It can be argued, though, that her real talents lay in the role of mentor. Often patients, after being placed on the transplant waiting list, would request a chance to meet and talk with the famous Noëlla Leclair. Always gracious, always patient, she gladly accepted to talk with them and many would credit her with helping them accept and understand what lay ahead. For 23 years Jean-Guy was a tireless volunteer at the Institute. Melissa Raven, Volunteer Coordinator for Catch the Beat Telethons throughout much of the l990s spoke highly of Jean-Guy's contributions. "You know, when you see Jean-Guy in the office every single day leading up to the Telethon and spending long hours in the kitchen to make sure everyone has something to eat, you know it's all worth it!" The loss of Noëlla Leclair on November 11, 2006 after twenty years of renewed life was followed 10 weeks later by the death of Jean-Guy Villeneuve. Sadly on January 22, 2007 he passed away, twenty two and a half years after that historic operation. The two were beloved, so special to so many at the Heart Institute. Surely their mark was left on the Institute, hundreds of its alumni and fellow transplant recipients. Quite a legacy.
Heather Sherrard is Vice-President of Clinical Services at the UOHI. In that capacity she has the responsibility to oversee the performance of some 450 clinical personnel. These include nurses, physiotherapists, technicians, and other caregivers. She acknowledges that as more and more skilled staff retire, hospitals are facing a growing shortage of nurses. While the UOHI is not exempt from this, the problem is not as acute as in other hospitals. Staff retention rates are well above average, with many health care providers having over 20 years of seniority.  Heather joined the UOHI in 1998 as a nursing co-ordinator for the OR and Cath Labs. After a posting as Director of Nursing Systems at the then Civic Hospital, she soon returned to the UOHI. In addition to being a Vice-President, this consummate professional is also Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Administration, Academic Consultant, School of Nursing, University of Ottawa. She makes time to be a member of the Board of the Cardiac Care Network and assist several health-related provincial committees. The Alumni Board also benefits from her considered input when it receives funding requests for specific projects. Heather speaks with quiet authority and justified pride as she outlines the reasons. Top of mind is the first class reputation of the Institute, and the resultant high level of satisfaction of being a staff member. It is a teaching hospital where nurses have the opportunity to learn, to specialize, and keep up-to-date with the newest developments in health care. The values are inherent in a culture where the patient comes first! A stable management team models and reinforces the values. Physicians practice them by maintaining a collaborative relationship with members of clinical services. There is a high level of camaraderie and interdependence. Because the staff is so experienced, they are highly efficient, giving them more time to establish meaningful rapport and interaction with their patients - at the human level. As former patients, we can all relate to these unique aspects of our UOHI. On a broader scale, Heather is involved in activities of the Local Health Integration Networks (LHIN) a provincial government body, which in this case serves the Champlain Valley. She has been involved in leading the planning and delivery of services that embrace not only Ottawa residents but also those in larger towns in the valley. Services already in place include the STEMI Program (please refer to the two previous The Bulletin for first-hand reports) and home monitoring programs. The latest innovation under Heather's direction, the automated calling program, has been tested with over 1,000 patients across the region and is moving into full-scale implementation. It involves placing automated telephone calls to surgery patients on the 3rd and 10th days after discharge from the Institute. They inquire about key symptoms that could lead to possible complications later (typically less than 5% of post-operative patients have such symptoms). They include difficulties eating or sleeping, considerable fatigue, and constipation affecting those having had bypass or valve replacement surgeries. If the patient indicates that there is a problem, then a nursing co-ordinator will be alerted to follow up. This catches issues early so the situation can be rectified. This important preventative service was pioneered by the UOHI, including partnering with a software developer for the automated component. At present, it is the only such service in Canada, however there have been expressions of strong interest from other cities. Another application of the system is being tested with about 400 patients with a control group of a similar size. This involves patients who suffer with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Typically these individuals experience chest pains or have had heart attacks. Upon their discharge from the UOHI, they are advised to remain on prescribed drugs to reduce mortality rate. However, for various reasons some patients either discontinue the medications or reduce the dosage taken. If the automated call that is made to the patient three months after discharge indicates that such action was taken, there is a follow-up call by a healthcare professional to discuss the matter and attempt to have the patient return to the prescribed regimen. London ON plans to implement the same system and Vancouver has expressed great interest in the outcome of the test. By far, the patients contacted have expressed great appreciation for the follow-up and there is a promise of better prevention of likely cardiac problems. Stay tuned; there are more innovations being initiated and we will keep you posted. With Heather's continued leadership, the UOHI and alumni can look forward to further breakthroughs in clinical services to keep us healthy through prevention and close monitoring.
Christine is an active member of the Canadian Council of Cardiovascular Nurses, the Canadian Society of Telehealth, the Heart Failure Society of America and the Canadian Congestive Heart Failure Clinic Network. Cardiac Telehealth includes three programs: Telehealth (education and clinical services), Telehome for patient monitoring and Interactive Voice Response for tracking key aspects of patient recovery. Telehealth consists of three computerized workstations at the UOHI and at least one in 33 hospitals or medical centers. The workstations are all equipped with web cameras (webcams) to enable the patient and examining physician to see each other throughout the procedure. The earpieces of a stethoscope are attached to the UOHI computer while the other end is part of the computer at the remote location. A healthcare practitioner as requested by the physician moves this about the patient's chest. In that manner, for example, the patient can be examined pre-surgery by the cardiologist, surgeon, anesthetist, and any involved member of the team, without requiring the patient to travel to Ottawa that could be inconvenient due to health, distance, and financial or other problems. Similarly, upon the patient's return to home, follow-up examinations can be made with little disruption to the patient. Using additional hand held cameras, even the surgical scar can be examined in great detail should that be needed. The system has been proven to be very accurate, and merits high praise by physicians as well as by patients, half of whom reside outside Ottawa. Telehome is a new service for which the UOHI is conducting the largest trial in Canada with some 2000 patients. It enables medical staff at the UOHI to monitor the vital signs of the patient that includes, weight, heart rate, blood pressure, blood coagulation (INR), and glucose content. As noted in the picture, the small white "box" is the central transmitter of medical data. It can provide the patient instructions in English and French and 6 other languages.
The UOHI normally provides the equipment free of charge to the local health care unit but in specific situations, the patient may take it home. Its return is prearranged with a bus service. At this time, there are 80 monitoring kits being employed, each costing $5,000 for the transmitter. The peripheral measuring devices range between $500 to $1,500 each. Not shown in the picture is the available connecting weight scale. Interactive Voice Response, the third service, places telephone calls to the patient, at predetermined intervals to follow-up on his or her condition. In the case of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) patients, the questions posed by the system are based on best practices research that is continuously updated as new practices are developed. Based on the response of the patient, if needed, a healthcare provider is alerted to get further information and offer on the spot advice. More is said about this service in the interview with Heather Sherrard, elsewhere in this The Bulletin. The benefits of these services are farreaching. Just to name a few: they promote patient self-care and better heart health, decrease readmissions, and reduce costs to the patient and the health-care system, while providing services in a more convenient manner. Truly a win-win situation for all involved. The demand for Telehealth services at the UOHI are growing considerably based on the high level of patient satisfaction and the results achieved. The network that used to embrace 33 health care facilities has grown with linking to other health care networks in Ontario so that the know-how and skills at the UOHI can be made available to all parts of Ontario, the far North and other Canadian locations. Christine you make us proud as well as healthier. Thank you.
Ed Woods talks candidly about his medical history and with great enthusiasm about his more recent involvement with the UOHI Telehome Program. He first became a patient of the UOHI in 1972 after a heart attack and subsequent triple bypass surgery. He suffers from congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation and arrhythmia which are treated with drugs and a sophisticated pacemaker. He also has asthma and Parkinson's disease. In March 2006 he was diagnosed with having fluid in his heart and lungs that weakens him significantly, particularly as the fluids accumulate in other parts of his body as well. This makes for weight gain that in turn causes the heart to work even harder. It was at this point that his cardiologist, Dr. Ross Davies, determined that he would benefit greatly from the Telehome Program. Ed received the equipment pictured earlier in this edition of The Bulletin. He was asked to set the transmitter to a preferred time when it will remind him (in the language of his choice) to take the necessary measurements. Ideally, the time would be in the first part of the day and before a meal so that the reading would not be affected by the food consumed. Ed chose 8:00 am. At 7:56 each day the machine goes into action, requesting that he step on the connected scale that reads his weight. He then measures his blood pressure with the cuff that is provided. The readings are followed by a short series of questions on the quality of his breathing, how tired he might be feeling, and related vital signs. With the push of a button, all the measurements as well as his responses are relayed via the normal telephone line (1-800 number available) to Christine Struthers or one of her colleagues at the UOHI. Overall time taken is only a few minutes! If a change is required in medication, the phone rings promptly and a member of the Telehome staff explains what action is needed to prevent either a case of dehydration or excessive fluids in the body. No news is good news: it is meant that Ed should stay the course. Reliability and punctuality of the feedback, when needed, are first class.
Ed and Clarisse are quick to point out further benefits of Telehome, which include:
Any downsides? Ed laughs: "the machine won't let me sleep in. Every morning, without fail, at 7:56 it asks me to get going and take the measurements". Actually, Clarisse ads, they could have the machine accept special readings at other times of the day should they not find the present set-up convenient. However they do want to maintain consistency. Besides, it gives them the rest of the morning to pursue their favourite sport together: golf. By the way, Ed is 75 years young. Before long, he could match his golf score! Editor's Note: Thank you Ed and Clarisse for volunteering to share your experience and help others. If any of our readers wish to follow their example, kindly contact us at 613-761-4370.
by Beth Mansfield, The UOHI Alumni welcomed Beth Mansfield as its speaker at the Fall Lecture that was held October 18, 2006. She is a Registered Dietitian, Sport Nutrition and Exercise Specialist with Peak Performance (www.peakperformance.ca) where she specializes in bridging the gap between the sciences of nutrition and exercise and the practices of healthy eating and active living. Beth maintains the Therapeutic Lifestyle Change (TLC) Clinic for people with elevated cholesterol and other risk factors for heart disease at the Lipid Clinic of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. She also has a regular health segment on the CTV News at Noon the 1st Wednesday of every month.  Beth Mansfield The presentation was absorbed with great interest by over 150 members and spouses who attended this stimulating event. Beth provided some excellent insights into healthy eating and selection of food. She stressed the importance of eating well for optimal health. Top contenders for nutritional health include brightly colored vegetables and fruits. For an anti-oxidant boost choose orange, yellow and red veggies and fruits. Processed tomatoes contain a higher content of lycopene, an important nutrient for prostate health. All berries are powerhouses of nutrition, so ensure that you have an ample supply of frozen berries on hand this winter. Fluids are important throughout your day and while water is an easy choice, milk, juice, soup and smoothies also count. Wet foods such as cereal with milk, fruit such as watermelon, grapes instead of raisins, oatmeal, tea, even coffee taken throughout the day will contribute to your optimal hydration. "How much vitamin D, also known as the sunshine vitamin, do you get in the winter?" she asked the audience. Likely none if you live up here at this latitude. Normally we use radiation from the sun's rays to activate an inactive form of vitamin D that sits in our skin cells. We have recently discovered that here in Canada and the Northern United States, we do not get enough of the right type of radiation from the sun in the late fall, winter and early spring months. Vitamin D experts now believe that the current recommendation for adults, especially those over 50 years of age are too low to prevent health problems associated with a lack of vitamin D. Note also that vitamin D helps with the proper absorption of calcium to ensure that we, among other things, have strong bones, healthy teeth, and a normal heart rhythm. How can you get enough vitamin D? Make sure that you drink 2-4 glasses of vitamin D fortified milk or soy milk every day. If you are over 50, you should talk to your doctor and/or dietitian about taking a vitamin D supplement containing a minimum of 400 IU of vitamin D. For those who are taking a calcium supplement, here are Beth's tips to think about:
Food sources of both vitamin D and calcium are still important. Milk has both, but yogurt and cheese only have calcium.
And finally, Beth shared a recipe for a Bone Building, Heart Throbbing Fruit Smoothie. Requiring a blender and 2 glasses (even if you live alone, you'll drink the second glass sooner than you think). Ingredients:
Blend together and pour into glasses. This is a yummy treat! On behalf of the attendees, our President, Denny Doucette thanked Beth for her enlightening and practical presentation. We look forward to more goodies from Beth in the years to come. Reported by Louise Guilbault N.B. Please note that Beth runs workshops for "Coping with Cholesterol" and "PowerFuel Sport Nutrition" on Saturday mornings at the Heart Institute. Dates and times for all workshops are on the University of Ottawa Heart Institute's website at
by Louise Clément (our Webmaster) We all know the importance of loving our heart and cooking heart-healthy foods. Here is a sampling of the healthy and tasty recipes that can be found online: Delicious Decisions by the American Heart Association Time to start cooking healthy! by the Cardiology Associates Heart Healthy Recipes by the Waukesha Memorial Hospital Advocate's Recipe Collection by the Advocate Health Care Heart-healthy recipes by the North Suburban Cardiology Group Try this delicious broccoli salad and apple coffee cake!
Dressing:
One hour before serving, pour on dressing, toss and put back into the refrigerator (thin Chinese Noodles could be added just before serving as well).
Apples and raisins provide the moistness, which means less oil can be used in this low saturated fat, low cholesterol and low sodium coffee cake.
Yield: 20 servings - Serving Size:
Dear Alumni, I hope that you found this edition of The Bulletin as interesting as it has been for me to meet the many highly qualified and dedicated staff of the UOHI and learn about the emerging services of the Institute. They demonstrate the remarkable integration of the health care profession with the capabilities of 21st Century technology to deliver services to cardiology patients, just in time and in the most convenient manner. Thanks to the imagination, innovation, and research of the members of the UOHI, these new ways will help all of us to reduce the occurrence of cardiac disease, treat it in a timely manner when it occurs, and in progressively less intrusive ways. As the Alumni keeps pace with improving our support to members and the UOHI, there are more and more opportunities to include additional volunteers who would like to make a contribution of knowledge, experience, and time. For example, we need volunteers to join our Communications Committee to help produce The Bulletin by being reporters and photographers, or to assist in keeping our website up-to-date. You might also wish to develop and test new communications initiatives. Volunteers are also welcome to assist with our information systems, from design to testing and acceptance for operations, and to assist the Treasurer with bookkeeping. If you are interested in lending a helping hand in these areas, please contact our office at 613-761-4370 or email us at info@ottawaheartalumni.ca. The level of effort is up to you; the rewards are priceless. John Herzog, Editor
Are you intrigued already? One or two of the names will be familiar to you but you'll have to guess at the connection ... or come to the Alumni Spring lecture! One thing will be sure: you'll leave with some added insights as to how you can prevent cardiovascular disease or its progression. By the always popular
 Dr. Andrew Pipe, CM, MD, LLD, DSc Medical Director, Prevention and Rehabilitation Centre, University of Ottawa Heart Institute Associate Professor, University of Ottawa On: Tuesday, April 24, 2007 Please call 613-761-4370 to indicate your wish to attend this popular lecture. Seating is limited. Spouses welcome.
The Ottawa Heart Institute Alumni Inc. Year ended December 31, 2006 The 2006 Financial Statements presented below have not as yet been audited and are provided at this time for the general information of Alumni members. Once audited, the figures could change somewhat to reflect any year-end and/or audit adjustments. Audited Financial Statements will be available at the Alumni's Annual General Meeting (AGM) in June 2007. For those who will not be attending that AGM but who would like to receive the audited copy of the financial statements, please contact the Alumni office by phone (613-761-4370) or by email (alumni@ottawaheart.ca) after June 6, 2007. Thanks. E. J. (Ted) Legg THE OTTAWA HEART INSTITUTE ALUMNI INC.
THE OTTAWA HEART INSTITUTE ALUMNI INC.
The Ottawa Heart Institute Alumni Inc.
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: The Bulletin Editor Editor: John P. Herzog 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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As I am sure that you will have noticed, the University of Ottawa Heart Institute has adopted a new logo, a visible indication of a new era that will identify the Institute to the public on signage, letterheads, publications and so on. In making this change, the Institute continues to recognize its beginnings and its founder by retaining the "Edifice W.J. Keon Building" sign above the main entrance.
They never dreamed when starting out in life the bonds that would be forged nor the headlines which would herald their history making lives. Noëlla Leclair and Jean-Guy Villeneuve each lived a life of ordinary citizens until fate suddenly stepped in and took the tattered threads by which each clung to life and wove them for all time into the fabric that became the University of Ottawa Heart Institute.
Christine Struthers is the Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) for the Cardiac Telehealth Program at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. She obtained her post basic BScN (1983) and MScN (2000) from the University of Ottawa. During her 20 years with the UOHI Christine has focused on taking care of outpatients and their families. She is a dedicated, hardworking and innovative professional who was instrumental to the building of the Heart Transplant Failure Program when she was Transplant Co-ordinator in the late eighties and early 90s. Commencing in 1995, after considerable development and testing, she led the establishment of Telehealth services. In 2004 she successfully obtained funding, established and strengthened relationships with over 30 partner hospitals, and developed the E-Health Centre. In that year, the Alumni recognized her for her many contributions with presenting its prestigious Mary Clinckett Alumni Award.
Depending on what needs to be monitored, various peripheral measuring devices are made available. The white touch pad under the box is a tiny ECG machine on which the patient places merely his or her thumb and a finger. The other items include the blood pressure cuff, and to its left the INR reader. Operation is simple, and there has yet to be a patient who could not use the equipment effectively. Typically, the monitoring is conducted for a period of three months.
Ed and his wife Clarisse are quick to emphasize that the Telehome Program not only helps Ed maintain a good quality of life, but also provides them both peace of mind in that it takes out the guesswork. Another advantage is that there is no need to make the long trip from Stittsville to the Institute and back. There is no special visit with the cardiologist or surgeon required with whom getting appointments could delay taking corrective action. Christine and her staff have the training and experience to prescribe the appropriate dosage, and they have ready access to physicians if they need assistance.
