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Recent successes celebrated at launch of Cardiac
Awareness Month
February 2, 2009
 The
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation celebrated
the launch of Cardiac Awareness Month (February) with a report
on recent angioplasty activity. Thanks to the support of donations
from the community and a dedicated team of healthcare professionals,
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is making great
strides in the fight against cardiac disease in Northwestern
Ontario.
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Remarkable achievements
have been made in the past few months, according to
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre’s
VP, Medicine, Cardiology, Mental Health and Maternal
Child Lori Marshall. “Since September 2008,
200 patients have received angioplasty service here
at our Health Sciences Centre. Considering the number
of patients served this time last year, that is a
significant accomplishment,” she says.
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Last February, 90% of patients in need of angioplasty had
to travel to other centres to receive the procedure. The Health
Sciences Centre was limited in its capacity to provide the
service here due to a reliance on visiting specialists. Today,
99% of Northwestern Ontario patients in need of angioplasty
receive the life-saving service here.
The extraordinary difference is due to the arrival of Interventional
Cardiologist Mark Henderson, who joined the Health Sciences
Centre’s cardiac team in September 2008. Dr. Henderson’s
decision to relocate from Vancouver was driven by the Health
Sciences Centre’s dedication to expanding the cardiac
program, as well as the state-of-the-art cardiac catheterization
lab. Equipment in the lab was purchased with $1.6 million
in funding from the Northern Cardiac fund of the Health Sciences
Foundation.
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“We have only just
begun,” says Henderson. “With continued
support from the community, cardiac care in Northwestern
Ontario will continue to expand.” Henderson’s
vision includes the recruitment of a second Interventional
Cardiologist and the availability of 24/7 emergency
angioplasty service.
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Glenn Craig, President
& CEO of the Health Sciences Foundation, says
the Northern Cardiac Fund was created to facilitate
that dream. “The Northern Cardiac Fund is dedicated
to advancing cardiac care for the people of Northwestern
Ontario, with 100% of donations staying here, where
they are needed most,” he explains. |
The Wood family is particularly grateful for Dr. Henderson’s
dedication and the donors who helped provide the cardiac catheterization
lab that attracted him to our Health Sciences Centre. Commie
Eugene (Gene) Wood believes his life was saved by Dr. Henderson,
who was able to provide angioplasty within hours of a heart
attack and again 48 hours later when a clot formed in one
of his arteries.
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“If Doctor Henderson
hadn’t been here, my dad wouldn’t be here
today,” says Terry Wood, Gene’s son. “I’m
sure he wouldn’t have survived a trip to another
centre. Words cannot express our appreciation.”
Gene Wood and his wife Mavis have demonstrated their
gratitude with a gift to the Northern Cardiac Fund so
that more families can access the same close-to-home
care they were fortunate to receive. |
:: TBRHSC
Northern Cardiac Fund ::
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