|
May 24, 2005
With some grant funding from the Northern Cancer Research
Foundation (NCRF) and a new partnership, the Education program
at Regional Cancer Care at the Thunder Bay Regional Health
Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) has developed three new and innovative
ways to deliver information to patients and their families.
 |
The newest program, the Oncology
Interactive Education Series (OIES) is a state of
the art computer based learning program for patients,
families, and Oncology professionals. A ‘made-in-Canada’
success, the purchase of this award winning cancer education
software has been made possible with funding from the
NCRF. There are 24 cancer site-specific titles that include
a general level for patients and families searching for
information in an easy to read and visually understandable
format, and a clinical level for Oncology professionals
with an understanding of cancer as it relates to diagnosis
and treatment. “The cancer program is committed
to researching and exploring innovative and user-friendly
methods of delivering treatment, care, and information
for patients and families,” stated Michael
Power, Vice President of Regional Cancer Services
and Diagnostic Imaging. “The implementation of these
new information and education tools provides us with the
means to further serve our patients and raise our bar
of standards and excellence.” |
| |
|
 |
Developed by Jack Digital Productions Inc.
in collaboration with Princess Margaret Hospital, and
hundreds of health care professionals, patients, and family
members, the content of the software is designed to address
a broad range of learning styles, computer experience,
abilities, literacy levels, and language skills. Some
of the features include ‘3D’ computer animation,
virtual reality graphics, voice-over narration, search
and print functions, frequently asked questions, and video
clips of patient interviews. “We really thought
that this would be a great fit for the cancer program
in Northwestern Ontario,” said Alison McMullen,
Acting Director of Preventive Oncology and Manager of
Education. “This was a part of our ongoing ‘wish
list’ for our patients and staff members; to have
a comprehensive resource that people could research at
their own pace and level of understanding. Our patients
and families can be overwhelmed initially, and this program
provides them with easily accessible answers to their
questions, as do the other tools, and they are all available
at any time, whenever they’re ready to absorb the
information.” |
| |
|
 |
The Education program has also developed
two additional resources for patient and family information;
the ‘Patient Journey’ visual, in DVD and VHS
formats, and the ‘New Patient Package’, a
binder of information for new cancer patients, designed
to provide information on treatment, community supports,
and wayfinding around the cancer program at TBRHSC and
in the region. “When I was diagnosed with cancer,
it was a very emotional and difficult time,” said
Catherine Forbes-Dyck, one of the survivors
interviewed for the ‘Patient Journey’ visual
resource. “My family and I had many questions about
expectations, treatment, and our next steps, and the information
that we were given was delivered with such compassion
and detail, that the experience was much less terrifying
than I ever thought it would be.” |
| |
|
 |
The ‘Patient Journey’ provides
information on moving through the cancer centre and the
Health Sciences Centre, as well as information for regional
patients. It details walkthroughs of treatment with Radiation
Therapy, Chemotherapy, and has a section with interviews
with cancer survivors, who describe their experiences
and lifestyle changes. This was also made possible by
a grant from the NCRF. “We work very closely with
the Education and Preventive Oncology programs in the
cancer program in Northwestern Ontario,” said Glenn
Craig, President and CEO of the NCRF. “It
is one of our highest priorities; to provide the means
for education, awareness, and information for the regional
community, so when we have the opportunity to collaborate
and help fund projects such as the OIES and the ‘Patient
Journey’ visual resource, we help as much as we
can.” |
The ‘New Patient Package’ is the other most recently
developed information piece for new cancer patients and their
families. It highlights information on treatments and what
to expect, supportive care at the centre and in the community,
resources for information, a ‘health record’ journal,
and various tools that new patients and their families need
for their first visits to the program. The new partner with
this information tool is the Thunder Bay Safeway Pharmacies,
with three sites around Thunder Bay, providing comprehensive
information, service and access to the community. “We
were very interested when we were first approached by the
cancer program to partner on this particular information tool,”
said Angela Wierzbicki, Regional Pharmacy Manager of Canada
Safeway Ltd. “When I went on a tour of the cancer centre,
and saw the scope of service and the necessity for information
and awareness, I thought this would be a perfect fit for the
Safeway pharmacies in Thunder Bay.”
Click
here for addtional information regarding the Oncology Interactive
Education Series.
:: back to Media Releases ::
|
|
