The Sechelt Hospital Foundation (SHF) is hosting its sixth MedTalk, which will focus on heart and stroke issues, advancements in care and resources for recovery. Everyone is welcome to attend Heart and Stroke: Advancements in Treatment and Recovery, Friday, Feb. 22, at the Sechelt Seniors Activity Centre on Trail Avenue.
SHF wants to provide practical health information for the community in a way that is accessible and useful. Another goal is to share a few proactive measures that may help prevent illness in the future. Given that heart and stroke issues impact so many members of our community, whether directly or indirectly, it is hoped this MedTalk will be helpful and appealing to a broad audience.
A heart-healthy reception will be hosted at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 22 and then MedTalks begins at 7:30 p.m. Speakers include Dr. David Wood, Gord Crandlemire, and Michelle Stanton.
Wood is a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology at UBC. He is also the Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at VGH and works at both St. Paul’s and at VGH as a structural and interventional cardiologist. A resident of the Sunshine Coast, Wood is a co-founding member of the Centre for Heart Valve Innovation in Vancouver.
Crandlemire, an arbourist and former tree faller, who lives in Gibsons with his wife and two children, will share his experience regaining his ability to speak after a blood vessel blocked oxygen to part of his brain. A stroke took him completely by surprise but he credits the paramedics, Sechelt Hospital and speech therapy for giving him back some of his previous life. He will be speaking about his experience and sharing a few practical suggestions for how to approach someone who has communication challenges during recovery.
And Stanton, Sechelt Hospital’s Manager of Acute Services, will share how the Emergency Department, TeleHealth and Rehabilitation teams work with stroke specialists to support patients from diagnosis through to recovery. She will also provide information about local support groups for care, counselling, fitness and nutrition. Attendees are asked to RSVP in advance to [email protected] so the foundation has an idea how many people to anticipate. It is hoped MedTalks will engage the community and help spread information about what health supports are available on the Coast. Entrance is by donation at the door. Find out more at www.sechelthopsitalfoundation.org and view past MedTalks online.
– Submitted by Jane Macdonald, Sechelt Hospital Foundation
