The East Kootenay Regional Hospital (EKRH) is Interior Health’s fourth and newest clinical research site thanks in part to the efforts of Dr. Denise Jaworsky, an internal medicine physician at IH. With an initial grant from Accelerating Clinical Trials Canada, Dr. Jaworsky and her team are establishing an integrated and sustainable clinical research program in the Kootenays. Now, Dr. Jaworsky has won a major award from Michael Smith Health Research BC that will further her and her team's efforts. The Health Professional-Investigator Award supports health professionals who are actively involved in patient care to build their health research programs, train the next generation of scientists, and make significant contributions to their field. “Dr. Denise Jaworsky’s Health Professional-Investigator Award is significant,” says Dr. Devin Harris, executive medical director, Quality, Engagement and Research at IH. “This award allows her to continue her research focused on rural health issues, and lead research in the East Kootenays and Interior Health. This award will have a lasting impact on patient care and will be a catalyst not only for research in Interior Health, but for Dr. Jaworsky as a promising rural clinician-scientist.”

In a tale of collaboration and community support, a recent graduation ceremony in Lillooet became the backdrop for celebrating the accomplishments of a cohort from the Health Career Access Program (HCAP). This joint initiative by the Lillooet Tribal Council (LTC) – Community Adult Learning Centre (CALC), Okanagan College and Interior Health marked a significant milestone for its participants who completed their education on August 9, 2024.

Pulmonary function testing (PFT) is crucial for diagnosing and managing respiratory conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung disease. Testing helps assess the severity of lung impairment, monitor the progress of diseases, and evaluate treatment effectiveness. Quicker access to pulmonary function test results can lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment, which is crucial for respiratory conditions that require immediate attention. Interior Health’s Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT) project is an initiative two years in the making. It revolutionizes how pulmonary function tests are conducted, interpreted and reported within Interior Health. It promises to deliver test results to patients more quickly, reducing wait times for reports from two weeks to just a few days.

Foundations in the Interior region raise funds that support medical equipment, care needs, and innovative local initiatives in their communities. Each organization includes respected community leaders, volunteers and staff who are passionate about meeting the needs of patients and families in Interior Health. Thanks to the generosity of their supporters, we all have a stronger health system.  In this next story of our series on the incredible health-care and hospital foundations throughout our region, we interviewed Allison (Allie) Young, CEO of KGH Foundation.

Name: Lauren Isber (she/her/hers)Job Title: Digital Health Support ClerkYears of Service: 3Worksite: Kelowna WarehouseCommunity:  KelownaAncestral Territory: Syilx NationFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: I try to live in the present, plan for the future but not worry about things that do not exist. Be optimistic! Lauren Isber knows a thing or two about navigating the health-care system. Born in Savannah, Georgia, U.S., to Canadian health-care worker parents, as well as being a patient herself, Lauren currently provides support to Interior Health (IH) patients and clients who need help making medical appointments or using MyHealthPortal. Through her role as a digital health support clerk, she’s able to help individuals in a personal way, which brings her satisfaction and a sense of purpose and value. “We all know what it’s like when we need assistance with something and don’t have an option to speak to a person directly.”

Cardiac patients at times face life-or-death situations and need timely care. In Salmon Arm, they are receiving that quick care thanks to the work of the cardiology team. After watching wait times for stress tests and Holter monitoring grow, the team readjusted schedules and reprioritized resources to provide the timely care needed. “Patients come to the emergency room in Salmon Arm with chest pain. They need a stress test to make sure it’s not a heart attack or angina,” notes Dr. Laurie Main, general internist at Shuswap Lake General Hospital. Dr. Main says patients were returning home after a visit to the emergency room with few answers about the status of their heart. They were also waiting up to a month to get a stress test, compared to the mandated wait time of two weeks. “Before, patients would go home and have no idea what’s going on with their heart and wait weeks on end to get their stress test,” she says. Now, patients are waiting just days. Increasing the number of Holter monitors from eight to 20 has allowed the hospital to reduce wait times by almost 23 per cent and increase capacity for stress testing by 44 per cent. The team also spent time optimizing the scheduling process to accommodate additional patients. “Our cardiac technologists said, ‘Well, we don’t really need that much time to get the patient on a treadmill and get the stress test done,’” says Dr. Main. “We worked on scheduling optimization, reducing the time spent on each test, so we are able to see one more patient a day for the treadmill.” Doing that every day of the week allows five more patients to have their tests while using existing resources she explains. Patients like Victor Hooper, who has a history of cardiac issues and often needs immediate care to be monitored, have noticed the positive changes. “It’s really good. In the last three months, I’ve been in three times for cardioversions because I went into [atrial fibrillation], and they run me through and get it done,” he says. “They’re on it. [The process] works really well. The nurses and doctors are amazing.”

Evacuations and repatriations—returning people to their long-term care homes—are complex and multi-faceted processes that take dedication, compassion and the teamwork of many different people and partners to succeed. In part two of our two-part story on evacuations and repatriations, we highlight some of the stories of those who returned to their long-term care homes, and those who helped get them there safely. Residents who were evacuated returned to Lillooet (Aug. 9), Ashcroft (Aug. 10) and New Denver (Aug. 15). These residents showed resilience during the evacuation and during their time away, while IH staff demonstrated their commitment to compassionate care.

* Content warning: This story contains themes of suicide. * For immediate help 24/7, call 9-8-8 or 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433). If you or your friend is in crisis and not sure what to do, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. To reach the Interior Health (IH) Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU) centre nearest you, call 310-MHSU (6478).  Name: Sheneile Black (she/her/hers)Job Title: Relational Security OfficerYears of Service: 1Worksite: Kelowna General Hospital Community:  Central OkanaganAncestral Territory: Syilx Nation Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: Prayer and work conquers all. Sometimes in life, the most challenging upbringings can create the kindest and most compassionate people; this was the case for Sheneile. Growing up in Jamaica with her older sister, Sheneile lost both her parents at a young age.  

For caregivers supporting loved ones affected by substance use, the journey can feel like a lonely one. Whether a mom, dad, grandparent, spouse, sibling or friend, caregivers shoulder worry, shame, guilt and despair. Holding Hope Peer Support Groups were founded by Moms Stop the Harm (MSTH), a network of Canadian families affected by substance use-related harms and deaths. The support groups provide a safe space for caregivers to come together to share stories and resources without stigma, and to build strength and resilience.   “Holding Hope groups are about walking the same journey as other caregivers – without stigma, without judgement," says Jacquie Huser, project coordinator for Interior Parent Peer Support. "The groups offer an opportunity to feel less alone on a challenging, difficult journey.”