We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: Amara Stangeland Job Title: Registered Nurse, Adolescent Psychiatry Years of Service: 2 Worksite: Kelowna General Hospital Community: Kelowna Ancestral Territory: Syilx (Saay-ilks) / Okanagan Interior Salish Favourite Quote: "In a world when you can be anything, be kind."       Amara’s kind demeanour, welcoming smile and caring approach allow her to excel in her role as a Registered Nurse in the Adolescent Psychiatry Department at Kelowna General Hospital. In the vast world of nursing, there are many career opportunities to explore. For Amara, it was the first day of nursing school when a spark ignited her interest in working with the youth. Intrigued by the opportunity as a nurse to support and guide youth at such an important point in their life, she knew she was on the right path. Seeing the resilience of adolescents first hand continues to motivate Amara in her work. Through providing care, she is able to guide them on the right path and teach them valuable life skills that can change their life trajectory. Born and raised in The Pas, Northern Manitoba, Amara grew up very close with her family. Her passion for helping others was evident at a young age. Eager to help those around her, Amara was always a supportive person people would lean on. Shortly after high school, Amara moved to Sylvan Lake, Alta., where she graduated with her nursing degree and gained work experience in hospitals for over a decade. Inspired by the opportunity to live the Okanagan outdoor adventurous lifestyle, Amara and her fiancée moved to Kelowna over two years ago. When Amara isn’t working you can find her exploring the mountains year-round, biking, snowboarding, or hiking. Passionate about living an active lifestyle, Amara loves to practice hot yoga, stand up paddleboard, dance, and try new outdoor activities with friends. Her love of travel has taken her across the world to many countries where she was able to experience different cultures, including hiking the Tour de Mont Blanc in Europe. After postponing her wedding multiple times due to the pandemic, Amara looks forward to marrying the love of her life this August. Congratulations! In celebration of Nurses Week, Interior Health sincerely thanks all of our nurses for their commitment and dedication to caring for our communities. Amara expresses her gratitude for her incredible team, for their continuous support, their strength and resilience, especially working through a pandemic. Additionally, she is proud of the way the community has shown up for their health-care workers, through words of encouragement, acts of kindness and spreading positivity. It all adds up and helps everyone feel supported. Thank you for sharing your story and for all that you do! Happy Nurses Week!   Amara's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: "Kalie has been working hard, long hours at Urgent Care COVID testing site. She is a kind and caring nurse, especially during these challenging times. She remains calm and positive throughout it all. She deserves to be recognized for the hard work she puts in along with the other essential workers. Happy Nurses Week!" - Amara Stangeland Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook: Interior Health  |   Instagram: interiorhealthbc |   LinkedIn: Interior Health Authority

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: Dr. Glenn Fedor Job Title: Family Physician, Senior Medical Director Years of Service: 40 Worksite: Cariboo Memorial Hospital Community: Williams Lake Ancestral Territory: Secwépemc (She-whep-m) Favourite Quote: "Docendo discimus. By teaching we learn." Over his 40 years of service as a Family Physician, Dr. Fedor has had a positive impact on many people, most notably on his patients and the staff at Cariboo Memorial Hospital in Williams Lake. His motto around the office, “Docendo discimus. By teaching we learn,” creates a welcoming and educational environment for all to learn within. His commitment to starting each day with a smile radiates positivity all around him. He's eager to share his knowledge about everything he knows and encourages others to do the same because of his belief that memories can live on through lessons that one has taught. A strong believer that balance is the key to life, Dr. Fedor continually inspires others to have fun and make the most out of life. He loves to crack jokes and see others smile. His engaging stories and sense of humour not only entertain others but usually contain valuable lessons.  Amidst the pandemic, he encourages others to embrace change, innovate, learn more, and make a difference. From his perspective, the more you know, the better you can do. His will to see others grow to motivate those around him to embrace change for the better. After all, there's a lot to learn in the world of medicine, helping people from birth to death.  Fellow members from the Health Authority Medical Advisory Committee (HAMAC), where Dr. Fedor served as the chair, travelled to his community in Williams Lake to thank him for his 40 years of service. He was nominated by his coworker, Dr. Doug Neufeld, for the Lifetime Achievement Award, through which he was recognized for his outstanding contribution to the community and the work he did throughout his career.  Dr. Glenn Fedor (middle) honoured with a lifetime achievement award in 2019 at the BC Rural Health Awards. Photo courtesy of Williams Lake Tribune. Dr. Fedor was the third child born to a growing family. He was the quieter and introverted one among his four siblings. However, his love for telling stories and connecting with others taught him to push his boundaries. His original aspiration to pursue a career as an Architectural Engineer was derailed by his cousin’s persuasions to become a doctor. Ultimately inspired by his cousin’s medical career, Dr. Fedor went on to become the second doctor in the family. While living with his grandparents on their farm, he was taught that life is about changing, and not only is change good, but it can make a difference.  Dr. Fedor met his beloved wife in Edmonton before moving to British Columbia in 1981. One of his proudest moments was the birth of his first child, born in April 1982 at Cariboo Memorial Hospital. He often recalls a fond memory of his: when celebrating the birth of his first child, he shared a toast of champagne with his wife, when the cork accidentally hit her and bounced off the ceiling, nearly missing the medical staff on the floor. A lot has changed since then, but Dr. Fedor’s enthusiastic personality and thirst for life remain intact. He is so proud of his four incredible children and loves being a grandfather to their precious children. An avid outdoor explorer, Dr. Fedor loves the four-season playground where he can enjoy golf, skiing, hiking, and camping in his renovated 1973 travel trailer. He loves going fishing and camping and enjoys sharing these experiences with family including his grandchildren. Out of the office, you can find Dr. Fedor taking in the scenery on his motorcycle, cooking delicious food in the kitchen, volunteering in the community, snapping photos and creating albums, or simply relaxing. To share his passion for balance, being mindful and appreciating "nothing time," he recommends the book, The Art of Stillness: Adventures in Going Nowhere by Pico Iyer. Thank you for all that you do, Dr. Fedor, we all appreciate you! Dr. Fedor's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: "I nominate Dr. Doug Neufeld to be featured. To be recognized for starting a new practice, his active participation in Divisions, his valuable contribution to the community and being the driving force behind the outreach with our First Nation communities. Also, thank you for nominating me for the lifetime achievement award." - Dr. Glenn Fedor Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook: Interior Health  |   Instagram: interiorhealthbc |   LinkedIn: Interior Health Authority

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: Gillian Lane (She/Her) Worksite: Kelowna Community Health Centre Ancestral Territory: "Syilx" (Saay-ilks) / Okanagan Interior Salish Years of Service: 7 months Job Title: Administrative Assistant, Employee Experience and Staffing Services "Treat others how they want to be treated."- Gillian's favourite quote Gillian’s bright smile, positive attitude, and welcoming demeanour put others at ease. In her role as the Administrative Assistant for Employee Experience and Staffing Services, Gillian continually goes above and beyond to help others. Passionate about working with people, Gillian pursued an education in Human Resources and recently graduated with her Business Administration degree from the Memorial University of Newfoundland. Eager to make a positive difference in the workplace, Gillian is a member of the Employee Voices Advisory Group (EVAG) at Interior Health. The establishment of this group aims to support efforts in promoting an engaged workforce and healthy workplace, where all employees feel included and are able to bring their whole selves to work. Through this important work, Gillian strives to create long-lasting positive impacts at Interior Health. In one short year, Gillian has already influenced the lives of so many as she continues to pursue diversity and inclusion initiatives. “Being a member of the Employee Advisory Group Committee, I have a strong passion for the work being done with that group and am very proud and honoured to be a part of the meaningful work that the committee is responsible for.” –Gillian Lane Born and raised on the East coast of Canada in Newfoundland, Gillian has a great appreciation for the beautiful outdoors and a love for the water. She grew up in a close-knit community, Marystown, surrounded by family. Raised primarily in the coastal city of St. John’s where she met her now-husband who happened to be from her rival small town. They fell in love over their mutual passion for exploring the outdoors and travelling the world. An adventurer at heart, she and her husband moved cross-country from Newfoundland to Kelowna in 2018 chasing the Okanagan lifestyle. Gillian’s easy-going personality pairs adventure with her enthusiasm for being outdoors backcountry camping and hiking with her rescue pup, Skipper. Looking for a new way to enjoy the water, Gillian looks forward to learning to Kayak on the many lakes around the Okanagan. Thank you for all that you do, Gillian! Gillian's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: "Chelsea, Administrative Assistant at IH, was relatively new to Kelowna, started at IH just a couple of months before me, and has always been eager to assist me with any questions I have. She is so helpful and thoughtful and very hard working. I think she would be a great person to feature." Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook: Interior Health  |   Instagram: interiorhealthbc |   LinkedIn: Interior Health Authority

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories.   Name: Michael-Ann Miller (She/Her) Worksite: Princeton General Hospital Ancestral Territory: "Syilx" (Saay-ilks) / Okanagan Interior Salish Years of Service: 9 Job Title: Manager, Clinical Operations "Fake it till you make it, it's all about confidence."- Michael-Ann's favourite quote How many of us have thought of leaving behind the hustle-bustle of the city life, and reconnecting with Mother Nature in the tranquility of a small town? For Michael-Ann, a casual employee at a lower mainland hospital, this thought became a reality, but the turn of events that led here was not quite what she imagined. A new mother, Michael-Ann returned to work following her maternity leave; soon after, her husband lost his job. Raising a family amidst the climbing costs of Vancouver was a definite challenge that needed an answer. This is when Princeton enters the story, a town in the Similkameen region of southern British Columbia, where the local hospital was hiring. For anyone accustomed to the routine life of a metropolitan area, the concrete jungle becomes home. The very notion of moving to a smaller town can be daunting. Michael-Ann, too, was a little bewildered at the thought, but it turns out, she is now Manager of Clinical Operations at Princeton Regional Hospital and South Similkameen Health Centre in Keremeos! “I fell in love with rural medicine. I had found my place. Being a generalist was my passion, and the variety of experiences and patient populations you deal with on a daily basis in a rural hospital is unlike any other area.” Fast forward to her time after relocating to Princeton, Michael-Ann was able to buy a house, have another child, and her husband dedicate plenty of time to help to raise their children. She makes an accurate observation: “Only small-town living can afford you all these benefits on one income.” Her flourishing career in rural medicine continues to inspire her today. She loves helping others and looks forward to sharing the beauty and complexity of rural health with the world. In her own words, the meaning of rural nursing is “being a generalist in a specialized world.” Outside of work, Michael-Ann fulfills her creative side with some writing and enjoys spending time with her family. She has passions beyond rural health care, seeing that she was a former competitive swimmer and placed 11th in Canada! Thanks, Michael-Ann, for all that you do!   Michael-Ann's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: "Karen is a Registered Psychiatric Nurse, and in that role, she provides our community's most vulnerable with support and compassionate care. She is a strong advocate and always looking for opportunities to help out her community and strives for excellence in Mental Health and Substance Use. I have always appreciated her engagement and empathetic way of being that fosters client-centered care and collaboration within our team."   Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook: @IHJobs  |   Instagram: @InteriorHealthBC.Careers  |   LinkedIn: @InteriorHealthAuthority Explore a Career at IH  

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: Ken Zarr (He/Him) Worksite: Kelowna General Hospital, Okanagan Ancestral Territory: "Syilx" (Saay-ilks) / Okanagan Interior Salish Years of Service: 29 Job Title: Coordinator of Volunteers "Happiness is temporary; joy is eternal."- Ken's favourite quote Upon meeting Ken, you can feel his genuinely kind and welcoming energy. His friendly demeanour puts people at ease and creates a positive place for people to come together. As an IH employee for over 29 years, in his current role as the Coordinator of Volunteers at the Kelowna General Hospital, his passion for helping others has positively impacted the lives of many. His unique ability to recognize the gifts that each person possesses and allow them to shine has played a critical role in his successful career. As an active member of his community, he works closely with others to help coordinate and fund important projects to improve the lives of others. Prior to embarking on his career in health care in 1983, Ken’s career took him to many places, including living in Japan working in a steel mill and teaching English. He explored many career opportunities including radio broadcasting, communications, and computer programming. During this time he got married and raised three beautiful girls, including his step-daughter, and continued to explore different career paths including working in occupational therapy at Riverview Mental hospital, care aide, activity coordinator, funeral director, and traveling between Canada and California as a personal assistant.   Patti, Sue and Ken at a Volunteer Event One of Ken’s proudest moments in his career was in his role as a Rehab/Activity/Volunteer Coordinator, where he raised funds to improve the facility, primarily in the Activity Department. This profound experience of seeing the Summerland community come together to support one another was inspiring for all. More recently, Ken has a couple of other passion projects outside of work, including working as the President of Taco Dog Rescue Society for the past seven years, rescuing and rehoming many dogs from Mexico to the Okanagan, sometimes up to 10 dogs a weekend. There are many Interior Health staff members who are proud owners of these sweet pooches. If you’re looking to rescue a pup, learn about Taco Dog Rescue Society here. Born in Kelowna and growing up primarily in Lavington, B.C., Ken greatly appreciates the beautiful scenery of the Okanagan, whether out hiking with his dog pack, or gardening with a focus on creative landscaping. When he isn’t playing volleyball or working out at the gym he is working on a fix and flip renovation project. Looking forward, Ken and his second partner have opened up a Bed & Breakfast in Wilson’s Landing, steps away from the lake. After retiring from Interior Health in a few short years, he looks forward to working there, enjoying the water, and exploring the outdoors together. Thank you for all that you do, Ken! We appreciate you and all of our incredible volunteers throughout Interior Health. Ken's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: "I nominate Derek Koch, Spiritual Health Practitioner at Kelowna General Hospital. He cares about people; not just because it's his job. He is genuine, friendly, KIND, and always willing to make this place a better one. He works with staff, patients, and families in assisting with their special needs." Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook: Interior Health  |   Instagram: interiorhealthbc |   LinkedIn: Interior Health Authority

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: Pin Liao (She/Her) Worksite: Royal Inland Hospital, Kamloops Ancestral Territory: Nlak a'p amux (Ing-k hla-k ap -muh) / Thomp son / Couteau Interior Salish Years of Service: 9 months Job Title: Medical Laboratory Technologist "Chance favours the prepared mind."- Pin's favourite quote Pin's journey to her current role as a Medical Lab Technologist at Royal Inland Hospital for the past nine months is an inspiring story about dedication, courage, and a lot of hard work. Born and raised in China, Pin grew up with an appreciation for experiencing different cultures, cuisines and meeting new people. Adventurous at heart, she has experienced many cultures as she traveled to the USA, Japan, Korea, Australia, France, and Switzerland. Inspired by a career where she could help people through science and research, Pin graduated with a major in Biotechnology. Determined to gain experience in the medical field, she worked as a Molecular Tech for a diagnostics company, testing patients' tissue slides or bone marrow to determine if targeted therapy drugs were a viable treatment plan. Pin moved across the world to immigrate to Canada in 2017, where she attended the Medical Laboratory Technologist program in Prince George. Experiencing the coldest temperatures of her life, at -35 C, Pin was looking to start a family in British Columbia, leading her to her home in Kamloops. Over the span of two years, Pin graduated, finished her practicum at Royal Inland Hospital, passed her Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science exam, and brought a beautiful baby into the world. Pin's strength, determination, and resilience shine through in all of her work, both in her personal and professional life. Grateful for a supportive family and co-workers at Royal Inland Hospital, Pin is proud of her incredible accomplishments.  Working in the Microbiology department at Royal Inland Hospital, the results that Pin reports on play a direct role in patients getting treatments. This leaves Pin with a sense of pride and motivates her as she reviews bacterial culture tests, knowing that patients are awaiting their results for treatment. The sooner the doctors get the results, the sooner the patients get the treatments. As a fast-learner with a growth mindset, Pin is continually pushing herself to learn more and stay up to date with research. Excited to learn the latest research and techniques at the annual BC Society of Laboratory Science congress, Pin is looking forward to a future post-pandemic. In the four-season playground of the Interior of British Columbia, there are many activities to experience, even amidst a pandemic. Her passion for exploring new places and her husband's love of the outdoors takes them to many local spots in Kamloops, whether out hiking at Sun Peaks or kayaking on the many beautiful local lakes. Pin loves listening to the Music In The Park in the summer at Riverside Park and discovering the delicious local cuisines that Kamloops has to offer. We are so happy that your career brought you to Royal Inland Hospital, we appreciate you very much, Pin! Pin's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: "I nominate Dr. Gerald James. He is a Pathologist, with an easy-going personality, very knowledgeable, and willing to share his education and experience. Whenever he has an interesting case, he will sit down in front of the microscope and take time to share it with us. I feel like every time I work with him, I learn new knowledge from him."   Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook  |   Instagram  |   LinkedIn Explore a Career at IH    

The KBRH pharmacy team (left to right): Carrie St.Onge, Gabrielle Deneault, Shelby Jorgensen, Amanda Cupello, Sheri Ford, Victor Ponte, Michael Conci, Alana Minty, Karly Lenardon, Margaret Horechka and Pam Caron. As a student in UBC’s pharmacy program more than 20 years ago, Michael Conci worked at Vancouver General Hospital as a student pharmacy technician. It was his first experience working in a health-care facility and it struck a chord, igniting a passion for working in a hospital setting. Having gown up in Rossland and with a love for the outdoors, Michael knew he wanted to return to the Kootenays after completing his schooling. As luck would have it, the hospital in Trail was hiring when he completed his degree, and he joined the pharmacy team at Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital (KBRH) in 2001. “I had gotten my dream job in an area where I loved to grow up and wanted to eventually raise a family,” says Michael, looking back on a long career that has grown along with his family, and the pharmacy that has become like a second home. “Trail is now home for my wife Amy (a Registered Nurse at KBRH), our three daughters and our chocolate Lab.” With everything expanding in his life, it’s fitting that now the KBRH pharmacy will also expand to fit the needs of a department whose staff has doubled since Michael joined it. The pharmacy expansion and renovation is part of the ongoing redevelopment at KBRH with a $57.8-million dollar investment in two different capital projects. A new emergency department opened at KBRH last fall, and construction is now underway on a new ambulatory care unit and the pharmacy renovation. The current project also includes enhancements to KBRH’s oncology unit, cast clinic, physiotherapy department and medical records area. In the pharmacy, the footprint will increase significantly, allowing more space for the talented team of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to work and ensure the “right medication gets to the right patient at the right time,” a mantra that the KBRH pharmacy team lives by. Increased space means quieter places for the pharmacy team to work. Other pharmacy enhancements include new private space for patient counselling, industry-standard intravenous compounding suites and safe storage rooms. The pharmacy team may be unseen by patients, but they will be working in a modern setting with upgraded technology to help support patient care. Pharmacists assist in developing a medication therapy plan for patients before pharmacy technicians work out a distribution plan so nurses can administer the proper medication. It’s a complex process with the safe distribution of medication the top priority.   The hospital pharmacy also distributes medication to outpatients in the community including to all oncology patients. Providing medications to patients allows them to recover at home and those arriving to pick up medications will be able to do so and talk with their pharmacist in a new private consultation area, once the project is complete. For Michael Conci, the enhanced pharmacy will help support the great work that already occurs every day, supporting people’s health. “I’m looking forward to having a space that helps our team fulfill its duties in a safe and effective manner,” he says. “Patients don’t often see the pharmacy team that is working hard to meet our vision of ‘caring for every patient through appropriate, timely and safe medication management.” The project will complete in 2023. Pharmacy facts: • March is Pharmacy Appreciation Month, and the Canadian Pharmacists Association is celebrating the work of 42,500 pharmacists across Canada. Take a few minutes to learn more about what your pharmacist can do for you at rethinkpharmacists.ca. • Along with KBRH, Interior Health has pharmacy renovation projects ongoing at hospital pharmacies at East Kootenay Regional Hospital in Cranbrook, Kootenay Lake Hospital in Nelson, Shuswap Lake General Hospital in Salmon Arm, Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops and Penticton Regional Hospital.

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: Penny Liao-Lussier Worksite: Kelowna Community Health Centre Years of Service: 13 Job Title: Manager of Healthy Start Healthy Schools (Maternal Child & Youth Health Program), Population Health Services "Leaders become great, not because of their power, but because of their ability to empower others"- John Maxwell Caring, kind, compassionate, and authentic are just a few words Penny's co-workers would use to describe her. As a leader, Penny has the rare ability to lead with both her head and her heart. You can see Penny's passion for helping others as she advocates for the clients her programs serve as well as the staff working under her. As the Manager of Healthy Start Healthy Schools of Population Health Services for the past five years at the Kelowna Community Health Centre, and over 13 years at IH, she has positively impacted the lives of so many and brought valuable knowledge to those around her. Penny's leadership style of collaboration creates a positive teamwork dynamic that makes people feel valued and respected. Leading by example, she encourages others to show up authentically, practice empathy, and advocate for those they serve. Her unwavering commitment to all children, especially the vulnerable, is evident in all of her work. Inspired by her team, she expresses her gratitude for the privilege to work with a group of passionate and motivated nurses and administrative staff who are dedicated to achieving a vision while fulfilling a purpose to advocate for, support, and empower the maternal child and youth population. One of Penny's proudest moments at Interior Health was working on the pilot program for the high- and low-acuity patient transport communication centre in British Columbia. As the former manager, Penny showed 'proof of concept' and a operational strategy to ensure patient care and efficient transport services across Interior Health while simultaneously recruiting, training and leading a newly formed multi-disciplinary health-care team to run the Patient Transport Office. She was recognized in 2010 for all of her hard work with the IH Award of Excellence in "Ensuring Sustainable, Affordable Health Care" for the Patient Transport Office. Thank you for all that you do, Penny! Born in Kowloon, Hong Kong, shortly thereafter her family immigrated to Burnaby, where she was raised. At a young age, Penny knew she wanted to pursue the nursing profession. She was inspired by the opportunity to help others holistically by caring for the whole person, including their physical, intellectual and social needs. In her role, she feels a sense of pride and reward as she is able to plan strategically to make a positive impactful difference in the lives of the maternal-child and youth population. Relocating from Burnaby in 2008 to the interior with her husband, they are currently raising two beautiful little girls, Tianna, age 5, and Izabella, age 2. When Penny isn't working, you can find her playing co-ed recreational volleyball, shopping, or exploring the beautiful outdoors hiking with her family. She is looking forward to a future where her family can travel to experience different cultures, history, architecture, and languages from other parts of the world. She is dreaming of the huge smiles and loud squeals of excitement from her little girls as they experience Disney World at Christmas for the first time. Always up for an experience, when Penny was six months pregnant they temporarily moved out of their home for three months while they filmed the reality TV show, Love It or List It, Vancouver on the HGTV Network. The surreal experience concluded with the big reveal, moving back into their home, and 11 days later, welcoming their daughter, Izabella, to the world. Watch their big reveal here. Fans loved them so much they were cast again to film a Shaw Cable Blue Curve Internet Campaign as a follow up to Love It or List It, Vancouver.   Penny and Robert on the set of Love It or List It Vancouver with Co-Host, Jillian Harris Penny's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: "I would like to nominate the Healthy Start Healthy Schools Team, Population Health Services, CMHO portfolio as this is a small team of nine (nurses and admin staff) who are the epitome of 'unsung heroes' in the organization. They do not receive the high profile, attention, and recognition like other programs in IH despite having been redeployed to other programs (due to their expertise and skills as Population Health specialists and administration) to support the COVID-19 pandemic response. "Throughout the pandemic, the Healthy Start Healthy Schools Team has continued to develop policy and guidelines to help inform public health nursing practice, created new communication mechanisms for external partners from the education sector to receive timely support and direction for their schools, and enhanced clinical support and services for newly parenting families and the most vulnerable, socioeconomically disadvantaged families in the region." - Penny Liao-Lussier   Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook: @IHJobs  |   Instagram: @InteriorHealthBC.Careers  |   LinkedIn: @InteriorHealthAuthority   Explore a Career at IH    

Delirium is increasingly common as you get older, and occurs more often than most people believe. In fact, among older people, delirium affects approximately 50 per cent of those admitted to hospital, and more than 80 per cent of those in intensive care. Between 15-70 per cent of individuals living in long-term care homes are also affected. Delirium is considered by many experts to be a medical emergency. It is signalled by a rapid change in brain function, which primarily affects the ability to focus attention. It can fluctuate over the course of a day, with periods of lucidity followed by increased confusion. Because individuals may exhibit signs of acute confusion, unusual behaviours and forgetfulness, the disorder is often mistaken as dementia. However, the conditions are fundamentally different. “If an individual’s behaviour has changed and they seem confused, some people initially suspect dementia. However, if symptoms seem to change suddenly during the day but they have periods where they are still behaving as they normally do, you should speak to a medical expert about the possibility of delirium," says Mary Kjorven, a clinical nurse specialist with Interior Health. "Medical professionals are trained to ask a series of screening questions that evaluate an individual’s risk of delirium.” Mary says the overall impacts of delirium can include: Increased mortality Increased dependency Increased functional impairment (short and long term) Increased rates of admission to long-term care homes Longer lengths of stay in hospital It's important to know that delirium is preventable and treatable by addressing the underlying cause. There are several common causes for delirium. These may include sleep deprivation, dehydration, mixing medications, and bowel and bladder issues including constipation. Here are some tips for avoiding delirium: Take care of yourself with proper eating, sleeping, hydration, and physical activity. Ensure your mind stays healthy and active, too, with regular socializing and other activities to stimulate the brain. Check to ensure your eye glasses and hearing aids are working properly, so you are seeing and hearing effectively.  For more information, visit icudelirium.org.