—1984 - 85. Report

to the | ‘North Shore Community

ANNUAL MEETING Wednesday, June 26, 1985

~ 6:30 P.M. Lions Gate Hospital

The Annual General Meeting of the North and West Van- couver Hospital Society will be held at Lions Gate Hospital, 15th and St. Georges, North Vancouver, B.C. on the 26th day of June, 1985. Registration will begin at 6:15 p.m. The Chairman will convene the meeting at 6:30 p.m. and will im- mediately declare a recess until 7:30 p.m. which will permit members to vote for candidates to the Board of Directors prior to recommencement of the meeting.

Members must vote between 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. No ballots will be issued after 7:30 p.m.

Nominees to the Board of Directors will not be speaking at the Annual General Meeting but may be heard on a special presentation by Shaw Cable, Channel 10 on June 18.

15 - Sunday, June 23, 1985 - North Shore News

- aX!

Mission to provide quality care

Lions Gate Hospital has a mission: to provide the best possi- ble health care to the approximately 140,000 residents of the North Shore. The hospital spells out this purpose in its Mis- sion Statement:

“The mission of Lions Gate Hospital is to serve the present and future needs of the population of the North Shore fer care and health with an op- timum level and range of services appropriate to the community, provided on an effective and economical basis and with an attention to a humane and compassionate environment. The mis- sion supports and encourages both teaching and research, especially at the clinica! level and related to the delivery of health care."

Our population, like that of most countries of the western world, is an aging one. The North Shore population is pro-

jected to increase by 20,000 in the next 20 years and of this . °20,000 it is estimated that 60% will be in the over 65 age

group. Administrators of today’s hospital must take this future into account. Already we are seeing a greater emphasis on the medical and surgical areas that involve aging patients. New procedures and expensive new technology have dramatically increased the number of operations in urology, orthopedics and ophthalmology.

Every year sees the development of new sophisticated and expensive drugs, procedures, devices, instruments and equip- ment to deal with the needs of an aging population and the chronic health problems of our industrialized western society.

“A humane and compassionate environment....”

A humane and compassionate environment is as important a component of quality health care as sophisticated equipment. A reassuring presence during the night, friendly words from a cleaner, a smile with the dinner tray, questions answered, procedures explained, family comforted — all contribute im- measureably to the healing process, Lions Gate Hospital is proud of its staff's dedication to the creation and maintenance of this environment.

Evergreen House

The atmosphere at Evergreen House is deliberate — it is based on a respect for the residents’ quality of life and their need for dignity and individuality. The extended care unit is home to 294 men and women with an average age of 82 years -- ten residents are over 100 years old. A tong-awaited expan- sion last April added 125 much-needed beds and wheel-

chair-accessible grounds, sundecks and a greenhouse for the patients’ enjoyment... - a

Staff of Evergreen House attend daylonfEmpathy and Car- ing Workshops designed to help them “put themselves in the shoes” of elderly and institutionalized people. The result is an heightened awareness of the importance of social and mental stimulation and privacy and physical appearance, and an em- phasis on personalized attention and treatment tailored to the habits and preferences of the individual. Homey furnishings, the three resident cats, social occasions, outings, community groups and a one-to-one volunteer program all help the residents of Evergreen House remain part of their North Shore community.

Chaplaincy Service

The hospital chaplain and the velunteer chaplains who assist in the interdenominational chaplaincy program are an impor- tant part of the LGH health care team. Spiritual care and guidance is available to patients and their families and staff members of the hospital. Spiritual healing is an important part of the treatment of the total patient and many people draw strength from the resources of their faith during a time of crisis.

The hospital chaplain co-ordinates the Volunteer Chaplain Service, a group from North Shore churches which has pro- vided more than 20 years of care to patients of our hospital, and the lay volunteers who visit pre-op patients. Reqular ser- vices are conducted by the hospital chaplain and volunteer chaplains, both in the hospital and in Evergreen House, and a chapel in the main lobby is available at all times for patients and their families. Weddings of both patients and staff have been performed in the hospital chapel. Baptisrns have been performed in the hospital for the benefit of hospitalized grand- { mothers and the heated therapy pool was pressed into ser- vice for a total immersion adult baptism.

Child Protection Team

The most vulnerable members of our society are our children. The LGH Child Protection Team has been established to pro- vide a safe refuge for children who are in danger. A child or adolescent who is suspected to be a victim of neglect or abuse can be admitted to the hospital as an inpatient and referred to the Child Protection Team. Children arrive at the hospital through pre-arranged admissions from their family doctors or { thro sh Emergency in a crisis situation.

The hospital-based Child Protection Team, consisting of a paediatrician, paediatric head nurse and social worker, assists the primary care physician in assessment, intervention and follow-up treatment and works closely with the Ministry of | Human Resources who have the prime responsibility for in- vestigating child neglect and abuse.