Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012 was full of developments for Covenant Health. We celebrated the official launch of the Palliative End of Life Care Institute, we gathered together for our 2012 Annual Community Meeting, and at that meeting, we presented the inaugural Service Through Christ Awards.
Palliative End of Life Care Institute
To continue to advance this important field and to be of greater service to the most vulnerable, Covenant Health has established the Palliative End of Life Care Institute. It was officially launched at a media event by John Brennan, Covenant Health Board Chair and Linda Revell, Covenant Health Senior VP Operations and Chief Operating Officer.
The launch included a touching video about the palliative care, featuring Ken Lane, a patient on Covenant Health’s Acute Tertiary Palliative Care Unit at the Grey Nuns Community Hospital. Dr. Eduardo Bruera, Chair of the Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and a world-renowned expert in palliative care, was also present and said a few words about Covenant Health’s significant past contributions to the field, and his optimism for coming advancements.
The institute will operate at the Grey Nuns and will be co-led by Dr. Konrad Fassbender (research) and Dr. Anne Syme (operations).
View the press release and video
View the photo gallery of the event
2012 Annual Community Meeting and Service Through Christ Awards
Three-hundred Covenant Health partners, members of Government and Alberta Health Services, employees and supporters of Catholic health gathered together for the Annual Community Meeting (ACM).
The program was emceed by Patrick Dumelie, Covenant Health President and CEO, and began with Bishop David Motiuk, of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Edmonton, leading the room in Grace. Greetings from both John Brennan, Covenant Health Board Chair and Mary Ann Jablonski, MLA Red Deer North, followed and included words on Covenant Health’s successful 2011-12 year.
Some of the highlights mentioned were the construction of two new pilot continuing care facilities under construction in Red Deer and Calgary, and the launch of the Palliative End of Life Care Institute.
Palliative care was a significant topic at the ACM, which was appropriately themed “Honouring the Journey”. The video from the institute launch was shown for this larger audience, and Dr. Bruera was the afternoon’s keynote speaker. He delivered a thought-provoking address, giving attendees insight into future trends, challenges and opportunities for serving people at end-of-life with quality and compassion. He also discussed Covenant Health’s impact on palliative care worldwide.
To conclude the ACM, John presented Covenant Health’s inaugural Service Through Christ Awards to two individuals who have made outstanding and inspiring contributions to Catholic health care: Fred Barth and Ed Stelmach. They both received a maquette (miniature) of the Service Through Christ statue on the Alberta Legislature grounds. This statue commemorates the historic contributions of Catholic Sisters in health care, social services and education and Covenant Health wants to recognize those in our communities today who reflect the same selfless acts of service and compassion of Jesus Himself.
Each year, the Service Through Christ Award will be given to a person or team, regardless of faith affiliation, who is widely recognized as supporting, advancing and working tirelessly on behalf of Catholic health and to carry on the Sisters' legacy.
View the photo gallery of the event
Related documents and links:
Our Story captures moments where the work that we do transforms the health-care experience for everyone that it touches...