AGM 2012
The NBPA will hold its
Annual General Meeting on April 21, 2012
.
The NLPA will hold its
Annual General Meeting on May 5, 2012 in St. John's.
The PEI-CPA will hold its
Annual General Meeting on March 10, 2012.
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LYMPHEDEMA CARE:
From a Single Program at St. Joseph’s Hospital to an Atlantic Network
Ten years ago, the first treatment program in the Atlantic Provinces was started by physiotherapist, Andrea Tilley, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Saint John. We now have three physiotherapists in the Saint John Zone certified to treat Lymphedema in accordance with international best practices. Sussex Health Center, SJRH and St. Joseph’s Hospital all have thriving treatment programs providing education, prevention, treatment and follow-up care. There is also a program at the Moncton Hospital.
Recently, our Lymphedema therapists have helped create a network of professionals who share practices, ideas and education opportunities. The Atlantic Clinical Lymphedema Network (ACLN) is a group of 28 Lymphedema Therapists from each of the four Atlantic Provinces. A truly inter-professional network, the members are Physiotherapists, Nurses and Massage Therapists who educate and treat people who suffer from chronic swelling conditions. All but two members work in hospital-based Edema Care programs.
Atlantic Clinical Lymphedema Network
On March 4th and 5th the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (Atlantic Chapter) sponsored the first ACLN gathering in Halifax, N.S. Day One consisted of a Lymphedema specific course, instructed by American expert in the field, Ruth Coopee, who offered new innovative clinical techniques that are very applicable and easy to implement into practice.
On Day Two, following a brief review and instruction on a 3M edema care product, there was a facilitated brainstorming and strategic planning session focused on identifying and overcoming the barriers to comprehensive Edema Care in the Atlantic region. The group will be working to increase public and healthcare practitioner awareness of the disease and to increase awareness of proper treatment techniques. They will be sharing resources and making use of technology to help keep all practitioners connected and up to date. An overall goal is to prevent this debilitating condition and to provide access to quality care for all.
Also in June, the International Lymphedema Framework (made up of over 300 practitioners, patients and researchers) met in Toronto for a conference presenting the most recent innovations in therapeutic products and garments, as well as recent international research. Many members of the ACLN were in attendance or involved in innovation and research projects.
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Please watch the PEI Health sector video that was done by one of our members, Maureen Rogers.
On Friday, May 13, the physiotherapists at the Workers Rehabilitation Center in Grand Bay, NB took the parking lot for a marathon ball hockey game. The game was organized in conjunction with National Physiotherapy month, and was also to raise a colelction towards the local food bank. The opening face-off was at 12:30 pm, and the 12 therapists rotated on and off the court for the next 12 hours, until 12:30 am. The game was played in a 3 on 3 format. There were also a few challenges from other groups of workers at the center, which were al lof course won by the physios! The event turned out to be a huge success, raising 500 pounds of food and $100 cash for the food bank. The weather also cooperated in what was otherwise a dreary month of May. While everyone was a little bit sore and stiff for the rest of the weekend, there was immediate discussion of making this an annual event, and coming back bigger and better in 2012!
