The Hospital Insider
The scoop on what's happening
 The Brantford Expositor has a weekly column called the "Hospital Insider".
The column is written by Gary Chalk, Director of Community Relations and Marketing of the Brant Community Healthcare System.
Every Tuesday, the Hospital Insider gives insight into what is going on at the Brant Community Healthcare System, which includes the Brantford General and The Willett in Paris.
May 13, 2008
Ophthalmologist Dr. Thomsen, talks to Gary about the growing importance of the service at the Brantford General with referrals coming from other communities.
May 6, 2008
It has been two years since Kim Gretzky's mother, Phyllis died of cancer. Kim will be joining 3 other team mates to walk in the Weekend to End Breast Cancer. Gary talks to her about her decision to walk 60 Kilometres.
April 29, 2008
The face of volunteering is changing, with more men, couples and people over 55 joining the ranks. Gary talks with the Manager of Volunteers, Debbie Kew about the breadth and depth of the service.
April 22, 2008
Gary talks with a proud father about his daughter's try for Olympic Gold.
April 15, 2008
Since the MRI was installed at the Brantford General, the hospital has been able to provide scans closer to home for many people. With the approval of the Minsitry of Health, we are now funded for more scans.
April 8, 2008
BGH Nurse, Kim Morgan is the stroke clinician promoting heart healthy activities. Gary talks to her about her latest brain-child, stepping for health.
April 2, 2008
Gabi Misik works at the Brantford General now, but very soon she will become an RN. She has been working and going to schol to become a Registered Nurse for the past four years. Gary talks to her about her experiences.
March 24, 2008
New hospital beds mean better working conditions for nurses and improved patient safety. Gary finds out why these beds are so special.
March 4, 2008
Don Richardson needed a hospital bed and he got one...in the paediatric ward. Fitting since Don and his family sponsor the annual Paediatric Christmas party.
February 26, 2008
Gary talks with Dr. Salim a new physician relocating in our community from Sydney, Nova Scotia.
February 19, 2008
Gary looks at how Security operates at the Brantford General. In the words of secrity officer, Leah Hewson, "Every day is different, but never routine."
February 12, 2008
BGH has had many generations of families who have worked within its halls. Trina Brown, who now works in patient registration passes by her mother, Doris' picture everyday. Doris graduated from the nursing class of 63 and Gary finds out about the family connection.
February 4, 2008
Gary finds out some surprising facts - falling is the 5th leading cause of death among the elderly and men are a high risk group for osteoporosis.
January 29, 2008
ER Nurse, Cheryl Fyfe visits Uganda regularly with Dr. Kagoma where she volunteers her services. With her own blog, we can now follow her adventures. Gary talks to her about some of her choice adventures.
January 22, 2008
Gary talks with Joan Johnson, mother of the first New Year's baby of 1948. Thanks for the memories!
January 15, 2008
Keith Cooper stays active in the community and at the age of 93, he still participates in Kiwanis and keeps on bowling. Gary talks with him about what he does to stay young.
January 8, 2008
Gary looks back on the life of David Neill, who was a tireless supporter of health care causes in our community.
December 18, 2007
Gary asks the staff at the BCHS what they were doing for the community this holiday season and got more than he bargained for! He tries to cover it all in his column.
December 11, 2007
Sierra Dickinson died tragically in a car accident. A year later the family remembered her by fulfilling one of her last wishes. They got together and built bears. In memory of Sierra, they donated the bears to the hospital's emergency department, remembering the compassionate care they received on that awful night.
December 4, 2007
Gary discovers that the hospital frequently donates used equipment to good causes. He talks with manager, Chris Daly about shipments to Afghanistan and Kenya that have been made.
November 27, 2007
Gary talks with BGH volunteer, Margaret Tolhurst, who recently visited the Brantford General site as part of the Florence Nightingale Home Foundation. The Foundation donated funds for Geriatric Chairs and a special wheelchair.
November 20, 2007
Jan Roadhouse is a therapist who works with aphasia. This little-known disability happens to people as a result of stroke. Unable to communicate verbally, there are a number of strategies that can help manage the problem. Gary finds out more about the affliction.
November 13, 2007
Former Alderman, Art Stanbridge just recently recovered from Bypass surgery. Gary talks to him about his healthcare experiences.
November 6, 2007
Kathy Conti describes her journey as a breast cancer survivor at the Brant Community Healthcare System and how she felt taking part in the walk to end breast cancer.
October 30, 2007
The new MRI suite is ready to go and the first patients will begin to be scanned next week. $2.5 million has been raised by the community so far with $550,000 still to be raised. Gary describes what we will get with our money.
October 23, 2007
Doreen Johnson tells Gary about her recent trip to Italy where she suffered a fractured pelvis and was forced to enter the hospital system in Tuscany. The former nutrition supervisor at the BGH talks about her experience.
October 9, 2007
Franco Veglio of Ferrero Canada recently kicked off the Ferrero "Your gift is good for life" campaign for the Brantford General Hospital. Donors get a bag full of chocolate, an invitation to a chocolate party and a chance to win a trip to Italy. Gary thinks it is a "sweet" deal.
October 1, 2007
Gary talks to Dr. Charmaine Roye, who recently won the 2007 "Excellence in Medical Leadership" award from the Canadian Society of Physician Executives. This fascinating woman has assisted in enough births at the Brantford General to make up a small village.
September 25, 2007
The service club, the St. George Lion's has made the largest donation of service clubs towards the new MRI suite at the Brantford General. Gary talks to Rick Ireland, the club's president about why they did so.
September 18, 2007
After graduating as an RPN, Melissa Keigher chose to come and work at the Brantford General. The reputation of the hospital convinced her to settle in Brantford. Gary finds out why.
September 11, 2007
The Brantford General was abuzz with activity as the long awaited magnet for the MRI arrives from Germany and descends through the roof hatch. Gary describes the excitement in the community around the event.
September 4, 2007
When MRI Technician, Mike Comeau, decided to leave the Princess Margaret Hospital for a position at the Brantford General his colleagues were astounded, but when he described the new MRI facility being built, their shock turned to envy. After describing the new machine and suite layout, they understood. In this column, Gary finds out why.
August 28, 2007
RPN, Dianne Woods, has a passion for her patients with wounds. Knowing this, she was encouraged to apply for a fellowhip in wound care. Her unique proposal was accepted and the Brant Community Healthcare System will benefit from her knowledge. Gary talks with her about her passion.
August 21, 2007
Over her long life, Grace Fink created a beautiful home for her husband and children. When she entered the hospital, her same caring nature affected those involved in her care. Gary talks to her children about her experience.
August 14, 2007
People who install MRIs for a living are few and far between. Gary talks with Darrell Butler, who has been involved in many installations.
August 7, 2007
Gary does a bit of volunteer duty at a local grocery store and finds out why volunteers are so important.
July 31, 2007
Gary talks with Rose Polosini, a nursing student training at the Brantford General while visiting from Italy She is doing her final theses on the differences between emergency care in Canada and Italy.
July 24, 2007
Winning an "Excellence in Teamwork" award is appropriate on this unit that is aptly nicknamed, "Seventh Heaven". Gary talks with Lori Petrie Mulrain, managaer of medical services about it.
July 17, 2007
Lisa Sapien is a top nurse at the Brant Community Healthcare System. Although we are sad to see her take a position as a professor at McMaster University Institute of Health Sciences, we are pleased to see her training our new nurses.
July 10, 2007
Shirley LeBlanc didn't expect much from her garage sale but when she decided to donate the funds raised the the MRI, that really got it all rolling. She had fun, sold a lot of experienced treasures and contrubited $1,200 towards the MRI.
July 3, 2007
Gary talks with RPN, Sky Cartledge. Receiving an award from her fellow nurses, Sky handles a large, world-wide study of a new type of anticoagulant...as well as 12 hour shifts in the Emergency Department, truly she deserves her,"award of excellence.
June 26, 2007
When approval for the MRI was given last Christmas, the MRI planning team swung into action. This Christmas the MRI will be fully functional and providing scans to our community.
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