On Call: The Ottawa Hospital Podcast

Kidney disease is a major health problem that affects around 4 million Canadians and 11 – 13 per cent of the population globally. Dialysis is an essential treatment that helps them maintain a quality of life – literally making the difference between life or death.     The Ottawa Hospital has one of the largest renal programs in Canada, with more than 900 patients receiving dialysis treatment.    Janet Graham, the Regional Director of Nephrology, and Dr. Jolanta Karpinski, Division Head of Nephrology at The Ottawa Hospital, talk to us about kidney health, what nephrology looks like at The Ottawa Hospital, and how we're planning for the future of renal care.    On Call: The Ottawa Hospital Podcast features stories of care, innovation and compassion in health care, all happening right here at The Ottawa Hospital.   Follow The Ottawa Hospital: Twitter: @OttawaHospital Instagram: @OttawaHospital Facebook.com/OttawaHospital  

It's normal to get nervous before a doctor's appointment. Talking about personal health situations can be difficult. But it doesn't need to be.    Dr. Erin Keely and Alicia Hilderley share their experiences with preparing for these meetings, and share tips on how to get the most out of appointments with your doctor.    On Call: The Ottawa Hospital Podcast features stories of care, innovation and compassion in health care, all happening right here at The Ottawa Hospital.   Follow The Ottawa Hospital: Twitter: @OttawaHospital Instagram: @OttawaHospital Facebook.com/OttawaHospital Music: Bensound Sci-fi

Tuberculosis (TB) was once one of the most common and deadliest infectious diseases in the world. Even to this day, it still impacts millions of people, with over 10 million new cases, and approximately 1.3 million deaths each year. Dr. Gonzalo Alvarez is a Respirologist and Scientist at The Ottawa Hospital. Much of his work is focused on TB research among Canadian Inuit and in new Canadians. He is currently leading the Taima TB program of research. Taima (means stop in Inuktitut) TB is a group of research projects aimed at helping Inuit in Canada stop the transmission of TB in their communities. In this episode, he discusses some of his most recent research in TB, what is known about the illness, and why it impacts certain populations. On Call: The Ottawa Hospital Podcast features stories of care, innovation and compassion in health care, all happening right here at The Ottawa Hospital.  

While everyone has experienced the COVID-19 pandemic from a different situation, many of us have had one thing in common: weight fluctuation. While for some it was a minor change, for others it has had a serious impact on their self-esteem.   Psychology Resident Healey Gardiner talks about weight fluctuation during the COVID-19 pandemic, its potential impacts on someone's self-esteem, and how to cope with the added stress of the pandemic.      On Call: The Ottawa Hospital Podcast will feature stories of care, innovation and compassion, all happening right here at The Ottawa Hospital.   Follow The Ottawa Hospital: Twitter: @OttawaHospital Instagram: @OttawaHospital Facebook.com/OttawaHospital Music: Bensound Sci-fi

On December 15, 2020, The Ottawa Hospital administered the very first COVID-19 vaccinations in Ottawa. The day is still vivid in the minds of the health-care workers both on the front lines and behind the scenes who worked tirelessly to make this milestone a success.  In this episode, we chat with: Axelle Pellerin, Director of Education, responsible for the COVID-19 vaccination clinic at The Ottawa Hospital Alex Kuo, Director of Pharmacy at The Ottawa Hospital   Follow The Ottawa Hospital: Twitter: @OttawaHospital Instagram: @OttawaHospital Facebook.com/OttawaHospital

President and CEO of The Ottawa Hospital Cameron Love talks about the impact of COVID-19 on the health-care system long-term, what we might expect this fall, and the future of health care. Also, how can we apply the lessons of the pandemic to future health-care facilities like the New Civic Development?  Follow The Ottawa Hospital: Twitter: @OttawaHospital Instagram: @OttawaHospital  Facebook.com/OttawaHospital

Content warning: This episode features discussion about sexual assault, intimate partner violence, self harm, and other topics that listeners may find difficult to hear.  During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, care teams and researchers at The Ottawa Hospital noticed a disturbing trend: visits to the Emergency Department for sexual assault or intimate partner violence were going down. But that did not mean that violence and abuse were not taking place. Dr. Kari Sampsel and Dr. Katherine Muldoon discuss why this decrease is concerning, myths around sexual assault and intimate partner violence, and what resources are available for help.  

Mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic is a popular and important topic of conversation. Moral distress is not a phrase we hear a lot, but it’s something many of us have likely experienced. What is it? Why is it concerning? Why is it affecting so many health-care workers?  In this episode, we chat with Dr. Kerri Ritchie (Clinical and Health Psychologist) and Mike Kekewich (Director of Clinical and Organizational Ethics) about moral distress, how to recognize it, and what we can do to live with it. 

In Part 2 of our podcast series on the COVID-19 Brewer Assessment Centre, you’ll hear from experts at The Ottawa Hospital and regional partners on what it was like in the days leading up to opening the site.  In this episode, you’ll hear interviews from: Jean Claude Lemonde, Director, Information Services Operations at TOH Rosemary Bickerton, Nurse Manager at TOH and Site Lead at Brewer Assessment Centre Joselyn Banks, Nurse Manager (retired) from TOH and Site Co-Lead at Brewer Assessment Centre Hung Tan, Manager, Emergency Management at TOH Ken Farion, Corporate Medical Director, Quality, Strategy and Improvement at CHEO Jason Haug, Supervisor, Social Media and Engagement at Ottawa Public Health (OPH) Katie Bourada, Supervisor, Media Relations at OPH Julie Turcotte, Public Health Communications Nurse at OPH Cameron Love, President and CEO of The Ottawa Hospital

On March 11, 2020 Ottawa confirmed its first case of COVID-19, and the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. Two days later, on March 13, the COVID-19 Assessment Center at Brewer Arena opened its doors. What took place in the days leading up to the opening? Hear from key players involved in getting the site up and running, in this two-part series chronicling those unforgettable days. In this episode, you’ll hear interviews from: Andrew Willmore, Medical Director, Department of Emergency Management at The Ottawa Hospital Natalie Bruce, Manager, Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) at The Ottawa Hospital Vera Etches, Medical Officer of Health at Ottawa Public Health Courtney Argue, IPAC Nurse and Joint Health and Safety Co-Chair at The Ottawa Hospital John Trickett - Director, Community Based Testing at The Ottawa Hospital

With the new year comes signs of hope on the horizon in the COVID-19 pandemic. The vaccine is here, and being rolled out in Ottawa and across the world. But we are not done yet! Cameron Love, President and CEO of The Ottawa Hospital, talks about the COVID-19 vaccine rollout here in Ottawa, what it was like to witness the first vaccine administered at The Ottawa Hospital, and how the hospital is managing capacity during the most recent increase in cases.

Our mental health has been challenged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of us are experiencing cognitive struggles like trouble concentrating, or difficulty with the most basic tasks. Komal Shaikh is a neuropsychology intern at The Ottawa Hospital. She shares tips for managing cognitive struggles during the pandemic, and how to recognize when they may become a larger mental health issue. 

In January of 2020, The Ottawa Hospital announced that Cameron Love would be stepping in as President and CEO in June of this year. No one could have predicted how much the world would change in that time. Cameron Love shares his experience of stepping into the new role during a global pandemic, and leading the Ottawa region through the COVID-19 response. 

The Ottawa Hospital does not exist in a vacuum - it is a microcosm of the greater community. As such, the events that affect our community, our employees and our patients have a direct effect on the hospital. In support of our employees, patients and the community at large, The Ottawa Hospital would like to engage in an honest conversation about racism, particularly against Black people. Join Ellen Alie, Seth Oduro and Dr. Kwadwo Kyeremanteng in the latest episode for a panel discussion on racism in health care, how to address it, and where we go from here.

Before Dr. Jack Kitts officially enters retirement, he sits down with us to discuss his time as President and CEO of The Ottawa Hospital, how the hospital’s vision came to be, and how he almost didn’t go to university. Find out how a letter from the loved one of a patient inspired the hospitals vision to provide each patient with the world-class care, exceptional service and compassion that we would want for our loved ones. And how his mother, along with a very dedicated high school guidance counselor, is the reason he went to university.

As the government launches public consultations on Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD), we take an in-depth look at what MAiD looks like for care providers at The Ottawa Hospital, and the questions that still remain. Interviews with:  Mike Kekewich - Director of Clinical and Organizational Ethics at The Ottawa Hospital Dr. Viren Naik, Medical Director of the Champlain Regional MAiD Network Lauren Clark, Social Worker in the Champlain Regional MAiD Network Music: Bensound Sci-fi 

Clinical Dietitian Sophie Wannamaker joins to discuss how The Ottawa Hospital treats and recognizes malnutrition, and what can cause it in patients. On Call: The Ottawa Hospital Podcast features stories of care, innovation and compassion, all happening right here at The Ottawa Hospital.  Website: https://www.ottawahospital.on.ca/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/OttawaHospital  Music: Bensound Sci-fi 

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Jocelyne McKenna about her experience with mental illness, and the challenge of caring for your own mental health, when your job is to care for others. Dr. Kerri Ritchie also joins to talk about maintaining mental health in high-stress environments. On Call: The Ottawa Hospital Podcast features stories of care, innovation and compassion, all happening right here at The Ottawa Hospital.    Music: Bensound Sci-fi 

Get all the latest news and stories from around the hospital with On Call: The Ottawa Hospital Podcast. In the latest episode, three psychologists share their experiences dealing with life changes, and share tips on how to manage stress and maintain mental wellness during life changes. On Call: The Ottawa Hospital Podcast will feature stories of care, innovation and compassion, all happening right here at The Ottawa Hospital.   Music: Bensound Sci-fi

Claire Laroche talks about her therapy dog Nellie, and how pet therapy can help patients, including one patient in particular, who formed a strong bond with Nellie while at The Ottawa Hospital.  Music credit: bensound-scifi

Linda Wood is a volunteer at The Ottawa Hospital. She and her husband formed a strong bond with a young couple, that stretched beyond the walls of the hospital. Linda shares her story in the latest episode!  Music credit: bensound-scifi 

Welcome to On Call: The Ottawa Hospital Podcast. This is the first episode of On Call. In each episode, we'll bring you stories from around the hospital, news that you need to know, and exciting breakthroughs in the world of medical research. In this episode, we talk to Drs Kerri Ritchie and Caroline Gerin-Lajoie about mental resiliency, and why it's so important for those who work in health care. Find out how to build and maintain your mental resiliency.  Follow The Ottawa Hospital on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram: @OttawaHospital.  Music Credit: BENSOUND Sci-Fi.