It’s become almost routine to say that miracles happen every day at the Jewish General Hospital. But the full meaning of that phrase really hit home this past week, with the announcement that one of the smallest premature babies ever to have been born and survived in Quebec — originally weighing only 375 grams — was finally going home.

Little Amelia was born last September at the JGH and now weights more than 4 pounds. Warmest congratulations to Dr. Apostolos Papageorgiou, Chief of Pediatrics and Neonatology, and to the entire team, especially the dedicated nursing staff. This week’s wonderful achievement is typical of the outstanding work of our many healthcare teams throughout the hospital, who consistently apply their varied yet complementary skills to dealing with some extraordinary challenges.

The JGH is proud to be a provincial referral centre for high-risk pregnancies — all part of our determination to do our best on behalf the people of Quebec through our in-house expertise and our work with partners across the province to strengthen and improve the public healthcare system.

La Presse made my day today (December 17) by devoting a full page to the wonderful work that the JGH’s Herzl CRIU Walk-in Centre has been doing.

The article notes that since 2010, the Centre has helped find family physicians for patients who have no doctor; has treated certain patients who might otherwise have put a heavier burden on our Emergency Department; and has been available without appointment to anyone (even non-JGH patients) who need medical assistance.

Included are quotes from me and from Dr. Michael Malus, Director of the Centre and Chief of Family Medicine. I’m glad the Centre is getting the recognition it deserves, because it’s a key player in the JGH’s strategy of taking innovative steps to work with its partners in Montreal’s and Quebec’s healthcare networks to improve the quality of care province-wide.

Word is getting around about the great success that the JGH’s Herzl CRIU Walk-In Centre has had in finding a family doctor for many Montreal residents who previously lacked this sort of care. Now they can turn to their family practitioners, instead of coming to the JGH Emergency Department and adding its overcrowding.

In general, the Walk-in Centre’s multi-disciplinary program helps more than 40,000 patients a year. Curious to hear more? Than listen to a recent interview with Dr. Michael Malus (JGH Chief of Family Medicine and Director of the Walk-In Centre) on the program “Le 2 à 4” on Radio X Montreal.

I thoroughly enjoyed an opportunity recently to join Dr. Michael Malus (JGH Chief of Family Medicine and Director of the Herzl CRIU Walk-In Centre) and Mina Ladores (the Walk-In Centre’s Head Nurse) in an interview on CIBL Radio Montreal. Michael and Mina did a terrific job, as we explained to reporter Marguerite Arsenault how the Walk-In Centre has helped lessen the patient load in the Emergency Department.

If you missed the broadcast, you can hear it now.

I was very gratified to read a recent article in La Presse that explored the JGH’s success in alleviating overcrowding in our Emergency Department. This is yet another example of how the JGH’s collaboration with its partners in government and health care has helped strengthen the Quebec healthcare system.

Since a large part of the ER’s success is due to its cooperation with the JGH’s Herzl CRIU Walk-In Centre, I want to extend a special thank-you to Dr. Michael Malus, Herzl Director and Chief of Family Medicine, Head Nurse Mina Ladores and Administrator Isabel Pereira for participating in the newspaper interview and for their hard work in heading up the terrific team at the Walk-In Centre.

Their outstanding efforts benefit over 40 000 patients a year. The article is available on the La Presse website. 

As we head into flu season, I encourage everyone to consider getting vaccinated and to be even more vigilant about proper hand hygiene and cleanliness in general. This is something that we must do not only for ourselves, but for the sake of our patients and our colleagues.

I recently had a wonderful opportunity to visit James Bay and tour the hydroelectric facility with a few members of the JGH team.

This project is testimony to the incredible skill, creativity and vision of Quebec. In the midst of construction scandals, it’s important to keep in mind what Quebec is indeed capable of in constructing magnificent projects of great value to all Quebecers. Although Pavilion K is not nearly on the same scale, it also speaks to excellence in construction.

Equally impressive was the incredible beauty of northern Quebec, which you can glimpse in some of the photos from the trip.

Quebec has a new government and a new Health Minister, Rejéan Hébert, who by reputation is extremely intelligent and committed to improving the public healthcare system. I will be meeting with him shortly to establish a truly collaborative relationship and to paint a picture of how the JGH is working to strengthen the system.

The difficulties and challenges that we face relate to the economic reality. Quebec is in a deficit position and there probably will be significant cuts to healthcare funding.

I believe that although this is likely to be painful to all of us, there is no doubt that we have the expertise, culture and leadership in all of our portfolios to preserve all that is good about the JGH as a caring hospital that provides high-quality health care. This means we will need to face the fact of doing more with less.

Dear staff members,

Yesterday we welcomed the surveyors from Accreditation Canada that will be here with us all week. The process began on a very positive note.

I would like to personally thank all of the leaders and members of the 21 JGH Accreditation teams who have worked tirelessly in ensuring that the hospital is prepared to receive the surveyors. Accreditation standards assess governance, risk management, leadership, infection prevention and control, communication, worklife and medication management, as well as required organizational practices and services in over 30 sectors.

Accreditation surveyors can ask any staff member questions about the hospital’s policies, mission statement and your role in safety. Your cooperation and courtesy towards the surveyors are much appreciated throughout this process.