General and Academic Updates

As a reminder, LHSC’s influenza mask policy came into effect on December 1. All non-vaccinated staff and physicians are required to wear a procedure mask in patient care areas such as clinical units, ambulatory care areas, and defined patient waiting areas. Masks will not need to be worn in places such as hallways, elevators, cafeterias, or the Tim Horton’s line-up. Additionally, non-vaccinated visitors, patients attending ambulatory clinics and inpatients leaving their room will also be asked to wear a procedure mask. Proof of vaccination will not be required for our patients or visitors.

We have seen a strong start to LHSC’s influenza immunization campaign with 60 per cent of staff already vaccinated. For those yet to be vaccinated there will be plenty of opportunity to receive immunization as clinics will be rotating throughout Victoria Hospital and University Hospital over the next two weeks.

Specific times for influenza clinics at each site can be viewed on the OHSS website. Influenza immunization is also available through the Occupational Health and Safety Department offices and from peer vaccinators.
Thank you for continuing to protect our patients and visitors throughout influenza season by either choosing to immunize against influenza or choosing to wear a mask.

RADIOLOGY UPDATE FOR COMMUNITY PHYSICIANS

On October 15, the St. Joseph’s Health Care (London) Radiologists held an evening education session for London’s Family Physicians and Specialists, called “Radiology Update for Community Physicians”. Forty-five community physicians attended, and heard talks by: Dr. Olga Shmuilovich, Dr. Zahra Kassam, Dr. Justin Amann and Dr. Greg Garvin.

In addition, Mylene Chafe from E-Health Ontario gave a presentation regarding the Ministry of Health’s new initiative to make all of Ontario’s digitally archived PACS images and reports available to the ordering physicians online using a new secure provincial server. This led to some lively (and skeptical) discussion from the audience. Feedback from the attendees was very positive. This may become a biannual event.

EBOLA VIRUS UPDATE

The Ebola virus disease is a rare and severe viral disease. The virus can infect both humans and non-human primates (such as monkeys, gorillas and chimpanzees). When infected, people can get very sick, with fever, intense weakness, headache, sore throat and pains, and in severe cases, may bleed from different parts of the body (i.e. hemorrhage).
The Ebola virus does not spread easily from person to person. It is spread through direct contact with infected bodily fluids, not through casual contact. Severely ill patients require intensive supportive care.

Based on the World Health Organization situation analysis, the following geographic areas are currently affected by Ebola virus disease: Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo - Equateur Province (these cases are not related to the current Ebola outbreak in the countries of West Africa listed above).

The risk to Ontarians remains low. However, LHSC continues to work on preparedness plans for Ebola. The MOH and LTC issued a new directive specific to paramedic services land and air ambulance and first responders. Although not intended for acute care hospitals, it will directly affect LHSC. As of November 13, new electronic travel screening processes as well as LHSC’s Ebola preparedness can be found on the intranet under the heading “Ebola Update”.

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM UPDATE — JACKIE WINDSOR

At the RSNA Annual General Meeting (November 30 – December 5), all Undergraduate Program Directors met to share experiences around each prospective university’s delivery of undergraduate education. Short, 10-minute presentations were prepared and discussed. Dr. Anil Shastry was unable to attend so Jackie Windsor attended on his behalf and presented our undergraduate education experiences and the new research project in collaboration with Dr. Lum regarding a survey that will be distributed to all Undergraduate Education Program Directors across Canada.

Dr. Rebecca Peterson from the University of Ottawa Chaired the meeting. Dr. Kari Visscher, a Resident in Medical Imaging, initiated a study around undergraduate education so her findings were presented at this meeting. Dr. Visscher has found that multiple exposures to radiology exist. Student ranking of importance varies depending on the year of training; and medical students value radiology education. They want exposure that is comprehensive and of high quality; and c) students are resourceful. They suggest ways to improve quality of exposure (both formal and informal).

Attendees were invited to take part in Dr. Visscher’s study to explore ways around improving our undergraduate medical education as it relates to Medical Imaging, specifically. For more information or to assist Dr. Visscher, please contact her at kari.visscher@londonhospitals.ca

RESIDENCY PROGRAM UPDATE — RODGER MORAN

It has been a busy fall for both residency programs within the Department of Medical Imaging. Excitement is in the air as both programs get ready for the CaRMS season to begin and the PGY5’s are getting ever closer to graduation.

The Resident BBQ was a great success, as was the second annual Resident vs. Staff Softball Game. The staff failed to repeat as champions, as the residents scored a decisive victory (17-11). Pictures of both events are available on the Radiology Residency Program Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/westernradres.

In Nuclear Medicine this summer, we welcomed back one of our graduates, Dr. David Laidley, who is currently doing a fellowship specializing in Nuclear Cardiology. The summer also saw us welcome a total of 7 PGY1’s into the department: Drs. Miad Alsulami (Nuclear Medicine), George Counter (Nuclear Medicine), Lina Hijazi (Nuclear Medicine), Klaudia Jumaa (Radiology), Harry Marshall (Radiology), Sohaib Munir (Radiology) and Vinod Ramlal (Radiology).

During the past several months, the Radiology Residency Program has been utilizing WebEX to deliver city-wide rounds. This has provided the opportunity for residents to have equal access to the same sub-specialty teaching regardless of which site they are stationed.