BATHURST, NB, June 12, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - The administrations of Shriners Hospitals for Children - Canada and the Chaleur Regional Hospital in Bathurst, represented by Dr. François Fassier from Montreal and Gisèle Beaulieu in Bathurst, celebrated the tenth anniversary of the outreach clinic today. The clinic has welcomed more than 800 patients from across New Brunswick and Atlantic Canada since opening in 2002. Treatments offered at the clinic enable families to receive specialized care in their region without having to travel to Montreal. The local Shriners Temples were also able to save an estimated $2.2 million in patient travel expenses.
During the four annual Shriners Hospitals' clinics at the Chaleur Regional Hospital, a team made up of an orthopeadic surgeon and a clinical nurse specialist from Shriners Hospitals for Children-Canada in Montreal travel to Bathurst to provide treatment and follow-up care for children close to their home community.
"The follow-ups that the Shriners Hospital provide are so important because we feel supported despite the distance," said Diane Guignard, mother of 15 year-old Alex Stever, who has been followed since the age of 5 for cerebral palsy.
"We are very proud of the work that we are doing to raise funds to help cover the expenses of families who must travel to the Montreal hospital or the Outreach Clinic in Bathurst," explained Darryl Stothart, coordinator of the Shriners Hospitals for Children - Canada Outreach Clinic and member of the hospital's Board of Governors. "We estimate that we have saved $2.2 million over the last 10 years," Mr. Stothart added.
"Thanks to local Shriners' continued support, the partnership with the Chaleur Regional Hospital and a shared concern for the children's wellbeing, the clinic is able to fulfill its mandate by reducing the heavy travel burden on patients and their families and improving access to quality specialized health services," emphasized Dr. François Fassier, a surgeon at Shriners Hospitals for Children - Canada and the physician in charge of the clinic.
"Thanks to the generosity of the Luxor Shriners Outreach Clinic, the Chaleur Regional Hospital has been able to acquire numerous pieces of equipment needed to treat, not only kids like Alex through the medium of the Outreach Clinic, but countless others throughout our region year round. For the past 10 years, the Luxor Shriners Outreach Clinic has given patients and their families from all over New Brunswick access to the quality treatment they needed at minimum cost closer to home.
Thus, we were pleased to have had Dr. Fassier, Mr. Stothart, Alex and many others distinguished guests for the unveiling of a commemorative plaque which has been placed on the door of the Luxor Shriners Outreach Clinic at the Chaleur Regional Hospital to outline their involvement and gifting of over $ 100,000 to our hospital over the past decade." said Mr. Jean-Guy Robichaud, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Chaleur Regional Hospital Foundation.
"The Shriners' investment in human and financial resources in the Outreach Clinic is remarkable. During the past ten years, children and families in New Brunswick have benefited from specialized health services without having the financial and emotional burden to travel a long distance. This is a remarkable commitment from the Shriners towards our community and we are very grateful," said the Chaleur Regional Hospital's executive director, Gisèle Beaulieu.
"Without the Shriners and Shiners Hospitals for Children-Canada in Montreal, Cassandra would not be walking and she would not be the young girl she is today", said Guylaine Fongémie, Cassandra's mother.
About Shriners Hospitals for Children® - Canada
Located in Montreal, Shriners Hospitals for Children - Canada is a bilingual, short term, acute care centre providing elective pediatric orthopaedic health care. The role of the hospital is to promote health and to provide treatment and rehabilitation to children with orthopaedic and neuromuscular problems. The hospital is committed to excellence and innovation in clinical practice, research and education and to providing a caring environment to families. The hospital is affiliated with McGill University and provides clinical experience and teaching for residents and allied professionals.
The hospital offers services in Canadian communities with Shriners Hospitals for Children - Canada's Outreach Clinics. The first was created in Sudbury, Ontario in 1999; the St. John's' clinic, which later moved to Gander, Newfoundland, opened in 2001; the Bathurst, New Brunswick clinic opened in 2002 and the Halifax, Nova Scotia clinic opened in 2003. The hospital has also operated a satellite clinic in Winnipeg, Manitoba since 2009 and has been offering telemedicine technology consultations since 2004.
Shriners Hospitals for Children® -Canada has been changing the world through caring for kids since its opening on February 18, 1925.
Image with caption: "Jean-Guy Robichaud, Chairman of the Board of the Chaleur Regional Hospital Foundation, Gisèle Beaulieu, Executive Director of the Chaleur Regional Hospital, Cassandra and Alex patients of the outpatient clinic present François Fassier, M.D., Emeritus Chief of Staff of Shriners Hospitals for Children-Canada and Daryll Stothart, North Shore Shriners Bathurst Outreach Clinic Coordinator with a special commemorative plaque. (CNW Group/SHRINERS HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN (CANADA))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120612_C7879_PHOTO_EN_15014.jpg
Image with caption: "Shriners Winston MacKay and Daryll Stothart from the Luxor Temple in New Brunswick were recognized for their leadership in the development of the Bathurst Outreach Clinic over the past 10 years. In the photo, François Fassier, M.D., Emeritus Chief of Staff at Shriners Hospitals for Children-Canada presents Daryll Stothart with a special recognition certificate (CNW Group/SHRINERS HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN (CANADA))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120612_C7879_PHOTO_EN_15016.jpg
Image with caption: "Alex (14 years old) One of the first Bathurst outreach clinic patients (CNW Group/SHRINERS HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN (CANADA))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120612_C7879_PHOTO_EN_15006.jpg
Image with caption: "10th Anniversary Bathurst Outreach Clinic (CNW Group/SHRINERS HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN (CANADA))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120612_C7879_PHOTO_EN_15020.jpg
PDF available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/media/2012/06/12/20120612_C7879_DOC_EN_15008.pdf
PDF available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/media/2012/06/12/20120612_C7879_DOC_EN_15009.pdf
NOTE FOR MEDIA: On Tuesday, June 12th Dr. François Fassier will be available for interviews in Bathurst (New Brunswick) until 3:30pm (local time) and will be available after his flight to Montreal (Quebec) as of 5:45pm (local time).
Emmanuelle Rondeau
Communications & Marketing Manager
Shriners Hospitals for Children®- Canada
Mobile : 514-207-1057
[email protected]
Rémi Godin
Communications and Programs Officer
Development Bureau Zone 6
Vitalité Health Network
Development Bureau (Foundations)
Tel.: 506-544-3784 - Fax: 506-544-2466
[email protected] - www.santevitalitehealth.ca
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