Clockwise from rear left: Claude, Liz, Kerry, Agnes, Christine and Lisa.
Matt Kwok
Congratulations to the two teams from Richmond that received People First Recognition at Monday’s Strategic Implementation Forum for the incredible work they did on behalf of two patients. One of the teams brought about the international repatriation of a mentally ill man from South American to Canada after many years away and reunited him with his family while the other team arranged an impromptu family wedding at Richmond Hospital.
International transfer and family reunion
- Kerry Baisley, Director Client Relations & Risk Managment
- Liz Cochlan, RN, Emergency
- Christine Deziel, Coordinator Acute Psychiatry
- Matthew Kwok, Physician, Emergency
- Lisa Ramage, Manager Acute Psychiatry
- Claude Stang, Manager, Emergency
- Agnes To, Psychiatrist
Richmond Mental Health and Addictions was contacted by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade to provide information and assistance to aid in the repatriation of a Canadian man with severe, persistent mental illness. Having committed a serious crime in South America as a result of his illness, the man had been imprisoned. Prior to that he had been homeless and/or living marginally for several years in Mexico and South America.
Richmond’s Acute Psychiatry Program worked proactively and collaboratively with Foreign Affairs, the Richmond RCMP, Canadian Border Services, the medical transport provider, Richmond Hospital Emergency Department and the individual’s family to facilitate a smooth and safe transport and assessment process from the Vancouver International Airport.
The individual received a comprehensive medical assessment and was admitted for psychiatric treatment. The individual’s family, who had not seen him in about nine years, was reunited with him at Richmond Hospital. The Acute Psychiatry Team then facilitated the individual’s transfer to an appropriate care setting in the Fraser Health Authority, where his family resides.
There were many risk factors associated with the repatriation and assessment/treatment process which were handled with sensitivity and professionalism. A truly coordinated multi-agency collaboration resulted in the safe return of a loved family member to those who had worried about his safety and well-being for many years – and provided him with access to needed psychiatric medications/treatments.
Following is an excerpt from the letter of thanks from the Deputy Director, Department of Foreign Affairs : “They were clearly the right people for the job. Many thanks to all of the members of your team for their efforts. It was a great pleasure to work such professionals.”
Lisa Ramage and Natalie McCarthy, director, Mental Health and Addiction Services, subsequently participated in a Federal/Provincial Conference on Consular Services, where they gave an overview of how they collaborated with Foreign Affairs and other partners (RCMP; Border Services), and on the factors that contributed to a smooth and safe transport and hospitalization process for this individual.
A Hospital Wedding
- ICU Team
- Marion Wardley, Administration
- Phillip Tse, Spiritual Care Practitioner
- Justin Wong, Physician Critical Care
This team went the extra mile to ensure that an ICU patient could be present at his daughter’s wedding.
The patient had been in the ICU for a period of time. His daughter’s wedding was planned for 2013, and he and his family made a decision to have the wedding sooner. They figured out that most of the people would be in the Lower Mainland during the Labour Day weekend so they decided to hold it then. Dad’s wish was for the wedding to be outside and that he could attend.
A plan was developed to have the wedding on the Palliative Care balcony at Richmond Hospital over the long weekend. ICU nurse Jennifer Singleton accompanied the patient to the ceremony, stayed with him, and then returned him to ICU. Marion Wardley arranged for the supply of chairs and Philip Tse assisted the family in locating a Commissioner to conduct the service.
A small reception was held afterwards in a family home; a bigger reception will be planned when the patient is discharged home.
Congratulations to both teams on your well deserved recognition!
To meet the other recipients of People First awards from across Vancouver Coastal Health, check out the People First page on VCH Connect.