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April 18, 2013

GF Strong’s ALS Team accept the ALSBC’s Leadership Development Award at the Quilchena Golf and Country Club (l to r): Phil Dubois, president of the ALS Society of BC; Dr. Hannah Briemberg, ALS Team neurologist; Brigitte Poirier, ALS Team speech language pathologist; Gwyn Moe, ALS Team physiotherapist; Nancy Forseth, ALS Team occupational therapist; and Donna Bartel, chairperson of Team ALS BC & Yukon.

GF Strong team honoured with an ALS Society of BC award

GF Strong’s ALS Team accept the ALSBC’s Leadership Development Award at the Quilchena Golf and Country Club (l to r): Phil Dubois, president of the ALS Society of BC; Dr. Hannah Briemberg, ALS Team neurologist; Brigitte Poirier, ALS Team speech language pathologist; Gwyn Moe, ALS Team physiotherapist; Nancy Forseth, ALS Team occupational therapist; and Donna Bartel, chairperson of Team ALS BC & Yukon.

GF Strong’s ALS Team accept the ALSBC’s Leadership Development Award at the Quilchena Golf and Country Club (l to r): Phil Dubois, president of the ALS Society of BC; Dr. Hannah Briemberg, ALS Team neurologist; Brigitte Poirier, ALS Team speech language pathologist; Gwyn Moe, ALS Team physiotherapist; Nancy Forseth, ALS Team occupational therapist; and Donna Bartel, chairperson of Team ALS BC & Yukon.

“They always go above and beyond,” says Wendy Toyer, executive director, ALS Society of BC (ALSBC). “Whether it’s as the Mobile Clinic, travelling to people who can’t get treatment at GF Strong, or as volunteers at camps for kids, nobody else in the province has the same kind of dedication as they have.”

“They” are the 15 members of our very own Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Team at the GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre. And they — we’re proud to say — were honoured with the ALSBC’s Leadership Development Award on April 9, 2013.

“It’s great to have this recognition, because I enjoy working with this team,” says Eva Cham, an occupational therapist who has been with the ALS Team for more that six years. “We all work really well together and everyone’s really dedicated.”

In addition to Eva, the interdisciplinary team includes social workers, neurologists, as well as a clinic nurse, occupational therapist, dietician, speech language pathologist, physiotherapist and an EMG tech. Together, they bring their individual expertise to help people with the rapidly progressive neuromuscular disease. Life expectancy after diagnosis is three to five years.

For ALS patients, time is precious, mobility becomes limited and quality care is essential. So, the ALS Team decided to take treatment to the patients. Since holding their first Mobile Clinic in 2008, the team has taken the initiative to conduct up to four clinics annually in communities across B.C. In 2012, they added Chilliwack to the rotation.

“The ALS Team was very caring and supportive, and their follow-up was really timely,” says Joanne, a patient treated by the Mobile Clinic in Nanaimo. “My mother and I felt that we were listened to, and that our needs will be addressed.”

In the spirit of our True North and promoting better health in our communities, Wendy notes that members of the GF Strong team go above and beyond in other ways, too. They support ALSBC’s Caregivers’ Day, providing much-needed respite, and Camp Alohi Lani for children with a parent or grandparent living with ALS. And that’s just scratching the surface.

“The relationship that ALSBC has with the ALS team is unique,” Wendy adds. “We’re thankful every day for this group of people.”

Eva says that it isn’t only her team that she enjoys working with, but also the clients and their families.

“It’s a privilege to work with these clients and their families. They’re very remarkable people – they’re definitely inspiring.”

ALSBC has nominated the GF Strong team for the ALS Society of Canada’s William Fraser Leadership Development Award. Please stay tuned.