Power to Heal

Hospital emergency departments were originally designed for just that: treating urgent medical needs that require immediate attention. If a lengthier stay was necessary, patients were sent upstairs to one of the wards where longer-term care and comfort could be provided.  But with overcrowding becoming increasingly common in ERs around the province (and all across Canada), many patients find thems...

The model for Foundry youth centres is based on “coming together, listening and learning.”  This is more than just a slogan: It’s what they actually do.  Created to remove barriers to quality care for youth ages 12-24 in British Columbia, Foundry centres bring together integrated health, wellness and social services for young people in one location. At a time when one in four Canadian youth are af...

Power to Heal Season 5 An integral part of hundreds of thousands of communities worldwide are their hospitals.  The engine that drives those institutions are their foundations, without which, the wheels of progress would turn very slowly.  This series uncovers the ways the Peace Arch Hospital Foundation in White Rock, British Columbia connects with the community to stay ahead of health issues, cha...

Season 5 Episode 1  Show Notes Young people in their teens or early 20s should be enjoying a special time filled with hopes, dreams and discoveries as they lay the groundwork for adulthood. But today, too many are instead experiencing a precarious world teeming with danger, instability and uncertainty.  The statistics bear this out: 1 in 4 Canadian youths are affected by mental health or substance...

Welcome to Season 5 Of The Power To Heal. An integral part of hundreds of thousands of communities worldwide are their hospitals.  The engine that drives those institutions are their foundations, without which, the wheels of progress would turn very slowly.  This series uncovers the ways the Peace Arch Hospital Foundation in White Rock, British Columbia connects with the community to stay ahead of...

S4 E6 A Doctor’s Cancer Journey: From Healing to Hope Cancer journeys can begin in many different ways, with symptoms often appearing to be minor: a seemingly innocent skin mole that starts changing colour or size; an annoyingly persistent cough; or inexplicable weight loss. “I was in the operating room at Peace Arch Hospital getting ready for a day of surgery. And alongside me was one of my surgi...

Easing the way in the ER for kids (and grownups) A visit to the hospital’s emergency department can be stressful for anyone, but for children it’s downright terrifying. All the strange sounds, smells and equipment in this unfamiliar place only heighten the fear an ill or injured child is already experiencing. But an ER doctor at Peace Arch Hospital in White Rock, British Columbia, is determined to...

PAH S4 E4 – Show notes Portable Pain Management “ One of the biggest risks of delirium in hip fracture patients is pain management — and we usually treat that pain with narcotics and sedatives. And of course, too much narcotics and too much sedatives also leads to delirium. So it's a real fine line between our treatment and the disease itself.” Imagine visiting an elderly family member or friend w...

PAH S4 E3 Putting the Hospital in “Hospitality” A visitor to the kitchen at Peace Arch Hospital would likely be surprised to discover that very little food preparation and cooking is taking place. Warm expectations of clanging pots and pans and tantalizing aromas from freshly prepared soups and sauces would be quickly cooled by the sterile, industrial environment that actually exists. That’s becau...

“Planning Your Legacy” “I always say that estate planning is for everyone. That's because at the end of the day, no one lives forever, and anyone can experience an accident or illness that renders them incapable.” - Grace Cleveland, lawyer (Estate Planning, Administration and Litigation) It’s something that too many people put off until, sadly, it’s too late. And without it, your hopes of...

Hospital Auxiliary Bake sales, thrift shops, and nice retired ladies from the local community. If those are your first impressions when you hear the words “hospital auxiliary,” you would be only partly right. In what might be described as a warm embrace, the Peace Arch Hospital Auxiliary surrounds the healthcare centre it supports with thoughtful patient comforts and medical equipment that might n...

When emergencies occur, we rely on local teams of dedicated professionals to get to the scene fast – and first. That’s why police officers, paramedics, firefighters and other emergency personnel are known as first responders. These are the people with the training, skills and equipment that you want to see first when the unthinkable happens and disaster strikes. But for many first responders, that...

The White Rock/South Surrey area is home to many New Canadians worldwide, including a significant community with roots in China. Like all newcomers to this country, Chinese Canadians can often experience an unsettling transition to their new surroundings, encountering language barriers, strange customs, and, in general, a different way of life that may seem confusing and counter-intuitive to the o...

The sounds of a busy hospital kitchen have changed over the years, including at Peace Arch Hospital in White Rock BC.  New technology and pre-packaged meals, introduced for greater efficiency and cost-savings, have somewhat muted the clanging of pots and pans. But there’s a new movement underway to return to an old concept: full-service food production, with meals prepared from scratch. In this ep...

It’s a medical condition known as the “silent thief.” It can occur over several years without any obvious symptoms. By the time it is diagnosed, this disease which impacts at least 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men is already advanced and more difficult to treat. It’s osteoporosis, a condition that causes bones to become thin and more susceptible to breakage. In fact, osteoporosis is the reason for over...

The garden at the Ellen Sinclair Kennett Lodge in White Rock, British Columbia, has a special feature that isn’t a plant or decorative touch. It’s there, but It’s also invisible, at least at first glance. That’s because this tranquil spot, found at a Long-Term Care facility near the city’s Peace Arch Hospital, is built around a philosophy – a belief that nature can provide peace and comfort for bo...

In early summer of 2023, the Peace Arch Hospital Foundation Lodge was renamed in honour of the Foundation's first board chair, Hospital Auxiliary Member, health care trailblazer and White Rock/South Surrey community advocate, the late Ellen Sinclair Kennett. Her connection with PAH stretches all the way back to 1948, when Ellen began fundraising for what would eventually become Peace Arch Hospital...

Imaging technology is at the forefront of all medical diagnoses. From acute care settings to complex emergencies, MRIs, X-Rays, and Ultrasounds play an important role in a patient’s journey from illness and disease to diagnosis and management of ailments. And the newest medical imaging technologies can transform the care experience for both patients and physicians, providing more accurate diagnosi...

In our next episode: From faster and more accurate screening and diagnosis to offering minimally-invasive procedures, the latest advancements in medical imaging have revolutionized patient care. But what happens when your local hospital finds its budget stretched, and can’t purchase new diagnostic equipment – or even maintain its older MRI, X-Ray, and Ultrasound machines? In this episode of Power...

In this episode of Power to Heal , we’ll introduce you to some highly motivated young people who volunteer as part of the Peace Arch Hospital Foundation’s “Youth in Action” program. This unique initiative, which engages local grade 10-12 students in the White Rock/South Surrey area who want to make a difference in their community, has been catching the eye of other non-profits and youth-oriented v...

In the next episode of Power to Heal , we’ll introduce you to some highly motivated young people who volunteer as part of the Peace Arch Hospital Foundation’s “Youth in Action” program. This unique initiative, which engages local grade 10-12 students in the White Rock/South Surrey area who want to make a difference in their community, has been catching the eye of other non-profits and youth-orient...

The firefighters standing in front of Peace Arch Hospital on an autumn day last year weren’t there to respond to an emergency, but they were there to respond to an urgent need. Instead of ladders, hoses, and other firefighting equipment, they had brought a large cheque – large in physical size, large in dollar amount, and very large in terms of heart and commitment to the local communities they se...

A perfect storm has descended on hospital emergency rooms. The shortage of family physicians that was apparent before the pandemic has worsened since COVID-19, with many medical doctors taking early retirement or switching career paths due to exhaustion and burn out. With walk-in clinics now booked up days in advance, many people seeking non-critical medical care are turning to their local hospita...

On this episode, you’ll meet 27-year-old Logan, an employee of the Peace Arch Hospital Foundation who recently experienced the hospital through the lens of being a patient herself.  Logan’s dramatic, sometimes frightening story begins with a mysterious ailment causing pain in her hip and leg. A medical imaging scan would likely reveal the problem, but as her condition worsens, she comes up against...

On our next episode, you’ll meet 27-year-old Logan, an employee of the Peace Arch Hospital Foundation who recently experienced the hospital through the lens of being a patient herself.  Logan’s dramatic, sometimes frightening story begins with a mysterious ailment causing pain in her hip and leg. A medical imaging scan would likely reveal the problem, but as her condition worsens, she comes up aga...