Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation

We are busy preparing for the grand re-opening of the Eye Institute of Alberta happening next week! Thanks to donors, the space was redesigned to improve patient experience including improvements to way-finding and waiting rooms.

Kaleen's son was diagnosed with Alstrom Syndrome in 2013. Alstrom Syndrome is a rare genetic disease that impacts multiple organs in the body including the eye and heart. To complete the diagnosis, a full electroretinogram is needed.
An electroretinogram tests the function of the photoreceptor cells in the eye. A regular electroretinogram requires the patient to be put under anesthesics which was a huge risk for a young patient with a heart condition.
Thanks to donations from the Lions Club of Alberta, the Eye Institute of Alberta was able to obtain a RETeval device which perfoms an electroretinogram without anesthesia. This not only increases the efficiency of the procedure but also increases patient comfort and decreases the risks to the patient.

The Patient & Provider Experience Summit is an annual event for individuals who work in healthcare and is dedicated on the importance of empathy, understanding, and communication in healthcare and to improving the experience for our providers, both staff, and physicians.
Please note that this event is for healthcare employees.
Our current list of speakers includes David Irvine, a sought-after international speaker, author, and mentor whose work has contributed to the buil...ding of accountable, vital and engaged organizations across North America. As one of Canada’s most respected voices on leadership and personal development, the Patient and Provider Experience Summit is thrilled to welcome David to our program.
Also joining this year's summit the well-known face of the Alberta wildfires—and widely celebrated national hero—Darby Allen. Darby is sure to inspire attendees with his insight on how in times of crisis, healthcare staff and physicians can do their jobs, stay strong, and lead with compassion.
A full listing of speakers and breakout sessions will soon be available.
Early bird tickets are available now! Early bird pricing will end on September 15th.
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Six years ago, Constable Michael Jaszczyszyn began to have blurred vision in his right eye. Over time, his vision went from blurry to almost completely gone. It was identified that Michael had an optic nerve glioma; a rare cancer that is typically a slow-growing tumor.
Michael’s diagnosis meant he was placed under the care of Dr. Ezekiel Weis, an ocular oncologist at the Eye Institute of Alberta. The tumor needed to removed in its entirety, meaning complete loss of the visio...n in Michael’s right eye.
Returning to work after surgery required many adjustments. Losing his dominant eye meant Michael’s life would be different. Navigating his new reality meant physical challenges: an adjustment in his depth perception, learning to drive with changes to his vision, and retraining himself to shoot left handed are only a few.
Throughout the entire process one thing remained constant, the support Michael found in Dr. Weis.
“Dr. Weis didn’t just tell me I could do it, he stood beside and backed me up when things were uncertain,” remembers Michael. “He even went as far as writing letters and recommendations to my employer supporting my will to return to operational duties. He provided them with the information they needed to make a decision. Now thanks to Dr. Weis, I am working as a trainer on the tactical training unit teaching new officers the skills and abilities I needed to relearn myself.”
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This morning our President, Andrew Otway and Director of Communications, Lindsay Peddle, met with the Riverside Rotary Club and the Royal Glenora Club to discuss the role of the Alex and our hopes for the future redevelopment of the Alex site.
Thank you for having us!
You can learn more about the role of the Alex and the need for redevelopment here: https://www.royalalex.org/healthcare-hero /

The CK Hui Heart Centre performs over 4800 coronary angiograms each year.
A coronary angiogram uses X-ray imaging with a special dye to see the heart's blood vessels to diagnose heart and blood vessel conditions.

Today we were able to celebrate two Amazing at the Alex nominees at the same time!
Congratulations to Dr. Eric Bedard who was nominated by a grateful patient for performing lifesaving surgery.
Congratulations to Unit 31 who was nominated by a patient's family member for providing exceptional patient care and resolving a critical issue in a very professional and efficient manner.
... Thank you to Dr. Bedard and Unit 31 for your exceptional care of our patients!
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Congratulations to Dillion Samms for being Amazing at the Alex!
Dillion was nominated by the Emergency Department for going above and beyond with one of our community members that came to our hospital for a mental health emergency.
Dillion is the fourth member of our Protective Services team to recently receive an Amazing at the Alex nomination. Our hospital is so lucky to have such an outstanding Protective Services team!
... Dillion (holding the heart) is pictured here with members of our Foundation team.
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In 1953, Canada experienced its worst polio epidemic on record. At the Royal Alexandra Hospital, 415 people entered the isolation unit and one quarter required a respirator to breathe. Many of these respirators were negative pressure ventilators, often referred to as an iron lung.
Join us for our Edmonton and District Historical Society week event on July 3 as Dr. Mark Joffe, Vice President & Medical Director for Northern Alberta for Alberta Health Services, provides an overv...iew of the Polio outbreak in Alberta that occurred in the 1940’s and peaked in 1953 highlighting the unique role of the Royal Alexandra Hospital during the epidemic and how it helped to shape healthcare history in our city and our province.
Learn more and register at: https://goo.gl/eXuc16
#throwbackthursday #tbt
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Thank you to everyone that came out to our Summer Party in the Healing Garden! Over 700 people came by to have an ice cream and spend some time in the sun. Thank you to our hospital staff for everything you do!

It's our annual Summer Party in the Lois Hole Hospital for Women Healing Garden! Thank you to all of our amazing staff!
Join us before 2:00PM for ice cream, popcorn, prizes, sunshine and summer tunes!

In 1912, a new Royal Alexandra Hospital was opened at 111 Avenue and 102 Street where the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital currently is today.
This new hospital cost $150,000 to build and Royal Alexandra Hospital Women's Auxiliary not only held the mortgage but provided over $50,000 worth of furnishings, linens, and dishes for the new hospital.
The Women's Auxiliary is one of our presenters at our Edmonton and District Historical Society Week Event happening on July 3. Lear...n how this organization of inspired women played an integral role in creating and funding a hospital North of the Saskatchewan River.
Learn more and register at: https://goo.gl/eXuc16
#throwbackthursday #tbt
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It’s your last chance to get a Full House Lottery ticket! The final deadline is midnight tonight. Every ticket makes a difference.
Your support is vital in helping create specialized care for women at the Lois Hole Hospital for Women.
Buy before it’s too late at www.fullhouse.ca!

#Throwbackthursday to our hospital's first location at present day 96 Street and 103A Avenue. The original hospital accommodated 25 patients.
Join us to learn more about the history of the Royal Alexandra Hospital at our Edmonton and District Historical Society Week event happening on July 3.
Learn more and register at: https://goo.gl/eXuc16

Take a step back in time and learn about the Royal Alexandra Hospital's storied history. Learn about the people, the site and the care through the years from guest speakers, and end your evening with a short walking tour highlighting some key historical spots along the way.
This is a free event but registration is required.
Guest Speaker - Royal Alexandra Hospital Women's Auxiliary
... Learn from the group that started it all...literally! The Royal Alexandra Hospital Women's Auxiliary are the reason the Royal Alex Hospital exists today. Learn how this incredible group of activated women came to be and the integral role they have played throughout the years since the hospital's inception.
Keynote Address - The Royal Alexandra Hospital and the Polio Outbreak, Dr. Mark Joffe, Vice President & Medical Director for Northern, Alberta Health Services.
For many people today, polio is a thing of the past, not something they have to worry about because of a very effective public campaign that promoted vaccination. However, it was a very real health concern in Alberta in the post-war era. In 1953, Canada experienced its worst polio epidemic on record. An estimated 11,000 people in Canada were left paralyzed by polio between 1949 and 1954. The disease peaked in 1953 with nearly 9,000 cases and 500 deaths. In Alberta, the number of cases shot up from 82 annually to 1,472.
Guest speaker, Dr. Mark Joffe, Vice President & Medical Director for Northern Alberta for Alberta Health Services will provide an overview of the Polio outbreak in Alberta that occurred in the 1940’s and peaked in 1953. Dr. Joffe will also highlight the unique role of the Royal Alexandra Hospital during the epidemic and how it helped to shape healthcare history in our city and our province.
Optional Tour will be available after the formal program.
Join Andrew Otway, President of the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation for a short walking tour of the hospital site. Andrew will identify key points of interest like the underground tunnels, the nursing residence, and the Children’s Pavilion. Learn more about the physical site and how its evolution reflects the evolution of healthcare within Edmonton and the province.
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