The Westerner for April 12, 2010
Meeting: chair, Ben Doz; music, Jerome; grace, Bob Kimmerly
Attendance/Guests: 36 including Ray Philipenko, guest of Duane; Cheryl Bauer, Rotary Club of Edmonton; Mary O'Neil and Gary Faulkner, guest speakers
Grandview Extended Care Centre: Ben Doz thanked Jerome for the recent gala and indicated another gala will occur in May
Integrity Awards: see Jerome for tickets, April 21 @ Sutton Place Hotel, $45
Paul Harris Night: April 19, come and applaud, 6:00 pm for cocktails, view displays, 7:00 dinner and presentations, expect $40 each
Interact fund raiser: see Ron for tickets, April 30 @ Sawmill banquet, 6:00 pm
Belise: jubilation over our agreement to fund the elementary school toilet project; Duane circulated a picture received by email showing the main Belisians at the announcement; our cost is about $7,500 of which individual club members have agreed to contribute $4,000 - well done: Duane advised Rotary Club of Edmonton and Calgary Olympic have heard of our project/program and wish to contirbute dollars to get the job done - this is for the balance of the needs past the toilet health initiative
Hockey Pool Winners: Don Hamilton; Mike Ryan; Jim Rowand
50/50 Jasbeer and Jerome, no match
Finemaster: Steve started out like Johnny Carson; after the stories he got everyone for World Curling/Masters Golf lack of knowledge
Guest Speakers: Gary Faulkner, director of research for Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital and Mary O'Neil, executive director of Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation, made a power point presentation with Gary (MD) doing most of the talking.
The Glenrose is the largest free standing comprehensive tertiary rehabilitation faciltity in North America. After the emergency/acute phase, most health care is rehabilitation. The Glenrose has 244 in patient beds (average stay is now reduced to 40 days) but sees 20,000 out patients - there are 1,600 employees plus many volunteers. Patients run from children to geriatics - clinical focus is to use technology - makes things possible for people with disabilities.
Innovations - plasticity of the brain - relearn what we have lost - use a new part of the brain to learn these functions - use it, improve it, repetition with intensity over a long time. Digital revolution - computing power, wireless communication, has to matter to the patient, cognitive learning, robotics, tele rehab (in the home).
Foundation helps with the funding - courage of patients is encouraged by donors - funds make the rehab process a twenty first century program - redesigned Easy Street to Courage Centre (opens November, 2010) - atrium plus 4 zones - learning technology (staff and patients), virtual reality pod, robotics, simulated activities (relearning). Naming of the centre and zones is in process - honouring donors - will be in the newspaper over the next 2-3 weeks.
Robotics (lower & upper extremity therapy) - threadmill, computer, robot = Locomat - simulates walking.
Virtual reality - recreate the environment.
Caren System - Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment - training for balance/coordination - Canadian Military is interested in this system - none in Canada yet - amputees to function within the military as with the same faculties as prior to their trauma.
Driving simulator - rehab for stroke victims to learn to drive again (and they are not on the road for this learning - we may be safe for the moment).
Smart homes - telecare telehealth - training, monitoring vital signs at home - transmit to the Glenrose - lifeline home unit connects via telephone lines.
Cognitive learning - learn through video games - helps heart attack and stroke victims regain use of their faculties.
Gary and Mary were thanked by Ben Doz.