eshc

September 3 2024

WE-SPARK Health Institute Releases 5th Annual Impact Report

WE-SPARK Health Institute has proudly released its 5th Annual Impact Report, covering the period from May 2023 to April 2024.

Since its inception in 2019, WE-SPARK Health Institute has been committed to advancing research, education, and community engagement in Windsor-Essex. Over the past five years, the institute has celebrated significant milestones, driven by the collaborative efforts of its members, partners, and supporters.

Thanks to the dedication of WE-SPARK members and a highly successful grants program—awarding over $1 million in seed and bridge grants—the institute has fostered substantial growth in health research across the region. Their events and student programs have played a critical role in aligning with advancements in health research.

The institute’s influence on national health research funding has been profound, with the region’s funding tripling since WE-SPARK’s founding. This increased focus has enhanced the region’s profile and positively impacted local health and vitality. Local health researchers have secured nearly $78 million in external funding and fostered 1,685 active collaborations. Additionally, 2,068 students from Windsor-Essex have gained valuable experience and training opportunities. Through their grants program, WE-SPARK has awarded 85 local grants totaling over $1.4 million, which has generated an additional $4.8 million in national and international funding. These grants have propelled innovative ideas and supported over 455 highly qualified personnel (HQP).

These achievements underscore the exceptional work of WE-SPARK’s staff, the dedication of community champions, and the creativity and passion of their researchers, experts, and students.

WE-SPARK Health Institute is supported by Erie Shores HealthCare, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, St. Clair College, the University of Windsor, and Windsor Regional Hospital. The institute is guided by a Board of Trustees comprising leaders from each of these organizations.

The full report can be accessed here.

About WE-SPARK Health Institute

WE-SPARK Health Institute is an innovative partnership between the University of Windsor, Erie Shores HealthCare, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, St. Clair College, and Windsor Regional Hospital. The institute unites health research strengths, expertise, and infrastructure from across the Windsor/Essex region, fostering collaboration and advancing healthcare innovation.

Media Contact:

Cathy Mombourquette
WE-SPARK Health Institute
226.340.3003
cathy.Mombourquette@uwindsor.ca

Cover-Image-55fff474405deb63dbaf71af06b03d93

August 28 2024

WE-SPARK Health Institute: $412,714 Awarded Locally for Health Research

WINDSOR, ON, August 28, 2024 – WE-SPARK Health Institute and its funding partners have awarded 20 research grants totaling $412,714.00 to tackle local health challenges in its latest round of funding. The celebration event took place at the University of Windsor’s CORe (Centre of Research Excellence) Building.

The grants support early-stage, innovative health research and education projects in Windsor-Essex, aiming to address healthcare gaps, spark new ideas, and foster collaborations. The projects will involve over 140 researchers, trainees, and thousands of participants.

Collaborators span WE-SPARK’s five supporting institutions—Erie Shores HealthCare, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, St. Clair College, the University of Windsor, and Windsor Regional Hospital—along with community members, students, and volunteers.

Dr. Dora Cavallo-Medved, interim director of WE-SPARK, highlighted the increasing interest in grant applications each year. “People are seeing the impact of the investment and are eager to make use of this opportunity,” she said. “These grants not only create jobs but also address pressing issues and position Windsor-Essex as a strong competitor in national funding competitions. The growing number of applications reflects the community’s recognition of the importance of these grants in driving meaningful change.”

The grants are made possible by generous contributions from The Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation, ChildCan, Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association, Tayfour-Emara Excellence in Research and Education Fund, Connecting for a Cause, and the University of Windsor’s Office of Research & Innovation Services, as well as the faculties of Business, Science, Nursing, and Human Kinetics.

Projects will begin in September with details available at: www.wesparkhealth.com/projects.

Since the launch of the WE-SPARK Health Institute grants program in April 2020, over $1.8 million has been awarded for local projects.

“We are so pleased to be funded by a WE-SPARK Igniting Discovery Grant and the Faculty of Nursing to do an initial study on the Nurse Police Teams currently caring for our equity-deserving groups in Windsor. New innovative care models are expanding across Ontario, but little research has been done on how these models impact care providers. Through this grant, we can begin to explore and support best practices for these teams.”

– Dr. Laurie Freeman, Associate Professor, Faculty of Nursing, University of Windsor; Jonathan Foster, Vice President, Emergency, Trauma, Mental Health, Office of Research, Renal and Regional Cancer, Windsor Regional Hospital

“We are incredibly grateful for the support provided by this grant, which will be instrumental in advancing our Oral Health Pathway for the Acute Mental Health Program at Windsor Regional Hospital. This initiative addresses a critical gap in healthcare for some of the most vulnerable individuals in our community. The grant not only empowers us to continue providing essential oral health education and interventions but also positions us as pioneers in this area. We hope our success will serve as a model for other hospitals across the province and the nation, ultimately leading to broader adoption of innovative health solutions that improve patient care.”

– Luke Di Paolo, Clinical Director, Mental Health & Allied Health Services, Windsor Regional Hospital

“We are thankful to have been awarded funding through the WE-Spark Igniting Discovery grants program, which will support our efforts to address the epidemic of intimate partner violence in Windsor-Essex. This grant offers a unique opportunity to bridge academia and community collaboratively, bringing together diverse expertise to co-create comprehensive training modules. By aligning resources and knowledge across sectors, we aim to build a unified and proactive response to this public health crisis that truly meets the needs of our community.

– Dr. Amy Peirone, Professor, Social Justice and Legal Studies, St. Clair College

“Nurses in stroke rehabilitation teams often face a lack of respect, specialized training, and control over their work environment. Their roles are not clearly defined, and their contributions to rehabilitation outcomes are neither documented nor measured. We aim to document the practices of Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) and Registered Nurses (RNs) in stroke rehabilitation, explore their perceived roles, and align their work with established rehabilitation frameworks. This will enhance understanding of their contributions and improve the documentation and measurement of their impact on stroke recovery. Funding from WE-SPARK Health Institute will ensure the successful realization of this project”

– Dr. Eric Tanlaka, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Nursing, University of Windsor

I am excited to be awarded the WE-SPARK Igniting Discovery Grant supported by the Faculty of Human Kinetics. This is a new interdisciplinary collaboration between myself and Dr. Dana Menard from Psychology that will investigate ways to increase inclusivity in recreational sports leagues for 2SLGBTQ+ individuals. Greater involvement in recreational sports leagues is likely to benefit the physical and mental health of all members, including 2SLGBTQ+, who are consistently less active than their heterosexual/cis-gender counterparts.

– Dr. Sarah Woodruff, Professor and Associate Dean (Academics), Faculty of Human Kinetics

About WE-SPARK Health Institute

Media Contact:

Cathy Mombourquette
WE-SPARK Health Institute
226.340.3003
cathy.Mombourquette@uwindsor.ca

Group-Photo-Grant-Recipients2-d1bd591ec4ba36f02958e6aec3c6b575

375992601_790141366452290_8378544712583569185_n

September 13 2023

Oncology and Outpatient Care Clinic at Erie Shores HealthCare: Elevating Cancer Treatment Options in Essex County

Full Media Release

ESSEX COUNTY – Erie Shores HealthCare (ESHC) proudly unveils the Oncology and Outpatient Care Clinic, a satellite clinic aligned with the Erie St. Clair Regional Cancer Program. This partnership signifies a new era of advanced cancer care within our community.

The Oncology and Outpatient Care Clinic will provide crucial chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments, offering Essex County patients a treatment option close to home.

“Today marks a milestone as we introduce the Oncology and Outpatient Care Clinic, a testament to our commitment to ensuring cutting-edge cancer treatments are accessible to all residents of Essex County,” said Kristin Kennedy, President and Chief Executive Officer of ESHC. “By establishing this level four satellite clinic, we emphasize our dedication to tailored treatment strategies that meet the unique needs of each patient.”

Patient eligibility for the Oncology and Outpatient Care Clinic will be determined through collaborative discussions with oncologists, ensuring treatments are administered at the optimal location according to individual medical considerations and preferences.

For a comprehensive overview of the Oncology and Outpatient Care Clinic, please visit
https://erieshoreshealthcare.ca/oncologyoutpatientcare

377682780_790141416452285_826684535802384610_n

376280864_790141969785563_2713396179240197356_n

March 16 2023

COVID-19 Assessment centres to close April 1st

Another milestone in the fight against COVID-19 – as of April 1, 2023, COVID-19 Assessment Centres at Windsor Regional Hospital (WRH) and Erie Shores HealthCare (ESHC) will be closing their doors.

The decision comes following a significant drop in the number of patients accessing the centres as COVID-19 numbers continue to trend down. We have now reached a point where volumes are too low to necessitate continued funding of the assessment centres.

“The decision to close the clinics is based on a significant decrease in the number of patients seeking treatment,” says ESHC President and CEO Kristin Kennedy. “It is important to note that COVID is still prevalent in our community, and we urge anyone who feels unwell to continue taking precautions to help limit the spread of respiratory ailments.”

Opened in March 2020 to relieve pressure on emergency departments, the assessment centre at WRH saw nearly 191,000 patients while the ESHC assessment centre treated almost 64,000.

“I want to thank the WRH team for this valuable service during some very difficult times,” says WRH President and CEO David Musyj. “The Assessment Centre was instrumental in meeting the needs of the community during the peak of the pandemic giving residents a much-needed alternative to our emergency department.”

Patients can still receive care for COVID-19 symptoms from local Family Health Team Physicians and Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics as well as primary health providers and walk-in and urgent care clinics in the community.

View a list of alternatives to the emergency department here.

View the most up-to-date testing recommendations, and COVID-19 testing locations or access antiviral treatments here.

Before you are approved for Antiviral treatment:

An appropriate healthcare provider, often a pharmacist, will determine if you qualify.
If you are deemed to qualify for oral Antiviral treatment with Paxlovid, a healthcare provider and pharmacist will review your current medications and determine if any changes to your other medications are necessary to safely take Paxlovid.

You may require additional lab work to review liver and kidney function prior to being approved for treatment.

Find a pharmacy to fill your prescription here.

If you develop severe symptoms requiring medical attention, such as shortness of breath, chest pain, loss of consciousness, or confusion, call 911 or go to the emergency department.

MEDIA RELEASE

March 1 2023

Have COVID, influenza, and respiratory symptoms?

Printable flyers

February 22 2023

Regional health institute marks 3-year milestone of one-of-a-kind Windsor-Essex innovation

Windsor-Essex healthcare and academic institutions are marking three years since they joined together using a one-of-a-kind model designed to elevate health research excellence – an innovative model that has proven to deliver exceptional results.

WE-SPARK Health Institute is an official partnership of Erie Shores HealthCare, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, St. Clair College, the University of Windsor and Windsor Regional Hospital, governed by a Board of Trustees made up of the CEOs of the respective organizations. Its six committees include representatives from across all partner organizations who inform, direct and implement the institute’s strategic priorities of Organizational Effectiveness, Research Excellence, Community Engagement, Knowledge Translation, and Building Capacity.

The seeds of the institute began approximately 13 years ago as a grassroots effort between health researchers and healthcare professionals across the Windsor-Essex region, and after years of planning and consultations, officially launched on March 9th, 2020 during a celebration and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding at the Windsor Club.

In the span of the three years since its launch, WE-SPARK can boast a number of accomplishments. Local health researchers have attracted almost $30M in external funding to the region, included local patients in clinical trials, engaged in almost 700 collaborations, and provided training opportunities for over 1,000 St. Clair College and University of Windsor students on research projects. Through the WE-SPARK grants program, 52 local grants have been awarded totaling almost $1M. The institute holds regular think tanks, conferences and town halls, and publishes newsletters and quarterly and annual impact reports for its many stakeholders and the Windsor-Essex community.

Dr. Lisa Porter, a cancer researcher and distinguished professor at the University of Windsor is WE-SPARK’s executive director, and the visionary behind the institute. The very busy day-to-day operations are run by assistant director Karen Metcalfe, along with a lean but mighty staff.

“Health research has far-reaching benefits,” says Dr. Porter. “It creates an academic culture that attracts and retains the best and brightest in healthcare, keeps our professionals current, supports the best learning experience for students, empowers and educates the community, delivers new therapies, brings in new infrastructure, provides answers to healthcare problems unique to our region, and aids in rapid adoption of the best prevention and care practices. And, data shows that patients treated in institutions that conduct medical research live longer. This is not an advantage that can be reserved for those living only in larger cities: we need and deserve that here in Windsor-Essex.”

On April 20th, WE-SPARK will be hosting its Cheers to Hope event to raise funds for local health research. “We believe that together we can transform health and care of people here in our region” concludes Porter. For more information, please visit: www.cheerstohope.ca.

January 5 2023

Community Engagement Survey

Erie Shores HealthCare is conducting a community engagement survey to gather feedback from members of the hospital’s local community. The survey aims to understand how the community perceives the hospital, identify any areas for improvement, and help map out the future of Erie Shores HealthCare.

The survey includes questions about the community’s overall satisfaction with the hospital’s services, the accessibility and convenience of those services, and the quality of care provided. The survey will also ask for suggestions on how the hospital can better meet the community’s needs.

The survey will be conducted online and will take approximately 15 minutes. People who complete the survey will have an opportunity to enter a draw for a $50 Tim Horton’s Gift Card, provided by the Erie Shores Health Foundation. Responses will be confidential and used to inform the hospital’s efforts to serve the community.

Feel free to share the link and flyer on the next page with your team and those you support.

Visit: