The idea is to. bring needed services here MARY ANN Dvorak ex- cuses herself for a minute to answer a knock on her office door. She talks for a minute with a person before re- turning to her desk. “That was a patient. She was just filling me in. They pop in all the time,” says Dvorak. Talking to patients, providing them with infor- mation and advice is just one of Dvyorak’s tasks as the local cancer services nurse. Her other main task is administering chemother- apy treatments in a quiet lounge area adjacent to the emergency room at Mills Memorial Hospitat. Terrace is one of five communities across the province where health au- thorities in the fall of 2001 established a stand-alone chemo treatment program. - Up until then, chemo treatments at Mills were administered in the emer- gency room by physicians. “It was not that we were daing a disservice. to our chemo patients,” says Dvorak of that arrange- ment. “In that setting, there was not enough time. to teach, to provide informa- tion.” . “It was not appropriate for the time a chemo pa- tient can spend receiving treatment. A patient can be in a vulnerable state when they first come to see me. We wanted a more appropriate setting.” As the cancer services nurse, Dvorak is the con- nection between local physicians, patients and the B.C. Cancer Agency in Vancouver. One main goal is to re- duce the number of pa- tients who would otherwise works to ensure the trip is as less stressful as pos- sible, “A patient has enough because of the shock and trauma with what's hap- pening. We want to allevi- ate that as much as possible.” Preparing a patient for a trip south can involve everything from telling them what they need to take to informing them of volunteer services down south. As an example, Dvorak said a Terrace patient with family in Kamloops can stay in that city and then be driven to and from the cancer treatment centre in Kelowna by volunteers. In some circumstances, patients come to Terrace for treatment because they have family members here, she added. Aside from providing chemo here, Dvorak points to the growing use of video hook ups, called telemedi- cine, to connect patients and their physicians with oncologists and other can- cer specialists in Yancou- ver. The more that can be done locally relieves a pa- tient of the stress and ex- pense of a trip south, she said, “I work very closely with our physicians here. They’re excellent,” said Dvorak, She also relies on a local committee chaired by a physician and con- sisting of other medical professionals and cancer survivors, Although Dvorak ad- ministers chemotherapy drugs, physicians write the orders, adjusting treat- ments each time to fit a patient’s needs. Dvorak is also available. for advice and guidance treatments. ‘in, ather ways, “Knowledge is a good dre concerned. drivers with b core drinking drivers. The Hard Core Drinking Driver Without question, hard core drinking drivers are the single biggest threat where alcohol and road crashes A racent ten-year study revealed the percentage of hood alcohal concentration of more than twice the legal limit remained virtually constant, Although drinking-driving fatalities have declined, there has been no change in fatalities involving hard for patients., who , receive . hemo clinic working well FROM A quiet area behind the Milis Memorial Hospital emergency room com- munity chemotherapy nurse Mary Ann Dvorak administers treatment to cancer patients. She began her work in the fall of 2001 after the B.C. Cancer Agency and regional health officials decided a separate treatment area and program was needed to avoid cancer patients having to use the emergency room itself. thing,” said Dvorak. Dvorak can have up to 20 chemo patients on her list at any one time. Dvorak’s patients can come from up north on Hwy37, the Nass. Valley ifiatpitientohas'to=thanr by"chefoltigiapy Ti” "tow tovTeracer whens "ga. to’Vancouver, ‘DVdrak” the hospital. * The majority of patients undergo treatment for an andthe: -Hazelicns’. “in -addi- iti eres a proud sponsor of of 7 : hour, but treatments for others can last four hours or more, The quiet setting of the treatment lounge is impor- tant for patients who un- _ dergo. those, more len thy ‘ree BaSt eat mOnE PATE ‘donated ‘a’ putpose-built lounge chair to make sit- ve Those over double the limit drivers represent about one percent of the cars on the road at night and on weekends. Yet they account for nearly halt of all driv- ers killed at those times. These hard core drinking drivers are on our local streets and highways. Terrace RCMP had 276 complaints about impaired drivers in 2002 and nearly one hundred impaired driving charges last year. Herd core drinking drivers share several characteristics: - They drink Frequently and and often fo excess. Many are cle ce ol dependent. - They repeatedly drive after drinking. - They drink and driver with readings offen 2or m3 times the legal limit. - Many have previous convictions for impaired driving and driving suspended, - They resist changing their behaviour and ignore anti-drinking driving campaigns We can and should help prevent the hard core drinking driver from driving: - Provide the police with information to apprehend the drunk driver. = Don’t lat anyone drive if they are impaired. Quivela brokers RING A MASE “ET $1,000.00 for Information leading to an arrest and/or con- : viction. If you have any Information call “Crime Stoppers” ‘at 635-TIPS that’s 635-8477, Callers will NEVER be ‘| required to reveal thalr name or testify In court, Crime “Crime Stappare offers Bw cash reward of up to |: 4 Stoppers ¢ does NOT subscribe to call i dteplay. ¢ INSURANCE o-— pitt Home & Tenant ERy, NCommersi ® Liobilty Jet Boats Ces Mobile Hames ® Travel wow 1-800- Services 8088 950 F3K 3030 | Fax: 250-635-3288 4635 Grelg Avenue, Terrace, B.C. (Next To SAAN) ting more comfortable and businesses have donated furniture and audio-visual equipment, Advances in technology and equipment now mean more patients can come to the hospital to begin treat- ment And? (Heh *ohfinug it , at home. The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, April 30, 2003 - AS" News In Brief Witnesses sought TERRACE RCMP are asking any witnesses {0 a highway car crash to come forward. The April 5 accident happened at 7 p.m. east of Terrace on Hwy 16 near Gossen Creek, Police say the accident involved a 1989 Blue Ford Festiva and a 1991 Oldsmobile Cutlass. If you have information about this accident call the Terrace RCMP detachment at 638-2588 and refer to file number 2003-2588, Land claims web site THE B.C, TREATY Commission has a new web site providing update information on treaty nego- tiations. There’s information on main issues, quick facts, a section providing information for school teachers and a directory of other resources. The treaty commission was formed in the last decade by the federal and provincial governments and nalive groups to help those groups negotiate claims. The web site is at www. betreaty.net High school graduation requirements change CHANGES TO B.C.’s high school graduation re- quirements that education minister Christy Clark says will better prepare students for the work force, trades training or university will be phased in over three years, starting in September, 2004, That means students in Grade 8 this year will be the first ones to complete high school under the new graduation rules. The new program will start in Grade 10. A new course called Planning 10 that introduces employ- ment skills, financial management and good health will become mandatory. Students will have to write exams in English, science, social studies and math in order to gradu- ate in addition to other new requirements, They’ll also have to complete a graduation port- folio that demonstrates their physical activity, community involvement and computer skills. School districts will also be allowed to develop new courses that would count toward graduation requirements. More people belting up MOTORISTS in the northern part of the province are getting better at buckling up, shows a new sur- vey done by ICBC, The study shows a seven per cent overall increase of seat belt wearing rates compared to this time last year. Terrace numbers are up from a rate of 77 per cent last year to 89 per cent this year. That’s a 12 per cent jump. Prince Rupert s' v the most signif- icant increase of 18 per cent jumping from a rate of 69 per cent last year to 87 per cent now. The region’s loss‘: prevention’ manager, David : c Dickson, sayg ICBGis Cligkingip pampajgn, which ; was launched! last‘year,-hns. raised /the‘profile- ‘about - the importance of wearing seat belts. 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