What You Say About Us
Please share your Rouge Valley Health System experience with us and our community by e-mailing Patient Relations.
September 2009
It's never easy when one has to bring their mother in by ambulance in an emergency situation. But everyone was so good to my mother and to our family during a very stressful time.The nurses and doctors work in challenging situations, but through it all, they were always professional, caring, dedicated and had a sense of humour.
We have been attending this hospital (Rouge Valley Centenary campus) since it was first built and we have always received good care. We consider it our family hospital and are very lucky to have it in our neighbourhood.
Yours truly,
Sandra Green-Jones
June 2009
I wanted to take this opportunity to express my own deep appreciation, and that of my family, for the outstanding care that I received during my recent seven-week stay at the Rouge Valley Ajax and Pickering (RVAP) hospital campus.
Over the past several years, I have been pleased to contribute to the Rouge Valley Health System Foundation in many ways—including providing gifts of art for the auction and supporting golf tournaments—but it is not until I had the experience of being a patient that I truly appreciated the outstanding calibre of RVAP and its amazing staff.
The nurses work extremely hard under very challenging circumstances, yet remain consistently calm, caring and professional. I would like to specifically commend the dedication and skill of the nursing staff in the intensive care unit, as well as the second floor and the rehabilitation unit.
It is fair to say that I would not be alive without the care that I received during the seven weeks that I was a patient. That care and the wonderful consideration shown by your staff to my wife, family and friends during this very stressful time cannot be praised highly enough. This hospital is truly a jewel.
I would also like to express my greatest gratitude to Dr. Stas, to the nursing and support staff, and to the Board of Directors of the hospital. I look forward to many more opportunities to help support the Foundation in its very important work.
Yours truly,
Ron Halliday, Carol Halliday and Coco
Pickering
June 2009
I wish to convey my gratitude and share my experience during the course of my medical journey.
I was diagnosed for cancer in the common bile duct/gallbladder area, and was under the care of Dr. Igor S. Goussev, who later performed a complicated major surgery to remove my cancer.
I received further (chemo therapy) treatment at [a downtown Toronto hospital]... I was examined by an assistant oncologist [and] told her that I came to this hospital to receive the best cancer treatment. She replied, "You had already received the best treatment. Whoever was your surgeon, he performed an excellent job in removing your cancer."
[I received] chemo therapy for a period of 4 to 6 months... I'm OK now.
I am writing this letter to praise my surgeons—Dr. Igor S. Goussev, Dr. Konn and Dr. Donahue—and all the wonderful nurses who provided me the best care and comfort during my stay at Rouge Valley Ajax and Pickering.
I am eternally grateful to all, especially Dr. Goussev, for taking a chance and performing such a complicated surgery on me. It is because of his skill and expertise I've been given a new lease on life. He always took the time to communicate with me and my family. He is an excellent surgeon. I am very lucky to have met Dr. Goussev. Please convey my best regards to all!
Syamal K. Basu
Whitby
December 2008
Just a small letter of thanks to the staff at Rouge Valley Ajax and Pickering to show my appreciation for the excellent care and kindness given to me in late August into the first week of September. The doctors, administration staff, personal support workers, all made my stay the best it could be. During a routine Chiropractic visit my leg was very sore and slightly swollen for no apparent reason at all. An ultrasound was ordered and I tested positive for deep vein thrombosis. A few tests coordinated by my own doctor and I was admitted to Rouge Valley Ajax and Pickering, for the next week including the long weekend when many of us had it off. My thanks to a very dedicated group of professionals. D. Woudenberg
Pickering
April 2008
I feel it necessary to write and say how well I was taken care of during my recent suregery at Rouge Valley Centenary. I was a patient of Dr. Crotin's from March 19 - 21. The staff couldn't have been more friendly and accomodating, from the front desk Admitting staff, throughout my stay, to my release. Special thanks to the nurses on the 5th floor -- super caring!
R. Dickson
Scarborough
February 2008
I am writing this letter to express my sincere appreciation to the staff at Rouge Valley Ajax and Pickering. On Dec. 18, 2007, I was rushed to RVAP with what appeared to be symptoms relating to a stroke. Shortly after my arrival I was transferred to St. Michael’s Hospital where it was determined I had a brain tumour. On Dec. 27, I underwent surgery to remove the tumour and I am pleased to be here today as a result of a successful operation. One week after my surgery at St. Michael’s I was transferred back to my home community and to RVAP to begin my rehabilitation. I cannot express how much it meant to both my recovery and my family for me to be able to recuperate at RVAP. I arrived at the hospital unable to walk, and was welcomed by your amazing and caring third floor rehabilitation staff. I believe that an attitude that displays dedication comes from the top down. Dr. Romas Stas has certainly led by example. He is passionate about his patients, his staff and especially his community. That passion has obviously filtered down to his staff who, in my opinion, are second to none. All staff in the rehabilitation wing demonstrate that they care deeply about their patients and take great pride in their ward. Last, but not by any means least, I want to acknowledge the team of physiotherapists led by Dawn LeBlanc. Their patience and their knowledge of the human body taught me to walk again and after only five weeks they have enabled me to become independent once again and ready to go home. I can’t thank them enough. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to provide you with my sincere appreciation. - Pat Brown
Councillor, Ward 3, Town of Ajax
February 2007
The following is a copy of a letter sent by a patient's family to Ontario Health Minister George Smitherman:
Dear Mr. Smitherman,
We watched the news last night and were delighted to hear of your announcement to provide insulin pumps and related supplies to children suffering from Type 1 Diabetes. I recognize that the public will often take the time to complain more often than flatter, so I have taken a brief moment to share this story out of sincere appreciation for a job well done by the many professionals in and around our health system.
My 11-year-old son, Brendan was diagnosed with diabetes almost a year ago. At the time of his diagnosis we had brought him, at our doctor’s instruction, to the emergency unit at Rouge Valley Centenary with what we believed to be an especially devastating flu bug. The emergency room doctors had him quickly diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. His blood sugar level was extremely high leaving him barely lucid. They immediately called in an Endocrinologist who got him stabilized with fluids and insulin from an IV.
While the doctors and nurses cared for him, the hospital’s Diabetes team, including a nurse and nutritionist, spoke to my wife and I about the implications to his health and lifestyle. He was moved to a children’s critical care area of the hospital and his condition stabilized overnight.
Over the following weeks we continued our education with help from Rouge Valley’s Diabetes team and the people and information resources of the Canadian Diabetes Association. Within a few weeks, Brendan learned how to test his blood and how to give himself injections. He has also learned to count his carbohydrates. He knows when his blood sugar goes low, as it causes him to feel unwell. This leads him to test himself again and to take more insulin as required with our counsel and the advice of the Diabetes team.
Brendan never complains about his disease, but of course as any parent of a diabetic child can understand, it is hard not to wince as he bravely tests his blood and takes his insulin shots. He realizes and frequently comments on how lucky he is, as there are worse diseases that afflict other children. That being said, he did mention to me after the news of the funding that he thought the press release would be about the discovery of a cure, but recognized after our discussion that this step and continuing dedication of many doctors, nurses, researchers and legislators would ultimately lead to that end.
In closing, I just wanted to say thanks again to you and Mr. Gravelle for championing this cause, to the Rouge Valley Health System for taking such good care of my son, and to the Canadian Diabetes Association for continuing to educate families and advocate on behalf of real people with real stories. In my experience, our hospitals, doctors, nurses and support organizations have demonstrated that we have a health care system that really works when we need it most.
-- Terry Pruner
Feb. 1, 2006
I would like to let the community know how incredibly caring and helpful the Rouge Valley Ajax and Pickering hospital has been to my family and I over the course of my entire pregnancy, birth of our son and post-partum care.
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At 2 a.m. on November 28, 2005 I awoke with labour pains and my husband and I began keeping track and decided that it was progressing fairly quickly and should call the hospital to let them know we were coming..... Our precious baby boy was born at 8:10a.m. that morning weighing 6 pounds and 6 ounces.
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I felt the responsibility and stress increasing at an alarming rate and found myself completely unmotivated and not able to look after myself on a daily basis.... This was all building up to something I had never experienced before - slight depression and severe anxiety, leading to hospitalization.
I was admitted to the Mental Health ward of the Ajax Hospital on December 22, 2005 where I spent almost three weeks being treated for post-partum depression and anxiety.
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The doctors, nurses, support staff and even the other patients were all so helpful with my care and treatment. Just being able to talk and communicate my thoughts of guilt, lack of motivation and feeling the need to bond with my baby was all so important during my treatment.
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The staff also helped me connect with community organizations and groups that would help me continue to progress with my coping strategies once I left the hospital to go home.
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So, I’ve been home now for over two weeks and I am feeling so much better mentally and physically and I am having so much fun with my son and my husband.
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I believe it (the RVAP Maternity Ward) is an essential part of our community and certainly necessary for the town of Ajax as we continue to grow. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the people involved in my whole experience during pregnancy, delivery and post-partum care....
- Anonymous letter writer
July 2005
Dear Rouge Valley,
We arrived at Rouge Valley Health Centre (Centenary) at 10:20 p.m. on Thursday, July 7th with my 11 year old daughter, who had fallen off her bike and had an obvious arm injury. Earlier we had been at the Ajax location, but were told it was a 10 hour wait, although this is not my reason for writing.
I would like to thank the nurse at registration, who immediately diagnosed that there was an "obvious deformity" and later brought stickers to Taylor after she was casted.
The two x-ray technicians, a man and a woman who took the time to show us the breaks in my daughters arm, and made her feel comfortable. We then went to have the arm set and casted - the nurses in this area were exceptional, as was the doctor.
The only name I got was a young nurse named "Jen G." Within an hour of arrival, my daughter had been x-rayed, sedated, casted and was recovering.
Impressive.
There was a brief wait afterwards for the new x-ray technician, we were told she was in the "O.R." All in all, we were there for approximately three hours - not bad I didn't think.
At a stressful time, your staff made my child as comfortable as possible, for that I thank you.
Sincerely,
Janet Fissenden
