Take Care of your Heart: Marking Heart Month
February is Heart Month, a time to think about your heart and how to take better care of it to reduce your risk of heart attacks and cardiovascular disease –
Timmins, ON – Last year, 1,176 patients at the Timmins and District Hospital (TADH) received nursing help, reminders, and education through a digitized personal health care plan. For one hysterectomy patient, it was “knowing you had support makes your recovery less stressful.” Another patient liked being able to find “legitimate information” about their hernia surgery, resulting in feeling “more confident in having the procedure.”
Since 2021, TADH has collaborated with a company called SeamlessMD to provide surgical patients with a free digital education tool that guides them through their healthcare journey.
“SeamlessMD is making a positive difference in the patient experience, with patients reporting feeling more confident, both leading up to their surgery and afterwards,” said Joan Ludwig, Vice President of Clinical and Chief Nursing Executive. “While we are still in the early stages of introducing this to mental health patients, it’s showing promise in helping them access strategies and resources.”
TADH was the first hospital in Canada to add cataract surgery to the SeamlessMD program (2023). In addition, in 2024, TADH was of the first hospitals in the province to add a new stream of patients: those seeking mental health services. Katie Ketchabaw, RN and the Mental Health Lead for SeamlessMD, provides check-ins with patients to monitor their mood and suggests strategies or resources for them to look at.
“It’s an extra way to support them before their services begin,” said Ketchabaw. “They also really seem to appreciate the check-ins.”
Designed to support patients for 60 days, mental health patients have the option to re-enroll if they wish to continue accessing help through the program.
As Surgical Lead for SeamlessMD, Cattabry Hebert, RN, spends much of her day answering patients’ questions or reviewing photos received through the app, chronicling their healing. The most common question? “How much bruising and swelling is normal,” said Hebert, who has worked in the hospital’s surgical and medical departments for more than five years.
Since 2021, 14 surgical procedures have been added to the app for TADH patients– the most recent being gallbladder and cataracts. It’s a labour-intensive process, taking eight weeks to add a new surgery as it’s customized to the latest best-practices, TADH procedures, and even the processes of individual surgeons, such as how to book follow-up appointments.
Patients appreciate that there is no cost to use the program, Hebert added. SeamlessMD can be accessed through mobile devices or computers; TADH lends tablets to patients who don’t have a device. For patients who are concerned about using the technology, their caregiver can also be added to the program.
“It’s basically an online care plan that’s interactive with information on what to expect, reminders and nursing advice focused on improving the patient experience in the comfort of their own place of residence,” Hebert explained.
Our commitment: TADH operates within the traditional lands of the Mattagami First Nation, located in Treaty 9 territory. Our team is committed to building strong, lasting relationships with Indigenous communities as we acknowledge the diversity, history and heritage of Indigenous Peoples in the North.
Photo Captions: Katie Ketchabaw, RN, (right), Mental Health Lead for SeamlessMD, and Cattabry Hebert, RN, (left), Surgical Lead for SeamlessMD at the Timmins and District Hospital.
For more information contact TADH’s Communications Team: communications@tadh.com
February is Heart Month, a time to think about your heart and how to take better care of it to reduce your risk of heart attacks and cardiovascular disease –
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