Innovating and improving children's healthcare
Researchers are innovators
Dr. Laurentiu (Laurence) Givelichian convinced several physicians to make the move to Saskatoon, which bettered healthcare for Saskatchewan’s youngest patients.
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“You will not have an effective children's hospital unless you hire the right people,” said Dr. Gregory Hansen. He is a pediatric intensivist who specializes in neurocritical care who is on the board of the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation with Dr. Givelichian and was recruited by him.
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“He recruited some very likable, very well recognized individuals from various centers across North America.”
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“He really wanted to resource Divisions with at least three specialists. If you have less than three, physicians will be answering late night phone calls every second night, which can eventually lead to burnout,” said Hansen.
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“He did a really good job expanding the size of our department.”
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What also appealed to those Dr. Givelichian recruited were the possibilities of what they could accomplish in this province.
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“When he was Department head, we were in an era of freedom, growth, and innovation,” said Hansen.
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“If you had an idea and pitched it to him, as long as it served the patients of Saskatchewan and you had the capacity to conduct it, he would help you to make the connections to pursue that dream,” said Hansen.
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“There was definitely a huge spirit of innovation that I appreciated very, very early on. A lot of things happened during his tenure leading up to the opening of the hospital.”
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Choosing to recruit specialists who conduct research is part of the reason why this innovation occurred.
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“A research mind is an innovative mind,” said Hansen, who explained researchers need to be supported to pursue excellence.
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“It's difficult to be innovative unless it's umbrellaed under a research philosophy. That was a big part of the way he recruited. He definitely supported my research and the research of others.”
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That resulted in these physicians being able to make their mark working in Saskatchewan.
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“As far as programming was concerned in the ICU, we started a lot of very innovative clinical programming that are Nationally well regarded, and, from a research perspective, internationally recognized.”
Robotic technology to deliver remote healthcare
That includes a program that connects specialists with children living in northern Saskatchewan who need medical attention.
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Dr. Givelichian values having family at the centre of care – for patients and healthcare professionals – because it influences a higher quality experience for the individuals involved.
That is a reason he contributed to children being able to receive healthcare provided by a specialist where they live. This matters when providing care in critical or emergency situations or during primary and chronic care.
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“I was able to influence the concept and the start of a program that uses remote and robot technology. The whole world is looking at us to do that.”
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A pilot project in Pelican Narrows in 2014 saw a remote presence pediatric service working with local providers to treat, manage, and triage acutely ill children.
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Positive health outcomes for the patients as well as a 63 per cent reduction in the need to transport children from the community confirmed the success of the pilot.
Now, this technology is in health facilities in La Loche, Moose Jaw, Pelican Narrows, Prince Albert, Regina, Southend, Stony Rapids, Swift Current, Wollaston Lake, and Yorkton.
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“What that means is that any physician anywhere in the province that needs help treating a child doesn't necessarily have to have that child transferred to another centre.
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“When a physician needs our help, they call us, and the local robot is dispatched. The robot goes to the bedside, and we are able to observe the patient using that technology.
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“We can interact with the child and their parents as well as the local medical team there to develop a strategy to provide care that is in the best interest of the child.”
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Dr. Hansen says Dr. Givelichian made an impact on the people he met during his trips to northern Saskatchewan to develop connections and advance this project. It was not just what the project accomplished that they appreciated, but Dr. Givelichian’s demeanor and dedication also.
