The Ward

A paediatric post-operative room : it's a busy sight, even when all is calm during nap time.

On the post-operative ward, the patients are assigned to a nurse who follows their recovery journey until they are discharged and sent home. The nurse team is led by Deb Chalupa, an 11 year veteran of CAMTA. Two general practitioners, Dr. Alex Gessner and Dr. Ryan Wright, take care of all the medical issues that may arise during their recuperation. They look after the peri-operative care and liaise with the surgical team in their post-operative care.

Everybody ensures the safety and the comfort of the patients by closely monitoring them and answering all their questions. To do so, they often seek out a translator to help them reassure patients or discuss medical issues with them. There is a lot of action on this ward. New patient's monitors beep, physiotherapists mobilize patients by making them sit, walk and climb up the stairs. Children sometimes cry, play soccer, play hide and seek or race wheelchairs. In their case, anything to keep them happy (but safe) is allowed! 

Herlinda looks away in the distance to the end of the corridor. Patients have a tendency to look at their feet when learning to use the crutches or the walkers. Physiotherapists (here Alex and Clara) have to remind them to look ahead. 

The physiotherapists regularly see patients to teach them exercises, teach them how to ambulate during their recuperation and verify that they are autonomous enough to move about in their homes. They've brought and made different tools so patients avoid certain movements, such as an up-cycled bottle of water to put socks on: bending over a 90o angle is prohibited after a hip surgery. Some patients need much patience and encouragement, whereas others are overly eager to stand and gain their independence. They have to be convinced to slow down, but it is always a delight for physiotherapists to work with patients who have so much motivation.