“Supporting people and innovation leads to results. We have seen major advances in the scope and quality of neurological care at our site by attracting and supporting people who build & innovate. Support from the community allows us to go beyond what we need today, and drive care further.”
Dr. Daryl Wile, Neurologist (Clinical Lead)
CLOSER TO HOME
World-Class Brain Health Care, Right Here at KGH
The KGH Foundation has committed to raising $5 million to establish a Centre of Excellence for Brain Health at Kelowna General Hospital – a hub for training, research, innovation and leadership in the rapidly expanding fields of clinical neuroscience including stroke care, movement disorders, nerve & muscle disease, and dementia. The goal is to bring the highest quality of care and research closer to our widespread patient population and provide them access to the best possible treatments and life-saving care, close to home.
It’s closer to home than you think
The brain is the most complex organ in our bodies. It is the headquarters of intelligence, interpreter of the senses, initiator of body movement, and conductor of behaviour. Diseases, disorders, and injuries of the brain have a profound influence on a person’s quality of life, independence, self-worth and physical well-being.
The single most reliable risk factor for all neurodegenerative brain disease is age. We can’t change that (yet) so as the region’s population continues to grow and age, so too does the need for excellence in brain health care.
Equally as important, to support the advancement of excellence in brain health care, we will bring research closer to regional patients and provide them access to the best possible treatments and lifesaving care, close to home.
people affected by neurological conditions in the Interior Health region (2020/21)
projected increase in incidence rates for dementia and Parkinson disease by 2031
Canadians are not represented in research trials
People worldwide are affected by brain disease
$2 MILLION
Infrastructure, Equipment, & Technology
Equipment and Service Goals
- Establish a 24/7 regional stroke service
- Establish a Deep Brain Stimulator program for Parkinson’s Disease
- Create an advanced neuromuscular program
- Improve epilepsy care
- Decrease wait times for neurological consultation in the region
- Establish a combined neurological and neurosurgical intensive care unit to serve critically ill neurological patients
- Maximize the use and integration of information technology to improve patient care
- Establish pathways of care for neurological outpatients
- Measure quality of care by collecting patient-centered outcome measures
“What this funding will mean for those who choose to live in the vast and diverse communities across the interior of B.C., and similarly expansive health jurisdictions across Canada and around the world is, literally, life-changing.”
Dr. Aleksander Tkach, KGH Neurologist
$1 MILLION
Research & Innovation
This competition awarded funding will be directed by a Brain Health Advisory Committee and support projects dedicated to research focused on improving brain health care within the interior region.
The connection between quality of care and research has largely been misunderstood. As we learn more about prioritizing equality and equity in the delivery of health care, resourcing research and innovation becomes vital to advancing these goals.
Funding research in our home communities will ensure that non-urban populations are included in important research trials, so the results are representative of the people who live in regional, rural and remote communities.
$2 MILLION
Training & Leadership
The provision of Awards will be a vital component of the Centre of Excellence in Brain Health at KGH. The annual income allocation from these endowment-funded and named awards will support the work of individuals wishing to advance brain health in our region. Investing in these awards could provide support for researchers generating outcomes that can be put into practice within the health system, early-career physicians building and sharing their expertise, and experiential learning opportunities to improve health system performance.
BRAIN HEALTH
Latest Stories
Q&A with Sierra Castonguay
Meet Sierra Castonguay, a physiotherapist with the Okanagan Movement Disorders Clinic at KGH who helps keep patients moving forward.
Q&A with Dr. Kathleen Scullion
Meet Dr. Kathleen Scullion, an embedded researcher. Dr. Scullion has a PhD in neuroscience and certification in Health Information Management.
Q&A with Carmen Logan
Meet Carmen Logan, BSN, and a nurse with the Okanagan Movement Disorders Clinic at Kelowna General Hospital.