The CLSC de Pierrefonds Providing an Innovative Canadian First!
It’s the story of a child* living within the territory of our CIUSSS who needs transfusions of blood platelets. To ease the family’s burden of three weekly trips to the Centre hospitalier universitaire (CHU) Sainte-Justine, the Home Support teams at the CLSC de Pierrefonds adapted to be able to provide the same services at their location.
“We saw this as an opportunity to provide tangible support to this family. By collaborating with the laboratory teams, nurses, and physicians, as well as the teams from the Logistics Directorate and the Professional Services Directorate, we can achieve remarkable things to benefit the users of our facility,” said Interim Associate Director of Local Services, Continuum and Adapted Approach Mathieu Brodeur proudly.
After starting the treatments at the CLSC de Pierrefonds, the home support teams decided to look into the possibility of providing the child’s treatments at home. That became a reality in July 2022. The teams were so focused on their work that they didn’t realize what they were doing is a Canadian first.
Mylène Boucher, a clinical nurse at the CLSC de Pierrefonds who is responsible for the care being provided to the child, said that for her “the experience is a very rewarding challenge.” She adds, “It’s a privilege to have been chosen to work on a project that is the first of its kind in Canada.”
“Blood platelet perfusions are a treatment I am familiar with. What’s different in this case, is that the treatment is being given to a child at home. I am very proud that we can help this family to have a somewhat more normal life,” says Virna Gopez, another nurse who also provides treatments to the child.
The parents are also grateful to the continual support of Dr. Georges-Étienne Rivard, a pediatric hemato-oncologist at the CHU Sainte-Justine.
Congratulations to Mses. Boucher and Gopez, and to all of the team at the CLSC de Pierrefonds, for being willing to try something new. You are making a real difference in people’s lives.
*At the family’s request, no identifying details are provided in this article.