Health PEI Snapshots
A Day in the Life of a Medical Radiation Therapist
“We are all very passionate and friendly here,” said Kristy Peters, medical radiation therapist at the PEI Cancer Treatment Centre. “You can often hear us on the intercom while patients are receiving their treatment, and we do whatever we can to make them comfortable. I’ve sung to people, I’ve read books, and I’ve talked about the weather. We’ll do anything we can to help them through the tough moments. I’m not a good singer, but I will sing ...
Early Detection Saves Lives: Leigh Read's Story
When it comes to cancer diagnosis, early detection can make a huge impact. When you think about early detection, a can of baked beans isn’t what comes to mind. For Leigh Read, however, it was life changing. “I turned 50 in 2018. I had a wonderful party, surrounded by many friends and family ...
A Family's Legacy of Compassionate Care: The Davies' Experience at PEI's Provincial Palliative Care Centre
When Ellen Davies Ward's mother, Eleanor Davies, was given a life-limiting diagnosis, Ellen knew her mother would be well cared for at the Provincial Palliative Care Centre in Charlottetown. Ellen worked with the not-for-profit organization Hospice PEI for more than 20 years. Her mother played a big role as well. When Ellen Davies Ward's mother, Eleanor Davies, was given a life-limiting diagnosis...
The Heartbeat of Prince County Hospital: A Day in the Life of ECG Technicians
Electrocardiograph technicians, also known as ECG techs, capture crucial snapshots of the heart's activity, providing doctors with essential information for diagnosing and treating a wide range of conditions.“Our role is to provide the physicians with the best quality ECG possible so that they can diagnose appropriately..."
Empowering Islanders Through Physiotherapy
Vanessa Carragher, a passionate physiotherapist at Prince County Hospital in Summerside, loves the multifaceted nature of her profession. "One day I might be helping someone recover from surgery," she explains, "while another could involve guiding someone with heart or lung disease through our cardiac and pulmonary rehab program..."
From LPN to Lifelong Volunteer: Pat's Journey of Caring at the QEH
"After I retired, I really needed something to do. I wanted meaning and purpose in my day," said Patricia (Pat) Atkin. "I had no idea how much pleasure I would get by volunteering until I started. I’ve always enjoyed people, so I wasn’t surprised how well I fit in the role." In 1972, Pat began her career s a licensed practical nurse (LPN) at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital...
Giving voice to Islanders: the vital role of speech language pathologists
Trevor Lynch, a speech language pathologist (SLP) at Prince County Hospital (PCH), has dedicated two decades to helping Islanders overcome communication and swallowing challenges.
"Speech pathologists work with people across the entire age spectrum..."
Family doctor finds fit at PEI patient medical home
“There is something fantastic going on in Hunter River,” says Dr. Kaylee Murphy, a family physician at the Central Queens Health Centre. In July 2023, the centre transitioned to a patient medical home – a place where family doctors, nurses, and other health professionals like physiotherapists and registered dietitians provide coordinated care to patients under one roof...
Brothers give 1930 volunteer hours to the QEH
“Coming from our backgrounds, in a business servicing the public, this is kind of the same,” said Tom Clark, a volunteer at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Emergency Department. “People are coming into a space when they’re not at their best, and you must be understanding and appreciate that...
Taking care of our most vulnerable
Patient support workers (PSWs), resident care workers (RSWs), and home support workers (HSWs) are an essential part of healthcare on PEI. Taking care of our most vulnerable residents, their work can be both emotionally and physically demanding; yet many of those who do it also say it’s exceptionally rewarding...
Staff Profile: therapeutic dementia worker Tabatha Gallant
"They are still people. It's not their fault that dementia is affecting them, and their humanity is intermixed in all that confusion. To make a connection in the humanity of the person goes a long way," said Tabatha Gallant ...
Clearing the barriers: Health PEI's cancer patient navigator
“There’s a real problem-solving element to this job, and I love that,” said Michelle Barton, the cancer patient navigator for Health PEI. The health care system can be complex. It’s often difficult for patients to find their way to the care or resources they need ...
CT scan wait times now some of the shortest in the country
A computerized tomography (CT) scan is an important tool for proper diagnosis of many illnesses and injuries. In four short months, Gailyne MacPherson, director of Hospital Services at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, along with staff, have dramatically decreased CT scan wait times from 99 weeks to about four weeks ...
Living well with COPD
“They did everything they could to direct you through your disease and to help you manage it,” said Peter Sprague, who has been dealing with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, for more than 14 years. For those with a diagnosis, chronic diseases like COPD are part of everyday life ...
Phillip’s diabetes story: “My whole life changed.”
After months of feeling sick and dealing with high anxiety and stomach problems, Phillip Homburg finally went to the emergency department. He assumed he had a severe case of the stomach flu. “Due to my age and how long my symptoms had been happening, the doctor tested my blood sugar ...”
Staff profile: connecting activities with health and well-being
“Seeing people who are successful with their goals, the change in people, that’s why I do this,” said Devin Hornby. He’s an occupational therapist for Health PEI. “Just as rewarding is working with those who have complex diagnoses and seeing their personalities shine. That can just make my day ...
"Palliative care is about living."
“Palliative care is about living,” said Blanche Ward, an integrated palliative care program social worker for Health PEI. “You can live with your life-limiting illness when provided the right support. We want people to have a more positive perception of what palliative care is and what care is ...
Home care takes collaboration
It takes an enormous team of professionals to make the system work and to ensure the best quality of care for Islanders. As Crystal Praught, director of Home Care Services for Health PEI said, "I want people to know the work we put into each day to ensure our clients, caregivers, and staff are safe and supported to the best of our ability."...
"Becoming a nurse practitioner brought me home."
“There’s really something to be said about the PEI charm,” said Amber Johnston, a nurse practitioner newly practicing on Prince Edward Island. “Everyone has been so lovely and happy to have us home.” ...
The Team Approach: Charlottetown Patient Medical Home
“Our Patient Medical Home is like a soccer team,” said Dr. Mark-Antoine Parent with a grin. He’s a family physician at the Charlottetown Patient Medical Home (PMH) ...
Same-day hip surgery pilot frees hospital beds
“In a hospital, bed space is often a challenge,” said Kayla MacRae, a physiotherapist with Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital’s Unit 1. “If you have hip or knee replacement surgery scheduled and there’s no free bed to admit you in, your surgery could be cancelled ...
Project Search at QEH
“A hospital is a perfect environment for a program like ours,” said Chloe Trevors, a job skills coach with Project SEARCH. “It’s such a diverse environment. In a lot of ways, it’s a contained community that requires many kinds of workers, from administrative, to food services, to medical, to custodial, and beyond ...
Long-term care residents volunteer at Canada Winter Games
It was more than a year ago when Leo Gallant heard the Canada Winter Games was looking for volunteers. Having been a volunteer for the 1991 games, he knew what kind of opportunity it would be. “I met people from all over the world,” remembered Gallant. “I’ve never been able to travel much in my life, so this was a lot of fun. It felt like the whole world came to PEI ...
Save a headache, book it online
“I feel like you could say this about almost every facet of health care, but the pandemic really did change everything for us,” said Brian Timmons, provincial director of Medical Laboratory Services at Health PEI. “We operate six sites across the province for specimen collection, be it bloodwork or tissue collection. Historically, all those sites but one operated on a walk-in basis ...
"Yes, we can do that!”
“I know this often gets debated in political circles but it’s just not possible or safe for us to offer every healthcare service right here on the Island,” said Dr. Michael Gardam, CEO of Health PEI. “Which is why we will often send patients off-Island to bigger centres to receive the care they need with specialists who work embedded within a larger community with colleagues. All that said, there are a lot of things we can and should offer here, and the installation of pacemakers is one of them ...
“It is so satisfying to make such a difference.”
Dr. Heather Williams could see things needed to change. She's a neurologist on Prince Edward Island. “Before 2017, almost every patient who arrived at an Island emergency department with stroke was admitted to hospital,” she said. “At the time, that was the best way to ensure they would be seen by a neurologist. But that sometimes took weeks ...
“They want to hear my voice”
Louise Campbell is not a doctor. She’s not a nurse. She’s not a health care professional at all, and yet, she has an important voice in how health care is delivered on Prince Edward Island. Louise is one of many Islanders who volunteers her time as a patient and family partner for Health PEI ...
“It really was life-changing.”
Will Gibbon just wasn’t interested in a glucose sensor to manage his diabetes. Now that he’s been using one for six months, he wonders what took him so long. ...
"I’m having technical problems with virtual care... help!"
Islanders can access virtual health care services through their computer, smartphone, or tablet. You can connect with a PEI physician over a secure line for treatment of several conditions using text chat, audio, or video chat...
“A small part in helping patients get better.”
Robin is a cook at Western Hospital in Alberton and is responsible for preparing breakfast, dinner and supper for patients. She also prepares meals for staff in the hospital cafeteria...
“It was a huge relief”
Sally Ross was overdue for a new set of partial plates.She would have replaced them sooner, but partial plates aren’t cheap...
“This makes it someone’s job”
Joan Adams’ family had planned their holiday in Nova Scotia for a long time. “We had started talking about it during COVID, but we wanted to wait until we all felt safe,” ...
Help along the way
Conor Mullally’s journey with mental health is a long one with many stops along the way, but it’s one he’s not afraid to talk about ...
“There’s a better way to do health care. We need to work together.”
Four years ago, a group of Charlottetown-area doctors came together for a meeting. “We didn’t even have a name for what we were talking about, but we all knew the current system isn’t working...
“Life gets flipped upside down. Sometimes people just need guidance.”
Ann Millar knows first-hand what it feels like to have your life flipped upside down. Thirty years ago, her mother was given a life-altering diagnosis...
In the spotlight: Dr. Trina Stewart
“I don’t know if there was ever a time in my life when I wasn’t thinking about being a physician,” said Dr. Trina Stewart, a family physician in Summerside. “I grew up in Perth-Andover, New Brunswick. When I was in Grade 11, I sent letters to medical faculties all over Canada and the U.S. I even sent one to Columbia, for goodness’ sake,” she added with a laugh ...
“It’s a breathtaking difference”
With a second provincial audiologist, wait times are dropping dramatically. Kaitlin MacKay remembers all too well the stress of being PEI’s only provincial audiologist ...
“It was worth it, even for that one person”
Public Health Nursing goes out of its way to accommodate everyone’s needs for vaccination. We know vaccines are important, but for some people, the vaccination clinic itself is so intimidating or scary, it can be a serious barrier ...
Someone on your side
Working as a counsellor at Community Mental Health and Addictions in Montague, Kaley Knox could see firsthand how difficult it can be for people to find the help they need. When she saw the job posting go up for the provincial Mental Health and Addictions Patient Navigator for Health PEI, she knew this would be a position that would make a difference ...
“We didn’t have time to be scared.”
“For a long time, it felt like all the training we did to get ready for COVID was for nothing,” said Chelsea Chessman, the patient care coordinator of Unit 3 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH). “But when the omicron variant started to spread, we could see this was going to become our problem pretty quickly.” ...
The Social ABCs: support for families while awaiting autism assessment
Rachel Morgan’s three-year-old son Link has always been a good communicator. He’s just not much of a talker. Link and Rachel Morgan“Oh, he has no problem letting you know what he’s thinking!” said Morgan with a laugh from her home in Miscouche. “We taught him sign language when he was a baby, and he picked it up easily. He’s quite clever ...
Cardiac Rehab Program: “I feel like I was given another chance at life”
Leon Robinson figured he wasn’t having a heart attack. The 74-year-old Charlottetown man woke up early one Saturday morning last May. He and his wife were going shopping for a new car that afternoon, so he decided to clean out the old one. As he vacuumed the seats, he felt a burning in his chest and arms ...
Colorectal cancer screening: it could save your life
Screening for colorectal cancer works. Just ask Dr. Rosemary Henderson. “There’s no doubt about it,” she said. “The screening program caught my cancer so early, my entire journey with cancer was a minor inconvenience that lasted a few months. It could have been so much worse.” ...
Vaxed on PEI? Better thank Betty
Betty MacDonald may not think of herself as a hero, but her boss sure does. “There is no doubt in my mind,” said Alicia McCallum, the temporary pharmacy manager for Health PEI’s Provincial Pharmacy Services. “When I think of unsung heroes of the pandemic, I think of Betty MacDonald. People need to know about her.” ...
"I knew right away this place was different”
Joelene Spencer wasn’t sure what she would find when she arrived at the Women’s Wellness & Sexual Health Services clinic in Charlottetown. A walk-in clinic doctor had prescribed Nexplanon, a new type of birth control which is implanted in the upper arm ...
Canadian Physiotherapy Associations Centenary Medal of Distinction Award – Angela Carragher
Health PEI physiotherapist Angela Carragher has been recognized by a national professional association for excellence in her service to Islanders. The Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA) created the centenary Medals of Distinction in 2020 to celebrate the association’s 100th anniversary. The centenary ...
Primary Care Collaboration in Wellington
Collaboration between physicians, nurse practitioners, and nurses is driving quality care and provides more access to patients in need at the Evangeline Health Centre. Recently, a unique collaborative clinic on PEI has opened to decrease wait times and improve access to care for Islanders. The Evangeline Health ...
Navigating Patients to Available Medical Services
After moving to PEI and leaving her New Brunswick family doctor and specialists behind, Jill McDougall had concerns about maintaining her health and navigating the health care system on PEI. While on the wait list to receive a family doctor, Jill’s NB specialists required follow up testing but did not know where to start ...
Parents managing anxiety and depression through Tranquility
A new research project is providing parents access to tools to cope with anxiety and other mental health concerns. For parents across PEI, learning how to adapt during a pandemic has not been easy. COVID-19 has provided unique demands and challenges for parents as they manage several roles – parent, teacher ...
General Inquiries
Health PEI
PO Box 2000
Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N8
Phone: 902-368-6130
Fax: 902-368-6136
Media Inquiries
Phone: 902-368-6135
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department.
If you are unsure what to do about a health issue or if you need health information, call 8-1-1.
