When it comes to research and innovative thinking, Toronto hospitals should be proud - and so should Torontonians.
The Scarborough Hospital's ReFRESHing program is bucking the bland 'hospital food' mantra, and in so doing gives patients tasty menu options during recovery. The expanded high risk breast cancer screening at William Osler Health System in Etobicoke gives women greater access to important procedures. And the new Humber River Regional Hospital will be the first fully digital hospital in North America, enhancing all aspects of quality care delivery. These are but a few of the advancements and kinds of innovative thinking coming from the city's hospitals, health care centres, and medical research facilities and schools. Not only does this culture of advancement and innovation attract brilliant minds in the health care field, it establishes Toronto as forward-thinking and a global leader.And the giving travels in both directions. There are fundraisers and walks throughout the year, which raise much-needed funds for one form of research or another. Citizens give back when they are proud of the work being done by those in the medical field. In particular when it is happening in their city.The great strides being made in health care by institutions across the city are the kinds of things Torontonians should be proud of - especially when everything coming from various levels of government is all doom and gloom. In particular, hospitals are under fire for CEO salaries, the province is talking of delisting some services from OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan), and the federal government wants to transfer health care funding to the provinces.At this time, everyone should know about the eye surgery being done at Toronto East General Hospital, which takes amniotic membrane from donated placentas to repair and reconstruct damaged eyes; the stem cell research at the McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine that helps find treatments for conditions like heart disease and spinal cord injury; the work into children's health at the Hospital for Sick Children; and the coronary artery clinical trials underway at North York's Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.The dedicated work by researchers, doctors, nurses and everyone in the health care field should not be forgotten. These stories should be told abroad, by politicians and citizens alike. They should be lauded, and saved - especially when our health care system seems overloaded, and will become more complex in the future.