Research article featured in healthcare publication
November 2022 - Exciting research conducted at West Park Healthcare Centre has been featured in Healthcare Quarterly. The study is helping to inform implementation of Family Zones in the new hospital, including planning for the right physical design elements in the inpatient rooms. Learn more
West Park research article among Top 10
November 2022 - Critical research conducted at West Park was highlighted at the International Healthcare Design conference held in Texas last month. Learn more
West Park researchers seeking participants for study on consumer device accuracy
June 2022 - Researchers at West Park Healthcare Centre are about to begin an exciting study with the goal of understanding the accuracy of a consumer device for measuring sitting and lying time during daily living in comparison to an accurate research-grade device. The study will require those who take part to commit to wearing two devices (one on the wrist and one on the thigh) simultaneously for a period of two weeks. The study will not require participants to engage in additional exercise or activity as part of the study – in fact, we’ll ask you to live your daily life as usual. Please note that participants must be at least 60 years of age, have no major health issues and be willing to receive two devices in the mail which must be sent back (return postage included) to West Park at the conclusion of the study. For more information or to participate contact Wade Michaelchuk at wade.michaelchuk@westpark.org. You can find more details in our poster. Learn more
West Park research well represented at OAAC conference
April 2022 - At the Ontario Association for Amputee Care's annual conference, West Park was able to highlight some of its important research, with one of its poster presentations winning the second place award. Learn more
West Park researchers review research on home-based telerehab for people with COPD
April 2022 - West Park Healthcare Centre researchers looked at "Telerehab" to better understand it's effectiveness, especially compared to in-hospital rehabilitation. To learn more about this review, visit here.
West Park Scientist Awarded Prestigious Grant to Study Virtual Rehabilitation
December 2021 - West Park Healthcare Centre research scientist Dr. Crystal MacKay - at the forefront of research into virtual rehabilitation - has been awarded a prestigious grant to further her work. Learn more
West Park appoints new Respiratory Rehabilitation Research Chair
April 2019 - West Park Healthcare Centre is delighted to announce that following a national search, Dr. Dina Brooks, a leader in the study of pulmonary and cardiovascular rehabilitation, has been appointed as the National Sanitarium Association Chair in Respiratory Rehabilitation Research. Learn more
Nordic Innovators pitch their health solutions to West Park
April 2019 - Innovators from Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Iceland and Finland converged on West Park April 3 at the Nordic-Canada Health Solutions Initiative event to “pitch” their innovations to West Park clinicians and patients. Learn more
West Park partners with researcher to measure effects of outdoors on therapeutic experience
February 2019 - West Park Healthcare Centre is partnering with UK-based researcher Dr. Cláudia C. Andrade to design a Patient Experience with Outdoor Rehabilitation Therapy scale. The scale is the first of its kind in the area of outdoor rehabilitation, and aims to capture how the natural outdoor environment may act as an enabler to improve the patient’s therapeutic experience. Learn more
Help future patients by sharing your West Park experience
October 2017 - West Park is building a new hospital! And to ensure we continue to provide exemplary care and operational excellence in the new building, as part of the Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) initiative, we need your help! Patients, physicians, staff, friends and family are invited to contribute valuable feedback on their West Park experience, via an approximate 20-minute survey. Learn more
COPD Affects More Than Your Lungs - study shows lung disease also takes toll on legs
March 2015 - A lung disease known primarily for destroying a person’s ability to breathe also significantly reduces endurance of muscles in a patient’s legs, according to a new study published this month in Chest. This study, conducted by West Park researchers, shows quadriceps endurance is reduced in individuals with COPD compared with healthy control subjects, independent of the type of task performed. This is particularily important because research has shown reduced quadriceps muscle mass and strength in COPD patients have been associated with a higher mortality and morbidity, as well as increased hospital admissions. Chest, March 2015; Vol.147, No. 3: 673-684
Timing is everything for teaching self-management of COPD - West Park study
March 2015 - Self management of COPD is a key component in successfully managing the disease and can reduce hospital admissions in patients with stable COPD. But when to teach self-management practices to people with COPD can be just as vital. This study, published in the journal Chest and conducted by West Park researchers, takes a closer look at how effective the teaching of self management interventions. It concludes that providing self management tips to patients immediately following an acute exacerbation is not nearly as effective as training after the individual with COPD has stabilized and more time has passed. This will help hospitals use its resources more effectively and at the same time help patients avoid continual hospitalization. Chest, March 2015; Vol.147, No. 3: 646-661
Coping with COPD aided by family support - Study finds support and education makes impact
March 2015 - People with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) who engage in support and education programs with their family members as part of pulmonary rehabilitation experience remarkable improvements in coping skills, managing distress and sexual relationships, according to a study published in CHEST Journal. Co-authored by West Park Senior Scientist Dr. Dina Brooks, this study shows that although COPD patients who received support with or without a family member experienced significant improvements in exercise tolerance and health-related quality of life, those individuals who participated in the psychosocial support and education sessions with a family member experienced remarkable improvements in their coping skills and relationships. Some research has shown families have expressed the need for more emotional support and information about disease management and this study shows, from the positive impact of shared support and education, that there are real benefits to the quality of life for people with COPD. Chest, March 2015; Vol.147, No. 3: 662-672
Making strides in understanding Spasticity
September 2013 - With a condition so underdiagnosed and misunderstood as spasticity, there is bound to be a huge knowledge gap regarding the effects and nature of this complex medical issue. West Park is doing its best to help narrow and eventually eliminate that gap with a robust amount of quality research in the works. Read more
Breaking new ground in COPD research
August 2013 - A key element in West Park’s future in research is the funding, recruitment and retention of capable, talented researchers. The Centre has made a pivotal step in the right direction with the addition of a new scientist focusing on pulmonary rehabilitation research Read more
Community-based exercise study growing
February 2013 - A research trial at West Park is focusing on a unique way to try and ensure continued improvement and early results and expansion of the study show researchers are on to something big. Study goals The study is a randomized controlled trial of a postrehabilitation community-based exercise program for individuals with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Read more