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The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Oak Valley Health’s Markham Stouffville Hospital (MSH) is a place where life-changing challenges and extraordinary recoveries unfold side by side, often in the span of a single day.
“We get to know our patients really, really well. A lot of the discussions we have are very difficult because we get involved when people are very sick,” explains Dr. Subarna Thirugnanam, an ICU team member for more than 13 years. “But then, the successes are huge. There are people we see that are going to die within hours, and then the team works on them and they get better and go home. It’s amazing.”
“I enjoy caring for people, especially in their most vulnerable moments,” adds Alicia Sanders, a Registered Nurse who works alongside Dr. Thirugnanam. “It’s a very stressful time for family members, and while managing and caring for the patient is extremely important, I also prioritize the family’s well-being.”
Alicia’s approach to family-centred care is shaped by her own experiences at MSH, having delivered all three of her children at the hospital after joining the team, and describing the care she received as “phenomenal.” Before that, Alicia completed her clinical placement for Critical Care nursing at MSH in 2015, ultimately discovering her professional passion in the ICU. “There are many aspects to focus on. Attention to detail is very important and I always try to be ten steps ahead of my patient for predicting outcomes,” Alicia describes.
Teamwork is the backbone of the ICU, and Dr. Thirugnanam values the department’s collaborative spirit. “We do team multidisciplinary rounds. We have two doctors, several nurses, a charge nurse, a bedside nurse, a respiratory therapist, a dietitian, a physiotherapist, sometimes a chaplain, a social worker, and a pharmacist,” she lists. “As a group, we make a plan for each patient for the day.”
Alicia emphasizes how community support enables the ICU team to deliver these evolved models of care. “It’s important to give back to MSH to continue hospital growth with the most up-to-date medical knowledge, safety standards, and modern supplies to better support our patients and their families,” she says.
Dr. Thirugnanam echoes this sentiment. “We need donations to be able to carry on what we're doing. In order for us to do our job and provide excellent patient care that everyone deserves, we need resources.”
Being named MSH Heroes is an honour Dr. Thirugnanam and Alicia would like to share with the entire ICU team. “I feel like everyone in the unit should be appreciated,” says Dr. Thirugnanam, shining the spotlight especially on the vital role nurses like Alicia play. “Nurses spend a lot of time with patient families, and they have a huge impact on them.”
“It is a demanding job that can be very taxing emotionally, mentally, and physically, so for someone to take time out of their day to appreciate and recognize the hard work means a lot,” Alicia reflects, adding, “I hope that if the recognition came from a patient of mine, or their family member, that they are doing well!”
