Facility: Jewish General Hospital 3755 Côte-Sainte-Catherine Road Montreal, Quebec Canada H3T 1E2 www.jgh.ca 600 beds

Liaison: Mimi Goldenberg Manager of ER Chair of Humanization of Care Committee (514) 340-8222, extension 2905 mgoldenb@ed.jgh.mcgill.ca

The program

Dr Clown began its program at the Jewish General Hospital in October 2003, at the instigation of the Humanization of Care Committee, and with its financial assistance.  The staff at this hospital are very involved in finding new ways to improve the quality of life during hospitalization.  “We are looking for, and appreciate, activities that make treatment easier.”  (a nurse)

The Jewish General Hospital is a large facility providing critical care to adult patients.  In its pilot project, Dr Clown focussed on patients in long-term care, visiting the cardiology and hemodialysis units.  Patients undergoing hemodialysis have five straight hours of treatment, three days a week. Cardiology patients are in stable condition, recovering from a heart attack.

The program seems to be well received to date.  Based on the results of the evaluation, Dr Clown will visit new departments, targeting geriatrics and orthopedics. Our presence in the hospital corridors certainly provokes a lot of surprise, curiosity, and interest.

What they have to say

“To see a patient who was simply lying in bed or sitting by the window, lonely and detached, receive a dose of humour from Dr Clown was a very satisfying experience.  This is not only true for the patients, but also for the anxious family who can suddenly see beyond their immediate worries and regain a certain sense of perspective after enjoying some humorous performances.”  (Mimi Goldenberg, President, Humanization of Care Committee)

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