**TIMMINS AND DISTRICT HOSPITAL NEWS RELEASE**

Timmins and District Hospital is proud to inform the public that Dr. Lynne Schwertfeger, a local Family Medicine physician and physician at Timmins and District Hospital has been awarded the Award of Excellence by the Ontario College of Family Physicians in November 2018.

The Award of Excellence recognizes outstanding contributions pertaining to the specialty of family medicine; patient care, community service, hospital or health-care institutions, teaching, research, Ontario College of Family Physicians (OFPC) activities and other elements of the academic discipline of family medicine. The award recipient is selected through a nomination process and Dr. Schwertfeger was nominated by Hospital staff and Hospice Centre patients’ families. Specifically, Dr. Schwertfeger was recognized for her leadership in delivering family-focused palliative care and key role in the creation and operation of the Timmins Hospice Centre.

“It has been a privilege to have the opportunity to work with Lynne in the introduction of our unique Timmins Hospice Centre within a hospital at Timmins and District Hospital. Lynne’s outstanding clinical expertise in palliative care and exceptional ability to connect with patients and their families is very inspiring. Her tireless dedication and passion have been significant in the successful first year of the Hospice Centre”, said Joan Ludwig, VP Clinical, Chief Nursing Executive, Timmins and District Hospital. “I continuously receive feedback about her leadership and caring delivery of family focused palliative care. The Hospice team and patients’ families were very thankful for the opportunity to collaborate on nominating Lynne for the Award of Excellence. We thank Lynne for making such a positive difference in lives of so many that she has touched in the Timmins Hospice Centre”.

In March 2017 the Timmins Hospice Centre, located within TADH, in collaboration with the Timmins Palliative Care Resource Team, opened its doors. “Dr. Schwertfeger has been instrumental in the operation of the Centre and is its unsung hero”, said Lia Fontana, Unit Manager of Integrated Medical Services, Timmins and District Hospital.

“She visits the unit daily at minimum whether she has patients there or not, is available 24/7 to staff and families, is a wonderful teacher of palliative care and her kind, honest, compassionate and caring way are evident in her interactions with patients and their families who have nothing but praise for her. Although she does not hold an official title in the Centre, she helps guide and shape the practice and vision ensuring we provide high quality, holistic end of life care”.

Christina Barbuto, Registered Nurse, Timmins and District Hospital added that “I am honoured and blessed to work with Dr. Schwertfeger not only through the Timmins Hospice Centre but throughout my career at TADH (since 2001). She is a vital, supportive, encouraging member of our multidisciplinary team and establishes positive and supportive relationships with her patients and their families. She is undoubtedly worthy of this Award of Excellence”.

Dr. Schwertfeger said “I am very grateful to the members of the Palliative Care Resource Team who through their dedicated work made the Timmins Hospice Centre a reality and a much needed wonderful peaceful space for our community. I’d also like to thank the team of nurses, Hospital staff, and patient families who nominated me for this award as they make this important work enjoyable. Comfortable and peaceful end of life care for all hospice residents and their families is what we strive to achieve even if only for a very short time”.

Dr. Schwertfeger was presented her award at the 2018 OCFP Installation and Awards ceremony on November 14, 2018 in Toronto during the Family Medicine Forum hosted by the Canadian College of Family Physicians.

The Timmins and District Hospital (TADH) is a level C, fully accredited community, referral and teaching hospital serving the residents of the City of Timmins and Cochrane District as well as the adjoining areas of the Temiskaming, Sudbury and Algoma districts. The hospital offers a full range of medical, surgical, critical care, maternity, newborn,
pediatric, mental health and diagnostic imaging services.

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