Scott Smed Memorial History
-
sponsored
by the BOWEN Brightlights Foundation brought to you by
BOWEN.
Please
click
here to view a video on the history of the Scott Smed
Tournament.
For some
years limited amount of services were available for families
experiencing a stillbirth or neonatal death. In November 1995
a group of clinicians working in the area of pregnancy
and infant loss within Calgary Hospitals struck a steering
committee to examine the services offered to these families
from a regional perspective.
The
committee identified numerous areas needing enhancements. Some
of the key areas requiring improvements was in the area of
memory building, services and supports for families, and the
need for increased staff education.
The
committee developed several recommendations to deal with these
issues. One recommendation being the need for co-ordination of
services on behalf of these families.
In 1999
the Director of Women's Health, with the support of the
Director of Calgary's Grief Support Program made a proposal to
the Calgary Health Region requesting funding for a part-time
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Coordinator and therefore recognizing
the unique needs of parents experiencing an infant loss.
In October
2000 the first Pregnancy and Infant Loss Coordinator was hired to
provide assessment, development and implementation of services
for families experiencing a perinatal loss. This position is
also responsible for providing grief counseling to families
following discharge from hospital.
Over the
past three years, the program has continued to grow into a
formalized program offering a standard of care for families
including memory building, reading materials and support
groups. Educational seminars for healthcare professionals are
also an important component of the program.
The
continued mandate of the program is to ensure ongoing staff
training along with expanded family support services and it is
their hope that the program can expand it's borders to also
encompass loss through miscarriages.
