Health PEI Snapshots
“It is so satisfying to make such a difference.”
Dr. Heather Williams could see things needed to change. She's a neurologist on Prince Edward Island. “Before 2017, almost every patient who arrived at an Island emergency department with stroke was admitted to hospital,” she said. “At the time, that was the best way to ensure they would be seen by a neurologist. But that sometimes took weeks ...
“They want to hear my voice”
Louise Campbell is not a doctor. She’s not a nurse. She’s not a health care professional at all, and yet, she has an important voice in how health care is delivered on Prince Edward Island. Louise is one of many Islanders who volunteers her time as a patient and family partner for Health PEI ...
“It really was life-changing.”
Will Gibbon just wasn’t interested in a glucose sensor to manage his diabetes. Now that he’s been using one for six months, he wonders what took him so long. ...
"I’m having technical problems with virtual care... help!"
Islanders can access virtual health care services through their computer, smartphone, or tablet. You can connect with a PEI physician over a secure line for treatment of several conditions using text chat, audio, or video chat...
“A small part in helping patients get better.”
Robin is a cook at Western Hospital in Alberton and is responsible for preparing breakfast, dinner and supper for patients. She also prepares meals for staff in the hospital cafeteria...
“It was a huge relief”
Sally Ross was overdue for a new set of partial plates.She would have replaced them sooner, but partial plates aren’t cheap...
“This makes it someone’s job”
Joan Adams’ family had planned their holiday in Nova Scotia for a long time. “We had started talking about it during COVID, but we wanted to wait until we all felt safe,” ...
Q&A: What’s with all the funny socks?
On June 3, you might have seen a little flash of colour at the ankle of some Health PEI employees. We asked JD Gilmour, Health PEI’s occupational health and safety officer, about where all those colourful socks came from and what the Socks4Docs initiative is all about ...
Help along the way
Conor Mullally’s journey with mental health is a long one with many stops along the way, but it’s one he’s not afraid to talk about ...
“Life gets flipped upside down. Sometimes people just need guidance.”
Ann Millar knows first-hand what it feels like to have your life flipped upside down. Thirty years ago, her mother was given a life-altering diagnosis. In the difficult weeks ahead, one of the big hurdles was navigating the health care system ...
In the spotlight: Dr. Trina Stewart
“I don’t know if there was ever a time in my life when I wasn’t thinking about being a physician,” said Dr. Trina Stewart, a family physician in Summerside. “I grew up in Perth-Andover, New Brunswick. When I was in Grade 11, I sent letters to medical faculties all over Canada and the U.S. I even sent one to Columbia, for goodness’ sake,” she added with a laugh ...
“It’s a breathtaking difference”
With a second provincial audiologist, wait times are dropping dramatically. Kaitlin MacKay remembers all too well the stress of being PEI’s only provincial audiologist ...
“It was worth it, even for that one person”
Public Health Nursing goes out of its way to accommodate everyone’s needs for vaccination. We know vaccines are important, but for some people, the vaccination clinic itself is so intimidating or scary, it can be a serious barrier ...
Saying “thank you” to health care workers
Liah Mah and Jumana Elshami had a great idea. The Grade 11 students from Charlottetown Rural just needed to find a way to make it happen ...
Patient Experience Week Q&A
April 25 to 29 is Patient Experience Week! What exactly do we mean by “patient experience”? What is “patient and family-centred care”? Kim Bustard, the Patient Experience Manager for Health PEI, sat down to answer these and other questions for Patient Experience Week ...
Someone on your side
Working as a counsellor at Community Mental Health and Addictions in Montague, Kaley Knox could see firsthand how difficult it can be for people to find the help they need. When she saw the job posting go up for the provincial Mental Health and Addictions Patient Navigator for Health PEI, she knew this would be a position that would make a difference ...
“We didn’t have time to be scared.”
“For a long time, it felt like all the training we did to get ready for COVID was for nothing,” said Chelsea Chessman, the patient care coordinator of Unit 3 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH). “But when the omicron variant started to spread, we could see this was going to become our problem pretty quickly.” ...
The Social ABCs: support for families while awaiting autism assessment
Rachel Morgan’s three-year-old son Link has always been a good communicator. He’s just not much of a talker. Link and Rachel Morgan“Oh, he has no problem letting you know what he’s thinking!” said Morgan with a laugh from her home in Miscouche. “We taught him sign language when he was a baby, and he picked it up easily. He’s quite clever ...
Cardiac Rehab Program: “I feel like I was given another chance at life”
Leon Robinson figured he wasn’t having a heart attack. The 74-year-old Charlottetown man woke up early one Saturday morning last May. He and his wife were going shopping for a new car that afternoon, so he decided to clean out the old one. As he vacuumed the seats, he felt a burning in his chest and arms ...
Colorectal cancer screening: it could save your life
Screening for colorectal cancer works. Just ask Dr. Rosemary Henderson. “There’s no doubt about it,” she said. “The screening program caught my cancer so early, my entire journey with cancer was a minor inconvenience that lasted a few months. It could have been so much worse.” ...
Vaxed on PEI? Better thank Betty
Betty MacDonald may not think of herself as a hero, but her boss sure does. “There is no doubt in my mind,” said Alicia McCallum, the temporary pharmacy manager for Health PEI’s Provincial Pharmacy Services. “When I think of unsung heroes of the pandemic, I think of Betty MacDonald. People need to know about her.” ...
"I knew right away this place was different”
Joelene Spencer wasn’t sure what she would find when she arrived at the Women’s Wellness & Sexual Health Services clinic in Charlottetown. A walk-in clinic doctor had prescribed Nexplanon, a new type of birth control which is implanted in the upper arm ...
“They’re the dream team up there.” COVID-19 outbreak at St. Eleanor’s House declared over
Handling an Omicron outbreak well is a challenge for any health care facility or unit. But when the outbreak occurs in a facility like St. Eleanor’s House, which works with men who need support following addictions treatment, it takes adopting a new set of skills and procedures quickly and effectively to stop the spread ...
What do I do if I have COVID-19?
A COVID-19 diagnosis can be a scary experience. It’s even scarier if you’re not sure where to turn for help. Dr. Jason Chan and Dr. Trina Stewart, co-leads of the Cough and Fever Clinics at Health PEI, answered some questions about how to access care when you have COVID-19 ...
Health PEI staff find help at the COVID-19 Wellness Hotline
Jennifer Bartlett-Bitar was in a tight spot. It was Friday, Jan. 7. The first major winter storm of the season was approaching Charlottetown with forecasts of up to 40 cm of snow. The storm was just starting when her son received the text. “My son was a close contact of a case of COVID-19,” said Bartlett-Bitar ...
Canadian Physiotherapy Associations Centenary Medal of Distinction Award – Angela Carragher
Health PEI physiotherapist Angela Carragher has been recognized by a national professional association for excellence in her service to Islanders. The Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA) created the centenary Medals of Distinction in 2020 to celebrate the association’s 100th anniversary. The centenary ...
Primary Care Collaboration in Wellington
Collaboration between physicians, nurse practitioners, and nurses is driving quality care and provides more access to patients in need at the Evangeline Health Centre. Recently, a unique collaborative clinic on PEI has opened to decrease wait times and improve access to care for Islanders. The Evangeline Health ...
Navigating Patients to Available Medical Services
After moving to PEI and leaving her New Brunswick family doctor and specialists behind, Jill McDougall had concerns about maintaining her health and navigating the health care system on PEI. While on the wait list to receive a family doctor, Jill’s NB specialists required follow up testing but did not know where to start ...
Parents managing anxiety and depression through Tranquility
A new research project is providing parents access to tools to cope with anxiety and other mental health concerns. For parents across PEI, learning how to adapt during a pandemic has not been easy. COVID-19 has provided unique demands and challenges for parents as they manage several roles – parent, teacher ...
General Inquiries
Health PEI
PO Box 2000
Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N8
Phone: 902-368-6130
Fax: 902-368-6136
Media Inquiries
Phone: 902-368-6135
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department.
If you are unsure what to do about a health issue or if you need health information, call 8-1-1.
