A patient’s healing journey is supported not only by excellent medical care but also by the nourishment they receive, which is why Peace Arch Hospital Foundation (PAHF) has launched a transformative project: the Healing Starts Here campaign. This $5M initiative will transform Peace Arch Hospital’s (PAH) current kitchen to a full-scale production kitchen, elevating food services and enhancing the dining experience for all patients, medical staff, and visitors.

Since the launch of our campaign, many physicians at PAH and in our community are expressing their support for this innovative project. To celebrate National Physicians Week, local physicians Dr. Cheryl Wilson, Dr. Pamela Thornton, and Dr. Elizabeth Varughese offer incredible insight into the exciting opportunities and advancements of this project on PAH and our community.

Dr. Wilson, MD, FRCSC, understands the importance of nourishing food for all patients, especially in her field. “In OB/GYN, high-quality food is crucial for patient recovery, especially after childbirth and abdominal surgery,” Dr. Wilson expresses. “Nutritious meals and hydration are also critical for new moms who are recovering from delivery and trying to establish breastfeeding for their new babies.”

Not only will the Healing Starts Here support PAH’s maternity department by providing fresh, nutritious meals, but it will also aid medical staff during their long shifts. “As a long-term staff member at PAH, I am thrilled for upgrades to food quality and availability at our site,” Dr. Wilson shares. “The Healing Starts Here campaign will offer nutritious and delicious food options for patients, staff, and families at PAH. Quality food options are key in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, ultimately helping us to provide the best care possible for our patients.”

For Dr. Wilson, the significance of nutritious food options in hospital is not just professional, it’s deeply personal. “My mother was a dietitian who worked in food services at a local hospital and long-term care facility in the Comox Valley. She believed that quality food was crucial in people’s lives, and I know she would be so proud of the Healing Starts Here initiative for our site.” PAHF is deeply grateful for the opportunity to make such a meaningful impact on the lives of so many community members through this project.

For Dr. Thornton, FRCPC, Geriatric Medicine at PAH, she understands the restorative impact of food in hospital. “Nutrition is a basic need and a building block on which we grow, heal, and maintain health. When managing chronic illness or in the hospital setting, food is medicine,” Dr. Thornton states. “I am so excited to see the Healing Starts Here campaign at PAH because fresh, nutritious food that fits a patient’s ethnic and personal preferences will provide exemplary patient care and health promotion at our site.”

“Studies within Canadian hospitals show that approximately 1 in 2 Canadian adults admitted for more than two days are in a malnourished state,” Dr. Thornton expresses. “In-hospital decline in nutritional status or weight loss is associated with prolonged hospital stays and worse health outcomes, particularly in older adults. Improving nutrition while recovering in hospital with the Healing Starts Here campaign will promote health, well-being, and healing, helping patients to return home sooner.”

Not only will this initiative offer nourishing food options, but it will also bring hospitality back to the healthcare setting. “Many patients experience difficultly opening packages or unwrapping food in hospital, or do not want the choice of food that they receive,” Dr. Thornton notes. “With the Healing Starts Here campaign, food ambassadors will assist patients during mealtime and ordering, increasing dignity and care for patients and medical staff. Choice Dining technology will offer patients nutritious meals, and ensure patients choose what they’d like to eat, with flexibility in serving time to accommodate individual care needs.”

Dr. Varughese, MD, echoes these sentiments, having seen PAH’s current food firsthand when her mom was in the hospital. “When I saw what my mom was being served on PAH’s 6th floor, I made sure I would bring her food every day to ensure she ate something fresh and nourishing,” Dr. Varughese explains. “The Healing Starts Here campaign will ease this stress off patient families by implementing Choice Dining technology, enabling patient families to select their loved ones’ meals from afar through a new app. Patients can also choose their meal and serving time, offering patients the dignity and choice they deserve.”

In addition to her personal experience with our current food system. Dr. Varughese remembers PAH’s production kitchen before 2004. “I remember PAH’s production kitchen in the early 2000s, and the comforting food our talented chef would make for the medical staff,” Dr. Varughese recalls. “I am so excited for the Healing Starts Here campaign because it will bring back the joy of mealtime and colourful food options for patients, staff, and visitors!”

Dr. Varughese’s experience compelled her to be the first donor to the Healing Starts Here campaign. “Nutrition and hydration are foundational elements of healing, especially in hospital. Quality food is crucial for recovery because nourishment heals,” Dr. Varughese explains. “The Healing Starts Here campaign will enhance a patient’s experience in hospital by offering fresh, nutritious meals, providing comfort and joy to patients in their time of need.”

To learn more about the Healing Starts Here campaign, or make a donation, click HERE.

Food is more than fuel, especially for our most vulnerable patients. It’s connection. It’s comfort. It’s healing.