Hearts of Our Hospital: Emergency Department Psychiatric Liaison, Stephanie

A busy mother of two and self-proclaimed foodie, Stephanie has dedicated over a decade of her
life to supporting patients at Burnaby Hospital. Stephanie is our Emergency Department Psychiatric Liaison and is part of our patient-centered healthcare team. Alongside physicians and psychiatrists, she helps patients who require mental health assessment and support receive the best care possible.

“Working in the Emergency Department really puts life into perspective,” she explains. “Patients may have an array of complex mental health concerns, including violent outbursts, while others may be experiencing challenges that aren’t always visible.”

According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, in any given year, 1 in 5 people in
Canada will personally experience a mental health problem or illness.

“Patients of all ages, education, income levels, and backgrounds can arrive in our Emergency
Department with no diagnosis, while others have an extensive history with us,” she shares. “It
doesn’t matter who you are. Our team is here to help.”

Despite the day-to-day challenges, Stephanie looks forward to coming to Burnaby Hospital – in
large part because of our healthcare team. Stephanie shared that, “the Burnaby Hospital team
is a community. We care about one another – the volunteers, staff and patients are a huge part
of who we are as a hospital. Former patients become volunteers because they feel at home and
want to give back. My colleagues are a huge reason why I am committed to Burnaby Hospital.”

When reflecting on the upcoming redevelopment, Stephanie expresses her excitement knowing
that the Emergency Department will have an upgraded and expanded space, benefiting all
patients and enabling our healthcare team to perform even better.