Some of the finest clinicians and investigators have joined the Health Sciences Centre team because of its exceptionally vibrant and effective health care environment; a place where hope flourishes and compassionate care is a way of life.

Dr. Ruth Ann Marrie, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Community Health Sciences, is the Director of the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Clinic at HSC. Thanks to a multi-year charitable investment by the Edwards family, she is developing a clinical database and conducting a population-based study that will evaluate the effect of other diseases, such as diabetes, on patients with MS.

“We are looking at how many Manitobans have MS and how they are distributed throughout the province. We want to identify what kind of resources they need, how often they have other diseases, and how having other diseases affects their needs,” said Dr. Marrie.

“Essentially, we are working to establish a research program that will help us understand MS, and improve the care of Manitobans living with this disease.”

The generous and ongoing support of the Edwards family for multiple sclerosis research at HSC has contributed significantly to Dr. Marrie’s efforts.

“We know, first hand, the impact multiple sclerosis has on Manitoba families,” said Gary Edwards. “We want to assist research such as Dr. Marrie’s which tackles the broader impacts of MS, and are very pleased to do our part to help through HSC Foundation."

HSC Multiple Sclerosis Clinic
Ruth Ann Marrie, Director MS Clinic,

What does your team do?
We evaluate and manage patients with known MS, Clinically Isolated Syndromes, or other demyelinating diseases (such as Devic’s Neuromyelitis Optica) in collaboration with their primary care physician, using a multidisciplinary team approach.

How many people are on your team and who are they?
Our team includes four neurologists, two nurse clinicians, one nurse practitioner, a Bladder Clinic nurse, a dietician, a physical therapist, an occupational therapist, a social worker, a pharmacist, and clerical staff.
How long has your unit/team existed at HSC?

The Multiple Sclerosis Clinic, first began as a pilot project in 1998, and became a permanent program in 2000.
What does a typical day look like for your team?
Every day we aim to provide the best care possible to our large group or patients, and this depends on all members of the team.
Depending on the day, our tasks include telephone support for patients, review of consultations and laboratory results, evaluation and management of patients in Clinic, education sessions, and coordination of care with other health care providers outside our team. The only typical aspect of our day is every day is very busy!

What are some challenges you face in your work?
First, MS and other demyelinating diseases are chronic diseases, which cause many different symptoms, and make the experience of the illness somewhat different for every person affected. Second, although we understand far more about these diseases now than we did even 20 years ago, and we have a growing range of treatment options, we still need more options. Third, we care for people who live all over the province and this can make it difficult for some of our patients to reach us.

How does your team address challenges?
We have regular monthly meetings to ensure ongoing communication between team members. We have initiated a review of the processes of care within the Clinic so that we can optimize the way we provide care and to plan for the future.

What, if any, changes have you seen in your area over the past few years?
In the last three years we have changed the director of the Clinic, increased the number of neurologists working on team from three to four, and added a nurse practitioner to the team. We have also moved to a new clinic area along with the rest of the Neurology Clinics. This has given us more space, and made the clinic more accessible for our patients.

What changes would you like to see?
As the number of patients we care for increases, and as a broader range of treatment options become available, we will need to develop more efficient systems of care. Hopefully this will involve the adoption of electronic systems. We also need to continue to increase the integration of research into clinical practice.

How does your unit/team relate to the rest of HSC?
The Multiple Sclerosis Clinic is one of several Neurology clinics at HSC, and we share the same physical space. Although we already have a large multidisciplinary team, we frequently rely on other teams/providers at HSC (e.g. Spasticity Clinic, Infectious Diseases Clinic) to provide services to our patients.

How does the idea of “hope at the centre” relate to the team and your work?
Although multiple sclerosis and other demyelinating diseases pose significant challenges to affected persons and their families, the growing interest and awareness of these diseases among the general public, health care providers and researchers provide tremendous hope for the future.

Article courtesy of HSC Corporate Communications "Focus"