Crystal Clear

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance and Patient and Family Centred Care

2012-01-24T07:03:00.000-08:00

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance’s (CKHA) philosophy to promote patient and family centred care is demonstrated through its commitment to engage and support the learning of its employees and volunteers. In November 2011, Kathy-Lynn Stennett, Professional Practice Nurse for Emergency and Mental Health and Addiction Programs, and Maureen Coleman, Patient and Family Advisor, were selected to attend an extensive training seminar focusing on Hospitals and Communities Moving Forward with Patient and Family Centred Care. This week’s blog, co-authored by them, summarizes their learning experience.

The purpose of the seminar was to provide comprehensive and practical sessions for administrative leaders, patient advisors, and, medical and support staff to become effective change agents in the healthcare organizations they represent. With more than 400 people in attendance, from 115 organizations across the United States and Canada, presenters explained how involving patients and families in healthcare has evolved. It has extended beyond the bricks and mortar of hospitals into research and evaluation initiatives, partnerships with community stakeholders, peer support programs, and even coordinated primary care in home settings.. According to Bev Johnson, President/CEO of the Institute for Patient and Family Centred Care, the opportunities to advance and practice patient and family centred care are unlimited. Adopting this philosophy of care is a powerful transformational business tool that positively impacts an organization`s finance, quality, safety, satisfaction and market share when it is implemented carefully and thoughtfully throughout the healthcare setting.

Highlights of the seminar were the patient and family stories shared by panel members and a tour of the American Family Children’s Hospital. The patient and family stories were poignant, painful and told with great honesty and passion. These panel members shared their stories and explained how their experiences have been the catalysts for change to improve patient and family experiences. The tour provided participants with a renewed appreciation and awareness for planning and design of care environments. It also highlighted the importance of engaging and empowering patients and their families aspartners in their care.

The training seminar was of great benefit because of the knowledge, content and practical application shared among participants. Patient and family centred care is about “doing with” patients and their families, not “doing for” or “doing to”. The commitment and enthusiasm shared by all presenters and participants toward this culture change was priceless. We learned to be effective healthcare providers, we must embrace this concept of care to improve quality, safety, efficiency, and patient outcomes. Enhancing patient and family experiences benefits everyone!

National Non-Smoking Week January 15-21, 2012.

2012-01-16T06:31:00.000-08:00

The beginning of a New Year motivates individuals to make resolutions. Typically resolutions are made that will positively influence one’s health and well being. Often, one of these is to quit smoking and for those who do succeed, it will have a positive impact on their health status.

Smoking tobacco is the most preventable cause of lung cancer and is the primary cause of early and avoidable death and disease. Effects of quitting are almost immediate as your body starts to clear the toxins from cigarette smoke. One year after quitting, the risk of having a heart attack is reduced by 50 per cent relative to those who continue to smoke. In addition, it also reduces the risk of lung and other forms of cancer, stroke, and chronic lung disease.

National Non-Smoking week has been observed for more than 30 years; the goal is to educate the public about the dangers of smoking, preventing those who do not smoke from starting, assisting those who may want to quit, promote the rights of individuals to breathe clean air, and striving to achieve a smoke-free society. Over the past decade, tobacco-control strategies have been implemented at the federal, provincial and municipal levels. These strategies have helped to reduce the smoking rate in Canada by more than 30%. Many free programs and quit-smoking clinics are available across the province, and numerous campaigns have been launched in schools and communities with the specific goal of reducing tobacco use in youth. A variety of resources are available to help those who want to quit smoking and can be accessed through your primary healthcare provider, pharmacist, the Public Health Unit, Canadian Cancer Society, The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Health Canada, or via the internet. The Canadian Cancer Society offers a Smokers' Helpline 1-877-513-5333 which provides support, advice and information to people across Ontario. Smokers' Helpline Quit Specialists are available to answer questions about quitting, discuss the options available for quitting and provide support and a listening ear to people trying to quit. Service is provided free-of-charge from anywhere in Ontario.

If your New Year’s resolution was to quit smoking, congratulations! You have made a wise decision. With the right combination of planning, determination and support you will be able to stop smoking for good! Quitting smoking is the best thing you can do to improve your health.

What makes a nurse?

2012-01-09T08:22:00.000-08:00

Nursing is a profession, but what makes it unique? How are nurses different from other health professionals? The definition of a nurse according to dictionary.com is “a person formally educated and trained in the care of the sick or infirm”. But what components make up a nurse and how do they make a difference?

Nurses require formal nursing education to help give them the knowledge, skill and judgment to critically think and make confident decisions. They learn how to assess patients from head to toe to identify the uniqueness of each person. They also receive education on anatomy, physiology, and theory. Being a regulated health professional means the College of Nurses requires continual education to ensure nurses are competent and able.

Nurses also coordinate services. They are the only health professional that is present and assigned to a patient at all times during the hospital stay. By being present, they learn to identify changes in the patient as it happens, contacting others and coordinating services.

However, having these characteristics alone still does not identify what makes nursing unique. The key component to nursing that I think draws people to the profession is the emotional connection to patients and their families. Nurses are at the bedside when patients and families are at their most vulnerable moments. Nurses have to tell families the truth about their loved ones’ condition and tend to their needs after. Nurses learn to be conscious of people’s emotions and nurture people in need. Nurses love to be nurses because it gives them the ability to challenge their knowledge, care for people and make a difference.

Kim Gibson, a full-time Registered Practical Nurse on the Complex Continuing Care and Family Medicine Units at Sydenham Campus is shown doing electronic charting.

Breakfast with Santa

2012-01-03T08:15:00.000-08:00

The holidays are a special time for many, but who can forget those childhood years where all seems possible and the magic of Christmas is real.

It was through those eyes that I observed Christmas on Saturday December 17, at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance’s Breakfast with Santa. At 9:00 the children and their families started arriving. From the boxed breakfasts, to the writing of letters to Santa, all the volunteers made sure everyone was welcomed, had something to eat and an activity to keep them busy until the “Big Moment”.

At 9:30, Becky Preston, the Supervisor of Nutrition Services, announced “I just got a call on my special cell phone; I think Santa and Mrs. Claus are almost here – let’s sing a song to welcome them”. That led to the room singing “Santa Claus is coming to Town”. You could hear the bells start jingling; Santa and Mrs. Claus had arrived.

It was a very heart warming and special morning for me, and I would like to personally thank the Employee Council, Shane Helgerman and his group of volunteers for putting this event together and keeping everything running smoothly. They certainly made the “nice” list this year!

Back Row, L-R: Joan Whitson, Crystal Houze, Colleen Hall, Catherine Preston, Andrea Houze, Shane Helgerman, Nathan Couvillon, Janet Cobb and Becky Preston

Middle Row, L-R: Beth Hall, Lydia Hall and Regan Pardo

Front Row, L-R: Vanessa McFadden, Jean Landry, Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and Delynn Miller

Holiday Greetings!!!

2011-12-20T07:26:00.000-08:00

As the year comes to a close I would like to say “thank you” to everyone for their commitment to excellence at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA). The holidays are a time of reflection, and as I look back over the last year, I am amazed at our many accomplishments.

Patient’s lives are enriched through our commitment to service excellence, from the standards that have been implemented in 2011 throughout the organization, to the roll out of the “Language of Caring” in 2012. This will further strengthen our skills so we always convey our care and compassion to our patients, not only through the skillful tasks that we perform, but also through language that our patients and families will perceive to be thoughtful and caring each and every time.

We often hear – there’s no place like home for the holidays; unfortunately, not everyone is able to go home. I’ve heard stories where our staff have gone the extra mile to ensure the holidays are special for the persons they care for … stories of charity and personal sacrifice.

I trust in our staff’s gifts for care and creativity and look forward to hearing this year’s stories of holiday compassion within CKHA. This is one more way we demonstrate we are -

An Exceptional Community Hospital,
Setting Standards – Exceeding Expectations

I would like to express my sincere appreciation for your dedication this past year, and wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday season.

CLICK for Babies – Period of PURPLE Crying Caps

2011-12-12T13:15:00.000-08:00

The Women and Children’s Health Program at Chatham Kent Health Alliance is going purple! With great thanks to our community’s knitters and crocheters, every child born at CKHA during the month of November will be given a purple baby cap to raise awareness of the Period of PURPLE Crying®.
What is PURPLE crying? Crying that Peaks, is Unexpected, Resistant to soothing, with a Pain-like face (even when infant is not in pain), Long crying bouts and Evening clusters of crying. This PURPLE crying period is not only normal, but part of your baby’s healthy development. Unfortunately, this excessive crying has been reported to be a trigger for exhausted and frustrated parents to shake their baby.
Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) is an intentional injury to a baby as a result of shaking with or without impact on a hard surface. Shaking a baby causes head injuries, bleeding around the brain, retinal bleeding and bone fractures. About 25% of babies diagnosed with SBS will die, and 80% of the surviving babies will suffer lifelong neurological damage. It is important that parents and other caregivers understand the Period of PURPLE Crying® and more importantly, how to prevent SBS.
A baby will increase their crying over the first few months and this crying will peak around 2 months of age. Parents and other caregivers are encouraged to take the following three actions:

Increase their contact with their baby. Carry, walk, and talk to your baby. This will help reduce crying, but will not stop it

If the crying becomes too frustrating, put the baby in their crib and walk away. Let them cry in the safety of their crib while you take a couple minutes to calm down. Crying is stressful.

NEVER SHAKE A BABY.

If you would like more information on the Period of PURPLE Crying® or the Click for Babies initiative, please visit www.purplecrying.info

2011 Tri-Board Awards for Excellence Recognize Exceptional Performance

2011-12-05T06:34:00.000-08:00

At the annual awards banquet at Club Lentinas on Friday, November 25th the most prestigious honour that a healthcare professional can earn at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA), the Tri-Board Awards for Excellence were presented. This annual awards program honours staff, physicians and volunteers who exemplify performance excellence within and beyond the healthcare environment.

This year’s recipients were selected from peer nominations by a panel which represented staff, past honourees and the Tri-Board. Applicants are judged on their promotion of patient and family centred care, commitment to CKHA’s mission, vision and values, and leadership in improving quality and performance.

The awards were presented by Board Chairpersons Wayne Schnabel, Jon Wood and Paul Weese. Recipients were presented with a crystal keepsake award, an educational bursary, and a copy of the video in which they were featured.

Congratulations and thank you to the 2011 recipients!

Left – Right, 2011 recipients are Carrie Sophonow, staff recipient, Jennifer Wilson, volunteer recipient, and team recipients Becky Elgie and Constable Brent Milne of the Mental Health and Addictions Mobile Crisis Response team.
Not present in the photo is Dr. Siva Murugappan, physician recipient.

Alzheimer’s Disease - More than Just Forgetting!

2011-11-28T13:13:00.000-08:00

Most of us know someone who has Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive degenerative disorder that destroys vital brain cells. One in 11 Canadians over the age of 65 has Alzheimer’s disease and that rate increases to 1 in 3 over 85 years of age. With the first wave of baby boomers turning 65 years old in 2011, now is a good time to refresh our Alzheimer’s knowledge!

Alzheimer’s disease is not considered a natural part of the aging process. While memory loss is what we think of most commonly, there are a number of other warning signs. If you notice a loved one is having difficulty performing familiar tasks, including:

not remembering how to start their washing machine;

forgetting common words in conversation;

becoming lost in familiar areas;

showing poor judgment like wearing clothing inappropriate for the weather,

misplacing items in unusual locations like putting their watch in the freezer,

changing personality like becoming paranoid or suspicious; or,

showing a loss of initiative and relying on others to tell them what to do next in their daily routine.

If you notice a loved one exhibiting any of these signs it is important that they see their doctor.

It is estimated that 1,892 people in Chatham-Kent that currently have Alzheimer’s disease. Fortunately, there are some things that you can do to keep your brain healthy!

Challenge your brain by pursuing a new interest like art or music. Keep socially active by joining a club or pursuing a hobby. Maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating a nutritious diet, getting regular exercise and seeing your doctor regularly.

Protect your head from injury by wearing your seatbelt, using a helmet when riding your bike and staying aware to reduce your risk of falls.

The Alzheimer Society of Chatham-Kent is a wonderful resource for those living with or caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease. For more information, go to: www.alzheimerchathamkent.ca

Let’s Talk About COPD!

2011-11-21T10:12:00.000-08:00

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is more commonly known as COPD, is a progressive lung disease that affects an estimated 1.5 million Canadians and possibly many more yet to be diagnosed. COPD blocks and narrows the airways and inflames the lungs. The two main forms of COPD are chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Many people with COPD have a combination of the two forms.

It is thought that 80-90% of COPD cases are caused by smoking – either being a smoker now or in the past, or, being exposed to second-hand smoke. However, those who have never smoked or been exposed to second-hand smoke may also develop COPD.

The symptoms of COPD can include shortness of breath, cough, fatigue, frequent lung infections and weight loss. Moreover, there is no cure for COPD; it is a progressive disease. However, symptoms can be managed and the progression possibly slowed with medications and lifestyle changes.

It is important that you see your doctor regularly and follow the treatment program created for you. If you are still smoking, it is important to try to quit. Talk to your doctor as there are treatment options available to help you quit. Avoid exposure to second hand smoke whenever possible. Become knowledgeable about your illness. Keeping the lines of communication open with all health care providers is essential. Knowing when to seek treatment if symptoms of COPD worsen (referred to as an ‘exacerbation’) is vital.

Both influenza and pneumonia can lead to an exacerbation of COPD and frequently requires hospitalization. With the influenza season upon us, it is especially important for those with COPD to talk to their doctor about both the influenza vaccine and the pneumonia vaccines.

2011 Patient Safety Award Winner Announced!

2011-11-14T13:05:00.000-08:00

During Chatham-Kent Health Alliance’s (CKHA) celebration of National Patient Safety Week, the Quality/Risk and Patient Safety Council presents an annual Patient Safety Award to an individual or team who made a significant contribution to patient safety in the past year. At a ceremony held in the cafeteria of the Chatham Campus, I was privileged to be able to present this year’s Patient Safety Award.

It’s worth mentioning the folks that were nominated, as to be nominated is an honour itself. This year the nominees were Leah Praill, Housekeeping, for environmental audits for high touch areas and the Pharmacy Department for reducing errors by using a standardized medication dispensing system.

The winner of the award was the Safe Medication Team, led by Clinical Pharmacist Leader Gary Deroo; the team consists of Pharmacy Team members, front-line nursing staff and Nursing Leaders.

Through the work of our Safe Medication Team, CKHA has become a safer place for our patients. They have implemented many steps to ensure the right medication, and the right dose reaches the right patient at the right time.

They have developed strategies to improve safety regarding High Alert Medications, Look Alike/Sound Alike Medications, and Independent Double Checks.

In addition, the Safe Medication Team developed strategies to communicate these safety enhancements to staff working around the clock, through CKHA’s new staff orientation, eLearning program, clinical refreshers and poster boards.

Congratulations Safe Medication Team!!!

Remembrance Day 2011

2011-11-10T06:25:00.000-08:00

On the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour Canadians all across the country come together to recognize and pay tribute to the brave men and women who have served and continue to serve Canada. Some will remember grandparents, others husbands, wives, sons or daughters and others friends and neighbours and we all will silently reflect on their ultimate sacrifice for their country.

At Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) we observe a moment of silence to pay tribute to fallen heroes making Remembrance Day all the more poignant and close to home.

Veteran Affairs Canada states that Canada is recognized around the world for its generosity and willingness to step forward when help is needed. This has been seen not only in the First and Second World Wars but in present day military and peace support efforts or domestic operations. More than 2.3 million Canadians have answered the call and served the cause of peace and freedom over the years, more than 117,000 have given their lives.

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved, and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe,

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch, be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields
~ John McCrae

Service Excellence – “Always” Behaviours

2011-11-07T11:50:00.000-08:00

This year Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) created a new vision statement:

An Exceptional Community Hospital
Setting Standards – Exceeding Expectations

How can we create a hospital experience for our patients and families that exceed their expectations? One way that will help us achieve this is through the application of the CKHA service excellence standards. A consistent approach that is sustained and demonstrated as “always” behaviours can help us achieve our vision. But it will take all of us, all of the time.

So instead of introducing a new standard this fall, we want everyone to take time to reflect on the standards we have already introduced. Are you escorting patients, families and visitors to their destination? Are you stepping back and letting patients and families enter the elevators first? Are you only using your cell phone for calls or texting on your breaks? Are you using the NOD? Do you answer the phone with your name and “How may I help you?” Is your blackberry only used during an emergency when in a meeting?

“Always” behaviours can help us sustain a culture that supports being an Exceptional Community Hospital. It takes “all of us – all of the time”. Take a look at the flyer that will be published on the CKHA Intranet, an information system for hospital employees!

Click Here for Service Excellence

Trick or Treat Safety Tips for Your Ghosts or Goblins!

2011-10-31T11:48:00.000-07:00

“Trick or Treat!”

A familiar phrase uttered with enthusiasm by almost all children as they arrive at the door on Halloween night. But before your ghosts and goblins trick or treat this year, keep in mind these safety tips to make sure the only howls heard are those of fun!

Have each child carry or wear something lit, such as a flashlight, glow bracelet, necklace or flashing attire for visibility. Light-up shoes are also practical and so noticeable on a dark Halloween night.

Trick or treat in familiar neighborhoods or areas.

Make sure your princess or prince wears well-fitting shoes, preferably running shoes.

Avoid costumes that drag on the ground. While initially cute, costumes that drag can easily trip up little feet or get caught up in bushes.

Be sure a child’s mask allows full visibility and breathing. Don’t hesitate to cut out larger openings for comfort and safety.

Children should walk, not run and should never cut across lawns or driveways. Obstacles might not be readily visible at night.

Carry only flexible props that can’t cause injury if your child falls.

Only trick or treat at houses that are lit.

Be sure kids don’t get over-heated and keep hydrated. Plan costumes according to weather.

Keep track of time and don’t trick or treat after 9 p.m. That allows ample time for children to trick or treat and enjoy the goodies of the night

Happy Halloween!

Supporting Breast Cancer Awareness

2011-10-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. At Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA), we are organizing a “Get Your Pink On” event on Oct. 26 to promote Breast Cancer Awareness.

Click Here for Grand Ave Campus Event
Click Here for Sydenham Campus Event

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance will be hosting an event where staff, volunteers, physicians and the public are invited to create a human ``pink ribbon`` in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month and CKHA`s Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP). An aerial photo will be taken and will be used to demonstrate our collective support for breast cancer prevention, diagnosis and most importantly, for survivors and their families.
Please come out, wear your pink and be part of the human pink ribbon photo in Chatham! We want to fill in that pink ribbon for the aerial shot - I look forward to seeing as many people as possible! Or join us in Wallaceburg at the Sydenham Campus for a pink-themed celebration. Both events offer refreshments and take-away material for participants.

About CKHA`s Ontario`s Breast Screening Program (OBSP)
OBSP is a comprehensive, organized breast cancer screening program. Its mission is to reduce mortality from breast cancer by delivering high-quality breast screening to Ontario women between the ages of 50 – 74. This program is operated by Cancer Care Ontario and funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. CKHA`s OBSP satellite site opened in 1997 and is one of 19 hospitals in Ontario to be chosen to pilot a High Risk Breast program.

Breast Cancer Facts
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Canadian women (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer).
In 2011:

An estimated 23,400 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 5,100 will die of it.

An estimated 190 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 55 will die of it.

On average, 64 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer every day.

On average, 14 Canadian women will die of breast cancer every day.

Probability of developing or dying from breast cancer
One in 9 women is expected to develop breast cancer during their lifetime and one in 29 will die of it.

Trends in breast cancer
Breast cancer incidence rose steadily from 1980 to the early 1990s, partly because of increased mammography screening. Breast cancer death rates have declined in every age group since at least the mid 1980s.

References: Canadian Cancer Society retrieved from http://www.cancer.ca

Help us raise awareness of the importance of early screening to detect and treat breast cancer and help us demonstrate Chatham-Kent’s support for breast cancer survivors and their families.

I got the shot!!! CKHA is making strides to reduce influenza in patients and staff

2011-10-17T06:53:00.000-07:00

Influenza is a respiratory illness that is easily transmitted between people in the community, patients, and healthcare providers. There are between 500 and 1500 deaths in Canada per year attributed to influenza. The best way to reduce the transmission of influenza is through vaccination. At Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA), we are making strides to increase the vaccination rate for both patients and staff. Occupational Health and Safety and Infection Prevention and Control have teamed up to improve awareness and protect patients and staff.

In October, influenza vaccination clinics start for staff which will include a travelling clinic occurring during the Influenza vaccination blitz. Staff members at CKHA have the potential to carry the flu without showing symptoms. Our goal is for the majority of staff to be vaccinated, to protect our patients and healthcare workers from getting the flu.

We will also continue our vaccination for in-patients. In 2008 only 31.7% of Canadians over 12 were vaccinated. Our hospital feels a responsibility for our community, and helping our patients get vaccinated will improve the health of Chatham-Kent.
I encourage everyone to get vaccinated, seek out vaccination clinics, go to your doctor’s office, or if in hospital ask for the vaccine to ensure that we protect others, our families and ourselves from Influenza

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance wins Award for Environmental Stewardship!

2011-10-12T17:44:00.000-07:00

At a ceremony held in Winnipeg September 25-27, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance was awarded the Canadian Healthcare Engineering Society (CHES) Wayne McLellan Award of Excellence for our Environmental Stewardship Program. Beth Hall, Director of Support Services, Harrie Bos, Supervisor of Engineering Services and Carrie Sophonow, Manager Housekeeping/Linen accepted the award on behalf of Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) as they have led the many initiatives under this program, in partnership with the Green Team.

Sponsored by Honeywell, the award was named in honour of Wayne McLellan, who worked at CKHA for over 10 years as the Director of Engineering, and pays tribute to his outstanding contributions to CHES and to Green Healthcare. It was Wayne’s vision and leadership that started CKHA`s Green Team and Environmental Stewardship Program. CKHA was honoured to have been recognized for their accomplishments and for carrying out Wayne`s vision.

Congratulations to the Green Team for winning this prestigious award.

Shown in the photo holding the award
(L-R): Beth Hall, Harrie Bos and Carrie Sophonow.

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Celebrates Success

2011-10-04T13:08:00.000-07:00

On September 26th, 2011, at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance we took the time to celebrate the re-designation of our hospital as a Best Practice Spotlight Organization (BPSO), as awarded by the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO). It was nice to take a couple of hours from a very busy schedule to meet with members of the team and celebrate one of our successes.

As one of the original 21 healthcare organizations in Ontario to receive this designation we are especially proud to have been able to maintain this prestigious status. Being a Best Practice Spotlight Organization requires CKHA to implement and sustain evidence based “Best Practices” in the care we provide to our patients. CKHA has been successful in implementing and sustaining a number of RNAO Best Practice Guidelines including but not limited to: Client Centred Care, Assessment & Management of Pain, Nursing Management of Hypertension, Prevention of Falls and Fall Injuries in the Older Adult, Risk Assessment and Prevention of Pressure Ulcers, and Stroke Assessment Across the Continuum of Care.

We have heard a number of stories from patients and families advising us of how knowing CKHA as a Best Practice Spotlight Organization has provided them assurances that CKHA does provide safe, quality evidence based care. Awards like these are a reminder we are meeting our vision: An Exceptional Community Hospital: Setting Standards - Exceeding Expectations. Follow the link below to see the video.

I have several body piercings with jewelry…now I need surgery. What do I need to do?

2011-10-03T05:25:00.000-07:00

The popularity of body piercing has presented new challenges for health care providers, especially those in an operating room setting. Any area of the body can be pierced; however, commonly pierced areas include eyebrows, nose, ear, lip, tongue, navel, nipples and genitalia. Body piercing jewelry in the operating room can present challenges such as electrical burns, dislocation of the jewelry, pressure injuries, and tissue injury due to interference or catching of the jewelry and difficulty in passing a urinary catheter.

All jewelry should be removed prior to any surgical procedure. Jewelry includes traditional jewelry (rings, watches, necklaces) as well as body piercing jewelry (barbells, beaded closure, labret or monroe, nose screw/stud, eyelet tunnel).

If the piercing has been well established, body jewelry can be removed without much concern. On average, body piercings take 6 months to one year to become well established and healed, though every individual may heal differently.

Please let your surgical team know about all locations and types of body jewelry and your concerns. If you are unable to remove the body jewelry, the attending physician will evaluate the risks and benefits before proceeding with the procedure.

Back to school time is here – What to do about lunches?

2011-09-26T05:29:00.000-07:00

On September 1, 2011, students will no longer be able to buy “junk” food from their school’s vending machine, tuck shop or cafeteria. There will be no more curly fries, no more hot dog days, and no more pop or chips.

We know when given a choice between a healthy or a less healthy food most children will likely pick the latter. To help children make healthier food selections, our local schools will now only provide food and drinks that are nutritious, low in fat and sodium, high in fiber and calcium. Although these food standards do not apply to food brought in from home, these new school rules do provide an opportunity to encourage healthy choices in a packed school lunch as well.

Your child spends a good part of their day at school so their lunch (and snack) needs to provide them with enough energy and nutrients to learn and play. Just like you, if your child is too hungry or tired, they will be more likely to reach for that unhealthy option – like candy! Students who eat nutritious meals feel better. They are also better behaved and find it easier to pay attention to their lessons and to learn.

It can be a challenge to create a healthy lunch with variety day after day so ask for some help – from your child! Studies tell us that children who have had input in making their lunch are more likely to eat it.

Use Canada’s Food Guide to teach your child about healthy food choices and aim to include food items from at least 3 of the 4 food groups in their lunch and snack. Have your child make a list of their favourite healthy lunch foods and help you grocery shop for them. Find other ways to add variety to their packed lunch like using cookie cutters to cut sandwiches into fun shapes or instead of using bread, try using a pita or whole grain bagel.

Making healthy school lunches doesn’t have to be a hassle. Keep a stock of healthy food options on hand and consider making lunches in the evening. For further information on packing healthy school lunches and snacks, visit www.eatrightontario.ca.

Speaking with Patients to Improve Quality

2011-09-19T09:24:00.000-07:00

The Emergency Department (ED) values Patient and Family-Centred Care and understands the importance of feedback to improve the experience of both the patient and their family. To demonstrate they are our priority, engage them, and generate feedback to improve safety and satisfaction, the EDintroducedmonthly patient rounding. Included is the Clinical Manager, Professional Practice nurse as well as a patient advisor.

You might wonder what that involves; it includes interviewing patients and their familieswho arepresent in the ED.Participationis voluntary and those interviewed are asked questions about safety and satisfaction. They are given the opportunity to “speak up”.They are encouraged to analyze and evaluate their care, voice their concerns, and discuss all aspects of their care, from timeliness, to aspects of communication, effectiveness, and overall satisfaction.Sitting at the bedside to discuss all phases of care is a personalized approach that demonstrates our commitment to treating each and every one of our patients with dignity and respect, empowering them to partner in their care, listening to and acknowledging their concerns to improve outcomes and enhance their experience.

Collaborating during rounding provides the ED team with a “snapshot” analysis of its current practice and enables the team to acknowledge what they are doing well, and initiate immediate change for areas that need improvement.

Patient feedback is the propeller for quality. Without their involvement, CKHA would not be an organization that our patients would definitely recommend.

Photo shows patient advisor Deb Rice rounding on Lukas in the Emergency Department, while his mother Maria watches on.

Photo shows the Emergency Department rounding team, l-r, Dorothy Letarte, Clinical Manager, Deb Rice, patient advisor, Kathy Lynn Stennett, Professional Practice Nurse.

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance’s “Operation Green” Initiative

2011-09-12T09:12:00.000-07:00

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance’s (CKHA)“Green Team” aims to reduceour environmental impact on human health and the natural environment.

The small group of dedicated, volunteer staff contacted a group of medical students at the University of Western Ontario to learn more aboutan initiative called“Operation Green”. Operation Green diverts waste by reclaimingopened but unused and uncontaminatedsurgical supplies and sending them to the developing world. This program has been functioning successfully at University Hospital in London for approximately two years. After learning about the philanthropic idea, CKHA’s Green Team, under the guidance of our summer student, Shawn Segeren,havedecided to roll it out.

Congratulations and kudos to the Green Team!

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance gets Creative in Hand Hygiene Messaging

2011-09-06T09:05:00.000-07:00

The Canadian Patient Safety Institute (CPSI) is holding a Hand Hygiene Video Competition to engage organizations in the improvement of optimal hand hygiene. Hospitals across Canada are submitting videos that promote hand hygiene, demonstrate effective hand washing and showcase participation from as many departments in the facility as possible. The winner will be announced during the 3rd Annual Canada’s Forum on Patient Safety in the fall.

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) has decided to participate in this competition. The video will be a 50’s inspired mystery theme. Detectives investigate an inexplicable outbreak of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA). Their investigation leads them to discover that super villain MRS. A is up to her villainous ways, spreading her MRSA onto everything she comes in contact with.

The submission is the result of hard work from the Infection Prevention and Control Team, their summer student Amanda Houze,and Mac-Uy Lai and Richard Barry from our Communications Department.

Creating the video was a great way to engage staff and promote the four moments for hand hygiene, another way CKHA demonstrates its commitment to safe, quality patient care.

Ready. Set. Go!

2011-08-29T07:00:00.000-07:00

The report card is in and it is a failing grade - our children received an ‘F’ in physical activity on the 2011 Active Health Kids Canada Report. I know, it’s only physical activity and there are so many more important things, right? WRONG!

Canada’s Guide to Physical Activity in Children recommends that children get 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise every day. That means, for one-hour a day, our children’s play is active enough that they sweat a little and breathe harder; unfortunately, only about 7% of our children are doing this.Around half of our children are not getting enough physical activity to support ideal growth and development and 25% of our children are obese – and this number is increasing!

Physical activity helps our children build strong bones and muscles, keeps their heart and lungs healthy, teaches them how to be social, improves their self-esteem and school performance. A healthy and active lifestyle is important to our children’s health and wellbeing, their quality of life and can help prevent diseases like cancer, Type II diabetes and heart disease in adulthood. How do our children learn to live an active and healthy lifestyle? From you!
Teaching your children to be physically active can an enjoyable family experience and does not have to cost money. Try:

Walking the dog together

Organizing a neighborhood game of road hockey, hide and seek or basketball

Walk your kids to daycare, school or their friends house

Go on a nature hike together

Wash the car together

Run through the sprinkler

Shovel snow together, rake the leaves

Your actions speak louder than words so don’t forget to be a role model for your children and adopt an active lifestyle for yourself. For further information or suggestions for healthy living, go to www.participaction.com. Ready.Set.Go!

The Intensive Care Unit acts on your Feedback!

2011-08-22T07:00:00.000-07:00

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) receives public feedback from the National Research Corporation (NRC Picker). NRC Picker sends out surveys randomly to patients of CKHA. The NRC Picker report identified that the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) scored low in “patients knew enough about their care”.

Many disciplines in the hospital take part in the care of an ICU patient, and now, in keeping with the Patient and Family Centered Care Philosophy, the Medical Quality Care Team and the ICU Unit Based Council decided to look at Interdisciplinary Rounding at the bedside. A new way to “round” on a patient was developed, now starting at 9:00 a.m., the nurse practitioner, pharmacist, dietician, respiratory therapist and the nurse caring for the patient all see each patient together. The group goes room to room, discusses the patient’s care and at the same time involves the patient and family. It is a wonderful time for patients and families to have their questions answered.

Also new to rounding are Navigator Boards. These are boards at each bedside, which allow the patient and/or family to write their goals for the day, and they incorporate them into the rounds. Each patient and family also receives a pamphlet which explains what round is and when it occurs.

The Manager rounds once per week with the team and hears many comments from both patients and families on both the rounding and the boards. This Interdisciplinary Rounding has become an important part of the circle of care at CKHA.

Congratulations to the ICU/PCU and the interprofessional team for making a difference!

In the photo, L-R, Kelly Christoff RN, Paul Johnson RN, and Jennifer Pasma, Nurse Practitioner are shown during Interdisciplinary Rounding.

Remembering the “Why” – Escorting Patients, Families and Visitors

2011-08-15T07:00:00.001-07:00

Have you ever been lost? Have you ever needed directions and then once you got them, you still could not find your way? I sure have, and I know what that feels like for me. It would be fantastic if our patients, families and visitors never got lost, but the reality is, finding your way in a hospital can be difficult.

Visitors to a hospital are often anxious. Most people come to Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA)because they are ill, have a family member who is ill, or require health care services. If possible, we want to create a culture that helps alleviate some of their anxiety.

That is why we want our staff to escort patients, families, and visitors. We feel that through simple gestures, by helping people find their way for example, we can help to decrease their anxiety and improve their overall hospital experience.

This summer, to reinforce this idea, CKHA is focusing on the Service Excellence Standard – Escorting patients, families and visitors. If patients, families, and visitors appear lost or are looking for directions, we encourage everyone who works at CKHA to offer assistance. We want all of our staff to ask if they can help and then, offer to escort them to their destination. If patients, families or visitors do not know the way, we encourage you to find someone who does.

That is why escorting patients, families and visitors is supported and encouraged to be an “always behaviour”. After all, it is only by committing to our everyday or “always behaviours” that we can make a difference for all of the patients, families and visitors of CKHA.

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Launches a New Vision Statement

2011-08-08T07:00:00.001-07:00

June 23, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) announced a new vision statement:

An Exceptional Community Hospital
Setting Standards – Exceeding Expectations

Some of you might wonder how CKHA came up with that and what it means.

Creating a new Vision Statement involves a lot of people, thought and discussion. It was a collaborative process, over 150 groups were interviewed and engaged; over 300 voices were heard. It involved internal engagement, community input and discussion. What we learned was the Vision Statement should be something that was clear and demonstrates to our community, our patients and our staff how we envision CKHA’s future.

This Vision Statement was a key outcome of the Alliance’s Strategic Planning process. The 2011-2013 Strategic Plan and Vision Statement was approved by the Tri-Board and sets a course for the future. There is great emphasis on patient and family-centred care and we want to emphasize safe and quality care.

So what does it mean? It means CKHA aims to provide exceptional care, to attract and retain exceptional talent, to develop exceptional ideas and to be a hospital with ongoing exceptional performance. In the months and years ahead, staff, physicians and volunteers will be working towards the newly adopted strategic goals and directions to exemplify the new Vision.

It means CKHA wants to be an exceptional community hospital, and I for one am excited to see how CKHA embraces this new Vision Statement.

To learn more about CKHA’s Strategic Plan and Vision Statement, please follow the following link: http://www.ckha.on.ca/strategicplan/.

Celebrating What’s Right

2011-08-04T13:05:00.000-07:00

Recently I had the pleasure of celebrating a second annual report produced by the Patient and Family Centred Care Steering Committee.

Patient and family advisor volunteers, along with Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) staff, presented to members of the Leadership Council their accomplishments for the past year. With a focus on always improving the patient experience, this report demonstrates the commitment and passion the patients, families and staff have by always putting patients first. Improved communication at the bedside using navigator boards and patient and nursing rounds, are but a few of the accomplishments achieved by the Patient and Family Centred Care Steering Committee this past year.

The creation of a patient and family values document will keep us focused on what matters most to our patients and to their families. It is only through partnerships with patients and families that we learn what is most important to them and how to work together to make changes that support a quality, safe environment for everyone.

Patients and families are engaged as patient and family advisor volunteers working in partnership with CKHA staff to advance patient and family centred care at CKHA. My heartfelt thanks to all of you! I look forward to next years’ accomplishments.

Colin Patey, President and Chief Executive Officer, addresses a group of patient and family advisors at the Patient & Family Centred Care Advisor Appreciation Celebration held on June 20, 2011.

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance wants to be Ready Should Disaster Strike

2011-07-25T12:07:00.000-07:00

It all seems so easy on television… disaster strikes, the ambulances arrive on scene and then at the hospital, and hospital staff and physicians start working together to care for the wounded. I can assure you that having everyone at the ready should tragedy occur is anything but easy. It takes thought, countless hours of planning and practice to make sure that we are ready for our community should some sort of external disaster occur.

On July 7th, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) conducted an external disaster exercise on the river side of CKHA to test our “Code Orange” processes.

What is Code Orange? – Code Orange is what would be called should catastrophe strike, making it necessary for CKHA to care for many more patients than it would expect to have at any given time. Essentially, a Code Orange is called when there is an unanticipated event in the community that requires additional resources (staff) to be brought in to staff the Emergency Department or other affected units within the hospital. Involved in the event were Chatham-Kent Fire Department, Chatham-Kent Police Services, and SunParlour Emergency Medical Services as well as Med Quest students. The event tested the Emergency Department’s ability to respond to multiple victims. It also tested CKHA’s system to notify staff of a Code Orange and to begin the process of identifying available resources to support the event.

The scenario consisted of a single car accident, and there were 10 victims (played by Med Quest students) requiring medical care. Fire, Police and Ambulance were on the scene to help the students through their roles. Switchboard and all units were involved.

I would like to thank all those who were involved in planning and executing the “Mock Code Orange”. This is one way that CKHA works to ensure we are ready to answer the call should disaster strike our community.

8th Annual Stroke Garden Party Reunites Those Affected by Stroke

2011-07-14T06:13:00.000-07:00

On June 24, the 8th Annual Stroke Garden Party was held by the riverfront at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA). Stroke Survivors and their families joined staff and volunteers from CKHA to celebrate their successes and share stories.

This year the theme was “Back in the Saddle” and Terry Jenkins from TJ Stables and founder of the Acceptional Riders Therapeutic Horseback Riding Program was there along with her husband and horses Freedom and Puddin’.

One of the many highlights of the day was when Colin Patey, CKHA’s President and CEO noted that the Alliance’s integrated stroke unit has been recognized as the best performer in Ontario for the highest percentage of admitted stroke patients being treated in a specialized stroke unit. He went on to say “it’s a major achievement for the Alliance and staff associated with the integrated stroke unit”.

Making Rounds: Responding to patient needs

2011-07-04T07:50:00.000-07:00

Making rounds is a process where hospital staff make frequent visits or ‘rounds’ to check on patients and their well-being. Frequent rounding is a powerful evidence-based tactic that improves patient satisfaction and saves lives. Through the Excellent Care for All Act and our Quality Improvement Plan, we have renewed our promise to provide excellent care to all of our patients.

Evidence shows that when used in the Emergency Department, frequent rounding decreases the number of patients who leave without being seen; patient falls; patient and family requests for assistance, and, improves patient satisfaction with quality of care.

On the Medicine Unit at CKHA, there is already evidence that frequent rounding is making a difference. In May of 2010, the Medicine Unit leadership team initiated frequent patient rounding sessions using the 4P’s and 2R’s. Following an action plan, staff make regular rounds and assess Pain, Positioning, Personal Hygiene (toileting) and Placement (putting items within reach), the 4P’s. At the same time they Respond to any questions and Reassure that they are there to help and will return frequently, the 2R’s. The entire interaction is completed with the question “Is there anything else I can do for you? I have the time.”

Frequent rounding improves patient and family satisfaction and patient safety, and even saves lives. Plans are underway to spread it to other care areas of the hospital soon. Chatham-Kent Health Alliance is full of caring people, caring for people.

CKHA Quality Improvement Plan: Our promise to our patients and their families

2011-06-27T07:53:00.000-07:00

The Excellent Care for All Act required that we develop a Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) Quality Improvement Plan and publicly post it by April 1, 2011. The CKHA Quality Improvement Plan demonstrates our commitment to high quality healthcare, a positive patient experience, accountability to the public and transparency

The three main themes and objectives of our Quality Improvement Plan are:

Saving Lives

Avoiding new skin pressure ulcers

Reducing the incidence of C. difficile infections

Improving Effectiveness & Access

Reducing Wait Times in the Emergency Department

Improving Patient Satisfaction

Improving scores for in-patients and out-patients in the ED: “Would you recommend this hospital to your friends & family?”

The Quality Improvement Plan is CKHA’s pledge to provide the highest quality of care for the patient’s we serve. The Plan can be found on the CKHA website: http://www.ckha.on.ca/ under the ‘About Us’ tab on the upper menu bar and following the link under Quality Improvement Plan.

June is Brain Injury Awareness Month!

2011-06-12T07:40:00.000-07:00

Brain injury is the number one killer and disabler of younger Canadians. The cost of brain injury to Canadian society is immense—estimated to be more than $1 billion per year.

Head injuries are the leading cause of serious injury and death to kids on wheels (i.e., bikes, rollerblades, skateboards etc.) and most of the serious brain injuries can be prevented by wearing a helmet. Children are also at a higher risk for head injuries in a motor vehicle crash when they are not restrained properly. It is essential that parents and caregivers use car seats, booster seats, and seat belts as intended. Here are the general guidelines:

Children must use a rear-facing car seat until at least one year of age and at least 10 kg (22 pounds).

A forward-facing car seat may be used until they weigh at least 18 kg (40 pounds), which is normally reached at about age 4 or 5 years.

A booster seat should then be used until the child is at least 36 kg (80 pounds) and 145 cm (57 in.) tall, typically reached at about 9 years of age.

Children can transition to a using just a seat belt once it rests in the correct position on their body.

Set a good example by always wearing a helmet while cycling and wearing your seat belt while in a vehicle. Always use proper child safety seats and boosters for your children. They’re depending on you!

June 6 – 12 is Sun Awareness Week: Protect the skin you’re in!

2011-06-10T07:52:00.000-07:00

Excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun and tanning beds plays a leading role in the development of melanoma and other skin cancers.

Skin Cancer Facts:

Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, will be diagnosed in 2,500 Ontarians this year.

The number of cases of melanoma is increasing. In Canada, the lifetime risk of melanoma for men is now 1 in 74. For women, it is 1 in 90. In comparison, the lifetime risk of melanoma in the 1930s was 1 in 1,500.

Over 74,000 Canadians will also be diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancer this year.

Sun Sense:

Schedule outdoor activities before 11 am or after 4 pm and use maximum sun protection if outside between noon and 2 pm.

Plan ahead. Find out the UV Index rating forecast and use it to guide your activities and protection.

Wear loose, lightweight clothing that covers as much of the body as possible, whenever possible.

Wear a hat with a 7.5 cm (3 inch) or wider brim and be sure it also covers the back of your neck.

Use sunscreen and lip balm with an SPF of 30 or higher, and use a water resistant, sweat resistant or sport sunscreen if you are involved in activities in water or will perspire a lot during the activity. Reapply it often.

Protect the skin you’re in … be fit and be sun safe!

Crystals' Corner - 1 Year Anniversary

2011-06-06T08:17:00.000-07:00

Patient and Family Values – What matters most to you?

2011-06-06T07:38:00.000-07:00

The ultimate goal at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance(CKHA) is that patients receive quality, safe care in an environment of respect and trust for all partners. Engaging patients and families helps to improve all aspects of the healthcare experience. This week, the CKHA Tri-board endorsed the patient and family values created through public consultationled by the Patient and Family Centred Care Steering Committee.

The Excellent Care for All Act requires all hospitals have a declaration of patient values in place by June 8, 2011. Since November of 2010, thePatient and Family Centred Care Steering Committee dedicated their time, passion, and commitment to develop this document. Public consultation provided the committee with the opportunity to hear from patients, caregivers, and the public at large, ensuring that the values created reflect what is important to patients and their families. Thank you for taking the time to provide your input to create these values. And thank you committee members for work well done!

The Excellent Care for All Act also requires the valuesdocument beavailable to the patients and families of CKHA. The Patient and Family Values will be available on the hospital website and in pamphlet form throughout the organization.

CKHA wants to create the environment patients and families need and expect. We now know what matters most – and will strive to always consider these values in the provision of care to you.Through engaging patients and families, patient and family values have been created – reflective of what matters most to you.

Hand Washing: Clean Hands, Caring Hearts

2011-05-30T13:20:00.000-07:00

The staff, physicians and volunteers at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) take pride in delivering safe, quality care to our patients. Washing our hands is one way that CKHA protects both ourstaff and our patients from the spread of infection. Hand washing also helps create a safe practice environment. A special code word was chosen to be used by CKHA employees as a way for staff to remind each other of the importance of washing their hands at every patient interaction. It is an easy and fun way to ensure there are no missed opportunities for hand hygiene. Using the code word and continuing with our hand hygiene audits monthly, are two ways the staff at CKHA are increasing the awareness of the importance of washing your hands.

We had a surprise visit recently from `Paws` the big red dog, he went around from department to department to help remind all staff of the importance of good hand hygiene. He also reminded staff, physicians and volunteers that using the code word is how we leteach other know that they missed an opportunity for hand hygiene. Hand hygiene is the responsibility of everyone at the hospital and together we can ensure the delivery of safe, quality and effective care is carried forward each and every day at CKHA.

During his surprise visit,the big red dog, stopped to greet Shealy Farmer, a nurse on our Medicine Unit. Shane Helgerman, Program Director of Medicine accompanied the big red dog as he travelled throughout CKHA reminding staff, physicians and volunteers of the importance of good hand hygiene.

Using Technology to Improve Medication Safety

2011-05-23T10:36:00.000-07:00

Part of keeping our patients safe is ensuring that they receive appropriate medications throughout their stay in hospital – the right medication, the right dose, and at the right time.

At Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA), one way that medication safety is addressed in a process called Medication Reconciliation. Medication Reconciliationis comparing and compiling multiple sources of information to create an accurate list of the patient’s medications prior to admission.

At CKHA, we are going to improve the medication reconciliation process by using our electronic documentation system to gather the patient’s home medication list. Later this spring when a nurse or pharmacy technician retrieves your medication information, they will bring a computer to the bedside and save it on your electronic chart. The healthcare team can refer to this list at any point in your stay and even on a following visit.

If you are a patient or a caregiver of someone who is coming to the hospital, make sure you bring an up-to-date list of all medications including puffers, shots, herbs, lotions, samples, drops and over-the-counter pills. It is a simple step in a complex situation that can help to keep you or your family member safe.

Crystal’s Blog: 1 Year Anniversary

2011-05-16T10:40:00.000-07:00

One year ago I launched Crystal’s Corner to inform patients, families, staff and the community of the new or upcoming strides CKHA is taking to improve the care we provide. My first blog was called “Nursing: You Can’t Live Without It!”which celebrates nursing leadership in our organization. As I reflect on the past year and the 50 blogs posted, I see the momentum of CKHA’s commitment for excellence grow and blossom.

Therehave been some big accomplishments and changes for the organization over the past year. We have released Health Outcomes for Better Information and Care (HOBIC) to measure the outcomes our nurses have on our patients, to focus our care plans and improve patient outcomes. In December 2010, CKHA completed the Qmentum Accreditation program and met 97.7% and 1572 of the 1610 standards of excellence.
We are one of only 21 hospitals designated as a Best Practice Spotlight Organization (BPSO), using RNAO’s Best Practice Guidelines to lead our practice when implementing policies, procedures, patient orders, documentation standards, and patient care initiatives.

Lastly, Patient and Family Centered Care has become the culture of the organization, and partnering with patients and their families is evident throughout the organization. It is through these partnerships we work collaboratively to create the environment our patients and families expect and need.

I look forward in my 2nd year of Crystal’s Corner to share with you updates on the strides CKHA is making in continuing the momentum for positive change.

Two Compassionate Caregivers receive Prestigious Award

2011-05-11T11:13:00.000-07:00

When the recipients of theCompassionate Caregiver Award of Distinction were announced on May 9, 2011, Vivianne Dewitte, Coordinator of Palliative Care, and Floyd Fennema, Coordinator of Recreational Therapy, could not have been more surprised. Their colleagues weren’t surprised though they knew just how deserving of the award these two were.

Their story will move you. There was a patient no longer able to go home due to his condition and prognosis. Vivianne asked him one day if he had just one wish, what it would be. His reply was to go fishing, but felt it would never happen. Believing that dreams do come true, Vivianne got in touch with Floyd, who contacted the patient’s family; whoworked out the details to make his wish come true. Imagine the patient’s surprise when the next day Vivianne told him he was going fishing. That day he enjoyed the warmth of the sun with his family and he even caught several fish! Vivianne went to see him the next day and asked how his outing had been; his ear-to-ear grin said it all. His journey ended peacefully, two weeks after his last fishing trip.

At the ceremony, I shared with the group portions of the letter of appreciation from the founder and benefactor of the Compassionate Caregiver Award,"I am so very grateful for the infinite compassion, respectand high level of medical care accorded my husband in the final stages of his life at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance. The very able, courageous and knowledgeable staff kept my husband free from pain and minimized his natural anxiety. The "Compassionate Caregiver Award of Distinction" is to be evidence of my appreciation and thankfulness for the tender care that my husband received. I hope that the Fund becomes a vehicle for others to say ‘thank-you’ for the same tender care given other patients and families."

I think the donor would agree that Vivianne and Floyd are indeed compassionate caregivers, congratulations and thank you Vivianne and Floyd!

Crystal Houze (centre), congratulates Floyd Fennema & Vivianne Dewitte on being the recipients of theCompassionate Caregiver Award of Distinction at a ceremony held in CKHA’s Café Grand on Monday, May 10, 2011

Nurses Week May 9-13, 2011

2011-05-09T05:50:00.000-07:00

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) is celebrating Nurses Week to recognize the contributions that local nurses make as part of the inter-professional team caring for Chatham-Kent patients and their families. CKHA will celebrate its 418 Registered Nurses (RN), 170 Registered Practical Nurses (RPN), and 11 Nurse Practitioners (NP).

Over the past year, CKHA’s nursing staff have made enormous contributions to improving the quality and safety of care delivered to patients at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance. Many nurses have become Best Practice Champions and helped to implement Best Practice Guidelines throughout the Alliance. With their hard work and dedication, CKHA was awarded the provincial designation, Best Practice Spotlight Organization.

Additionally, during Nurses Week, CKHA will award its fourth annual, “Compassionate Caregiver Award” and on May 12 will host a Palliative Care Education day entitled “The Importance of Psychosocial Care” to be held at Smith & Wilson Estate Winery. CKHA staff will have the opportunity to attend this informative event at no charge.

As CKHA celebrates Nurses Week, we encourage others to take the time to reflect on how rewarding a nursing career can be and hope to inspire others to choose this challenging and fulfilling profession. Nurses have many roles, from staff nurse to educator to nurse practitioner and nurse researcher - serving passionately as part of the profession and with a strong commitment to patient safety and quality care.

CKHA Nurses Wendy Murphy (left) and Ashley Dupuis (above) provide care and compassion, while brightening their patients’ day with a smile.

Breakfast for Champions

2011-05-02T13:31:00.000-07:00

Did you know that your large double-double coffee contains 230 calories with 12grams of fat? Wow…that should wake you up!More Canadians are overweight and obese than ever before and perhaps the great toll of excess weight is on our health.

On Thursday February 24, a team from Surgery, Women/Children, Ambulatory Care and Professional Practice delivered a hot oatmeal breakfast (only 115 calories) with choice of toppings to the entire Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) team of best practice champions and supporters. As a Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO) Best Practice Spotlight Organization (BPSO), CKHA also promoteda healthy work environment with information aboutlifestyle choicesrelated to nutrition and exercise.

A healthy work environment is a setting that maximizes the health and well-being of staff. RNAO Healthy Work Environments Best Practice Guidelines clearly show an environment that supports the staffs’ health and well-being does make a difference for nursing work and other members of the healthcare team. A focus on ensuring a healthy work environment is a win for everyone, the organization, the healthcare team and our patients! Fast Facts:

Nutritious, balanced meals and healthy snacks may reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Risk of obesity can decline by 4.8% for each additional km walked per day; the risk increased by 6% for each hour spent in a car per day.

Obesity rates among our children have tripled in the last 25 year.

Canadian women in the 25-34 year age group have the fastest growing obesity rates among adults.

9th Annual Parade of Chefs Raises over $30,000!

2011-04-25T13:52:00.000-07:00

The Foundation of Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) provided a fun filled night of food and drink at the Annual Parade of Chefs event.

Club Lentinaswas beautifully decorated, the food was excellently plated and prepared and the host, Chef Lynn Crawford from the Food Network’s Restaurant Makeover and Pitchin’ In, was a treat to listen to.The event was catered by some of Chatham’s premier chefs and they did not disappoint. The evening consisted of seven courses of absolutely magnificent food which was accompanied by great local wines.The wine was served by some of CKHA’s finest physicians, and staff members.

The proceeds from the evening will be put towards replacing the cardiac monitoring system in the Intensive Care Unit.This new state of the art monitoring system will allow Chatham-Kent Health Alliance to continue to offer quality, safe patient care.Through the efforts of The Chatham-Kent community, the foundation, CKHA employees, and events like the Parade of Chefs, we will be able to stay on the cutting edge of technology and ensure that our patients receive the best possible care right here in our community.

A big thank you goes out to everyone involved in the event, and we all look forward to the Parade of Chefs next year for more fantastic food from our very talented local chefs.

To view the pictures posted on the Foundation of Chatham-Kent website, follow the link below:

http://www.foundationckha.com/Site_Published/foundation/newsdetails.aspx?QueryId=47&left.queryid.id=6092&newsdetails.QueryId.Id=6733

Nursing Leadership Network Conference

2011-04-18T11:14:00.000-07:00

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA)had a significant presence at the Nursing Leadership Network Conference (NLN) this year.

The two-day conference is a celebration of leadership in nursing and acknowledges those in the field who have accomplished great advancements in the profession. There were over 120 submissions to the NLN for poster presentations and just over 30 were accepted. CKHA had three posters accepted; (Leadership Academy, Patient Rounding and Normo-thermia). The acceptance of three posters submitted by CKHA is confirmation that we are, and continue to be, one of the front-runners in leadership. The conference highlights the extraordinary work accomplished in the field of nursing and the strides that each organization is taking to improve safe, quality and compassionate care to their patients. The staff, physicians and patients can be proud of the level of commitment that CKHA has as an organization to ensure we stay on the leading edge of Leadership within the health care field.

Nursing Informatics

2011-04-11T12:22:00.000-07:00

Nursing has shifted to a world of electronic documentation to help with continuity of care and proper storage of important patient information. Nurses document a large portion of the care they administer electronically. Writing everything down on a piece of paper and placing it somewhere on the patient chart has given way to standardized electronic documentation. All information entered into the electronic record is stored so that physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and patients can view the information to make sure all aspects of care are consistent and fluent.

Patients and families may see their nurse or other healthcare workers in their room or at the nurses’ station on the computer. This is how hospital staff ensure all information regarding their patients’ care is being documented and stored for future use. The ability for the nurses to chart electronically allows for quicker access to information by physicians so they can review lab work or x-ray reports electronically and be able to make decisions on care. The world of nursing is evolving and with that so must nursing practices.

Electronic documentation is just one such change that allows for greater flexibility, continuity, timeliness, and accuracy of care for all patients at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance.

“How are we doing?”

2011-04-04T07:43:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered why we ask this question?
Hearing from you, the patients and families we serve, can help us to ensure that we achieve the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance mission “Together…advancing compassionate quality care”. We are “Caring People, Caring for People”. Hearing from you helps us get better at providing the highest quality health care we can.
We always look for ways to improve the patient experience – hearing from you helps us do that.

Do you know the ways you can tell us about your hospital experience?
We invite your feedback in many ways. They include:

Patient Satisfaction Survey: Each year on our behalf, a contracted survey company called NRC Pickersends out over 6,700 random surveys to patients of CKHA. You may get this survey in the mail following your hospital visit. Completing this anonymous survey helps us understand how well we are doing to meet your needs. The results show us our areas of strength, areas for improvement and how we compare to other community hospitals. We encourage you to complete this survey if you receive one. Hearing from you in this way is very important to us. Your feedback helps us to make necessary changes to improve your patient experience and satisfaction with your care.
The CKHA website, www.ckha.on.ca asks, “How are we doing?” This section can be filled out on line to submit anonymous feedback, or include contact information if you request a follow-up response
Drop boxes: In high traffic locations throughout our hospitals, you will see drop boxes posted on the wall. There, cards are available called “How are we doing?” These cards, which can be filled out and dropped into the box, are collected regularly.
Every employee, manager, or executive is expected to receive your feedback as a “gift”. Please feel free to share your compliments, questions and suggestions at any time during or after your stay with us.
Other:In addition to the above, we always welcome your comments in person, by phone, or by mail. We may hold community forums, we invite patients and families to volunteer as patient and family advisors, and we listen to the patients’ story – all ways to help us get better.

What we do with the responses we get?
We value your comments, compliments, and concerns and make changes to improve the patient experience based on your feedback. Ever wonder what changes we have made? Here are a few - new furniture in the ED waiting room, patient navigator boards, patient choice visiting policy, including patients and families in rounds in ICU if they choose, medicine rounds every 2 hours, and communication cards for inpatient units.

How you can help
We want to know about your hospital experience. Did we meet or exceed your expectations? Would you recommend us to your family and friends? Hearing from you can help us achieve the high, quality patient and family centred care you need and expect. Help us to improve by providing feedback. Let us know “how we are doing” so we can provide the best care possible.

ECFAA: Doing the right thing for our patients and their families

2011-03-28T08:41:00.000-07:00

Work is underway at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) to ensure compliance with the Excellent Care for All Act, 2010 or ECFAA, as it is commonly called. This legislation received Royal Assent on June 8, 2010, and the sections relating to hospital quality committees came into effect on January 1, 2011. This legislation places more emphasis on transparency and accountability of hospital boards, staff, physicians and volunteers for quality, safety and the overall patient experience.

There are eight components to comply with ECFAA, and one is the development of a public document called the Patient Declaration of Values. The purpose of the declaration of values is to make sure the care we provide is what our patients expect. These values will help us strengthen our focus in the delivery of high quality patient and family centred care.

Our CKHA Patient and Family Centred Care Steering Committee has produced a proposed declaration of values and wants to hear from you. Patients, families, staff, volunteers and members of the community are invited to provide feedback by viewing the main CKHA web page at: http://www.ckha.on.ca and clicking on the buttoncalled “Patient Values – Inviting your Input”and then following the links to read the draft values and complete a short survey. Providing feedback will ensure that we are on the right track with promoting a positive patient experience at CKHA.

MORE OB: Keeping Patient Safety a Priority

2011-03-21T07:40:00.000-07:00

The Women & Children’s Health Program has just celebrated the completion of their fourth year of the MOREOB program. MOREOB – an acronym for Managing Obstetrical Risks Efficiently – isa patient safety and a professional development program that is inclusive of all members of the Alliance’s interdisciplinary obstetrical team; that is, obstetricians, delivering family physicians, midwives and nursing. Through this program, team members have shared access to current obstetrical knowledge and have an expectation to put this new knowledge into practice in the form of skills drills. These skills drills are an important part of the MOREOB program, as rehearsing for emergencies promotes inter-professional collaborative teamwork and communication practices that help the team to respond to true emergencies in an automatic, well co-ordinated fashion. Practicing skills and emergency situations promotes a sense of confidence with care practices, encourages evaluation of the teamwork process and helps to maintain a sense of vigilance to anticipate and mitigate potential safety risks.

The Women & Children’s Health Program continues to demonstrate its commitment to patient safety, professional development and quality patient care as this team enters into its 5th year of the MOREOB program. The goal: to create an environment where on-going education and rehearsal of skills is the expectation of all team members. Communication and teamwork is an efficient and automatic process and where team members and patients work together to create a culture where safety for all is the priority.

Compassionate Caregiver Award – Media Release

2011-03-16T13:28:00.000-07:00

The Compassionate Caregiver Award was established as a way to honour caregivers who display extraordinary compassion in caring for patients and families at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance. It is presented to an individual or team at CKHA who exemplifies the values of compassion and care in their work. The award originated in 2008, in response to a donor’s experience at CKHA.

The recipient of the 4th annual Compassionate Caregiver Award will be a staff member, volunteer or a group of individualsand will be selected based on the following three criteria; Respect, Patient and Family Centred Care, and Advancing Compassionate, Quality Care.

New this year, nomination stories for the Compassionate Caregiver Award of Distinction will be accepted through a link on the CKHA Internet website, www.ckha.on.ca Paper copies of the nomination form will also be made available on all of the hospital care units, as well as by contacting Erika Walker at (519)352-6400 ext. 5352.

Submissions for this award will be open from March 1 to April 15, 2011. The Selection Committee will consist of all members of the Professional Practice Team along with a Patient and Family Advisor.

During a special ceremony during Nursing Week (the week of May 9, 2011), the award recipient will be announced and presented with a $1,000 educational bursary. The recipient’s name will also be added to the Royal Copenhagen figurine “Nurse with Wounded Soldier” displayed at CKHA.

Each year, the process of choosing a person or team becomes more and more difficult as CKHA is full of caring people, providing high quality compassionate care. Congratulations to all CKHA staff who have given their hearts to the patients and families they serve.

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance’s Commitment to Wait Time Initiatives

2011-03-14T07:29:00.000-07:00

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) is dedicated to providing patients the best possible care in the right place, at the right time by the right people.

As part of the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care (MOHLTC) Wait Time Strategy, and its priority action to reduce wait times and improve access to care,CKHA participated in the Ministry-funded project known as the Process Improvement Program (PIP). This pilot project, initiated in September 2010, has resulted in fasterEmergency Department (ED) assessment time,which reduced wait times and improved efficiency of safe, quality care.

The goal of the project wasto improve access to care by reducing the amount of time waiting in the ED. Reducingthe time people spend waiting in ED is a complex issue that cannot be solved by focusing on the hospital ED alone. The success of this project required support and commitment from the entire CKHA organization. The core project team included members from the ED and medicine units, support services, physicians, and a Ministry-appointed lead.

This project focused on creating a new model of care for patients who present to the ED with less serious health problems. An area called Pod 5 is where these patients are seen, treated and referred or discharged by one physician or Nurse Practitioner. Patients who are more serious or require in depth treatment are directed to the main ED area for care. Patients with less serious health problems benefit from timelier access to care, and patient surveys show improved patient satisfaction.

A team of ED Registered Practical Nurses (RPN’s) supports the physician/NP partnership.Participating in this pilot project funded by the Ministry, engaging employees, and support from all levels within the organization demonstrates CKHA’s ongoing commitment to providing the best possible patient carein the right place, at the right time by the right people

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance is a Provincial District Stroke Centre

2011-03-08T07:24:00.000-08:00

Did you know that Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) is a Provincial District Stroke Centre?Through our Chatham site, you can access best practice stroke care without having to leave the community. People who have or will suffer a stroke are able to receive specialized care beginning with the Emergency Department visit, through their stay in our Integrated Stroke Unit and Rehabilitation Units. Once ready to leave the hospital, there is support for stroke survivors and their families in our community. CKHA also offers aSecondary Stroke Prevention Clinic to assist patients who have identified risk factors in an effort to prevent a stroke.
It is important to recognize the signs and symptoms of a stroke because a stroke can, and often does, result in permanent physical problems. Recognizing the symptoms of stroke early can improve long-term survival and decrease the amount of potential disability.
Warning signs of stroke include:

sudden loss of strength, or sudden numbness in your face , arm or leg:
trouble talking;
sudden blurry vision;
sudden, severe unusual headache;
sudden loss of balance or dizziness.

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should immediately call 911 and come to the hospital. Physicians and nurses with special training in caring for patients with stroke will assess and determine the best treatment options.
Stroke is a medical emergency and we all need to be aware take action as necessary.
If you have any questions, please contact Laurie Zimmer, Co-odinator of the Chatham-Kent District Stroke Centre at 519-352-6401, ext. 6900, or at lzimmer@ckha.on.ca.

Senior Friendly Care

2011-03-02T08:33:00.000-08:00

It is well documented that baby boomers (those born between 1946-1966) are starting to transition into the seniors age group and it is expected the numbers of seniors (those over 65 years of age) will increase by 18% in the next 5 years. Chatham-Kent Health Alliance has recently completed a self assessment process to look at how we deliver “Senior Friendly Care” as part of a province wide initiative.

As part of the self assessment process we looked at how we provide care to seniors using as a framework organizational supports; processes of care; emotional and behavioral environment; ethics in clinical care and researchas related to the senior’s experience; and the physical environment. As part of the assessment we have been asked to plan for changes within CKHA to improve the care of seniors with the priority to returning seniors to their own homes as often as possible. We are daily faced with increasing numbers of patients who are seniors with very unique care needs. Through the evaluation process we learned we are doing lots of work to support seniors but we also have lots of opportunities to work with our community to make our senior care even better.This is a big job but one we are very excited to undertake.It’s just one more way CKHA is working to provide high quality and safe care to all members of the Chatham-Kent community.

Medical Directives – What it Means to You

2011-02-23T06:24:00.001-08:00

A number of strategies are used to improve Emergency Department (ED) flow at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) campuses in Wallaceburg and Chatham. One of them is the using “Medical Directives”.

Medical Directives allow the ED nurses to begin or complete some treatments and diagnostic tests before the patient is seen by a physician or nurse practitioner. Empowering nurses to start these actions at the very beginning of the ED visit allows certain basic emergency procedures to be completed more quickly and efficiently, leading to safer patient care and better patient flow.

As an example, a patient with an injured wrist is assessed by the nurse at Triage by starting the directive - the patient is then sent for an x-ray of the wrist. When the patient is later seen by the physician or nurse practitioner, the x-ray has already been done and the pictures are in the computer, available for review. Without a directive, there would have been a wait to see the physician or nurse practitioner, then a wait to have the x-ray done, and then wait again to be seen to review the results.

Consider two patients arriving with chest pain, one to an ED with appropriate directives and the other to an ED with no directives. The first patient will have the nurses start an IV, apply oxygen, obtain an EKG, send standard blood work and will be given aspirin by the time the physician sees the patient. The other will only have their clothes removed and will be lying in a stretcher waiting for the physician to arrive.

The aim is to make our emergency departments function better while we provide safe and high quality patient care. Medical Directives are one of the tools we use at CKHA to achieve that aim.

Eating Disorders – Assistance for Those in Need

2011-02-15T11:23:00.000-08:00

Did you know that February is Eating Disorder Awareness month?

Generally, eating disorders involve self-critical, negative thoughts and feelings about body weight, food, and eating habits that disrupt normal body function, and daily life activities. What causes eating disorders is not entirely clear, though a combination of psychological, genetic, social and family factors are thought to contribute to the disorder.

Canadian studies show that eating disorders are the most common chronic illnesses in the female adolescent population, and in 2005, more than 500,000 Canadians suffered from some sort of eating disorder. In Ontario, more than 90 percent of those who require hospitalization for anorexia and bulimia are women. A study done in Ontario in 2004 found that by the age of 18 years, 80 percent of girls of normal height and weight reported that they would like to weigh less.

The Mental Health and Addictions Program (MHAP) program of Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) provides mental health and addictions services to residents of Chatham-Kent. A multidisciplinary team of professionals provide individualized treatment. The treatment focuses on empowering clients with new skills and techniques that promote positive change and independence. The MHAP Chatham-Kent Eating Disorders Program offers services for Chatham-Kent residents between the ages of 13 – 25 years inclusive, who have been diagnosed with an eating disorder or disordered eating (a wide variety of irregularities in eating behavior that do not warrant a specific eating disorder). Clients receive comprehensive assessments in consultation with a physician, and group or one-on-one therapy sessions are offered for teen clients and their parents.

Eating disorders can have very serious consequences. If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulty with an eating disorder, contact your primary care physician or nurse practitioner for referral to this program. You can also call (519) 351-6144 and ask to speak to the Eating Disorders Therapist.

Tis the Season! Flu season that is

2011-02-08T13:53:00.000-08:00

On January 27th, 2010 Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) issued a media release announcing an influenza outbreak. The outbreak has had a rippling effect through out the hospital which prompted me to write this blog. Many of us think that catching the flu is someone else’s problem. The truth is that it can happen to anyone of us and there are measures to protect ourselves.

Did you know that between 2,000 to 8,000 Canadians die every year from the flu? Symptoms of the flu include fever, chills, cough, runny nose, stuffy nose, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, extreme weakness and fatigue. Much of Canada is reaching its peak for experiencing influenza and influenza-like illnesses. Many local healthcare facilities and long term care homes are experiencing outbreaks of influenza.

As a result of the influenza outbreak at CKHA: visitor screening and restrictions were instituted; children under 12 were unable to visit; only patients with influenza like symptoms were admitted to Medicine A; and everyone worked around the clock to help mitigate any further spread. The teamwork involved during any sort of emergency always amazes me. Special thanks to the Medicine Team, Infection Control Team, Occupational Health & Safety Team, Communication Team; Support Services Team; and our Physician Leaders.

After some reflection, the influenza outbreak at CKHA has instilled in me the importance of the annual flu shot and our responsibility as health care professionals to encourage the flu shot with our families, friends, and patients.I would like to share a quote from Best Practices for Prevention of Acute Respiratory Infection in All Health Care Settings, as I found it quite powerful: “Influenza immunization for staff involved in direct client/patient/resident care (including physicians, nurses, emergency response workers, employees of long-term care homes who have contact with residents, providers of home care, visiting nurses and volunteers) is a standard of care. In the absence of contraindications to the vaccine, refusal to be immunized against influenza is a failure in staff’s duty of care to patients.”If you have not already been vaccinated, it’s not too late to do so. Clinics are available for staff at CKHA, and for the public through Public Health (519-352-7270). For general information about flu visit: http://www.chatham-kent.ca/community+services/Public+Health/immunization/childrens+immunization/Influenza+%28Flu%29+Vaccine.htm
Remember - the best thing you can do to protect yourself is to get influenza vaccine, cover your cough, clean your hands often and stay home when you are sick.

February is Heart Month

2011-01-31T12:02:00.000-08:00

February is a cold and blustery month and if you are like many Canadians, you tend to limit outdoor activity and eat more comfort food. However, February is also “Heart Month”. Did you know that over 5% of adults in Ontario have cardiac disease, and over 30% of deaths in Canada are directly related to cardiovascular disease?

Risk factors for heart disease include smoking, alcohol, lack of exercise, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Some of these we are born with or have a family history of, but all risk factors can be reduced. Heart Month gives us the opportunity to think about how we can work towards improving our health and decreasing our own risks of heart attack. You cannot control your age, gender or family history, but there are many things you can do to improve you heart health.

If you are a smoker, quitting smoking is the single most important thing you can do not just for your heart but also for many other health issues. Eating a healthy diet based on the Canadian food guide low in fat and salt can decrease the risks of obesity, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Keeping active also decreases your cholesterol and blood pressure, and improves fitness.

Exercise may be one of the simplest strategies. You may have to be creative to plan for exercise in February, and here are a few ideas: indoor walking in the mall or a big box store, attending an exercise class, just climbing the stairs in your home an extra 3 or 4 times a day. The extra efforts will be well worth it. You will feel better and your heart will love you for it.

So now, when you look outside and it is snowing, and the wind is blowing, take stock of how you can improve your heart health!

Our Promise to Breastfeeding Families

2011-01-21T07:04:00.000-08:00

In 1991, the World Health Organization and UNICEF launched a world-wide strategy to improve the health of infants and young children called ‘The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative’. This initiative seeks to improve maternity services by focusing on the needs of the newborns and empowering families to provide their infant with the best start in life. The goal: 75% of mothers exclusively breastfeeding (or exclusively feeding human milk).
As part of our commitment to the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance promises our breastfeeding families that:

We will have a breastfeeding policy that all nurses follow;
Our staff members have breastfeeding education;
We will provide skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby right after birth;
We will teach mothers how to position and latch their babies for breastfeeding;
We will feed breastfed babies breast milk only;
We will not separate families from babies unless it is medically necessary;
We will encourage mothers to breastfeed their babies for as long and as often as the baby needs;
We will not give breastfed babies soothers or bottles with nipples;
We will make sure that families are aware of community programs and support for breastfeeding.

The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative seeks to protect, promote and support the continuation of breastfeeding, but it also serves to ensure informed decision making and hospital support for each family’s decisions around their newborn’s care. Hospitals that demonstrate success in doing so are awarded with a Baby Friendly designation. Since the beginning of this initiative, more than 20,000 hospitals in 156 countries have received this designation,Chatham-Kent Health Alliance is striving to be one of them.

From Routine to Innovation

2011-01-11T07:47:00.000-08:00

When we question our usual practice, innovation happens. The Hip Fracture Model of Care was created because one Toronto nurse questioned “Why aren’t my patients with dementia and delirium eligible for rehab services?” She challenged the notion that persons with dementia can’t participate in rehabilitation because of their poor memory; she knew patients with acquired brain injury also had trouble with memory and they were deemed appropriate for rehabilitation. As a result, a new model of care was developed for persons who have been living with dementia at home prior to their hip fracture and was implemented by 35 hospitals in the Greater Toronto Area. They demonstrated that persons with dementia were able to return home after rehabilitation avoiding premature institutionalization. Chatham-Kent Health Alliance’s in-patient Rehabilitation and Surgical units have adopted this new model of care for persons with hip fractures and it is further challenging what was believed possible.

What in your practice has become routine?

Christmas Stars

2011-01-04T08:27:00.000-08:00

Do you remember the lesson from Joel Barker of the Star Thrower video shown during Chatham-Kent Health Alliance’s (CKHA) Patient and Family-Centre Care education?

“We’ve ALL been gifted
with the ability to make a difference.”

I’ve heard a number of touching stories where our CKHA staff have gone the extra mile to ensure the holidays are special and sacred for the persons they care for….stories of charity, personal sacrifice, and shared prayer.

We know there is no place like home for the holidays; however Joel’s declaration that we are truly gifted to make a difference to those we care for, is so true.

I trust in our staff’s gifts for care and creativity and look forward to hearing this year’s stories of holiday compassion within CKHA where we are, ‘Caring People, Caring for People’.

Accreditation Kudos!

2010-12-13T11:15:00.001-08:00

Congratulations to the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance team! Surveyors from Accreditation Canada conducted a careful peer review process to assess Chatham-Kent Health Alliance’s (CKHA) services. Accreditation offers assurance to our staff, our patients, their families and the Chatham-Kent community that CKHA is meeting the expectations outlined in 32evidence based Required Operational Practices (ROPs). An ROP is defined as an essential practice that we must have in place to enhance patient safety and minimize risk. In addition to ROPs – teams were working on accreditation standards. Standards are the driver for quality improvement in the departments and programs. An entire symphony of CKHA teams and front line staff have worked diligently to create and revise policies, procedures and plans to the ROPs enhancing the quality of our hospital services.

Thanks to each of you for living our CKHA values of respect, teamwork, compassion, trust, knowledge and accountability that led to the successes of this year’s accreditation. Our shared commitment will aidthe CKHA team in embracing new ROPs and sustaining our current practice.

Oncology/Cancer Clinic Team receive certification from de Souza Institute

2010-12-05T12:46:00.001-08:00

Congratulations to VivianneDeWitte’s Oncology/Cancer Clinic team nurses who have achieved certification through the de Souza Institute. Cheryl Jarecsni, Jeannette Rivard, Karen Kennedy, Jackie Opavsky, Diane Jacksonand Colleen Janssens each completed the 21-hour Chemotherapy and Biotherapy course. Special congratulations to Cheryl Jarecsni (RN)who is now certified as a de Souza Facilitator for the Chemotherapy and Biotherapy course. Certification through the de Souza Institute ensures each Oncology/Cancer Clinic nurse has the knowledge and skill needed to meet the Cancer Care Ontario standards for chemotherapy administration.

In 2007, the oncology team earned a Human Touch award from Cancer Care Ontario for excellence in care.This latest achievement exemplifies our oncology nurses’ commitment to evidence based practice and patient centred care. They set the bar high, and we commend them.

Protection: It begins with you

2010-11-29T09:52:00.000-08:00

Influenza, commonly know as “the flu,” is a respiratory illness that usually circulates throughout the fall and winter. People of any age can get the flu and sickness usually lasts two to seven days. Most people who get the flu are sick for only a few days. In others, the symptoms can last for weeks. In extreme cases some people can develop complications and become very ill, requiring hospitalization. Why risk it?

Protect your family: Illness caused by the flu can be prevented with a flu shot. Protect yourself and those around you.

Help protect your workplace: Get your flu shot to protect yourself, your co-workers and the patients we care for.

Protect yourself and your patients: Influenza is a potentially severe respiratory illness and is responsible for an increased number of healthcare provider visits, hospitalizations and deaths.

Influenza vaccine is available for all staff through CKHA Occupational Health & Safety Department (you can still call the OH&S department for an appointment), through your family doctor or nurse practitioner, and through Public Health clinics.

Are you ready for flu season?

Achieving the Highest Quality Care: Our Journey continues …

2010-11-22T08:02:00.000-08:00

At a recent Best Practice Guidelines Breakfast For Champions, Dr. Irmajean Bajnok the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO) Director of International Affairs and Best Practices Guidelines Programs spoke about her ideas on the “journey to enhance the quality of care”. She used the letters from the word JOURNEY:

J is for the Journey that we have undertaken together to enhance quality of care
O is for the best possible Outcomes that we aim to achieve
U is for Understanding the need for continuous improvement
R is for Reflection on our role and using the best possible Resources to find our way
N is to remind us to Never forget the patient and family in the centre of all we do
E is for Evidence, available through use of the RNAO Best Practice Guidelines
Y is for Yes! Yes we can do this! Yes, we are making a difference!

Here at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, we are one of only 21 RNAO Best Practice Spotlight Organizations. On this journey to enhance quality of patient care, we must continue to work together as a team to provide evidence-based, high quality and safe care. A healthy workplace includes a combination of the use of best evidence, team-work and collaboration, diversity and professionalism. We must be confident and competent in our own roles within the interprofessional team to do the work ahead.

An exciting professional journey, indeed!

Keeping Our Drinking Water Safer

2010-11-15T10:43:00.000-08:00

CKHA is on the leading edge once again, with being the first hospital in Canada to implement a new container called Pharmasmart! This container that looks like a hard plastic blue and white mini suitcase (see the picture below) is built to contain waste pharmaceuticals so that they aren’t discarded in a harmful way.

Studies show that medications that are discarded in the improper way may lead to contamination of local water systems. Now that we have these containers, any medication to be wasted (other than controlled drugs and those that are potentially contaminated after being used on a patient) should be placed in the blue and white Pharmasmart container for safe disposal. These new containers are being kept on the medication carts and medication preparation areas in the Pharmacy Department and on the patient care units.

Designed to meet Ministry regulations that require hospitals to separate their waste streams (biohazard and non-contaminated), these new containers are handled in the very same way as the yellow containers we are using now. The yellow Sharpsmart containers will still be used for disposal of “contaminated” items and sharps. The blue and white Pharmasmart containers will now be used for wasted pharmaceuticals (outdated injectable drugs, dropped tablets, returned unused liquids). The contents of the yellow Sharpsmart containers are specially treated and then go into landfill. The contents of the blue and white Pharmasmart containers are incinerated, keeping them out of our precious water system.

I’m proud of our hospital for being the first facility in Canada to use this new container system to divert waste and keep our communities safer.

Don’t Just Think It, Say It – Engaging Patients and Families to Enhance Patient Safety

2010-11-09T12:54:00.000-08:00

The first week of November is designated as Canadian Patient Safety Week. The theme “Ask.Listen.Talk” promotes communication amongst patients, families, and healthcare providers. This year, patient and family advisors became actively involved in sharing this message to other patients, families, visitors and staff.

Patient & Family Advisor volunteers and hospital staff joined together to share information with patients, families, visitors and staff about best practices in patient safety. Storyboards focused on two areas of safety – the importance of the ID band and ways to be actively involved in care. The patient & family advisors talked with other patients, families, and visitors about their role in enhancing patient safety and the importance of speaking up. We handed out information on how to be involved in their care. We asked “What could we do differently to make you feel safe at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance?” We showed others how, as healthcare providers, we ask patients to tell us who they are in two ways before putting the ID band on. We taught them how we ask them to check and make sure the information on the ID band is correct, and that we check the ID band before giving medication or treatment. We also encouraged patients and families to “speak up” to be actively involved in their care.

Working with patients and families as active partners in care can improve communication that helps create safer care.

What? The Chicken Dance?

2010-11-01T06:27:00.000-07:00

The Strategic Direction: Patients, says that we will partner with patients and their families in the delivery of safe, quality care. With a focus of falls prevention and management, we asked the Active Lifestyle Centre if we could lead a community forum about this topic. So this fall, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance staff, a patient advisor, and a public health nurse prepared poster boards, gathered information, and headed over to the Centre. Our audience was the exercise class, who listened to us talk about safety strategies related to falls. Public Health previewed a video called “Exercises at the Kitchen Sink”. Then we were invited to join the exercise class. Little did we know that the forum would include working up a sweat, let alone testing our skills doing the chicken dance? What fun we had together.

We could see by the level of activity that they already had a strategy to prevent falls. But what could we do differently? What could be done in the community to prevent falls? And how could we make a hospital stay, if needed, be as ideal as it could be? Over refreshments in the cafeteria, we listened to what they believed could make a difference. From better street lighting, to making sure we had wheelchairs at the entrances and handrails in high traffic areas, ideas were brought forward for us to consider.

In addition to sharing ideas and ways to prevent and manage falls, we connected with community partners for a common cause - to make our environment as safe as it could be and to educate each other about what we can do to prevent falls. Learning took place and relationships developed. Perhaps our next encounter we will do the Macarena – and this time we will be ready.

Celebrating Interprofessional Care—Respiratory Therapy

2010-10-25T08:50:00.000-07:00

Respiratory Therapy evolved as a profession through advances in life support technology. Respiratory Therapy was once a very technical discipline, using wrenches and gauges, those working in the profession now have become therapists, trading their wrench for a stethoscope. Continuing to work through technology, they keep patients alive by physically supporting breathing, opening the airway and ensuring respirations.

The role of the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) has grown through the years. You will find RRTs in the Operating Room, the Emergency Room, the Intensive Care Unit, the nursery and on the medical/surgical floors. They perform diagnostic testing on the heart and lungs, and teach patients how to understand and manage their chronic lung disease. Their patients range from very young to the elderly.

Like other regulated healthcare professionals in Ontario, RRTs are accountable to the public through their professional college, a group numbering approximately 2,300 in the province. At Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, there are 18 RRTs proudly practicing their profession at both campuses.

Happy Registered Respiratory Therapist Week!

Improving Computer Based Education

2010-10-21T07:58:00.000-07:00

Six Months ago, the doors opened on Chatham-Kent Health Alliance’s (CKHA) newly furnished computer lab. Construction of the computer lab was to an area of redesigned office space attached to the Library, on the lower level of CKHA’s Chatham Campus. The computer lab initially housed 6 computers, a computer for the instructor, and a ceiling mount projector. Six additional laptops were later purchased in June. Now a dozen people can enjoy the benefits of computer-based learning in a comfortable, naturally lit environment.

The Professional Practice Team now has the ability to teach computer-based education in a “hands on training” environment. HOBIC (a computer documentation tool for nurses) education was completely through hands on training using the computer lab. We educated 224 nurses in the computer lab throughout the months of June and July. Laptops also allow us the ability to travel to other locations, and we were able to deliver HOBIC education at our Sydenham campus.

Nurses, Respiratory Therapists and Ward Clerks also receive clinical orientation to documentation and order entry in the computer lab. This full day of practical experience in the lab, provides an open forum for questions and answers during this hands on experience.

Computer-based education is the future as technology and learning need continues to evolve.

Advancing Diabetes Care by Partnering with Patients

2010-10-15T06:57:00.001-07:00

For several years, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) has annually supported a team of allied health professionals to participate in the Dorothy Wylie Nursing Institute/Health Leaders Institute (DWNLI/HLI). The Leadership Institute offers a two-part, concentrated program of study on leadership principles, models, behaviours, skills, and tools to assist participants with the necessary knowledge and training to work effectively on inter-professional teams.

This year, the Diabetes Education Centre (DEC) was chosen to participate. Following CKHA’s strategic direction of Patient and Family Centred Care (PFCC), their project’s goal is to ensure a well coordinated, inter-professional care approach to educate, engage, and to empower staff and the patient/family in their plan of care. Their project focus is on diabetic patients being admitted to all Medicine, Rehabilitation and Continuing Care Units.

They are currently half way through their project. The Dorothy Wylie experience has had a positive influence in engaging their department in leadership and team building strategies and active collaboration around client-centred care. This opportunity has supported them by giving them access to evidence-based models and frameworks and the guidance to apply these practices in a clinical setting.

They look forward to sharing their success at our completion in November. They will continue to ‘model the way’, partner and ‘share the PFCC vision’ with all staff and committees to improve the patient experience at CKHA. If you are inspired and would like to ‘challenge a process’, I ‘encourage’ you to participate in the Dorothy Wylie Nursing /Health Leaders Institute experience.

Celebrating Interprofessional Care: October is Occupational Therapy Month

2010-10-04T11:30:00.000-07:00

When everyday activities are interrupted by illness, injury, developmental challenges, the aging process, mental or emotional illness, a member of the occupational therapy treatment team can provide strategies to help a person work toward a more independent and productive lifestyle.

Occupational Therapists work with individuals of all ages, in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, schools, treatment centres, clinics, industrial settings and in private practice, to name a few.

At Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA), an Occupational Therapist (OT) or Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) helps individuals deal with challenges in self-care, cognition, visual-perception, positioning, wheelchair seating, transfers, meal planning and preparation, driving, social skills, anxiety and stress management, and many other issues one might face at home, at school, at work or in the community.

One of the assessment and treatment tools the OT team may use to help prepare a person for adjustment to the home and/or community is the Activities of Daily Living apartment, located on the inpatient rehab unit. This apartment, which includes a kitchen, bedroom and bathroom, is a setting where occupational therapy patients from both the physical health and mental health areas of the hospital can have a chance to practice their daily skills, such as a tub transfer or meal preparation. Under the guidance of an OT or OTA, patients can try adaptive equipment, and explore new ways to make the tasks easier. An assessment is often used to ensure that someone will be safe in their own environment, before they leave the hospital.

In a society where aging, chronic diseases and traumatic injuries can impact severely on a person’s lifestyle, a chance to re-establish the most basic skills become important to a person’s sense of mastery of their environment and safe re-integration into their community. Working with an Occupational Therapist or OT assistant can provide that opportunity to strive for independence in life’s daily routine.

Happy Occupational Therapy Month!

Celebrating Interprofessional Care: Pharmacy Department

2010-09-27T12:11:00.001-07:00

The profession of Pharmacy is rapidly evolving from the “keeper of pharmaceuticals” to the “supplier of pharmaceutical care”. This means that pharmacists, as part of the health care team, are becoming more involved in providing care directly to patients, making recommendations to prescribers, reviewing medication lists and interacting with patients and other health care providers. The role of the pharmacy technician is also expanding as they are soon to be Regulated Health Professionals.

Our hospital employs more than thirty Pharmacy personnel; pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy students working together to ensure the right medication gets to the right patient at the right time. Like an Oscar-winning production crew, these highly trained individuals work behind the scenes and on the front line to guarantee that the lead characters (that would be the patients, of course!) get the spotlight.

In a world of increasingly complex medication regimes, the role of the Pharmacy Department has never been more important in the hospital!

About Pain

2010-09-20T08:43:00.001-07:00

Pain is very personal and we each experience pain differently. Unlike a fever, where a thermometer can show if you have a high temperature, there is no objective way to measure how much pain you are feeling.

Simply put, pain is an uncomfortable feeling that tells you something could be wrong in your body. For example, if you twist your ankle, the sharp feeling of pain actually lets you know that you have done some damage to your body. The pain will keep you from putting weight on the injured ankle and will protect it from further harm. Pain also acts as your body’s warning system. It lets you know when there is something wrong and it stimulates you to do something about it. In general, we learn from painful experience to avoid danger, and not to repeat injurious behaviour.

Pain is commonly viewed as either acute or chronic. Acute pain is temporary. It is usually immediate and may last from a few seconds to several months. Some sources of acute pain are sport injuries, childbirth, postoperative pain, fractures, burn and medical procedures. Acute pain will usually go away once normal healing occurs.

Contrary to acute pain, chronic pain persists beyond the time of normal healing. The chronic pain could be the result of an acute injury that did not heal properly or it could be from a host of other reasons such as cancer, nerve damage or arthritis. In some cases, the pain may not make sense because it may travel from the original site of the injury to unrelated areas of the body. Some examples of chronic pain include fibromyalgia syndrome, migraine headache and lower back pain. Chronic pain commonly produces psychological effects, from feelings of anger, sadness, hopelessness and despair. It can alter personalities, disrupt sleep and interfere with work and personal relationships.

Check in for a follow-up blog that will tell you some options on how you can treat pain.

“FALLING” - Not an Option

2010-09-13T13:50:00.000-07:00

Patient safety is a top priority at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) and keeping our patients safe includes decreasing falls. Our Falls Task Team and the Professional Practice Team have made falls a priority and we are including everyone - physicians, nurses, housekeepers and visitors in our falls prevention efforts. We all play a role in keeping patients safe.

There are 7 strategies that have been proven to keep everyone safe:

Make sure the call light is within reach;
Bring in comfortable non-slip shoes for your loved one to use when walking;
Keep side rails down on the bed;
Leave the light on in the bathroom before you leave to go home;
Remove all unnecessary clutter from the room;
Keep the bed in its lowest position;
Make sure the brakes on the bed, chair or walker are on.

If you are out and about in the hospital and you see a patient with an orange bracelet, or an orange star above their bed, don’t despair. If that patient has had a history of falls or is at a higher risk for falls they will receive an orange bracelet to wear; this helps everyone in the hospital know that they may need assistance while walking.

Together we can make sure that our patients and loved ones are safe and injury free.

Patient Safety: The Surgical Safety Checklist

2010-09-09T10:15:00.000-07:00

One in 13 admissions in Canada is associated with an adverse event. The estimate that up to 23,000 people died in 2004 in Canadian hospitals because of preventable adverse events is staggering.

Quality care requires quality communication. Communication failure amongst clinicians is the leading source of adverse events in healthcare.

At Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA), we are committed to ensuring that our patients receive the safest surgical care possible. There are many critical co-dependant steps needed for a team to achieve successful surgical outcomes. Research and experience of many Operating Room teams confirm that implementing a Checklist has an impact on surgical safety and team communication.

Checklists incorporate key principles that rely on standardized processes and better access to information and feedback. A Checklist ensures that teams share critical information and deliver evidence-based interventions for every single patient, in every surgical procedure at the right time. We have always used checklists…now it’s time for the whole team to be present and involved, including the patient.

This year, based on a checklist developed by the World Health Organization, CKHA’s Operating Room team created and implemented its own Surgical Safety Checklist. The checklist is discussed at three critical points in surgery with all team members present; (a) with the awake patient, (b) immediately before the incision and (c) prior to the patient leaving the operating room.

CKHA’s compliance with using the Surgical Safety Checklist, (all three phases) was 96.9% for the 1st reporting quarter – a solid result in improving patient safety.

We did it again!

2010-08-31T12:34:00.000-07:00

Our Chatham-Kent Health Alliance family has once again heard the plea for backpacks and school supplies for area children in need and responded in a BIG way!

Last year with United Way leading the project, more than 1000 area children in need returned to school with brand new backpacks and supplies. This year the need is even greater so that area schools and families have asked for assistance with backpacks and school supplies for more than 1100 children.

In the photo below you’ll see Colin Patey (our CEO) and I standing beside an impressive CKHA collection of backpacks and supplies that included more than 30 kg of lined paper and notebooks, 25 boxes of coloured pencils, 30 boxes of crayons, 10 math sets, rulers, and packages of pens, markers, erasers, pencil sharpeners, duo-tang folders, rulers, liquid glue, binders, glue sticks, pencils and highlighters.

More than $675 dollars in cash donations and enough supplies were collected to purchase and fill 90 brand new backpacks! These items and the money donated by our CKHA family will make a positive impact on many children in our area communities including Wallaceburg, Tilbury (Merlin & Wheatley), Ridgetown, Blenheim, Dresden, Thamesville, Bothwell and Chatham.

I am so proud to say that we are ‘caring people, caring for people’ both in our hospital and in our area communities. Thanks for stepping up and making a difference!

Getting Ready to Go Back to School …

2010-08-23T07:21:00.000-07:00

Remember the excitement of starting a new school year with brand new school supplies? A new notebook, the smell of freshly sharpened pencils, a bright new pink eraser, a brand new pencil case …

In 2000, while listening to the radio on her way to work at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA), a former Emergency Department Nurse Practitioner, Debbie Selkirk, heard about a program where donations of new school supplies and backpacks made it possible for less fortunate children to return to school, ready for success.

2010 marks the 10th Annual CKHA Backpacks For Kids event and because of your generous support and with United Way leading the project, more than 1000 area children will return to opening day of school feeling good about their chances and knowing they are just like everyone else in their class.

As you go out to purchase school supplies for your children this year, please think about picking up a few extra items and dropping them off in the “shopping carts” in the Chatham Campus cafeteria, or in the Emergency Departments at either CKHA campus.
This campaign ends on August 26th.

Let’s show these kids in need, that we believe they can succeed!

“The Artistic Gift”

2010-08-16T12:44:00.000-07:00

Music is a language that everyone can understand. Put together a few singers, a guitar player and music composer (thanks Michelle!), and the results are a gift to send a message that can be enjoyed by others.

This is just what employees of Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) did at last week’s BBQ hosted by the Professional Practice Team and Patient & Family Centred Care Steering Committee. What a great way to continue to spread the word about the NOD – a service excellence standard being rolled out at CKHA. The NOD acronym stands for Name, Occupation and Duty. We are asking all employees to consistently use the NOD when introducing themselves.

Artistic talent beyond the profession came into play by singing a song to the tune of “Locomotion”. Here is a little snippet of the song:

It doesn’t matter where you work or who you might be
It only takes a moment for this courtesy
So come on, come on, take the time to NOD with me!

Singing was complemented by an actress who encouraged the audience to use the NOD as she mingled with the crowd during her visit to CKHA. The audience participated and created a “locomotion” train, sharing the NOD with others.

What a fun way to learn and enjoy as others share talents beyond their profession.

Thanks team, for a job well done!

Huddles…coming to your area soon

2010-08-11T10:05:00.000-07:00

One of the service excellence standards communication tools being rolled out across the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance is the “huddle”. To be a culture of excellence, huddles, known as a frequent briefings of 8 minutes or less, are encouraged weekly (minimum), involving managers and staff in all hospital departments. Huddles can also be conducted between staff at change of shift, or when anyone identifies a need for a brief communication between members of a team.
These frequent briefings provide a venue that can address the following:

Are there any patient/staff safety concerns today?
What has been working well on the unit today?
Are there any patients with special considerations others should be aware of?
Is there any shortage of supplies, or any broken equipment? Do you have the tools and equipment to do your work?
Is there any staff requiring extra assistance?
Is there any staff that may have extra time to assist others?

Other questions that can be asked include:

Are there any individuals (staff, physicians, other) I should be recognizing today?
Is there anything we can do better? (Studer, 2003).

Huddles provide an opportunity for managers and staff to develop relationships and a limate of trust. It is a way to foster a culture of safety as well as recognize employees’ needs. Employees want a good relationship with a leader who is approachable, efficient, and willing to work with staff. Huddles create this opportunity and in turn leaders can recognize, and better yet, can act to meet employee and patient needs (Studer, 2003). Focusing on what went well creates a positive approach that supports a culture of excellence. Staff and patient safety can be addressed and acted upon in order to continue to make the departments not only safer for patients, but for staff as well.

This standard has started to be rolled out over the summer. Managers are holding huddles with staff in all departments. If you have not yet participated in a huddle, ask your manager if huddles are…coming to your area soon.

Celebrating Interprofessional Care: Physiotherapists

2010-08-03T13:20:00.001-07:00

Over the next few months I'll collect and share information on the different health professionals that work here at CKHA. We'll start with the Physiotherapist group.

Physiotherapy is a healthcare profession directed at evaluating, restoring and maintaining physical function. There are 7,000 registered physiotherapists in Ontario and 12 of the very best work here at CKHA. As primary healthcare professionals, Physiotherapists combine in-depth knowledge of how the body works with specialized hands-on clinical skills to assess, and treat symptoms of illness, injury or disability. With independence in mind, a Physiotherapist's goal is to restore, maintain and maximize strength, function, movement and overall wellbeing.

Working under the direction of the CKHA Physiotherapists are 10 Physiotherapy Assistants (PTA's) and 1 Kinesiologist to complete the team that provides the patient and family a therapeutic treatment plan and essential education about the body and how to keep it healthy.

Change Management

2010-07-28T11:25:00.000-07:00

Even though we know change in healthcare is inevitable, change requires effort and in some cases a substantial amount of effort to sustain it. Recently the Professional Practice Team and I had the opportunity to review a video “All Washed Up”.

In the video Hyrum Grenny, a junior researcher works with 80 children to change their hand washing behaviour, prior to being treated to some very delicious looking cupcakes. The children are challenged to complete a group activity where they are asked to put together an interesting puzzle. Hyrum’s research is to try to understand what works best to get the kids to wash their hands: personal motivation, changing the environment to make the task easier or social influence, peer pressure. Hyrum’s findings suggest that both motivation and ability are key and that personal influence, social influence and the influence of the structure of our environments are all important. He identifies that to make change stick, you need to include at least 4 of the influencers, preferably all 6. What is most interesting is that the motivators to get kids to wash their hands before they touch the cupcakes are easily transferred to our hospital environment. We are always trying to improve how we make change; we think Hyrum has some great ideas. I invite you to take a look at Hyrum’s research: http://bit.ly/3tkgNr .

Any suggestions you can offer to help us with making change stick would be greatly appreciated.

The NOD

2010-07-22T10:45:00.000-07:00

During the Service Excellence training in the spring, we learned there are behaviours that will demonstrate to patients and visitors how we intend to improve their experience and the public image of CKHA. Those behaviours are outlined in the service excellence standards we adopted in January 2010 and which we were all invited to sign. The plan is to roll out at least one service excellence standard every couple of months. The first standard we are implementing is “the NOD”.

We all use the NOD - name, occupation and duty, in many of our daily encounters with patients. It is the right thing to do, shows patients our respect and gives them dignity. But we need to ask ourselves do we treat others in our work environment with the same dignity and respect? By introducing ourselves to others we are acknowledging each person we come into contact through our work are important to us. Unfortunately, we miss opportunities to assist others and make a good first impression when we don’t ask if we can help. If we are truly to embrace Patient and Family Centred Care/Service Excellence (PFCC/SE) each and everyone one of us needs to go the extra step, of aiding the lost or elderly, our co-workers and patients. Simply by using the NOD, introducing ourselves, my name is, I am______ (fill in your job or role), and duty (I’m here to do, or how can I help) we demonstrate our personal commitment to PFCC/SE. Over the next few weeks you may meet someone who needs the NOD.

Patient and Family Centred Care/Service Excellence Signature Boards

2010-07-14T11:48:00.001-07:00

In the spring, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance undertook the huge task of educating all staff, physicians and board members about our strategic direction of partnering with our patients and families to provide the best service possible. All patients expect and should receive excellent care through partnership with their care providers. All staff, physicians and board members were invited to demonstrate their personal commitment to these strategic directions by signing both the service excellence standards as well as poster signature boards which were to be put on display at both the Sydenham site and the Chatham site. In the last week of June those signature boards were posted, at the Sydenham Campus and across the hall from Tim Hortons at the Chatham Campus. What an amazing tribute to the dedication of everyone at CKHA to make every patient experience our passion!

Mentoring Others and Sharing in the Spotlight

2010-07-08T07:08:00.000-07:00

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, one of 21 Best Practice Spotlight Organizations (BPSO) in Ontario, assists others after being through the experience ourselves. In our three years as a Registered Nurses Association of Ontario BPSO candidate and one year as a BPSO designate, CKHA has learned a great deal about moving research and best practice guidelines into practice. We have agreed to act as mentors to two other organizations (Kitchener Grand River Hospital and Guelph General Hospital) in their journeys as BPSO candidates.

On May 26th, Denise Dodman of the Professional Practice Team and co-lead for CKHA’s BPSO activities traveled to Grand River hospital and met with the team of best practice champions. The group spent time exploring strategies for champions and how to use knowledge translation theory to explore their own units and clinical situations. At CKHA, we are committed to sharing the lessons we have learned about implementing best practice and best practice guidelines with other organizations. We are also learning lessons from them – a mutually beneficial relationship, sharing in the Spotlight.

Benner

2010-06-28T11:19:00.000-07:00

“I was filling out the performance evaluation program and I just don’t know….
am I an expert or just competent? How do I tell?”

In late winter CKHA launched a new performance evaluation program, PEP for short. The nursing and allied health evaluation tools were developed using the work of Patricia Benner, who describes the different stages of professional growth and development using “Novice to Expert”. Benner notes all professionals will have expertise with certain tasks and knowledge throughout their careers but there are few true experts in any field as experts have the ability to always see the big picture, always think intuitively about all situations and are able to recognize and work through ethical dilemmas and situations as a matter of course in their professional world and this may take a lifetime of work to achieve.

“I’ve been here a lifetime…does that make me an expert according to Benner model?”

Benner suggests that most professionals will fall within the competent to proficient categories. Competent members of a profession think independently, are able to work autonomously in most complex professional situations and are able to recognize that a situation has ethical components and perform much of their work. Proficient professionals do much of their work intuitively, they have much experience and through those experiences are able see, feel, know and recognize new situations through those past experiences. They require little or no supervision in complex situations and are able to not only recognize ethical situations but have a developing ability to work through ethical issues.

“How long does it take to become competent or proficient?”

At CKHA we strive to have our professionals working to their maximum capabilities and hope everyone can master their profession to be competent or proficient. We also know that there are times when staff will function as novices or advanced beginners, just because of the nature of the work or because they are new to the environment or profession. Novices require clear direction and multiple supports, they are new to the profession or clinical area, can manage simple professional skills, they are learners. Advanced beginners continue to develop their skills, are starting to think independently, can manage situations with low to medium levels of complexity but still need mentorship to grow into fully functioning members of the profession. Advanced beginners usually move to becoming competent and proficient within 3 to 5 years of entering the profession.

“Are you telling me it is ok to not be an expert in all things even if I’ve been here for 30 years?”

Though it is admirable to aspire to develop expertise in an area, we also need to acknowledge it is okay to be competent; with in the Benner model competent is not mediocre but what patients expect and need. So as you complete your next evaluation, no matter what your job or role is, challenge yourself to look for opportunities for professional growth, be realistic about who you are and what you bring to the organization, and seek out feedback. Take advantage of the PEP process and recharge your professional career by meeting with your manager and Professional Practice nurse to look for new opportunities to enhance your practice, scope of care and professional knowledge.

7th Annual Stroke Garden Party Reunites Survivors, Families and Caregivers

2010-06-23T06:41:00.000-07:00

Continuing Care Program is hosting a Stroke Garden Party at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance on Friday, June 25, 2010 from 1 – 3:30 pm. Dozens of former stroke patients are expected to attend and share their personal stories with each other. They will enjoy displays, entertainment, prizes and refreshments at the tented, riverfront venue.

The Stroke Garden Party is hosted by the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance in partnership with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario Mission Committee and is free of charge.

For more information, visit:

http://bit.ly/bjD9Eo

Better Information Better Care Better Outcomes

2010-06-21T13:29:00.000-07:00

On May 17, 2010 CKHA welcomed Elizabeth Krestick, the Regional Coordinator of HOBIC (Health Outcomes for Better Information and Care) program. HOBIC is an exciting provincially funded initiatives that will help us measure the impact of our professional care on the health outcomes of our patients. Only hospitals that have computerized charting are able to participate. Our CKHA charting screens were updated to be able to capture the standardized information from the HOBIC questions. HOBIC information will shed light on the impact of care on a patient’s clinical status. The interprofessional team will have access to the HOBIC information in real time. The information will also assist us in the evaluation and measurement of some of our key projects such as RNAO best practice guidelines and our accreditation Required Operational Practices (ROPs) such as falls prevention. CKHA can expect our first meaningful data from HOBIC in the early fall. We look forward to how this new information will help us to provide better care in the moment and plan for better health outcomes for the people we serve.

Philip Taylor, Professional Practice-Corporate is the CKHA HOBIC lead. In our first phase education sessions will begin on June 9th for our medicine program staff and July 15th for our complex continuing care. The go-live date for the medicine program is June 22nd and the complex continuing care go-live date is July 26th. The education is separate for these two groups as the HOBIC measures are different, recognizing the difference in these patient populations.

Congratulations Leadership Academy Participants

2010-06-10T13:32:00.000-07:00

May 26, 2010 was “Graduation Day” for the first ever CKHA Leadership Academy. Nineteen frontline staff, all of whom work as a Unit Clinical Leader or take the “charge role” on our clinical units participated in 10 educational sessions directed towards development of personal and professional leadership knowledge and skills.

Professional sessions included such topics as leadership theory, governance of healthcare organizations, roles and accountabilities of leadership. The personal growth topics covered emotional intelligence of leadership, personal styles of leadership, and change management. Discussions were often dynamic and thought-provoking for both the participants and course facilitators.

During the graduation ceremony, each participant was given the opportunity to describe one of the most important learning’s for them. Comments included the opportunity to network and put a face to the name in different units; the time to reflect upon what is the same yet different in each of the clinical areas; and the chance to do a personal inventory of leadership skills - both strengths and weaknesses - which could be applied to both home and work situations. One member of the group indicated it was great that the education was not about giving “pat” answers but rather about exploring, listening and hearing about others’ experiences and then being able to take the information and make it practical to the nursing units. The ceremony ended with presentation of certificates and cake for everyone.

One of the messages we heard throughout the sessions was the importance of relationships between units and how over years due to the busyness of the important work we do, we have not taken the time to build relationships. The group noted they would like to continue to meet both for education and for networking to maintain the important relationships they had developed. The formal leadership team has committed to make this happen and the next session is booked for October. As well, the intent is to roll the program out into a broader intra-professional model to include frontline leaders throughout CKHA in both clinical and support services.

On behalf of the professional practice team, and myself, thank you to all of our internal “experts” and external presenters for sharing your knowledge and skills. Appreciation as well to the managers and directors for making it possible for staff to attend. And to our graduates..... Way to go...great work...it is team members like you who make CKHA a great place to work!

Best Practice Spot Light Organization: It’s not just for Nurses!

2010-06-03T10:55:00.000-07:00

By now, most of you will know that CKHA is one of only 21 Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) Best Practice Spotlight Organizations (BPSO). As a BPSO, we are tasked with demonstrating creative ways to successfully use best practice guidelines, evaluate their use and measure the outcomes for research and improved patient care as well as share lessons learned with other organizations. Best Practice Guidelines (BPG) are not just for nurses; they are also highly applicable to care provided by the inter-professional team.

At our quarterly BPG Breakfast for Champions held on May 12, the Emergency and Mental Health & Addictions program representatives demonstrated expertise in promoting client centred care. Hazel McDonald spoke of some of her experiences in the Honduras, and Becky Elgie spoke of her very unique role with the CK Police Service with caring for those with mental health disorders in our community. Ann Marie "Cookie" Stokes from the Emergency Department at Sydenham Campus shared a photo slide show and presented on her experiences with a care team in Haiti last year. And finally, Michelle O’Rourke spoke about her experience as an author of a book about spirituality in palliative care. It was a good morning of pride, fellowship and camaraderie.

A Compassionate Care Giver: She didn’t see it coming!

2010-05-25T06:14:00.000-07:00

She was asked if she could lead a class on the new use of Epidural Pumps for pain control, and when she arrived in the cafeteria to take part in the ice cream bar and have a visit before the class, she didn’t seem to suspect that anything special at all was about to happen. When the name of the Compassionate Caregiver Award of Distinction recipient was announced, Pam Joyce RN seemed completely surprised by the accolades shared about her spirit of caring for her patients and her peers.

The award is a Royal Copenhagen figurine, gifted to CKHA in 2008 by an anonymous donor in appreciation of care provided to their loved one. The award comes with a financial gift to be used towards education at CKHA to further staff expertise in caring for patients at the end of life. Congratulations, Pam. This award is well deserved.

Link to full News Release on CKHA website: http://bit.ly/awCXPe

2010-05-19T10:24:00.000-07:00

Last week was a week of celebrations that I’d like to take a few minutes to reflect on. A group of Professional Practice Team representatives joined me for the kick off of Nursing Week 2010. We met in the Education Centre at the Chatham Campus and in the Cafeteria at the Sydenham Campus, and spent the mornings reviewing some of the poster presentations that had been prepared by our CKHA inter-professional team members. We also participated in a presentation made by Margaret Campbell, our Librarian, on some of the wonderful education and research possibilities that are being made available through our membership with the Western Ontario Health Knowledge Network (WOHKN). And finally, we had a "tour" of the new CNE/PPT web site that includes this weekly blog. Both the Sydenham and the Chatham campuses enjoyed ice cream served by CKHA’s Executive Leadership Council in honour of Nurses Week. See some of the photos attached to witness the positive environment that surrounds us at CKHA!

Nursing: You Can’t Live Without It!

2010-05-07T12:30:00.001-07:00

As we kick off the 2010 National Nursing Week celebrations, let’s take a few minutes to reflect on the theme for this occasion:

Nursing: You Can’t Live Without It!

CKHA nurses are not only “caring people, caring for people”, they are skilled and intelligent providers who prevent suffering and save lives. Here at CKHA we value our nurses for their strength and knowledge; they are kind and they are smart. Our nurses participate in research, make provisional diagnoses, prescribe evidence-based best practice treatments, and identify the need for medications to relieve symptoms and cure diseases.

Nurses possess scientific knowledge, skills and compassion that helps to keep individuals, families and communities healthy. The commitment to health promotion, disease prevention, and client-centred care make a difference in people’s lives. Thank you to our nurses for your commitment and for strengthening health care here at CKHA, in our community and in the province.