Holiday Greetings!!!

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

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:

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


2. 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.


3. 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

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!

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!

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!

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

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

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!

“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!

1. 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.


2. Trick or treat in familiar neighborhoods or areas.


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


4. 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.


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


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


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


8. Only trick or treat at houses that are lit.


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


10. 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

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

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!

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

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?

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?

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

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

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

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!

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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!

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:

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


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


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


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


5. 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

Patient and Family Values – What matters most to you?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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:

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


2. 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.


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


4. 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!

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

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

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?”

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:

1. 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.
2. 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
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?