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.