Farewell Chatham-Kent Health Alliance

This will be my final blog as Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA). Parting is a time for reflection, and as I reflect back on my 5-1/2 years at CKHA I am amazed at what has been accomplished.

I firmly believe that the people are the strength of any organization, and that is certainly true at CKHA. From the housekeepers who work so hard to keep our environment clean and safe, the porters who make sure our patients get to where they need to go safely, and the nurses who show their caring and compassion every day. I want to thank each of you and want you to know that your hard work and dedication have been appreciated. I also would like to thank my readers for “tuning in” to my weekly blogs.

Finally, thank you to my team! I would not have been able to accomplish what I have without each of you. YOU are responsible for the successes achieved by CKHA, and I know you will continue to strive for excellence.

As I embark on my new journey as President and Chief Executive Officer of Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital in Tillsonburg and Alexandra Hospital in Ingersoll I will carry with me many great memories of my time at CKHA, and as bittersweet as it is to say, farewell! 

Language of Caring

I’ve now attended the third in the series of nine skill building workshops designed to “hard wire” skills that make our caring felt. During this session we talked about Acknowledging Feelings.

Every day we work with people who are filled with feelings; patients who are tired and anxious, family members who are worried or overwhelmed, coworkers who are swamped or grateful. When we tune in to people’s feelings we ease their anxiety and make our caring felt.   

We learned to respectfully check out whether or not we’ve read the person right. Make sure you ask questions such as, you sound… or you seem… Once you understand how the person is feeling you know how to help and the person feels understood.

We also learned what not to do, we should never:

1.  Tell someone you know how they feel;
2.  Dismiss the person’s feelings, or
3.  When you reflect back, don’t sound annoyed or angry.

When the people we serve are full of feelings, it is healing for them to be understood.  We also demonstrate that we are, caring people, caring for people. 

Summer Safety

Summer is here, the warm weather has arrived and we can now be outside, enjoying the fresh air and sunshine!

As Canadians, we wait all winter for the heat and sun, but we do need to be careful to prevent over exposure to both. Heat and sun can both cause pain and suffering if we get too much.  

Please keep the following tips in mind when enjoying the outdoors this summer:

1. 1)    If you are out in the sun, be sure to wear sun appropriate clothing and make sure to use lots of sunscreen on exposed skin.
2. 2)    Be aware that sitting under a tree or umbrella doesn’t decrease your exposure to the sunrays that cause damage to skin. 
3. 3)    If you are fortunate enough to take part in any water activities throughout the summer, take care to reapply sunscreen frequently and take an extra shirt to wear if you are going to be in the sun for an extended period of time.
4. 4)    If you must be outside in extreme heat, make sure to drink lots of water and/or fruit juices and take breaks in a cooler environment, if possible.

It is expected to be a hot summer with higher than average temperatures.  It is important to take the appropriate precautions when planning outdoor activities during the hot weather to make sure you are protected while having fun in the sun.

Enjoy the summertime, with family and friends but please be safe. 

Housekeeper for a Day

Recently, Erika Vitale, Infection Prevention & Control Quality Analyst, had the opportunity to become a “housekeeper for a day”. Not everyone gets the opportunity to walk in someone else’s shoes, and I’d like to share some of her experience with you.

Erika was paired up with a housekeeper on Medicine A; in the course of her work she noted that there appeared to be good collaboration between housekeeping and nursing in terms of making safer patient care a priority. Physicians were also very accommodating in allowing the housekeeper to finish up their tasks.

At Chatham Kent Health Alliance (CKHA), housekeeping audits are done regularly to ensure that high touch areas are not missed, when a patient commented “boy, I wouldn’t want to be watched at work like that – you work so hard you don’t deserve that.” The housekeeper kindly explained that ”it’s really important to monitor this to make sure we are all doing the best job we can and that we are all aware of areas that might get missed – it helps us to remember them in the future. Once you miss it once, you likely won’t miss it again.” Erika found out what that was like when an audit showed she missed a light switch when she thought she was being very thorough! (See picture below.)

At left, a special light used during auditing reveals an area that was missed during cleaning.  

Audits such as this are done at CKHA on a regular basis. 

At the end of the day, Erika had the following comments. “When I hear the term housekeeper, I think of someone who washes floors, and dusts furniture. What we have in this hospital are people who are much more experienced and knowledgeable about maintaining a safe environment than what this name implies. They are hard working and passionate about their jobs and the role they play in patient safety. I suggest the term “clinical environmental specialist”

I’d like to say thank our housekeeping staff for welcoming Erika to their work and also for everything they do each day to keep our patients safe. Thanks also to Erika for taking the time to “walk a mile in their shoes”, and for sharing her experience.

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance’s Medicine Unit gets an Upgrade!

Everyone likes to see their home or workspace become more efficient through a much needed renovation. The same holds true at CKHA as improvements are underway on the Medicine Unit.

The bathroom doors in patient rooms are being widened to make it easier for patients to receive assistance, when necessary, in getting in the washroom.

In addition, staff frequently transport patients to or from the Emergency Department, Diagnostic Imaging or the Intensive Care Unit. Often these patients are on a stretcher. Prior to the renovation, staff went through a double door linking the older section of the hospital to the newer section. This required manually opening the double doors (each door opens in an opposite direction) and then push the stretcher through, which was very onerous for staff. With the renovation, they simply swipe their identification badge; push a button and the doors open. 

So simple and such a big improvement!

 Knowing not every challenge can be resolved, another positive outcome of this experience was that a Manager and staff were able to communicate to the Senior Team about a possible improvement and it was recognized and honoured. And, in return, the Manager and staff of the unit took the time to write a note of appreciation to senior administration for listening to them and getting this done. Another way we show we are Caring People, Caring for People.

Registered Nurses Colleen Cadotte (L) and Kim Russell (R) say Thank You for the renovations to the Medicine Unit. 

Language of Caring

Recently I attended the first in a series of nine skill building workshops designed to “hard wire” skills that make our caring felt. During this session we learned how speaking from the heart can help people become less anxious. I think that’s important, coming to the hospital certainly increases anxiety even in the calmest of people. Being able to make our patients, their families and our coworkers feel less anxious while in a stressful situation is healthier for everybody!

When we speak from the head, people get valuable information, but they don’t feel our caring. Speaking from the heart will allow us to meet our patients’ health care needs and make our caring felt. People don’t care how much we know, until they know how much we care. Powerful words and a powerful lesson learned.

The next session is called ”The Practice of Presence”, I’m looking forward to that one and will tell you about it after I’ve had the chance to participate.

 Thanks for reading!

Quality Improvement Plan

The Excellent Care for All Act (ECFAA) requires that hospital organizations develop an annual Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) for the following fiscal year and make that plan available to the public. The QIPs are an opportunity to highlight an organization's commitment to delivering high quality health care; creating a positive patient experience; ensuring that it is responsive and accountable to the public; holding its executive team accountable for its achievement; and being transparent. The Professional Practice Team, in collaboration with the Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) team, and Quippy, our mascot, provided two-hour education sessions throughout the months of February and March to every Registered Nurse and Registered Practical Nurse at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA). The QIP Education focused on Pressure Ulcers (bedsores), Falls, Early Warning Scoring System (a system used to identify subtle changes in a patient’s condition) and Clostridium-difficile (C-diff), the most common cause of infectious diarrhea in hospital. CKHA is fortunate to have committed, dedicated and caring staff that are always looking for ways to improve care for their patients. As an “Exceptional Community Hospital, Setting Standards - Exceeding Expectations” we recognize there is always room for improvement. The recent QIP education allowed nurses to share knowledge, develop awareness, engage and empower staff, and, as a result, to raise the bar of service excellence. At times, the sessions were lively, interactive and motivating for the participants and the facilitators. Each and every staff member has contributed to the success of CKHA’s Quality Improvement Plan for 2011/2012. Inpatient Satisfaction has increased to 70%, Pressure Ulcers on Continuing Care have decreased by 3%, Central Line infection rate continues to be zero (for a total of 42 months) and there has been two quarters where the C-diff Infection rate at Sydenham was zero. Congratulations to everyone… YOU have made a difference!

Celebrating Housekeeping Week – June 4-8, 2012

June 4-8 is International Housekeeping Week, a time to recognize Chatham-Kent Health Alliance’s (CKHA) housekeeping team.

They are dedicated hard working professionals who maintain a safe, clean and healthy environment at CKHA on a daily basis. Their contributions to the hospital and the work they do everyday is important in keeping our surroundings safe for patients, families and staff.

At CKHA we know that we can depend on our housekeeping staff. Together, they are a very important 90 of the 1300 reasons why CKHA is An Exceptional Community Hospital … Setting Standards – Exceeding Expectations.

 Learn more about one of our housekeeping staff, how she makes a difference to CKHA and about what being a part of CKHA means to her (click on the people icon): http://www.ckha.on.ca/strategicplan/people.html. 

Please take a moment this week to express your appreciation to our housekeeping staff. I’m proud to have them as a part of my team!

What would it be like not to be able to hear or speak?

May is National Speech and Hearing month …..

Speak Well
          Hear Well
                     Live Well

Did you know that 1 in 10 Canadians has a speech, language or hearing problem? Here are some other stats and facts.

• Speech and hearing problems affect tens of thousands of individuals.
• Hearing loss is the third most prevalent chronic disability among older adults, behind arthritis and hypertension.
• Approximately 10% of the general population, 20% of those over 65 and 40% of those over 75 (including 80% of nursing home residents) have a significant hearing problem.
• Both the incidence and prevalence of hearing loss increase with age. The onset of adult hearing loss can start as early as the third or fourth decade of life.
• Communication disorders in school-aged children are often misdiagnosed as learning disabilities or behavioural problems and can be very difficult to treat in later years. Children with behavioural problems are ten times more likely than other children to have language disorders.
• An estimated 4% of the preschool population has a significant speech or language disorder.
• An estimated 1% of Canadians and 4% of preschoolers stutter; men are four times more likely to stutter than women.
• A child should use 200 or more words by the time they are 2-3 years old and by the age of 4 half their vocabulary should consist of approximately 2000 words 

 Many people take their ability to communicate for granted until they encounter difficulties and realize how essential it is to their daily life. Speech and Hearing Month is an opportunity to promote public awareness of the important work of Speech - Language pathologist and audiologists and what they do in helping the people of Canada with speech, language and hearing disorders.

To learn more about how to get involved in Speech and Hearing Month, visit www.maymonth.ca.

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance’s (CKHA) 5th Annual Compassionate Caregiver Award of Distinction

The Compassionate Caregiver Award of Distinction was established as a way to honor caregivers who display compassion in caring for patients and families 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. The selection panel consisted of the Professional Practice Team and two Patient Advisors and the award is based on three criteria; Respect, Patient and Family Centered Care, and Advancing Compassionate Quality Care.

The award is a beautiful Royal Copenhagen figurine “Nurse with Wounded Soldier” gifted to CKHA in 2008 by an anonymous donor in appreciation of care provided to their loved one. The award also comes with a financial gift to be used toward education to further staff expertise in caring for patients at the end of life. The donor stated “the award is to be evidence of my appreciation and thankfulness for the tender care that my husband received, I hope the Fund becomes a vehicle for others to say “thank you” for the same tender care given to other patients and families.”

This year the recipients were Chaplain’s Fernanda Estoesta and Susan Nickel, CKHA’s Pastoral Care Team. Each day this team goes above and beyond and it was difficult for the nominator to share only one story. The nominator shared stories of their monthly memorial services at each campus and their impact on families, their last minute arrangement for a WWII veteran to experience a Remembrance Day service even though he was in hospital and very sick, and also alleviating a dying patients fear of moving to a new unit.

We would also like to acknowledge the nominees for this year’s award; Karen Desjardins, Giselle Watson, Kristine Moninger, Janet Cobb, Jennifer Mazerolle, Wendy Murphy, Cheryl Simpson and Laurie MacEacheron.

Congratulations to all CKHA staff who have given their hearts to patient and families they serve!

Photo, left to right: Chaplain Susan Nickel, Chaplain Fernanda Estoesta, Crystal Houze, patient advisor Mickey Pudicomb (with guide-dog Emerson) and patient advisor Deb Rice.

Unit Based Councils – bringing the front line forward

As a “formal” leader, I have the ability to discuss key issues and facilitate decision making for the hospital. I understand that although I have the position that deems me a leader, there are others within the hospital that lead patient care and influence the individual units effectively. I receive information from many groups of people, but one of the most influential groups are the Unit Based Councils (UBC).

The UBCs are a group of keen nurses, ward clerks, and other members of the interprofessional team, such as respiratory therapists, that represent each in-patient unit and meet monthly to discuss their concerns. Each member of the UBC is elected by their coworkers and their term lasts for 2 years. The UBC creates an open communication network between front line staff and management, supports teamwork, promotes the professional practice of nursing, proactively determines the impact of changes to legislation, discusses workflow processes in the unit, and improves patient care using evidence-based practice and nursing research. The information and decisions from the UBCs are then discussed at other program and corporate meetings.

I see great benefits to our organization by having UBCs. The members are people who care directly for patients, giving a perspective that may not be seen by administrators. The experience of being a UBC member also helps the unit learn about regional or provincial changes that will impact the way they give care. Lastly, seamless communication from direct care providers and management ensures that we are consistent with CKHA’s model of patient and family centered care and service excellence, allowing for changes to the unit and the delivery of services that are in the best interest of the patient.

I would like to congratulate the UBCs for all their hard work and look forward to their help and leadership in the coming years.

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance’s Spring Shindig was great!!!

On May 5th I had the privilege of attending Chatham-Kent Health Alliance’s (CKHA) third annual Spring Shindig. What a great event, and with a ticket price of $10, with snacks and pizza included, it is certainly affordable. It was uplifting to see everyone out enjoying a time of fellowship! For those of you that don’t know, the Shindig is a dance, organized by the Spring Shindig Organizing Committee which is a sub-committee of the Employee Council.

The funds raised are donated to the Employee Crisis Fund (ECF); the ECF is a fund intended to assist CKHA employees who have suffered a serious and significant financial hardship due to an unforeseen event; so far the fund has helped over 20 of our employees!

The Shindig was a vision of Janet Cobb who sees it as a great opportunity for staff members at all levels to get out and mingle with people from different departments, and I couldn’t agree more.

This year the entertainment was provided by Dr. Jason Denys’ band, “walkin ‘47” who donated their talents for the evening. Twenty baskets were given by different departments in the Health Alliance, they raised over $1,500, the 50/50 was won by Ontario Nurses Association Bargaining Unit President for CKHA, Janice McFadden, Janice donated her winnings back to the fund. In all, $8,000 was raised this year – what an outstanding accomplishment!

Having had such a great time, I can hardly wait for next year, cheers!

Cardiac Monitors…Thank you Chatham-Kent!!!

When people come to hospital and have any sort of heart concern, they are immediately placed on a cardiac monitor to determine exactly what their heart is doing. Depending on the condition, the healthcare team may determine that continued cardiac monitoring is necessary and make a decision to admit. If so, the patient will be admitted to either Chatham-Kent Health Alliance’s (CKHA) Intensive Care Unit (ICU) or the Progressive Care Unit (PCU).

In December 2011, the ICU and PCU installed a total of 24 cardiac monitors and 12 remote telemetry packs to replace the previous units that were 18 years old. The new state of the art equipment has a larger screen, more settings, a built-in remote transport monitor for going to procedures within the hospital (x-ray), a central monitor so healthcare providers can see the monitor information from the desk, seamless transmission of vital signs into our electronic documentation system, and in the ICU a built in computer for charting patient information at the bedside. This enhances a nurses ability to get accurate, detailed information efficiently, thus improving the timeliness of care.

We have been fortunate to receive help from you, the Chatham-Kent community, in the raising funds efforts to pay for the monitors. The total cost of the cardiac monitors, are $1,000,000 and so far the Foundation has helped to raise $587,991. CKHA would like to thank you for your support in ensuring our community receives optimal services and maintaining or mission of Together... advancing compassionate, quality care.

If you want to support this important initiative, please contact the Foundation of Chatham-Kent Health Alliance at:

http://www.foundationckha.com

Nursing Week May 7-13, 2012 – Nursing: The Health of Our Nation

Nursing Week is celebrated each year in recognition of the dedication and achievements of the nursing profession. The International Council of Nurses in 1971 designated May 12th as International Nurses Day – formally recognizing Florence Nightingale’s (Lady with the Lamp) birthday and her advocacy to have nursing recognized as a profession. In 1985, the federal government proclaimed the second week of May as National Nursing Week in Canada.

 The National Nursing Week theme for 2012 “Nursing - The Health of Our Nation” speaks to the positive impact nurses make to the lives and well-being of Canadians. Nursing Week gives nurses across the world the chance to celebrate how they keep Nightingale’s work alive by advocating for policies that keep people healthy, and care for them when they’re ill.

 At CKHA we have over 600 nurses in various roles, contributing to the health care system through their work in direct practice, education, administration, research, and policy development in a wide array of settings. They coordinate health care, deliver direct services, and support clients in their self-care decisions and actions in health, illness, injury and disability in all stages of life. Nurses assess, plan, implement and evaluate care for clients, working both autonomously and in collaboration with other health care providers. 

During the week of May 7, CKHA will celebrate and pay tribute to nurses with a Wellness Expo for Nursing, an opportunity to view a webinar on the Patient Experience with Dr. Ben Chan, participate in College of Nurses Quality Assurance discussion, tour local officials, enjoy an ice cream bar, and present the Compassionate Care Giver Award.

 At Chatham-Kent Health Alliance we are extremely fortunate to have nursing staff that continue to make a difference, and who exemplify our Vision: An Exceptional Community Hospital, Setting Standards – Exceeding Expectations.

Sometimes Change is Hard

As an RNAO Best Practice Spotlight Organization, we take the opportunity to bring together our “Best Practice Champions” to learn and share experiences in working with Best Practice Guidelines. Recently, Irma Jean Bajnok, Director, International Affairs and Best Practice Guidelines Programs, Centre for Professional Nursing Excellence at the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, spent some time with us sharing a practical and organized framework to address change based on the book, “SWITCH, How to change things when change is hard”. The analogy used in discussing change was an elephant, a rider and a path, a somewhat odd combination but when you think about it, it does make sense.

We are in a state of conflict and contradiction when it comes to change; our hearts and minds often disagree. The logical thinking part of you (The Rider) thinks that you should be able to muscle the heart (The Elephant) into making change against the elephant’s will or preference. The elephant is the emotional, more instinctive part of you. Switch suggests that if you grab their hearts, their minds will follow.

The elephant represents the group who are being asked to change. Elephants are big and very smart, but can be stubborn. Trying to direct them down a path simply because you want them to go that way won’t necessarily make them move. The path is the environment which may need some ‘tweaking’ to rally the group toward the change. The path or environment should have situations, tools, procedures, forms, and so on, that make it easy and intuitive to do the right thing and hard to do the wrong thing. Keep the switch (change) going by encouraging and celebrating steps taken toward the goal.

So the moral of the story is we need to ensure that there is good reason for the change we are making. Change needs to benefit our patients; the nurses and other healthcare providers need a clear understanding of the benefits, that will make the change valuable to them. Then as the rider or manager of the change we can move the elephant down the path.

End of life… What does the patient want?

There are many difficult decisions for families to make in the final stages of a person’s life. Decisions are even tougher if your loved one deteriorates quickly and has not given clear direction of their wishes. Once you add the intensity and stress of an unfamiliar place, unfamiliar medical terminology and updating other family members, even simple decisions can seem extremely tough.

Medical technology has grown considerably over the past 100 years allowing for hospitals to maintain life for a longer period of time. Ventilators, life sustaining medications, procedures and expert staff all play an integral part in ensuring that patients receive the treatments needed to keep them alive. The combination of events, options, and the drive for staff and families in maintaining life can move treatments beyond the wishes of the patient.

It is important for families and healthcare providers to maintain a specific point of view… What are the patient wishes? Some patients want everything done, including invasive procedures and all life sustaining medications. However, as people age and become more comfortable with the thought of death, their wishes often change and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), ventilation, or other procedures may not be wanted. There is also the possibility of organ or tissue donation, and at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance we have increased our processes to ensure that patients can donate their organs if they wish.

It is important to have the discussion with your family members before these difficult decisions have to be made, to ensure that you or your loved ones receive the treatments that fall within your or their planned life’s path. Our goal is to give the care that is best for you, and clear direction in the beginning helps us to ensure that all your wishes are met.

Springtime

You know spring is near when it is time to move the clocks forward. After one of the warmest winters on record, many of us are already embracing springtime and all the advantages that go along with it. So lose your tie and/or dress shoes, grab your favorite t-shirt and running shoes and make the most of springtime in South-Western Ontario!

Most of us look a little pale after being indoors all winter, so heading outdoors should be a priority as the weather warms up. And I don’t mean just laying around sunbathing. Right now, our every day obligations of work and home keep us secured to our chairs and that sedentary lifestyle can be costly for us and our employers. A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology estimated that the average American (similar for Canadians) spends 55% of their waking time (7.7 hours) in sedentary behaviours such as sitting. A British Journal of Sports medicine article (January, 2010) suggests that people who sit for long periods of time have an increased risk of disease.

The remedy may be as simple as standing a little more each day but being physically active with your partner, your children, grandparents and other relatives is a great idea! All family members can get health benefits by being more active. Plus, the more time you spend with family members, the stronger your family connections become. Now that the weather is so nice, consider going for a walk or hike, play a game of golf or mini-golf, swim, bike, roller-blade, or get involved in organized sports such as soccer, baseball or just a game of catch in the yard.

Regular physical activity benefits both adults and children in the following ways:

1. Building strong bones and muscles;
2. Better posture and balance;
3. Having more energy, plus better physical and mental health;
4. Maintaining a health weight;
5. Improving physical self-esteem; and,
6. Increasing relaxation and improving sleep.

So grab your runners, enjoy the weather and head outside for some fun and exercise!

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) works to improve Medication Administration

From the initial order to the dispensing of medications to the patient, it is the responsibility of all healthcare providers involved to ensure that the most efficient and safe process is done. This requires many health professionals’ contribution to ensure that the right patient receives the right medication at the right time. Physicians, pharmacy, nurses and respiratory therapists all participate to ensure high quality, safe care.

In March, the medicine unit, the intensive care unit (ICU) and progressive care unit (PCU) at CKHA began using a computer generated medication administration record (CMAR). In simple terms, the document that the nurses and respiratory therapists use to guide administration of medications will be generated electronically from the pharmacy database. CMARs reduce the amount of hand written information on the medication record, improving the legibility and decreasing time away from the bedside. It also increases the medication safety checks that care providers do in ensuring the medication is given accurately.

Because it is an electronic record, CMAR allows nursing, respiratory, pharmacy and physicians to see the same information at all times, either in the paper file or in the patient’s electronic health record, reducing the risk for miscommunication between providers.

The momentum is continuing into the in-patient surgery department and the expected integration of CMARs across all in-patient care areas throughout CKHA is scheduled by the end of May.

I would like to thank Ruth LeClair and Janice McCready from Medicine, and Doreen Windsor from ICU, the pharmacy department and the rest of the CMAR task force for their hard work in improving the care we provide to our patients. This project continues to reflect CKHA’s vision of “An Exceptional Community Hospital, Setting Standards - Exceeding Expectations”.

Ruth LeClair (left) and Janice McCready (right) showing CMAR to Stephanie Bond, RN.

Doreen Windsor (right) with Nicole Leclerc, Ward Clerk and Phil Taylor, Professional Practice Nurse.

April is Daffodil Month: Cancer Awareness

Eager gardeners know that after a long winter, nothing is more welcoming than the sight of the yellow daffodil to mark the arrival of spring. To the Canadian Cancer Society, the daffodil is more than just a flower. It is a symbol of strength and courage, a symbol of life.

Cancer prevention starts with healthy living. By making healthy lifestyle choices you can reduce or “cut down” your risk of getting cancer. There is no single cause of cancer but some factors appear to increase the risk of developing it.

There are some risk factors that you cannot change. For example:

• Age


• Family history of cancer (heredity)
  

There are some risk factors related to everyday choices, you can choose to:

• Be a non-smoker and avoid tobacco smoke


• Eat a healthy diet


• Be physically active every day


• Stay at a healthy weight


• Limit alcohol use


• Reduce your exposure to UV (ultraviolet) rays from the sun or indoor tanning equipment, like tanning beds


• Know your body and report any changes to your doctor or dentist


• Follow health and safety instructions when using hazardous materials at home and at work.
  

If you know your body you can find possible health problems early, including cancer. Know what is normal for you and don’t ignore any changes. If you notice any unusual changes, tell your healthcare provider about them.

Here are some warning signs you should not ignore:

• A new or unusual lump or swelling in the breast, testicles or any other part of the body


• Any sore which does not heal anywhere on your body or in your mouth


• Obvious change in the shape, size or colour of a mole or wart


• A nagging cough, hoarseness or a croaky voice


• Difficulty swallowing


• Blood in the urine, stool or phlegm


• Unusual bleeding or discharge of any sort from the nipple, or vagina


• Any change in bladder habits, such as pain or difficulty urinating


• Any change in bowel habits (constipation or diarrhea) that last more than a few weeks


• Persistent indigestion


• Unexplained weight loss, fever or fatigue


• Unexplained aches and pains


• Any new growths on the skin, or patches of skin that bleed, itch or become red
  

Remember, having any of these signs does not mean that you have cancer. Only your healthcare provider can tell for sure.

Kudos to our Housekeeping Staff!!!

Recently we had a patient come to Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) who had some kind words for our Housekeeping Staff, and I wanted to share them with you.

Upon arriving, this person was immediately impressed with how wonderfully kept up and clean our hospital was. He commented that our hospital was absolutely spotless and sparkling clean. What great praise to hear from one of our patients!

Thank you to our Housekeeping Staff for your excellent work!!!

Easter with Something Extra

Just like Christmas, Easter has its own customs, such as the Easter Bunny, which has its origin in folklore. A tradition of the Easter Bunny leaving a basket of treats such as Easter eggs and chocolates on Easter Day is common in North America. Sometimes children leave out carrots for the Easter Bunny, often eggs are hidden in the garden for children to find. The idea of an egg-laying rabbit came to America in the 1700s through immigrants arriving from Germany. They told their children to make ‘nests’ before Easter with their caps and bonnets and if they were good the Easter Bunny would leave them coloured eggs. The custom of giving eggs at Easter celebrates new life. Eggs were always thought to be special because although they do not seem alive, they have life within them especially at springtime when chicks are hatched.

If you are looking for a great way to enjoy Easter with your children, try putting together a gift basket with a difference. Here are five tips to help you build a fabulous Easter gift basket:

1. We all deserve the odd sweet treat, but it is easy to overdo things at Easter. Portion control is one way to help keep treat intake in check.


2. Include a toy or game that encourages your kids to get outside and get active. A skipping rope, ball or frisbee is a simple way to encourage exercise for any child.


3. Easter is about new life. Why not include some flower or vegetable seeds in your gift basket? You can plant them in small pots or even make a start on a veggie garden.


4. Painted eggs are a great way to continue the Easter theme. You can nurture your children’s creativity and enjoy spending time together.


5. Take advantage of the Easter tradition of egg hunts to get kids up and moving.
   

Happy Easter!

Language of Caring – What’s it all about?

The Language of Caring is a strategy to improve the patient experience at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA). You may wonder why we are doing this now.

We are doing this because we are Caring People, Caring for People, and we want to be able to communicate that caring to our patients and their families each and every time. At CKHA, we take service excellence seriously and this will build on the strengths we already have in place.

Being able physically care for people as well as articulate our caring will, we believe, improve outcomes for our patients.
For more on this, please take a few minutes and take a look at the video below. Thank you

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Participates in the Nursing Leadership Network Conference

Two years ago I went to the Nursing Leadership Network (NLN) Conference with members of the Professional Practice Team. 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. On the way home we were talking about all the great things that we are doing at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) and we should celebrate and share that information with other organizations.

I’m delighted to say that the following year, 2011, the team submitted three poster presentations to the NLN, and all three were accepted (Leadership Academy, Patient Rounding and Normo-thermia). This year, I’m thrilled to say CKHA again had three poster presentations accepted (Professional Practice, Dream to Reality, Lights … Camera … Activation and Rounding, A Team Approach Cares to Ask).

Having three poster presentations accepted is an exceptional feat. CKHA staff, physicians and patients can be proud of the level of commitment CKHA has to stay on the leading edge of leadership within the healthcare field.

This is just another example of how demonstrate that we are An Exceptional Community Hospital – Setting Standards, Exceeding Expectations.


Pictured L-R, front row Laurie Duffield, Professional Practice Corporate, Erika Walker, Administrative Assistant, back row Jean Landry, Executive Assistant, Crystal Houze, Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive, Willi Kirenko, Director, Quality and Interprofessional Practice, Kathy Lynn Stennett, Professional Practice Nurse, Linda Brown, Professional Practice Nurse, Julie Desmarais, Professional Practice Nurse and Phil Taylor, Professional Practice Nurse.
Missing from the photo, Betty Oldershaw, Professional Practice Corporate and Jill Cousins, Professional Practice Nurse.

What do you do when things don’t go as planned?

Most of the time procedures in the hospital go exactly as planned. But what do you do when things don’t go as planned, what or how do you tell the patient and their family? There is certainly an ethical, professional and legal obligation to disclose what has taken place; but what is the best way to do that?

Dr. K. Reducka is the Physician Risk Manager at the Canadian Medical Protective Association, she recently came to Chatham-Kent Health Alliance to educate Physicians and the Interprofessional Team on the process of disclosing information to patients and families.

During the session, participants:
1) Learned the threshold for disclosure
2) Worked through disclosure scenarios
3) Learned how to develop a communication process to meet the patient’s clinical, information and emotional needs.

Unfortunately, we know that errors happen. So while we aim to never need the education received, we want to be prepared for when we do and to disclose information regarding a patient’s care in the best possible way. With Dr. Reducka’s support, we are better to do just that.

In the photo below, Dr. K. Reducka is seen during the education session provided to the interdisciplinary team.

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Decreases Infection by 90%!

Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) is a type of bacteria that is highly resistant to antibiotics and can be spread in hospitals. Although it rarely causes infections, an infection with VRE could be devastating to a patient as there are limited antibiotics remaining which are effective against it (there are only two drugs which are interchangeable, so most hospitals only carry one). As some may recall Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) experienced three outbreaks of VRE during 2009 and 2010 but we haven’t heard much about this bug since – and it’s not because it has fallen off of our radar.

An inter-professional team consisting of members from infection prevention and control, unit managers and directors, frontline nursing staff, professional practice leaders, engineering services, and housekeeping, identified and addressed the cultural, behavioral and environmental barriers that had been contributing to the spread of these bacteria. The team researched current literature, conducted a cost-benefit analysis, used videos to reveal out-dated practices, surveyed and then provided education to staff, and made environmental changes, to get support for capital equipment and assist frontline staff to transition to better practices. Through the hard work and dedication of staff from the frontline to patient safety, the incidence of hospital acquired VRE at CKHA has dropped by an amazing 90%, which has been sustained over the last 2 years. This success is a great example of how simple changes in practices do make a difference for our patients. Below are some of the people responsible for this initiative

Pictured L-R, Shane Helgerman, Director Medicine & Mission, Lisa Northcott, Clinical Manager, Medicine, Carol Turner Coordinator IPAC, Harrie Bos Manager, Engineering Services, Carrie Sophonow Manager, Housekeeping, Erika Vitale Infection Prevention & Control Quality Analyst, and Crystal Houze, Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive.

Trillium Gift of Life

Did you know, every three days, someone in Ontario dies while waiting for an organ transplant?

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) has partnered with Trillium Gift of Life Network (TGLN) to maximize tissue and organ donation to enhance life for others. We are the twelfth hospital TGLN has collaborated with to promote tissue and organ donation. Through this collaboration, CKHA continues its change and quality initiatives to improve health and quality of life for all.

Organ donation from one individual can help eight other individuals. Tissue donation can benefit the lives of 75 others. Unfortunately, the availability of organs and tissue in Ontario for transplant falls extremely short of the need.

After January 24, 2012, CKHA’s Emergency Department (ED) and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) will implement this quality initiative and report all deaths to TGLN within one hour of a patient’s death. This timely, mandatory reporting will facilitate tissue donation, specifically the donation of eye tissues, skin, bone, and heart valves by standardizing the process for donation with one phone call to TGLN. This process also helps identify potential donors.

Discussing death or tissue/organ donation with family or loved ones is never an easy topic.

Have you considered tissue/organ donation? Did you know that even if you signed a donor card, you still need to register your request on-line with Service Ontario? If you do register yourself as a tissue/organ donor, you can alleviate a stressful burden on your family of having to decide what to do during a painful, sad time.

Through this collaboration, TGLN has the ability to verify “donor status” for those whom the status is not known or whose status may have changed. TGLN staff will discuss tissue and organ donation with family members, prompting them to consider donation for those who are not registered or verification of donor status to ensure the patient’s wishes are followed.


For more information or to register on-line, visit http://www.ontario.ca/en/services_for_residents/ONT05_039074.html

Everyone is a potential donor regardless of their age.

Pregnancy and the Flu Vaccine

With influenza season upon us it is important for all of us to consider vaccination. Influenza, frequently known as ‘the flu’, is a common and highly contagious virus that is characterized by a sudden fever, coughs and usually includes extreme fatigue and muscle aches. While most people recover from the flu in seven to ten days, it is important to recognize that for others the flu can present serious complications.

The Public Health Agency of Canada includes pregnant women in their high-risk category, meaning it is very important that they speak to their care provider about receiving the flu vaccine. The flu vaccine is considered safe for expectant mothers during all stages of pregnancy.
So if you are pregnant this influenza season, why should you get your flu shot?

• The seasonal flu vaccine is recommended for those who will be pregnant during flu season.


• Being immunized will also help protect your baby through his or her first few months of life.


• Pregnant women are at increased risk of hospitalization and serious complications from influenza.

This increased risk is believed to be related to the changes that occur during pregnancy in the cardiovascular, respiratory and immune systems, and is greatest in the second and third trimesters.

So protect both yourself and your new bundle of joy by choosing to be immunized this influenza season!

Sleep – It does your Body Good!

One of the most overlooked, yet most important ways to stay healthy, is to ensure that you are getting the sleep that your body needs. This is sometimes more easily said than done, especially for those who perform shiftwork. So, read on for some tips!

Lack of sleep can lead to both short and long-term consequences for your health. We can likely all relate to the feelings of irritability, fatigue and difficulty concentrating after missing a night or two of sleep. However, if sleep deprivation continues over the long-term it increases the risk of more serious health problems such as obesity, diabetes, a weakened immune system, high blood pressure and depression.

Here are some tips to establish good sleeping habits:

• Create a comfortable sleep environment


• Reduce caffeine consumption and avoid alcohol prior to bedtime


• Get regular exercise and enjoy a healthy diet


• Avoid heavy meals right before bedtime


• Try relaxation techniques like yoga before bed


• Try to maintain a consistent bed and wake time whenever possible.

Approximately 25% of employees in Canada perform shiftwork. Here are some additional things to consider if you or someone you know is one of them:

• Try to get more sleep when possible, a quick 30 minute nap will increase your total amount of sleep and help improve your health.


• Consider bringing your lunch to work as food choices tend to be less healthy at night


• Try to get some exercise in during your breaks, a quick walk around the building will do the trick.


• Ask your family for their support by making sure you get the sleep you need when you are home.

Regardless of your schedule, if you are struggling to sleep, you can also talk to your health care provider about other options. Most importantly, realize that you cannot adequately care for others until you have cared for yourself – and that means getting enough sleep. Good night……….

Take Care, Don’t Fall!

With winter weather here we start to think about icy sidewalks and parking lots, which increase the risk of falling. While the winter weather does present unique challenges, it is important to remain aware that we are all at risk of falling, both indoors and out, all year round.

According to the Public Health Agency of Canada falls are the second leading cause of injury-related hospitalizations for all ages, after motor vehicle collisions. The fall-related injury rate is nine times greater among seniors than among those less than 65 years of age. Seniors who fall are more likely to suffer fractures and other serious injuries that may affect their ability to live independently.

It is important that we all stop and think about what we can do to prevent a fall and preventing falls is especially important with advanced age. There are some steps that we can take to try and prevent falling:

• Keep physically active and enjoy a healthy diet


• Wear comfortable shoes that offer good support


• Use a rubber bath mat in your shower and take care when entering or exiting the shower


• Keep clutter in your home to a minimum


• Make sure there is adequate lighting


• Avoid scatter mats as they are easy to trip on


• Keep eyeglasses and hearing aids in good repair and wear as directed


• Ensure that ice and snow are removed from walkways and make arrangements to have these areas maintained if you are unable to do


• Ask for assistance with tasks that may increase your risk of falls, tasks like getting items from shelves that you have difficulty reaching
  

All of us can play a part in falls prevention. If you are able, assist senior relatives and neighbors with snow removal and other tasks that may be risky for them to undertake.
Let’s all work together to stay safe!

Bell Let’s Talk – Breakdown the stigma of mental illness

Bell’s second annual Let’s Talk day is on Wednesday, February 8. This day is intended to breakdown the stigma of mental illness by encouraging open discussion amongst families, friends and co-workers. Too often a diagnosis of mental illness has a stigma attached to it. By encouraging dialogue it is hoped that the stigma will be removed and people can feel comfortable openly discussing mental illness, just like they would any other illness.

The benefit of removing the stigma is to encourage those suffering from mental illness to seek help in managing their illness. People can also be better supported with their treatment goals when they are encouraged by those around them to stick to their treatment plans and to seek assistance from their health care providers when they have questions.

For each text and long distance call made on February 8, Bell will contribute 5 cents to programs dedicated to mental health. This may not sound like a lot but last year Let’s Talk day raised 3.3 million dollars! For more information please go to the Let’s Talk website at http://www.bell.ca/letstalk.

Together we can remove the stigma associated with mental illness and encourage our families, friends and co-workers to get the help and support they need.

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Service Excellence Kick-Off!!!

January 25 marked the kick-off date for a new service excellence strategy being implemented at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA). On that date, the first session of “The Language of Caring” was presented to our Formal Leadership Team. The Language of Caring will help us develop the skills to ensure the person we are caring for feels the care we provide.

Over the next few months, we will focus on implementing one skill at a time. Once carried out, we will be seen as leaders in Service Excellence, this is an outstanding accomplishment – setting the bar high for those who follow in our footsteps. It will be wonderful to see our staff recognized for their caring attitudes.

The organization, our patients and their families have so much to gain from this strategy; I want CKHA to stand for one thing, wonderful, caring people, dedicated to patients and their families.

As an exceptional community hospital – setting standards – exceeding expectations, we will have the skills to ensure people will feel our caring – each time – every time. There is no better reason than this to start now.

Below is a photo of the educational session with the Formal Leadership Team for the Language of Caring.

Ambassadors for Anti-Stigma and Discrimination toward Our Mental Health and Addiction Clients

November 2011 was Addictions Awareness and Recovery Awareness Month. Although this event was not proclaimed internationally nor at the municipal level, it was observed by Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) and its team of professionals who provide counseling and support to individuals affected with mental health and addiction issues. Asking for help is the first major step in their recovery. Through their efforts and with the support from staff at the Mental Health & Addictions Program (MHAP) and their partners Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Westover, Canadian Mental Health Association and Assertive Community Treatment, recovery is possible.

Individuals with an addiction or mental health concern, or both, can and do make positive changes in their lives and many go on to lead rewarding and successful lives despite the barriers they encounter. Stigma and discrimination are barriers that we as a society, healthcare professionals included, impose. It discourages these individuals from accessing treatment or support. When a person adopts what society believes about them it creates self shame and leads to low self esteem, isolation and hopelessness.

Listening to their patient stories is cause to celebrate. To combat shame and discrimination and create awareness about these barriers, MHAP staff visited several departments at CKHA over the past few months educating others about treatment and recovery to improve sensitivity towards these issues. This quality improvement initiative was endorsed by MHAP’S Quality Council in response to feedback from patients and families who received treatment at CKHA. Listening to their stories created motivation to make improvements at CKHA so we truly are “An Exceptional Community Hospital - Setting Standards Exceeding Expectations.”

One does not need to be a professionally trained therapist to make a difference in the lives of these individuals. A warm, caring and non-judgmental attitude can improve self-esteem and instill hope that change is possible. We all have the same window of opportunity to break down the barriers of stigma and discrimination by respecting these individuals for who they are, and not attaching labels. Through awareness and collaboration, we all can be ambassadors to reduce the barriers of stigma and discrimination.

Members of the Stigma Promotion, L-R. Shannon Stephenson, Janice Miller, Jill Ladd, Bruce McCubbin & Heather Badder

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance and Patient and Family Centred Care

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.

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?

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

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