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.