Currents July 2009 - Vancouver Island Health Authority

The Vancouver Island Health Authority’s Internal Newsletter… Produced Monthly To Keep Us all Plugged In
HAPPY CANADA DAY
Comox Valley Nursing Centre Singled
Out as A Gift of Peace
T
he Comox Valley Nursing Centre has been recognized as a “Gift for
a Culture of Peace” at a special conference in Kingston, Ontario.
The Nursing Centre is one of five health programs in Canada to earn the
designation, and will be shared through the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in the hopes other
countries will learn from the experiences of the program, and set up
similar clinics. “The success of the Nursing Centre can be found in the
partnership between health care providers and clients,” says Nursing
Centre Manager Patricia Foster, who was one of the original nurses
when it launched as a demonstration project 15 years ago. “We
recognized early on that clients are the experts on their own pain, and
only by working in true partnership with them can we give them a voice
in their healing.”
The Nursing Centre provides a wide range of services including chronic
pain support, an eating disorders program, support groups, as well as
outreach services, and chronic disease management.
The concept behind the successful program will be presented by the
Canadian Commission For UNESCO at a conference in Paris next fall.
For more information on the Comox Valley Nursing Centre, and its
services, watch a video at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq4KaugiMw4. •
The Comox Valley
Nursing Centre Team.
Standing L-R: Elaine
Harvey, RN; Brenda
Bouttell, RN; Lynn
Redenbach, RN, NI
Reg. Eating Disorder
Program; Michele
Caley, RN; Cindy
Gavel, admin assistant;
Linda MacMullen,
volunteer; Maggie St
Aubrey, RN; Leesa
Ferguson, planning
assistant. Kneeling:
Patricia Foster, RN,
Centre Manager and
Karen Berezon,
Primary Health Care
Developer, NI
Help Us Find a New Look
W
ANTED: Creative people who have an
eye for design and an interest in
showcasing their talent in Currents newsletter.
In January 2006, Currents newsletter was
launched and has since been a monthly staple in
keeping VIHA staff, physicians and volunteers
connected with events, achievements and
changes within our organization. However, after
3.5 years with the same design, VIHA Communications feels it is time to give Currents a face lift.
We are looking for new masthead ideas that will
help define our newsletter - and we thought it
time to tap into the wealth of creativity that
exists within our vast organization. To us, the
title ‘Currents’ represents three things: the
recent events that have transpired; the ebb and
flow of daily life within the organization, and a
symbol of west coast/island living.
Show us your vision (multiple ideas welcome).
All submissions must feature the word Currents
prominently - and need to be 7.5” wide by a
maximum of 2” high. Submissions can be sent in
the following formats:
• If digital: 300dpi or higher resolution, eps or tiff
• If Illustrated: the original image, which will be
scanned and returned to the artist
All submissions need to include the designer’s
name, title, work phone number and e-mail, and
can be sent to Jennifer.morgan@viha.ca (with
“CURRENTS MASTHEAD Submission” in the
subject line), or couriered to Communications,
RJH - #314 Begbie Hall. Submissions must be
received by September 15, and the preferred
design will debut in the October 2009 edition.
Need more information? Contact Jen Morgan at
the e-mail above or call 250-370-8374. •
July 2009 - Page 1 - www.viha.ca/news
Public Health Hero
One-Stop Shopping at the
New Surgical Intranet Site
V
IHA Chief Medical
Health Officer Dr.
Richard Stanwick has
been honoured with the
highest award of the
Canadian Public Health
Association. Dr.
Stanwick was presented
with the R.D. Defries
Award for outstanding
contributions in the
broad field of public
health. He is recognized
for providing excellent
service to his community and profession.
Congratulations! •
O
n Friday, May 22nd the VIHA Surgery Intranet site,
https://intranet.viha.ca/departments/surgery, was
launched with the goal of having one location where VIHA
staff can locate the most recent information pertaining to
surgery. On the site you will find policies, procedures,
clinical standards, patient education materials, projects and
initiatives relating to surgery.
During the past year, site content was collected from files,
memos, and shared drives from across the island. To
provide a consistent look and ease of reading, documents
have been reformatted into an approved standard format
and now indicate the author, approval body and date.
Although much of the content was developed in the South
Island, it is hoped that sharing information this way will lead
to revisions and development of regional standards, where
possible.
Nursing Award of Excellence
R
ob Calnan is no stranger to accolades. Over the
years, we have had the pleasure of acknowledging
Rob’s achievements in Currents many times, including the
CRNBC Award of Merit presented to him in 2006 – the
highest honor in nursing in BC. Most recently, Rob was
the recipient of the 2009 University of Victoria School of
Nursing Alumni Award of Excellence, presented at an
alumni lunch this past May.
A graduate from UVic’s School of Nursing post-diploma
BSN program in 1987, Rob has contributed significantly
not only to health care in Canada and abroad, but also to
the nursing profession. He has served as president of both
RNABC and the Canadian Nurses Association, and as
Canada‘s representative to the International Council of
Nursing. He is respected for his effectiveness and
leadership within
VIHA and he
continues to be an
inspiration to all
nurses across diverse
healthcare settings.
We are delighted to
once again recognize
the accomplishments
of Rob Calnan, and
are proud to have
staff of his caliber
working for the public
Dr. Lynne Young, Assoc. Director of Scholarwe serve. •
ship & Research, introduces Rob at the
Surgeons and their MOAs (in the South Island area) who do
not have access to the VIHA Intranet, can view the same
information, as well as surgeon average time reports and
surgeon waitlists, through the secure VIHA Surgical Reports
External Website (http://SurgicalReportsExternal.viha.ca). To
request site access, surgeons can phone 250-519-1613.
The new Surgery Intranet site complements the public
Surgery site, www.viha.ca/surgery, which was developed for
patients and families. Have a look and let us know what you
think. Send your feedback and suggestions to Cathy Parker
via: cathy.parker@viha.ca. •
Did You Know…
O
n Vancouver Island there
are 14 auxiliary
organizations who together
donated a grand total of
$808,373 to their local health
care facilities. This involved an
incredible 283,629 volunteer
hours!
The BC government proclaimed May 10th as Health Care
Auxiliary Day again this year. It is already July - but it’s never
too late to recognize the amazing support and commitment
the auxiliaries bring to the table. Thank you for all of your
fund-raising endeavours, hard work and dedication. It does
not go unrecognized. •
Alumni luncheon.
July 2009 - Page 2 - www.viha.ca/news
Practical Symposium Raises the Bar for Learning in Canada
O
n April 27th and 28th physician experts from Halifax to Vancouver
participated in the first Canadian practical symposium focusing on
the ablation of ventricular tachycardia. Held at the Royal Jubilee Hospital,
the symposium combined classroom lectures with practical live ablations
of patients with different types of life threatening arrhythmia.
Participants were enthusiastic about this exciting learning opportunity and
commented on the high-level of expertise of the contributors as well as
the Canadian focus. This groundbreaking program was so successful that
similar courses will now be held in other centres throughout the country.
Congratulations to the organizers on raising the bar and setting the
standard for educational opportunities such as this. •
The two physicians on the left are Dr. Larry Sterns and Dr. Richard Leather from VIHA. Front row: current EP fellows at the Royal Jubilee Hospital (L-R): Drs.
Sharad Agarwal, Nicholas Cromie, Omar Sultan, and Michael Jones.
“Eight hours was not nearly
long enough…”
The following was written by Nadine Durrant, who describes her 1st day
as a new musculoskeletal injury prevention peer coach on RJH 2 Royal:
I had some apprehension about
how my first day of coaching
would go, but it turns out all of
those worries were for naught.
I was greeted with appreciation
and a lot of curiosity. After
describing the training I had
received, I explained which
budget my current role was
being paid (to alleviate the "why
don't we just hire more nurses,
which would result in less injuries"
Nadine Durrant
conversation). Then, I outlined
our goals and the benefits of being involved in this project.
I was able to get staff so enthusiastic about the band sling
that they were comically truculent over who got to use it
first. I covered STABLE several times and then would
randomly choose someone to show me what it was all
about. Very good fun, especially with the J-Lo butt
additive. I covered the pre-handling check and received
astounded, positive feedback. Then, I fine-tuned a few arm
positions and weight-shifting, or lack thereof, and before I
knew it, my day came to an end.
CDH Physicians & Nurses
Shave in Support of Colleagues
T
he Maple Bay Rowing Club was a bit hairy on June 17th.
That’s because staff and physicians, all members of the
OR and PAR staff at Cowichan District Hospital, doffed
their locks in honour of some of their colleagues who are
undergoing treatment for cancer.
Dr. William (David) Robertson, Dr. Steve Kraus, Dr.
Christiaan Avenant (all anesthesiologists); Dr. Ricardo
Velazquez, Orthopedic Surgeon; and David Huntley,
Josh Doherty, Ann Crawford, and Elizabeth Pollock
(all RN’s) participated in the tribute to their colleagues. (Dr.
Valazquez and Elizabeth Pollock were unable to be present
for the group shave and were “done” separately.)
Congratulations in raising over $11000 for Cancer Care
and in your honourable support of your colleagues who are
undergoing treatment. •
Eight hours was not nearly long enough. I underestimated
my coworkers' strong desire to improve our unit. It's
both invigorating and satisfying to be involved in a project
that will improve morale while simultaneously providing a
safer working environment for all concerned. And how
was your first day? ~ N. Durrant •
July 2009 - Page 3 - www.viha.ca/news
Hair today…
(L-R) Anne
Crawford,
David
Robertson,
Christie
Avenant, Josh
Doherty,
David Huntley,
& Steve Kraus
...gone tomorrow!
(L-R) David Robertson,
Anne Crawford, Steve
Kraus, & Christie
Avenant
Nurse Practitioners Improving
Access Across the Island
S
ince 2005, Nurse Practitioners (NPs) have been
providing health care to Island residents - there are
currently 16 practicing NPs in VIHA. NPs are Registered
Nurses who have taken advanced education and clinical
training to increase their scope of practice. NPs work with
patients to manage common health conditions, but their
designation allows them to order diagnostic tests and
prescribe medications, as well as referring and consulting
with specialists. Although they are independent healthcare
providers, many NPs work in collaborative practices with
physicians and interprofessional teams focusing on health
promotion and disease prevention.
Across VIHA, NPs work in primary health care settings, and
many reach out to serve marginalized and underserved
populations including women, seniors, the homeless, those
living in aboriginal communities, and clients with mental
health and addiction challenges. Find out more about Nurse
Practitioners, by visiting www.bcnpa.org or www.crnbc.ca. •
The In-Charge Initiative
Supports our Nurses
I
n the past few years, VIHA
has hired a large number of
new nurses. But as more
experienced nurses retire, one
of the challenges being faced is
the need for new nurses to be
introduced into leadership
roles, such as charge nursing.
CANADIAN FACT
In 1965, the maple leaf flag was officially adopted
as the flag of Canada, replacing the British Union
Flag and the unofficial Canadian Red Ensign flag.
VIHA Gearing Up for
QMENTUM Accreditation
V
IHA is stepping into QMENTUM accreditation this fall.
This is the first time VIHA has engaged in such a
comprehensive (every program at the same time) process.
The first step: September 8 – 30, Staff can complete
Accreditation Canada’s Work Life Pulse and Patient Safety
Culture Tools. These brief questionnaires will be available
on line or via hard copy. Please participate to ensure your
opinions are included.
Eight quality dimensions form the foundation of the new
program, and are listed on the accreditation website. July’s
brainteaser…can you identify the following terms and
explain them to colleagues?
• Questionnaires
• Indicators
• Standards
• Action Plans
• Required Organizational Practices (ROPs)
• Priority Processes/Tracers
Standards questionnaires will be implemented by program
and by site from late September until early December
2009. Please visit the Quality Research and Safety web site
https://intranet.viha.ca/departments/quality/Accreditation/Pa
ges/default.aspx and get ready to participate in this
important quality improvement process. •
“We are now finding that more often, nurses with less
experience are being asked to fulfill the in-charge role in
acute care - particularly during evenings, nights and on
weekends,” says Christina Berlanda RN BSN with
Professional Practice and Co-Chair of the VIHA Regional
Nursing Practice Council (RNPC). “We recognize these
nurses need to be supported in this role and we value their
contribution in advocating for quality patient care”.
So the RNPC and a regional working group have been
working on the In-charge Initiative - engaging staff, and
contributing to a positive work environment in VIHA. If you
would like to find out more about this initiative contact
Christina Berlanda Co-Chair Regional Nursing Practice
Council Christina.Berlanda@viha.ca 250-544-2437. •
United Way Payroll Winners
T
hank you to all VIHA donors for a very successful
2008 United Way campaign. It is never too late to
send in pledge forms, which are accepted year-round at
Data & Benefits. Congratulations to the winners of the
VIHA-wide prize draw for those on continuous payroll:
~ Shannon Taylor, North Island Liver Clinic, CRH
~ Janette Barr, HR/Data and Benefits, Nanaimo
~ Kim Benham, Gorge Road Short Stay
The 2009 campaign will start early in the fall, so watch for
upcoming information! •
July 2009 - Page 4 - www.viha.ca/news