general happenings - Brockville General Hospital

GENERAL HAPPENINGS
Healthy People, Outstanding Care
Brockville General Hospital
In This Issue
2. Lab Accreditation
cont.
2. Screen for the Cure
Raises $32,000
3. Hidden Treasures
Make Distinctive Gallery Display
4. BGH Launches Regional High Risk
Screening Tool
5. Pike for a Fight Raises $1000 for Palliative
Care
5. JH&SC Tip of the
Month
6. All the Right Moves
6. Board of Governors
Meeting/Submissions
Deadline
7. Friends of Palliative
Care Golf Receives
$10,000 Donation
8. Corporate Education
Fund
9. IM/IT Moves In!
10. GSS Garage Sale
11. BGVA News
12. Local Donation Allows BGH Green Initiative to Cover the Bottom Line
13. Royal Visit to BGH
14. Education Opportunities
14. Ice Cream and
Lemonade
15. New Employees
15. Staff Discounts
16. NEW VENUE for:
presentation by
Heather Stuart, Bell MH
and Anti-Stigma Research Chair, October
17th
August 2013
BGH Lab Achieves 4-Year
Certificate of Accreditation
It was all smiles in the Brockville General Hospital (BGH) Lab recently
when the department received its 4-year accreditation from Ontario
Laboratory Accreditation (OLA).
The OLA is a mandatory program for laboratories to show ongoing
compliance in over 1300 requirements that cover all aspects of lab service,
including other hospital operations supporting lab service—all within a
quality management framework. The accreditation process is rigorous, reviewing a full spectrum of areas such as budgeting, human resources, purchasing, information management, and quality control. BGH hosted four
assessors on site for three days.
“The quality management system at the BGH Laboratory is well defined and has been in place for a few years now,” says Lab Director Susan
Pugh. “The processes must be sustainable to ensure that accurate, timely
results are provided to the physicians, and to ensure patient and staff
safety.”
BGH President & CEO Tony Weeks with Lab Information Specialist Sue Schaub.
PAGE 2
General Happenings
Lab Accreditation (continued)
“BGH Lab staff worked very hard to prepare,” Pugh continues, “under the leadership of Sue
Schaub, Lab Quality and Lab Information Specialist.”
“Achieving a 4-year accreditation is no small feat. It required strong leadership, strong team
work, and a lot of extra effort” says Tony Weeks, BGH President & CEO. “Staff should celebrate
their accomplishment. The entire organization shares the pride.”
A Winning Team: The BGH Lab “Family”
Screen for the Cure Tournament Raises $32,000
The Third Annual Screen for the Cure Tournament held June 21st raised over $32,000 in support of screening and prevention of colorectal
cancer.
To date, over $152,000 has been raised by the tournament. All monies raised stay in the community, to purchase new colorectal screening equipment for Brockville
General Hospital (BGH). The funds raised in the 2012
tournament were used to purchase a new Innova® Dual
Scope Freestanding Scope Washer worth over $48,000.
This brought the number of scope washers at BGH to
three units, substantially increasing capacity to decontaminate equipment.
Pictured are the 2013 Tournament Winners (l – r) Tom
Blanchard, Claude Mattioli, Chuck Nevay and Nancy
Vanderbarren.
GENERAL HAPPENINGS
PAGE 3
Hidden Treasures Make Distinctive BGH Gallery Display
A collection of artwork donated to Brockville General Hospital (BGH) several decades ago is
seeing the light of day again—thanks to the ongoing Third Floor renovation at the BGH
Charles Street Site.
“It’s not an obvious connection,” says Maggie Wheeler, BGH Chief of Communications and
Engagement, “but having to move people and rooms around on the Second Floor as part of the work
for the Third Floor had us completely empty a storage area last fall. And there they were.”
“They” are seven original oil paintings on canvas by Montreal artist E. (Edith) Jackson Smith.
Jackson Smith was active in the Montreal artistic community for decades, and was a long-time member of the Women’s Art Society of Montreal. The artwork now on display dates from the late 1950s to
the early 1960s. In the late 1980s, Jackson Smith moved to Mallorytown and volunteered for a time
at BGH. It is believed that was when she donated the paintings to the hospital, perhaps for patient
rooms.
The series is currently on display at the BGH Corridor Art Gallery in the Charles Street Site,
hosted by the Brockville General Volunteer Association (BGVA).
“This is a collection of classical naïve Canadian landscapes,” explains BGVA member and
Gallery Curator Carol Reesor. “They show a strength and tranquility reflective of the times in which
the artist painted them. Her theme seems to be home, rural life and contentment—all bathed in a
soft glow.
“It’s a wonderful, restorative display to have here in the hospital,” Reesor adds. “Our patients
and visitors are quite responsive to it. I think Edith would be very pleased by that.”
The E. Jackson Smith exhibit will be on view until August 23rd. All proceeds from any sales
return to the BGVA to help fund equipment and service needs at the hospital. The BGVA is the
fourth oldest hospital auxiliary in Ontario, and will mark 125 years of service in 2014.
Volunteer Corridor Art Gallery Curator Carol Reesor with the E. Jackson Smith display.
GENERAL HAPPENINGS
PAGE 4
BGH Launches Regional High Risk Screening Tool
Brockville General Hospital recently launched what will be a regional high risk screening tool
used at all South East Local Health Integration Network (SE LHIN) hospitals.
The Integrated Community Assessment Referral Team (or iCart, for short) is a SE LHIN initiative to monitor frail, elderly seniors with a goal of preventing unnecessary admissions. Repeat admissions for this patient group are high. The iCart approach is designed to screen all patient admissions over 75 years of age to identify high-risk seniors and assess the kind of community supports
they will need when leaving hospital. The electronic screening tool—the Assessment Urgency Algorithm or AUA—will be applied to all patients in this age group who present at the Emergency Department, and again to similar patients on leaving hospital. If an AUA score of between four and six
is generated, these patients are flagged for follow up by the iCart team.
“The AUA is just one of the initiatives Brockville General Hospital is undertaking to become a
Senior Friendly Hospital,” explains Sherry Anderson, Director of Complex continuing Care, Rehab
and Palliative Care at BGH. A Senior Friendly Hospital is one in which the environment, organizational culture, and care giving processes accommodate and respond to seniors’ physical and cognitive needs. The aim is to enable seniors to regain their health after their hospital stay is completed,
so that they can transition to the next level of care that best meets their needs by providing additional community supports.
“Planning and implementation of the high risk tool, despite the best of efforts, took longer
than originally anticipated,” she continues. “Our success in doing so is a testament to the professional teamwork within BGH. Given that seniors receive care in virtually every area of the hospital, it
is crucial that continuous quality improvement plans be developed to include a growing and increasingly diverse seniors’ population.”
The launch and assessment of iCart began at BGH and will follow with a full implementation
in other parts of the SE LHIN region later this year.
The BGH team celebrates success. Pictured (l – r) are Randy Bannister, Chantal Kirkby, Heather Quesnelle,
Sherry Anderson, Joy Coutu, Sandra Graham and Margriet deBruyn.
PAGE 5
GENERAL HAPPENINGS
Pike for a Fight Raises $1000 for Palliative Care
A Northern Pike fishing tournament in memory of Dawn Herbison recently raised over $1000
for local palliative care. Organized by Herbison’s nephew Kyle Jensen, the Pike for a Fight
tournament attracted almost 90 participants and enjoyed the sponsorship of 19 local businesses and individuals.
“The support for the tournament was amazing,” says Jensen. “So many people and businesses donated prizes for the event, and the day could not have happened without them. It really shows
how people in this area have opened their hearts to our local palliative care service.”
Jensen’s Aunt Dawn was diagnosed with cancer in early 2012, and passed away that August
in the care of the Brockville and District Hospice Palliative Care Service based at Brockville General
Hospital.
“It wasn’t my first experience with the service,” explains Jensen. “The professionalism and
care that the staff offer to the family and loved one are incredible and noticed by all of us.”
The Pike for a Fight was so successful that Jensen is considering making it an annual event.
First place winner was Rick Fisher with a pike weighing six pounds, nine ounces.
Pictured is Kyle
Jensen with one
of his catches of
the day.
Joint Health and Safety Committee Tip of the Month
RESPECT THE SUN
Guard against the sun’s damaging effects, including skin cancer.
Use sunscreen of SPF 30 or more and wear a hat and long sleeves.
Be sure to drink plenty of water.
Keep a water bottle nearby and reach for it regularly.
PAGE 6
GENERAL HAPPENINGS
A reminder to all staff that the All the Right Moves newsletter is your weekly update on any renovation, construction and/or office moves news. It is posted on Announcements every Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning. Copies are also available (and archived) on SharePoint under:
Main Page/Redevelopment/ Construction and Renovation Updates.
You will also find copies of any related memos or staff notices on this site.
Maggie Wheeler
Chief, Communications and Engagement
The BGH
Board of Governors
meetings
are on hiatus
until September.
Submissions for “General
Happenings”
are due on
the 24th of
every month.
Please send to
Maggie Wheeler,
Editor
whema@bgh-on.ca
GENERAL HAPPENINGS
PAGE 7
Friends of Palliative Care Golf Tournament
Receives $10,000 Donation
A donation of $10,000 from Joe and Mike Jordan and their families to the Friends of Palliative
Care Golf Tournament marks the addition of a new Platinum Sponsor to the highly successful fundraiser that will mark 20 years this year.
Jordan, a former MP for the region, recently presented Tournament Committee Co-Chairs Dave
Publow and Jim Cooper with a cheque on behalf of himself, his wife Debbie and his brother Mike.
Although Jordan had played periodically at the tournament over the years and supported palliative
care with the annual telethon, this was the first time for a direct donation to the tournament.
“My father used the local palliative care services last year,” explains Jordan, “so as a family, we had
first-hand experience with this invaluable service. It is a tremendous local resource, and phenomenal to see the care and support given. We thought that we should support this great cause.”
The 20th Annual Friends of Palliative Care Golf Tournament is set for August 28th. Funds raised go
to support the Brockville and District Hospice Palliative Care Service based at Brockville General
Hospital—a community-based service that is largely unfunded and dependent upon the generosity
of individuals, groups, businesses and fundraisers such as the tournament.
“This is another great experience of ‘Friends helping Friends’,” says Co-Chair Jim Cooper. “Joe,
Debbie and Mike have joined many community leaders in ensuring the future of local palliative care.
Dave and I are very pleased they are supporting our palliative care event with their generosity.”
“We encourage others to support the tournament and palliative care,” says Jordan. “It is a tremendous cause to provide this service, a service,” he adds, “that when needed we would wonder how to
do without.”
Joe Jordan (centre)
presents a cheque for
$10,000 to Friends of
Palliative Care Committee Co-Chairs Jim
Cooper (left) and Dave
Publow.
GENERAL HAPPENINGS
PAGE 8
Corporate Education Fund
Did you know…..
Brockville General Hospital supports a continuous learning environment. All full-time and part-time
employees have access to the Corporate Education Fund to assist staff in maintaining relevant
skills and to enhance their professional development while employed at Brockville General Hospital.
Any full-time or part-time employee is eligible for reimbursement up to a maximum of $500 per fiscal year (April 1st – March 31st) on a “first come – first served” basis until the funding has been totally utilized. Reimbursement through the Corporate Education Fund is for Tuition fees for
courses and registration fees workshops and seminars. Books, travel, membership, exams,
accommodation and meals are not covered by the Corporate Education Fund.
How it works…….
The employee must complete the Corporate Education funding application (available on the Organizational Development Intranet Site on Share Point) and submit it to their manager for approval. The employee is responsible for attaching appropriate documentation (receipt of payment,
confirmation of registration and attendance certificate which documents completion of your
course).
The manager is responsible for approving the application based on the applicant’s request, available education fund and skill requirement of the organization. The manager of the department
gives final approval of the appropriateness of the program for the employee and forwards the application form with their signature to Organization & Talent Development.
Organization & Talent Development will ensure that the application paperwork is complete and will
notify employees by letter of approval or denial through hospital email. The approved paperwork
will then be sent to finance for processing. Approved funds will be reimbursed through direct deposit. Please allow the finance department at least 4 weeks to process the reimbursement.
Learning from one another…….
Employees who attend conferences or seminars supported by BGH to further or enhance their
skills, may be asked to provide an in-service to other staff. This is a great opportunity to spread
the wealth of knowledge throughout the organization.
Jessica Gerritsen
Manager, Organization & Talent Development
Brockville General Hospital
613-345-5649 x 1104
gerje@bgh-on.ca
PAGE 9
GENERAL HAPPENINGS
IM/IT Moves In!
IM/IT is back together again! The team recently moved into their new digs on 2 South (almost
West) , including the expatriates that were temporarily housed at Front Avenue. The new Help Desk
and IT team offices are in #233. IM/IT Manager Rene Melchers is in #235. And the new training
room will be just west of those as Room #231, once the room has been set up. Some of our IT
Team are (clockwise from upper right) Rene Melchers, Bob Tierney, Sandra Graham and Mike
Shupe.
The new IT Department is located where the old ICU was. For some “before” pictures, see below.
GENERAL HAPPENINGS
PAGE 10
GENERAL HAPPENINGS
PAGE 11
Brockville General Volunteer Association News
The Volunteer Association has grown over the summer with the influx of
10 new university students. Welcome, Hilary Jonker, Alex Stewart, Karim Hafazalla, Victoria Everett, Shannon Shackles, Alison McLennan, Vanessa Solow, Ashlee Donaher, Steve Plotz, and
Casey McMahon. We hope you enjoy your volunteering with us! The Volunteer Association also
grew by eighteen additional volunteers and we welcome them: Michael Buker, Kyle Wright, Gerry
Curtis, Karen Lemieux, Cathy Lawson, Marian Armstrong, Hugh Hart, Fred McLaughlin, Brenda
Buchanan, Paula McLaughlin, Pauline Roberts, Garneita Sayeau, John Ballachey, Louise Findlay,
Norma Wilkes, Kathy Van Veldhuisen, Linda Gemmell, and Christine Senack. As we look at
areas where volunteers can offer their services to enhance the patient experience, we anticipate
exciting new positions developing.
The Volunteer Association would like to express its thanks for the support of staff in purchasing
berries at the front entrance of the hospital on Fridays. Our berry sales will help in our fundraising
efforts to purchase needed equipment for the hospital.
Congratulations to the following volunteers who received their 15 year service awards recently
from the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration: Shirley Drummond, Marion Nye, Anne Peace,
Shirley Benson and Anne Jago. We are blessed to have you offer your volunteer services to this
hospital.
The annual Garage Sale at GSS is scheduled for September 7th and we are looking for new or
gently used items for it. Please no clothing, bedding, pillows or stuffed toys. Please drop off your
items at the GSS.
We are excited to announce that our volunteers are now included with staff in the Member to
Member discount program from the Brockville and District Chamber of Commerce. Our volunteers now have access to a consortium of over 180 businesses who offer a variety of exclusive
discounts and benefits. You can learn more about the discounts by visiting the Chamber’s website; www.brockvillechamber.com To take part in these benefits you will need to obtain a small
round sticker which can be affixed to the back of your debit or credit card. Simply display the sticker to the merchant upon purchase to redeem your benefit or discount. Stickers are available from
the Volunteer Office at either the Charles Street or Garden Street sites.
Volunteer Kudos
Many thanks to volunteer extraordinaire Shireen Palamkote who has been training our new student volunteers in the Emergency Department. Shireen has gone above and beyond, is an exceptional trainer, and is a treasured volunteer!
Cheryl Marshall
Manager of Volunteer Services
GENERAL HAPPENINGS
PAGE 12
Local Donation Allows BGH Green Initiative
to Cover the Bottom Line
The newest green initiative at Brockville General Hospital (BGH) covers the bottom line
thanks to a local small business called Bums Away.
“Bums Away is an online cloth diaper store based in Brockville,” explains owner Kristie
McComb. “When the BGH staff first approached me about this idea, I thought it was a great thing for
our community.”
The bottom line at the MacLean Maternal Child Unit in BGH is the use of disposable diapers.
Staff felt some green thinking was needed.
“According to recent statistics,” explains Unit Director Jennifer Torode, “one baby can generate up to two tonnes of landfill in disposable diapers by the age of two. In Canada, over 4 million
tonnes of disposable diapers become landfill every day. That’s a lot of landfill. At BGH, we’re conscious of cost and also of environmental impact. We felt we had to try something to lessen our environmental footprint while encouraging others to do the same.”
Maternal Child Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) Stacey Feig became lead on the project to
get the unit moving in the green direction on diaper use. She contacted McComb’s husband, one of
the ER physicians at BGH, about McComb’s business. McComb, in turn, delivered 40 form-fitting
reusable cloth diapers donated by her supplier Bummies© in Montreal. The cloth diapers—made
specifically for BGH—are well-tailored, light weight, and just as easy to use as a disposable.
“Now at the unit, most new families start with five disposable diapers,” says Torode. “Once
these are used up (usually on Day 2 of their stay), they can either use their own supply or use our
cloth diapers until they are discharged. We hope it will encourage families to see how easy cloth diaper use can be and think twice before using disposable diapers. Disposable diapers also come with
significant cost so maybe the new families will consider switching to cloth when at home.”
Eco-conscious families can also opt to use the cloth diapers throughout their stay instead of
disposables. “This generous donation has allowed us to start this green initiative,” Torode continues. “We hope it will be beneficial for the community.”
(l – r) Bums Away owner Kristie McComb, BGH RPN Stacey Feig, and MacLean Unit Director Jennifer Torode
GENERAL HAPPENINGS
PAGE 13
Royal Visit to BGH
In honour of the recent birth of His Highness Prince George of Cambridge, George’s grandmother
Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II paid a call to the office of BGH President & CEO Tony
Weeks. Due to its being a surprise visit, there was no red carpet handy, but tea and royal conversation did take place.
Enjoying the visit with Her Majesty is (l—r) Lee Ann Grattan, EA to the Chief of Staff; BGH President
& CEO Tony Weeks; and Heather Quesnelle, VP Clinical Services and Chief Nursing Executive.
(For those of you who do not recognize her, “Queen Elizabeth” is actually Lea Hamblett, retired longtime staff and former EA to the Chief Financial Officer. Good sport, Lea!)
PAGE 14
GENERAL HAPPENINGS
Education Opportunities
Ice Cream and Lemonade – a great way to beat the heat!
On Friday July 19, 2013 Patients and Family members joined Volunteers and Staff for an ice-cream social on 5th floor, Garden Street. Patients and their
loved ones were treated to ice-cream, fresh strawberries and lemonade.
Those who were unable to attend the get-together
were offered treats in their room. The treat cart was
also brought downstairs to 2nd floor and shared with
the patients there.
Palliative Care Volunteers Sheila Corrigan and
Shirley Ellis with the treat cart …
Lemonade Anyone?
GENERAL HAPPENINGS
PAGE 15
New Employees
Hendricks, Suzanne
Casual
RN
1 North
July 8, 2013
Nadler, Wayne
Full Time
Psychologist Mental Health
August 12, 2013
Clarke, Deborah
Casual
RN
GSS
July 8, 2013
Andress, Dana
Temp. P.T.
RN
Surgical Services
July 22, 2013
Quesnelle, Maurice
Casual
PSP
GSS
July 19, 2013
WELCOME!
Staff Discounts
Did you know that BGH is a member of the Brockville and District Chamber of Commerce? Why is
this important to you? As an employee, volunteer, or physician of BGH, you can access the Chamber’s ‘M2’ program which is a consortium of over 180 businesses who offer a variety of exclusive
discounts and benefits to employees of Chamber member businesses. These benefits and discounts include products and services such as: Allstate Insurance (10% off), Boston Pizza (15% off),
Severson Cleaners (10% off), Brockville Country Club (10% off), Grand & Toy (45% off), etc.
You can learn more about the participating businesses and the discounts they offer by visiting the
Chamber’s website: www.brockvillechamber.com
To take advantage of these benefits and discounts, you need to obtain a small (1/2”) round sticker
which can easily be affixed to the back of a debit or credit card. Simply display the sticker to the
merchant upon purchase to redeem your benefit or discount. Stickers are available in the Finance
office (GSS) or by calling Eleanor in the HR office at extension 1118.
GENERAL HAPPENINGS
Change in Venue for Key Presentation
PAGE 16