Roundup
An update for staff, physicians and volunteers
Congratulations To …
Susan Berry, RN, and Greater Niagara General Site’s Palliative Care Program Co-ordinator, who is this year’s recipient of a prestigious United Way community award. Susan was given the Envoy Dalton Memorial Award for community service by the United Way of Niagara Falls and Greater Fort Erie President Larry Oates at its June Annual General Meeting. This award is given to outstanding individuals who make a difference in their community. Susan’s work over 13 years with the Palliative Care program formally ended on June 26 with her retirement. Congratulations Sue!
Three cheers for Nathan Chown, Dietitian at Greater Niagara General Site as well as the Stroke Prevention Clinic, for his third place win in the June 21 50-kilometre Lake-to-Lake Mountain Bike Race. Nathan rode a “beefed up road bike” rather than a traditional mountain bike to make his impressive finish.
News Briefs
New CT for Welland
A brand new CT unit is coming to Welland Site this summer and as with all patient care, timing is everything. The old Toshiba CT was removed July 10, and a mobile CT unit in a portable trailer was up and running by the ambulance entrance. The mobile CT will operate until late August, when a stateof- the-art Siemens 128-slice CT will be in operation.
Tim Hortons reno at Greater Niagara General
The corridor from the ER to the main entrance will be closed until August 10 due to ongoing renovations for the new Tim Hortons outlet in the former Switchboard and Business Office area at Greater Niagara General Site.
Staff and visitors are asked to use the Laboratory corridor to access other areas of the building.
Aramark’s temporary coffee kiosk will operate throughout the construction period.
Urgent Care Centre opens in Port Colborne
It was pretty much business as usual July 6 when the ER at Port Colborne Site converted to a 24/7 Urgent Care Centre (UCC). The UCC provides care to people of all ages with minor illnesses and injuries that are not lifethreatening.
Call 911 for medical emergencies, including chest pain, shortness of breath, broken bones, stroke symptoms (sudden headache, weakness, blurred vision, trouble speaking, dizziness), major injuries, mental health crises, or severe abdominal pain.
Roundup
Upcoming Events
Kidney Foundation Golf Tourney – July 22
Take part in the Kidney Foundation Ladies Golf Tournament on Wed., July 22, at Twenty Valley Golf and Country Club, Vineland. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. Fees – single $150, foursome $550. Register online at www.kidney.on.ca, call 905-934-4083 or contact Lindsay Burnham at lskidney@cogeco.net.
Pink Ladies Classic Golf Tourney – Aug. 5
Register for the 11th annual Greater Niagara General Hospital Auxiliary’s Pink Ladies Golf Tournament on Wed., Aug. 5, at Rolling Meadows Golf & Country Club, Niagara Falls. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. Fee – $120 per golfer. Get a hole in one to win a new Ford Focus. Go to Auxiliary Gift Shop or call Bea Lindsay 905-374-1205.
Smooth Jazz Concert – Aug. 16
Wave 94.7FM presents the 4th Annual Canadian Smooth Jazz Concert Series in the Vineyard Courtyard of Chateau des Charmes Winery, NOTL. On Sun., Aug. 16, North of Soul is featured with lunch by Chef Erik Peacock of Wellington Court. Tickets are $80 per person, lunch is served at 12:30 p.m. Proceeds to the new Digital Mammography Unit at St. Catharines General Site. Get your tickets online at www.scghfoundation.com or by calling 905-323-FUND(3863) or ext. 43863.
Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours – Aug. 19 and 22
Staff are invited to come out with Good Time Events (organizers Aaron Farbychuk and Gary Gevaert) for an evening (6 p.m. Wed., Aug. 19) or afternoon (11:45 a.m. Sat., Aug. 22) run on the Niagara River. Tickets are just $45 per person. For details and online registration instructions, go to source•net and click on Upcoming Events at the bottom of the homepage or go to Register by Aug. 14.
Surgical Services Golf Tourney – Sept. 9
Greater Niagara General Site Surgical Services 9th Annual Golf Tournament is slated for Wed., Sept. 9, at Beechwood Golf & Country Club, Niagara Falls. Registration at Noon. Fee $100 per golfer by Aug. 7. Get a hole in one and win $10,000! Call Lil or Sue at 905-378-4647 ext. 53355.
There are a number of It’s Our Time summertime fundraising events across Niagara. Go to itsourtimecampaign.ca/upcoming_events.html
What is Patient Safety?
In today’s high-tech hospital world, we sometimes lose track of the fundamental elements of healthcare. Let’s get back to the roots – define what Patient Safety means, outline the roles and responsibilities, and point out how everyone contributes to patient safety!
In a nutshell, Patient Safety is a domain that underscores the importance of reporting, analysis and prevention of medical error. The central concept of Patient Safety is that ‘bad systems and not bad people lead to most errors’ and is a growing branch of healthcare knowledge and strategies.
Safety is Everyone’s Role
Patients, healthcare providers, governments and others need to work together to build and advance a safer healthcare system. As patients, you should know your Patient Bill of Rights and Responsibilities. These are posted on walls within all NHS sites or access them online http://www.niagarahealth.on.ca and click on Sites and Services. We invite patients and their families as partners to monitor our compliance with patient safety practices. For example, speak up and ask your nurse if she’s washed her hands before providing care to you. Or, let one of us know if you don’t have your patient ID band on.
Front-line staff and healthcare professionals are encouraged to continue to be vigilant and aware of patient safety issues and report incidents and near misses (good catches). Be prepared by assuming that errors can and will occur, and mentally practice to rehearse complex procedures. Stop, think and identify those circumstances most likely to breed error.
Managers and leaders are advised to put patient safety as the first item on the monthly meeting agenda. This acts as a ‘Safety Pit Stop’ where everyone pauses to discuss any patient safety issues or learnings. Managers should continue to be alert and vigilant regarding patient safety issues in your department and persistently encourage discussions, reward and support those involved in safety projects.
The NHS is serious about the safety of our patients’ care. We are working closely with the Canadian Patient Safety Institute and Safer Healthcare Now initiative to ensure that we are up-to-date.
Please consult with your NHS healthcare team with any questions or concerns regarding Patient Safety.
A fond farewell to staff with Base Hospital program
June 30 marked the end of an era as the Base Hospital Program, stationed at Greater Niagara General Site for 22 years, merged with Cambridge and Hamilton offices and reopened as one main office on July 2. The new Base Hospital Program is called the Hamilton Health Sciences Centre for Paramedic Education and Research and is located in Stoney Creek. This is part of a Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care initiative in which Base Hospital Paramedic Programs throughout the province are being amalgamated into regional programs.
“The Niagara program began at Greater Niagara General Site in 1987 and through strong partnerships accomplished much in the area of pre-hospital care,” says Pat Morka, Health Program Director, Emergency Program.
Many new skills were added, improving care available to Niagara citizens. Along the way, the Base Hospital program was involved in a number of pre-hospital research initiatives resulting in two publications in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine. In addition, staff helped to establish a joint training program between Niagara College and the Niagara Health System to train primary care paramedics to the advanced care paramedic level.
More recently, Base Hospital staff actively worked to address the pre-hospital treatment of myocardial infarction. All paramedics are trained in 12 Lead ECG interpretation. Protocols are in place to expedite the transfer of patients to a cardiac catheterization lab in Hamilton when appropriate. Work will continue in these areas in partnership with Niagara Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Niagara Health under the direction of the new Base Hospital program.
With the closing of the Greater Niagara General Site office, Niagara Base Hospital employees are thankful to staff and physicians at the Niagara Health System and to Niagara EMS for their ongoing support of the program over the past 22 years.
“We will sincerely miss the dedication, commitment and expertise of the staff and their close association with the Niagara Health System,” Pat says. “They really care about their programs, the community, their roles and particularly, each other.”
“They were able to provide us with considerable resources and we’re looking forward to having a similar partnership with the new base hospital structure in Hamilton. We’re fortunate in Niagara that Dr. Doug Munkley is going to continue to be one of the physicians on call for instant paramedic support.” Best of luck to the Base Hospital staff during these changing times. “I thank Lorie Luinstra-Tooey for her staff leadership and Dr. Munkley for his physician leadership,” says Pat. “They both went above and beyond to make their programs a great success.”
Raising the Canadian flag in St. Catharines
It was a solemn yet uplifting occasion at St. Catharines General Site recently as staff, Auxiliary members and Royal Canadian Legion members gathered out front to have a flag-raising ceremony for the very first time. Thanks to a gift from the St. Catharines General Hospital Auxiliary, the site was able to install a flagpole, which will be transferred to the new healthcare complex in a few years. Legion members raised the flag to honour those who have fought for Canada and continue to serve our country.
In the photo, Maintenance Technician Ed Wawszkiewiz helps attach the flag with Royal Canadian Legion member Keith Campbell and an unidentified legion member in the back. Ed, a former soldier, was instrumental in coordinating the installation of the flagpole. Members of the Auxiliary raised the flag during the ceremony.
