A publication for the staff of Horizon Health Network
The People Behind Physician Recruitment Adapting to virtual world offers new opportunities Page 5
Integrated Mobile Crisis Unit
Awards and Recognition at Horizon
First-in-Horizon program making a difference in SJ Page 10
So many reasons to say congrats! Starting on Page 12
Issue No. 24, Vol. 5 November 2020
A publication for the staff of Horizon Health Network
We Care: Grade 12 student creates care packages for Upper River Valley cancer patients Page 5
Organ donation lung retrieval first of its kind in New Brunswick Page 8 Community outreach in Minto — COVID-style Page 15
5 6 7 Contents
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Keeping her community safe, one mask at a time
Congratulations to the 2020 Quality Quest Award recipients!
We Care: Grade 12 student creates care packages for URV cancer patients
Meet Horizon’s Physician Recruitment Advisors
What do you know about nurse practitioners?
Organ donation lung retrieval first of its kind in New Brunswick
First-inHorizon program making a difference in Saint John St. Joseph’s Hospital Auxiliary recognized
Remembering our babies gone too soon
Social Shout-Out Horizon’s mandatory cybersecurity training is here SOCIAL SHOUT- OUT 16
We’re here to help.
Carla Caissie
Rebecca Agnew
Dan Allan Central Scheduling Saint John Area
Julia Brooks Volunteer Services Saint John Area
Health Services Saint John Area
Moncton Area
Sherry Leech
Isabelle Logan Financial Services Saint John Area
Stephanie Goguen Women and Children’s
Jackie Gordon
Sherry LeBlanc
David Cormier
Jennifer Hawkins Financial Services Saint John Area
Liane Jordan Security and Safety Services Saint John Area
Dustin Clark Community Health Fredericton Area
We’re here to help 19
Anne Losier 13 Moncton Area Health Services Lynn O’Neill Miramichi Area
Ron McGrath Central Scheduling Saint John Area 14 Kelly McNiven Central Scheduling Saint John Area Aidan Proulx Moncton Area Learning Services Darin Quinn Fredericton Area
Community outreach in Minto—COVID style Honouring our Veterans 15
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Saint John Area Health Services
Health Program Saint John Area
Health Services Moncton Area
Fredericton Area
Upper River Valley Area
Susan Neal
Tammy Morehouse
Lynn Meahan-Carson
Lisa McAllister
Hilary McDonough Smith Community Health Moncton Area
Janis Mallet
Saint John Area Health Services
Moncton Area Health Services
Saint John Area
Moncton Area
Saint John Area
Charo Poirier Moncton Area Emergency Program
Stefan Poziomka Saint John Area Technology Planning
Karen Palmer Saint John Area Accounts Payable
GinaBeth Roberts
Lee Vickers
Nathan Wickett Fredericton Area Family Medicine
Miramichi Area
Moncton Area
2020 Patient Safety Hero Award recipients 2020 Awards of Distinction in Nursing
Celebrating the inaugural class of Leading One Horizon
Technology enables safe connections and healthier lives
Friends Foundation announces new President & CEO
On our cover: Laura dropped off 50 care packages for oncology patients at Horizon’s Upper River Valley Hospital onWednesday, Nov. 18. The donations were packaged in bags that were able to be sanitized by Horizon staff, as part of our COVID-19 precautions. Back row, from left: Erica Hull, social worker; JoanneWarren, RN; Laura Nancekievill, Grade 12 student at Hartland Community School and the creator of theWe Care Campaign; Angela Flanders, RN; Laura’s mom, Christa Nancekievill, RN. Front row, from left: Dr. Amber Swan, General Practitioner in Oncology (GPO), Denise Gray, nurse manager and Laura-Lee Cogswell, administrative support.
In Every Issue Message from CEO Editor’s Note Colleagues’ Corner Look Who’s Shining
This magazine is published by Horizon Health Network’s Communications Department, and is distributed free of charge to Horizon staff, physicians and volunteers. A French version can be found online at fr.horizonnb.ca. Editor: GinaBeth Roberts Design and layout: Hudson Creative Agency Printed by: Advocate Printing Please send comments and/or story ideas to HorizonStar@HorizonNB.ca .
We Care :
A welcome note from the editor
Grade 12 student creates care packages for Upper River Valley cancer patients Laura Nancekievill has heard about the
Dear Staff, Physicians and Volunteers, As we near the end of 2020 I have to start by looking back on the year and saying: Wow, so much fabulous work has been done this year at Horizon. You have gone above and beyond in our response to COVID-19, adapting to new and extra pressures, including dealing with the many unknowns and constant new information associated with this virus. As an organization, despite having to scale back our services during the early
on the front of the bag that said: “Thinking of You.” From Hartland Community School Students Grade 5-12. “I’m hoping this small gesture will brighten an oncology patient’s day just a little bit and let them know that ‘we care’ about them,” said Laura. “I’m extremely proud of Laura,” said her mom, Christa. “As a parent you try and raise your children to be kind and caring and to serve others. It is so nice to see her manifesting these important qualities as she grows into a young woman.” Denise Gray, URVH’s Oncology nurse manager was extremely touched by this generosity and thoughtfulness. “A cancer diagnosis is very overwhelming, but Laura’s idea will provide comfort and support to our oncology patients,” she said. “A sincere thanks to the Hartland Community School Students of grade 5-12 for participating in this amazing campaign! You are making a difference in our community and it is greatly appreciated!”
She brainstormed with her mom and her mom’s colleagues and they came up with a list of products that would benefit a person going through chemotherapy. Together, they made a list of items such as hand cream, mild soaps, soft toothbrushes, lip balm, and hard sour candy. Laura then thought of a plan to leverage donations through her school community, and took that plan to her teachers and principal. She quickly garnered their support to run a campaign at school to help collect these items. Each classroom from grades 5 through 12 was responsible for bringing in three different types of products. Each classroom was challenged to bring in at least 30 items. From October 19 to 30, Laura collected donations, and after two weeks, her schoolmates had brought in over 400 items, enough to make 50 care packages. After the campaign ended, she brought the items home, sorted them and bagged them into individual care packages with a sticker
challenges facing cancer patients. Her mom, Christa, is an Oncology Nurse at Horizon’s Upper River Valley Hospital in Waterville. She also knows how much even a small pick- me-up can help soothe and bring strength during these challenging times. While driving to a soccer game one September evening the idea for what became known as the We Care Campaign started percolating. “We were talking about her job as an oncology nurse and how difficult it can be on a person newly diagnosed with cancer,” said Laura. “It can be such an overwhelming time for them when they go to the Oncology Department … My mom said she wished there was a way to make that day a little easier on them.” This got Laura, a Grade 12 student at Hartland Community School, thinking — thinking about the ways she could help make that day a little easier for patients that could also combat some of the side effects of chemotherapy.
Welcome to the 24th edition of the Horizon Star! With just over a month to go in 2020, I’m not the first – and certainly not the last – to say it’s been quite the year. Over the last nine months we’ve adjusted – and re-adjusted – to get to where and what we now consider our “normal” daily lives. Kids are back in school, learning and socializing with added protections, our communities are vibrant, refreshing annual events, like Halloween, Remembrance Day ceremonies and fundraisers, to be COVID-19 safe, and our facilities are operating as safely as possible, swiftly adapting to outbreaks and new information. Even though we have no crystal ball to predict what’s to come in 2021 (we do have amazing teams working on modelling, based on epidemiology, and other public health directives), we can still reflect on what we’ve done to make this happen and what we can continue to do to keep this new normal. This was not – and will not be – an easy feat and not something all regions of our country and world are experiencing. Along with this reflection, I think it’s very important we all take some time to think about our achievements over the past year, despite living and working through a pandemic. I also hope you can take some time to enjoy hobbies and self- care routines, especially over the holidays. I hope you find enjoyment, and even relaxation, in a publication like this. The last few issues have seen some of our highest readership ever, which tells me you do. In this issue, you’ll read many stories of first within Horizon — the first Integrated Mobile Crisis Unit, through which mental health nurses and police officers are making a difference in Saint John area, and the first lung retrieval and organ donation after cardio-circulatory death (DCD) of its kind in New Brunswick. You’ll also hear from our physician recruiters and the challenges and success in recruiting physicians to Horizon. In January 2021, we’ll celebrate 25 issues of the Horizon Star! I hope you will mark this milestone with me by sharing your stories. Reach me at HorizonStar@HorizonNB.ca with your ideas. Happy reading,
phases of our response to keep everyone safe, we were still successful in providing access to safe and quality care as timely as we could. You’ve had to work through other ongoing challenges, too, including staffing shortages. We will continue to work through these issues, such as physician shortages for the Emergency Department in Sackville and the nursing shortages in Perth. These staffing challenges aren’t specific to Horizon; locally, nationally and internationally, recruitment has been difficult. Fewer flights in and out of the region and finding potential recruits in the online world makes this process a bit more challenging. However, I can assure you we certainly have the right people helping on the recruitment side of the house. As you know, and hear time and time again, the virus is still all around us. We must continue
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Karen McGrath President and CEO
to be vigilant in our fight against COVID-19. As I’ve said before, one of the best ways we can do this is by following simple, but effective, public health measures: • Before you enter your facility and when you exit for the day, put on your mask (in this situation, a non-surgical mask works just fine). • As soon as you enter your facility, clean your hands. • While you’re in your facility, continue to wear a surgical (level 3 grade) mask at all times, and remember to keep your distance, staying six feet from one another – unless you’re providing clinical care, eating, or working alone in your office. Another way to help us help people be healthy and manage our hospital capacity is to get your flu shot, conveniently provided by Employee Health and Wellness where you work. Encourage others in your bubble to do the same, as all New Brunswickers can get the flu shot at no cost this year. Building these new public health habits may mean moving away from our normal routines. This can be uncomfortable at times, but it’s truly the easiest way to protect ourselves and one another from this virus. Normally at this time of year, we are looking forward to a restful and joyful holiday season, filled with cheer, parties and lots of hugs. There’s no doubt Christmas holidays will be different this year: you may not be able to see family from outside the Atlantic Bubble and social gatherings with friends will be limited. Because of this — and after dealing with quarantines and other stresses over the past 10 months — I want you to make sure you pay extra attention to your mental health and reach out for support when you need it. I wish you a lovely holiday season, and look forward to what is to come in the new year.
GinaBeth Roberts Editor, Horizon Star
Karen McGrath President and CEO Horizon Health Network
Laura dropped off 50 care packages for oncology patients at Horizon’s Upper River Valley Hospital onWednesday, November 18. The donations were packaged in bags that were able to be sanitized by Horizon staff, as part of our COVID-19 precautions. Back row, from left: Erica Hull, social worker; JoanneWarren, RN; Laura Nancekievill, Grade 12 student at Hartland Community School and the creator of theWe Care Campaign; Angela Flanders, RN; Laura’s mom, Christa Nancekievill, RN. Front row, from left: Dr. Amber Swan, General Practitioner in Oncology (GPO), Denise Gray, nurse manager and Laura-Lee Cogswell, administrative support.
Colleagues Corner
Colleagues Corner
Meet Horizon’s Physician Recruitment Advisors
What do you know about nurse practitioners? As the largest health care authority in New Brunswick, Horizon is proudly comprised of health care and allied health care professionals from many disciplines. Our patients benefit because we have expertise in every area of health care – from those on the frontline to those behind-the-scenes. WHEN ASKED WHAT THEY LOVE ABOUT THEIR CAREER, HERE’S WHAT A FEW HORIZON NPS HAD TO SAY:
Don’t assume by their brilliant smiles that the task of recruiting physicians is easy; their work is extremely complex and invaluable to the success of our organization. Horizon’s Physician Recruitment Advisors report to the Medical Directors in each region. They are not only responsible for identifying and screening candidates, but are also involved in succession planning, retention and every aspect of our physicians’ lives at Horizon – from immigration, to licensure, to privileges, connecting with key stakeholders, to housing, and transportation. Meet Horizon’s Physician Recruitment Advisors – Debbie Donovan, Darlene Doiron, Denise Coulombe and Hope Kelly.
“Recruitment of physicians is not an easy task,” explainedDr. Édouard Hendriks, Horizon’s Vice President Medical, Academic and Research Affairs. “One needs to be close to communities to understand their needs, to have constant communication with Heads of Clinical Departments to understand their expectations, to be involved in a multitude of ways to connect with potential candidates, to ensure that candidates are aware of our expectations and we of theirs. It demands time and effort.” “Themost difficult part of this job is the negativemedia coverage and social media about the lack of physician recruitment in NewBrunswick,” said Hope. However, anyone who works closely with this group knows that the level of effort, commitment and success that the recruiters have in attracting physicians is extremely high. “Wework collaboratively to ensure a standard of practice throughout Horizon and to foster good communication and collegiality,” said Darlene. It’s also crucial they work as a teambecause many other recruiters and facilities are seeking physicians from the same pool of candidates. “The competition is fierce,” explainedDenise. “We compete with bigger communities, cities, provinces and other facilities from across Canada and the United States.” Despite the difficulties, they are consistently hiring physicians and filling vacancies, year- over-year. And 2020, in particular, has been very successful – even with the global pandemic and all recruitment activities being virtual. In fact, in August 2020, whenmedia highlighted concerns with physician vacancies inNewBrunswick, Horizon’s vacancy rate was only at approximately 4 per cent. “At the end of the day, our goal is a smooth transition for new doctors and their families,” saidDebbie, “and when a doctor opens his door for business – that’s a successful day at the office!” THE CHALLENGES AND SUCCESSES OF RECRUITING PHYSICIANS
In honour of National Nurse Practitioner Week, celebrated each year in November, we’re helping you get to know the nurse practitioner (NP) role.
“The best part of this career is being able to make
Here are 10 things you should know about Horizon NPs:
a positive impact on a patient’s life and health. My patients know that they can come to me with their questions and concerns and I can offer preventative care and help them have healthier lives.”
1. Horizon NPs work in a variety of settings including community health centres, addictions and mental health services, nursing homes, schools and Emergency Departments. 2. They work both in urban and rural settings, from the province’s busiest Emergency Departments to small island communities like Deer Island and Campobello Island. 3. NPs can order, perform, and interpret
- Sara, NP at Horizon’s Chatham Health Centre and Sexual Health Clinic in Miramichi
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diagnostic tests and provide primary health care for patients, including prescriptions and specialist referrals.
“My patients! Feeling as though you’ve made a difference in someone’s life is
4. NPs provide primary health care services to patients and clients of all ages and all walks of life. This includes working with students, seniors, First Nations communities, the homeless and newcomers to Canada. 5. NPs work in collaboration with physicians and other members of the health care team. They help improve access to primary care – helping decrease wait lists and alleviating stress on the health care system. 6. NPs have advanced education and training. They are registered nurses who complete a nurse practitioner program, many of whom obtain a Master’s level university degree. 7. NPs, like all nurses, must complete annual licensing requirements set out by the Nurses Association of New Brunswick. 8. Across Horizon, NPs provide sexual health services to their patients – from pap tests to sexual health services and education to students. 9. NPs take a leadership role in health promotion and illness prevention, providing patients with a complete and effective care plan. 10. It’s been almost 20 years (July 2002) since the Nurses Act was amended in New Brunswick to enable NPs to practice in New Brunswick.
Denise Coulombe began her career with Horizon 17 years ago as the Official Languages Coordinator in the Fredericton area. In this role, she assisted with some translation and communications with many of the French-speaking physicians, so the move to Physician Recruitment Advisor was a perfect fit.
Debbie Donovan, in Miramichi, has been involved with recruiting physicians since she started in 2007, when she worked in an administrative role. When the regional health authorities amalgamated to become Horizon, the need for dedicated resources to physician recruitment increased, and she stepped into Physician Recruitment Advisor shoes.
what it’s all about. I enjoy being a part of a primary health care model where I can meet the patient where they are, in that moment, and help ensure they receive the resources required.” - Keltie, NP at Horizon’s Gibson Health Centre
“The thing I love most about my job is simply having the
ability to help others. I find satisfaction in using the strong communicative skills and practical knowledge RNs acquire at the bedside to inform and guide my practice as a primary care provider. NPs maximize their communicative skillset allowing them to efficiently navigate patient care, build stronger relationships and attain invaluable patient insight.” - Todd, NP at Horizon’s Saint John Sexual Health Centre
Darlene Doiron is in Moncton. In 2008, she started in the Medical Staff Office as the Salaried Physician Coordinator. In 2010, Acting Physician Recruitment Advisor responsibilities were added to her position, and in 2015 she became a Physician Recruitment Advisor.
Hope Kelly has been in her role in Saint John for almost four years. She joined Horizon 14 years ago and soon after became the Privileging Advisor in the local Chief of Staff’s Office, which turned out to be perfect training ground for her current role as Physician Recruitment Advisor.
Want to tell your colleagues about the services you provide for patients and staff throughout Horizon? Email HorizonStar@HorizonNB.ca .
Want to tell your colleagues about the services you provide for patients and staff throughout Horizon? Email HorizonStar@HorizonNB.ca .
Organ donation lung retrieval first of its kind in New Brunswick Editor’s Note: To protect patient privacy, specific information about this donation has not been included.
Keeping her community safe, one mask at a time Marie Crouse of Wakefield, New Brunswick knew early in the pandemic community face masks were not a passing phase. A life-long seamstress, she quickly put her skills to use and started sewing up a storm. proudly. “I’m working towards 2,000. I started out working towards 1,000 and then I thought, well, I got to 1,000, so why not make more.”
considered after all life-saving methods to save a patient’s life have been exhausted and is provided as part of quality end-of-life care. After a period of reduction in the number of donations at the start of the pandemic, the NB Organ and Tissue Program is now seeing an increase in the number of organ and tissue recoveries compared to last year. In fact, deceased donation is on the rise in New Brunswick, increasing from 11 organ donors in 2018 to 13 donors in 2019 and 17 donors so far in 2020 reaching a donation per
Horizon’s New Brunswick Organ and Tissue Program coordinated the province’s first donation after cardio-circulatory death (DCD) lung retrieval earlier this year. DCD, or donation after circulatory death, was introduced in New Brunswick in 2019 as a pilot project at the Dr. Georges-L. Dumont University Hospital Centre (Dr. Georges-L. Dumont UHC). It provides families the option of organ donation for patients with severe brain injuries who do not meet the strict criteria for brain death once a decision has been made to remove all life-sustaining treatments. “DCD was introduced progressively, with only kidneys and livers being retrieved initially from DCD donors,” said Nadya Savoie, Administrative Director, NB Organ and Tissue Program. “To date there has been a total of seven deceased DCD donors in New Brunswick, accounting for 25 per cent of organ donors since it was first introduced to NB.” Prior to 2019, deceased organ donation in New Brunswick was only possible after brain death, which occurs when the brain has permanently lost all function and a diagnosis of death using neurologic criteria has been determined. “I believe that with DCD increasing the number of organ donations, it will also provide more families who choose organ donation for their loved ones with a sense of closure and a slight positive light in the sadness in losing a loved one,” said neurosurgeon Dr. Robert Adams, Head of the Department of Neurological Sciences, Chief of the Division of Neurosurgery and Medical Director for the NB Organ and Tissue Program’s Organ Division. “They’ll hopefully find comfort that their loved one has provided several others with the gift of life.” Given that the percentage of lung retrieval rate is lower compared to other solid organs such as kidneys or the liver, DCD increases the number of donor lungs available for transplantation. “DCD organ donation has widely increased donor potential and will increase the availability of organs for our patients on the transplant list,” said Dr Rémi LeBlanc, Intensivist, Service Chief for Intensive Care at Dr. Georges-L. Dumont UHC and Donation Physician champion for the NB Organ and Tissue Program’s Organ Division. “This is great news for New Brunswick patients who are on the transplant waiting list and for their families.” To become an organ donor, a person must be on life support, i.e. a ventilator or breathing machine in an intensive care unit (ICU), with no hope of recovery (only 1 to 2 per cent of hospital deaths in Canada). Donation is only
million population (dpmp) rate of 21.7, which is comparable to the 2019 Canadian rate of 21.9. New Brunswick’s cornea donation for transplantation dpmp rate was the highest in Canada in 2018 and continues to rise. The NB Organ and Tissue Program is a provincial program administered by Horizon Health Network and provides organ, cornea, and tissue (e.g. bones and tendons) donation services to all New Brunswickers. Visit HorizonNB.ca/Organ-Tissue for more information about the program.
After an ankle injury forced her to take some time off work in April, Marie decided to keep herself busy by sewing masks. “I am not a person to sit around and do nothing, so when this whole thing first started, I knew I had a humungous amount of fabric, so I decided to start making masks,” said Marie, who learned to sew from her grandmother when she was only 12 years old. “I started by just making a few masks and distributing them to essential workers by putting them (a message) out on Facebook and it just snowballed from there. For a while, no one was making them. I think I had the foresight to know COVID-19 wasn’t going away.” Marie began by donating 100 masks to Horizon’s Upper River Valley Hospital (URVH) and quickly set to work making more. Each mask takes her around 10 minutes to complete, including cutting and sewing. Donated community masks are provided to patients or visitors entering a Horizon facility who do not have their own mask; any mask donated to a specific facility remains in that community. Prior to distribution, Horizon’s Volunteer Resources team ensure all masks are laundered and individually placed in a sealed bag with instructions for use and care. “I’m up to 1,725 donated masks now and I have another 100 ready to deliver,” said Marie
Sewing and donating 2,000 masks is no small feat. But for Marie, she says she’s just doing her part to keep everyone safe. And she’s had some help from the community, too: a huge amount of the fabric she uses has been donated to her by local residents. Not only are donated masks keeping people safe, they are helping spread a bit of much needed joy. In late October, volunteers at the URVH handed out Halloween-themed masks to children. At times, Marie has all three of her sewing machines going and even brought one of her trusty machines to her camper in the summer, so she didn’t lose any precious sewing time. “The response has been
DONATION — WHY it matters
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• There are approximately 4,400 Canadians waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant • On average 250 Canadians die each year waiting for a transplant • You, a family member or a friend is far more likely to need an organ or cornea or tissue transplant than to become a donor yourself If you needed an organ or cornea or tissue transplant would you have one? If so, please help others. Donation saves lives, improves quality of life, and provides hope for the future. It only takes two simple steps to become a donor: 1. Youmust indicate your intent to donate on your Provincial Medicare Card. You can do this by calling Service NewBrunswick at 1-888-762-8600 and select “2” to request yourMedicare Card be updated. Your newMedicare card will clearly display a “D” to indicate you are a donor. Youmay change or withdraw your intent to donate at any time. 2. Discuss your decision with your family or loved ones. It is important that those closest to you know your wishes. This could help them if they are faced with the decision to donate.
excellent,” said Marie. “I’ve had people request masks who have been given one at the hospital. After getting their mask they went to the front desk to find out who made them, so they could find a way to get more!” Marie isn’t the only person who’s sewing machine is working overtime these days. Horizon is fortunate to have received
Gloria Bellamy, volunteer at Horizon’s Upper River Valley Hospital, shows off some of the donated community face masks ready to be distributed to patients and visitors.
community mask donations from several other individuals around the province, as well as various businesses and quilting groups and Horizon employees. As of October 1, 2020, over 7,500 masks have been donated.
An assortment of holiday masks sewn by Marie Crouse, ready to be donated to Horizon.
Disclaimer: Horizon no longer accepts donations of community cloth facemasks. This decision is based on the organization’s ability to assess and meet new Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) guidelines regarding community cloth facemasks (non-medical masks and face coverings). Horizon is grateful to members of the community like Marie for their generosity in donating more than 7,500 community cloth facemasks over the last several months. These facemasks were distributed to visitors and outpatients.
Remembering Our Babies Gone Too Soon Dr. Amanda Worden-Rogers, Family Physician, Fredericton October was Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. We all know someone or heard of someone who experienced such heartbreak and it is unfathomable to most people. Social media often just lets us see the “happy” times – but that isn’t real and that isn’t helpful if there is someone out there who needs to know they aren’t the only one struggling. So, I’m sharing my story.
Horizon’s first Integrated Mobile Crisis Unit making a difference in Saint John area
After years of careful planning and collaboration with stakeholders, a first-of-its- kind approach to mobile crisis response in New Brunswick is now actively serving clients in the Saint John area. Horizon’s Integrated Mobile Crisis Response Unit formally launched earlier this fall – an expanded version of the Mobile Crisis Response Unit operated by Horizon’s Addiction and Mental Health Services in the Saint John area for the last 20 years. The most noticeable difference between then and now is the addition of two Saint John Police Force constables to the Horizon team, a first for the province. These two officers – Const. Mary Gellatly and Const. Emily Hobbs – have been seconded to Horizon for a three-year period where they will undergo specialized mental health training and Horizon orientation while serving as active members of the unit, which also includes a trio of mental health nurses. An officer will be paired with a nurse on each shift to help respond to high-risk mental health crisis calls, providing critical, timely mental health intervention and outreach services to vulnerable clients where and when they need them. Just a few weeks into the pilot project, Sarah Brannon, Project Lead with Horizon’s Addiction
and Mental Health Services in Saint John, said the early results have been encouraging. “They have already been diverting a number of cases away from the hospital, which is really great to see so early into this,” she said. “And with the (additional) outreach they’re doing in the community; the team is out over the course of the 12-hour shift working with clients and responding to different things – and they’re saying this approach is clearly working.” Horizon’s Integrated Mobile Crisis Response Unit in Saint John is available to respond to crisis calls and provide community outreach from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week, with staff working in pairs on each shift. Calls to activate the mobile crisis team can come in either through 911 dispatch or directly through the unit’s 1-888 crisis number (1-888- 811-3664). Brannon said this project would not have been possible without the support of the Saint John Police Force, as well as Dr. Mary Ann Campbell, who heads up the Department of Criminal Justice at the University of New Brunswick Saint John (UNBSJ). Dr. Campbell provided expertise into the development of the framework for the new unit and will also help track its performance over the course of the pilot. The initiative also received significant financial support from the provincial government, a
Members of Horizon’s Integrated Mobile Crisis Response Unit in Saint John are making a difference in the community, after the first-of-its-kind pilot project launched in the fall with two members of the Saint John Police Force joining the unit for a three-year period. From left: Cst. Mary Gellatly, Kendra Fudge and Erica Henderson, registered nurses, and Cst. Emily Hobbs. $900,000 commitment over the three-year period. Brannon noted the integrated model should ultimately result in a more coordinated, streamlined and effective response for area mental health clients through improved interagency collaboration. By reducing the number of interactions between police and those experiencing a mental health crisis, she said one of the main goals the project is hoping to achieve is ultimately reducing the number of unnecessary transfers to the hospital Emergency Department (ED). In 2019, the Saint John mobile crisis unit responded to over 2,100 calls for assistance, roughly 430 of which resulted in the client being transported either by police or ambulance to the ED. By freeing up police to focus more of their time and energy on criminal matters, she said she’s confident the new approach will cut into those figures. “When you see people working in community, it seems to de-escalate things just by being on their turf,” Brannon said. “And especially now, with COVID concerns, a trip to the ER isn’t necessarily what it once was, and while we will still take people to the ER who need to be there, there’s something to be said for seeing people in an environment that’s comfortable for them.” Having the two police officers – who will be dressed in plain clothes and attending calls in an unmarked vehicle – join the nurses on-shift, she added, adds an additional layer of security to allow the mobile crisis nurses to do their jobs more safely, and therefore more effectively. With the demand for mental health intervention on the rise in New Brunswick, coupled with the wider discussion surrounding the role police should or should not play in responding to these situations, Brannon said she’s hopeful that, in time, the integrated model being deployed in Saint John will be looked at as an option in other parts of the province as well.
My husband and I found out in August that we would be adding to our family (due April 2021) and we were so happy. (Well, except Figs – our dog. He is OK with two kids!) I have always been one to share news early, as I believe life is to be celebrated at any stage. Our family and friends knew and celebrated with us. Our girls knew they would be “big sisters” and were already planning their roles. Our ultrasound had told us at about seven weeks things looked good and there was a strong heartbeat, and I know from my job as a family doctor that once you have that, 98 per cent of the time you have a healthy baby in your arms in nine months. However, during the next few weeks, seeds of doubt started to creep in. My pants were still fitting, some of my symptoms went away. I tried a few times at work to hear the lovely early heartbeat sounds (I had been able to hear my daughters’ Jubilee and Cadence’s heartbeats at around eight to nine weeks) but I couldn’t find it. I chalked that up to the extra pounds I had gained since my last pregnancy.
But I had mother’s intuition, and I needed to know for sure. So, at 11 weeks, my colleague and friend tried to find the heartbeat. No heartbeat was heard. I went for an ultrasound. The tech was lovely, but I knew without a word what the news was. Our baby, too perfect for this world, had left us. The walk from the ultrasound room to the car is one that seemed so surreal – seeing others’ faces, wondering if they were getting bad news today too. I let my husband and family know and went to pick the girls up from school. I knew
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St. Joseph’s Hospital Auxiliary recognized with volunteer award
The St. Joseph’sHospital Auxiliary recently receivedCatholicHealth International’s Volunteer ExcellenceAward. OnOctober 9, JennieGallant, Auxiliary president, accepted the award fromKathi Hurley, Facility Administrator at Horizon’s St. Joseph’sHospital, withMelissa Short, theAuxiliary’s business manager in attendance. The St. Joseph’sHospital Auxiliary has been active since it was established in 1929. Members serve as volunteer staff at Jo’s Boutique, themuch-loved gift shop in the lobby of St. Joseph’s. Proceeds are donated throughout the hospital for the benefit of patients. CatholicHealth International (CHI), the sponsor of St.
that I just needed to hug and snuggle them. When we told Jubilee, her sobbing broke my heart, and her care and questions were so innocent and sweet. We took the weekend just to breathe and “be” – we went on a beautiful healing hike, and took time to enjoy our blessings. On Monday, I worked, seeing patients that were roughly the same number of weeks along, hearing the heartbeats for the first time, being so happy for them, but grieving the little one inside me who would never give me that joy. Surprisingly, I felt blessed that day regardless of my grief. I love my job, and it was part of my healing too to be part of happiness in the time of grief. I went in the next day and became the patient. On the other side of the operating table, my body seemed ready to let go that day too, as I had started to show the signs of my
miscarriage. I was so very well taken care of. I have sat with many women and men, crying together at the unfairness of miscarriage and infant loss. I speak from the heart, both from experience (having our first loss before Jubilee was conceived and now this one) and from professional experiences. What I know is that we all grieve, but we all do it in different ways. I like to share and talk about my grief; others like to keep it private. There are no rules, no time limit to grief. For these babies were our dreams, our wishes and our plans for the future. We had already imagined holding them for the first time, counting every finger and every toe. So feel free to grieve in your own way. Share it or keep it for your heart only. Just know that there are many who walk beside you, and we feel you and hear you.
Joseph’sHospital, was pleased to recognize the tremendous dedication of volunteerswith this award. Due toCOVID-19 restrictions, Auxiliary memberswere unable to attend the award presentation – but have been promised a celebrationwhentheyare able tomeet once again. Congratulations!
From left: Melissa Short, St. Joseph’s Hospital Auxiliary Business Manger; Jennie Gallant, St. Joseph’s Hospital Auxiliary President; and Kathi Hurley, St. Joseph’s Hospital Facility Administrator.
Congratulations to the 2020 Quality Quest Awards recipients!
Here are your 2020 Patient Safety Hero Award recipients! Last month Horizon kicked off its celebration of Canadian Patient Safety Week by presenting the 2020 Patient Safety Hero Awards at a virtual ceremony.
on the Standardization of Systemic Cancer Therapy Delivery at Horizon.
Horizon’s annual Quality Quest Awards recognize Horizon teams for their quality improvement work and promotes quality improvement initiatives across Horizon. On this seven-year anniversary of the award, seven nominations were put forth and reviewed by the Quality Quest Awards Review Committee. The overall winner and two runners-up were celebrated by colleagues and Horizon’s Executive Leadership Team at a virtual award ceremony in October.
“The Quality Quest Awards showcase the amazing work being done throughout our organization and highlight how we continually strive for excellence,” said Margaret Melanson, Horizon’s Vice President Patient Centred Care. “I would like to congratulate the recipients and thank them for their dedication to providing quality patient care.” The overall winner was Brenda Kinney, Horizon’s Executive Director for the Saint John area, and her team for their project
The Patient Safety Hero Awards are presented each year to a Horizon individual and a team who excel(s) in their commitment to safety, their innovative approach to create change that enhances patient safety, their collaborative spirit that proves we’re leaders, yet work as a team, and finally, through valuing and understanding the role of safety concerns expressed by patients and their families. This year there were four nominations for the individual category and five nominations for the team category. And the winners are… Individual: Rick Wallace Rick is a personal support worker in Family Medicine at Horizon’s Saint John Regional Hospital who is always thinking about what’s best for the patient and his colleagues. He works diligently to provide the safest possible care for our patients.
The project began as a regional quality improvement initiative in 2018.
There are over 15,000 chemotherapy treatments per year across Horizon, making systemic cancer therapy (SCT) a vital part of cancer care service in the organization. With the increasing aging population and the climbing cancer incidence rates in New Brunswick, ensuring safe and competent delivery of SCT requires evidence-informed, standardized planning, education and monitoring. The team met their projected outcome of 100 per cent drug delivery, 100 per cent of the time, to 100 per cent of patients in environments that minimize hazardous drug exposure for all health care providers, patients and families. The process for set up and delivery of IV therapy is now a standardized process implemented in all Horizon sites. The New Brunswick Interprofessional Spine Assessment and Education Clinic project was a runner-up for the award. The project was led by Dana El-Mughayyar, Horizon research coordinator at Canada East Spine Centre in Saint John, and Tara M ann, physiotherapy manager at Horizon’s The Moncton Hospital, along with an interdisciplinary team at each site. Initially designed as a pilot project at Horizon’s Saint John Regional Hospital and The Moncton Hospital to fill a gap in the current standard of care for low back pain patients, the program was created to better serve patients, and to help them return to good health through rapid assessment and excellent individualized care. The program provides timely access to care such as personalized exercise programs, treatment plans and specialist referrals. It has been effective in reducing unnecessary imaging and improving overall patient outcomes. Dr. Rebecca Mills, clinical neuropsychologist and Erica de Passillé, physiotherapist both from Horizon’s Stan Cassidy Centre for Rehabilitation in Fredericton were also runner-ups for their project: Enhancing Self- Management of Pain. The project team developed and introduced group-based pain education for both inpatients and outpatients, focusing on evidence-based non- pharmacological pain management strategies. Their work has influenced the entire team, making pain science education and pain self-management strategies now part of their everyday practice.
Individual Award Recipient, Rick Wallace.
TeamAward Recipients, Dr. Angus MacDonald and Jacquelynn Carter.
Team: Dr. Angus MacDonald and Jacquelynn Carter
adjusted their work to ensure it was the most patient-centered tool that could be put into practice, not only during COVID-19, but also in the future. Congratulations to the 2020 Patient Safety Hero Award recipients!
Dr. MacDonald and Jacquelynn, a registered nurse, were praised for their openness to feedback on their work around Simulation and Safety in the Emergency Department at Horizon’s The Moncton Hospital. They
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Horizon’s 2020 Awards of Distinction in Nursing Horizon’s Nursing Quality and Professionalism Committee recently held a ceremony for its third annual Awards of Distinction in Nursing. Historically, the awards were presented during a series of recognition events across Horizon’s facilities, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was held virtually this year. The Awards of Distinction in Nursing highlight registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) who have been nominated by their colleagues for their excellence in nursing practice in the areas of leadership, clinical practice, mentorship and nursing novice. The Nursing Quality and Professionalism Committee received 40 submissions from across Horizon and 16 nursing professionals were formally recognized by the committee
and Geri Geldart, Horizon’s VP Clinical Services and Chief Nursing Officer. Award recipients were acknowledged for their contributions to nursing professionalism, as well as for exemplifying the mission, vision and values of our organization. Congratulations to all the 2020 Award of Distinction in Nursing recipients!
Brenda Kinney, Standardization of Systemic Cancer Therapy Delivery at Horizon project team lead, was presented with the Quality Quest Awards plaque at Horizon’s Saint John Regional Hospital.
Dana El-Mughayyar, with the New Brunswick Interprofessional Spine Assessment and Education Clinic (NB-ISAEC) project lead, was presented with the Quality Quest Awards plaque at the Canada East Spine Centre in Saint John.
MIRAMICHI AREA
MONCTONAREA
From left: Karen Hicks, LPN (Clinical Practice) pictured with nurse manager Christine Flanagan and unit colleagues; Brittany Lyons, RN (Nursing Novice), Kiera Strang, RN (Leadership); and Pauline MacDonald, RN (Mentorship).
From left: Carolyn Sutherland, RN (Mentorship); Jessica Marshall LPN (Nursing Novice); and Jaqueline Hare, RN (Leadership); accepting the award for Jaqueline is her husband Chris Hare, pictured with Lisa Keirstead Johnson, Nursing Practice Coordinator.
SAINT JOHNAREA
FREDERICTONANDUPPERRIVERVALLEYAREA
From left: Brenda Zadorozny, RN (Clinical Practice); Veronica Jamieson, RN (Leadership - Fredericton); Courtney Curtis, RN (Nursing Novice); Lisa Jones, LPN (Mentorship); and Denise Gray, RN (Leadership - URV).
From left: Karen Bedford, RN (Leadership); Logan Rousselle, RN (Nursing Novice), Patti Reid-Shore, LPN (Mentorship); and Tracy Adams, RN (Clinical Practice), pictured with nurse manager Meghan Fitzgerald.
Enhancing Self-Management of Pain project team leads, Erica de Passillé and Dr. Rebecca Mills, were presented with the Quality Quest Awards plaque outside Horizon’s Stan Cassidy Centre for Rehabilitation.
Celebrating the inaugural graduating class of Leading One Horizon
Community Outreach in Minto — COVID Style
It’s pretty hard to visit a fall festival in small town New Brunswick without coming away with a great feeling about where you live and all the wonderful people who live there, too. And it will take more than a pandemic to slow down the staff and volunteers at Horizon’s Queens North Community Health Centre in their drive to promote local activities and health and wellness in their much-loved small town. For the past 11 years, the Minto Harvest Fest, held annually at the Queen’s North Community Health Centre, has been a usual autumn scene, complete with craft displays and fun events. Then came COVID-19. This year, following the province-wide push to promote face masks and social distancing, organizers took a new, highly-successful approach.
The two-hour outdoors event attracted more than 75 cars with 200 folks driving through the community health centre parking lot to be greeted by the smiles of the centre’s staff and volunteers. Guests were given information and activity kits, including supplies to make a home craft and a home-cooked meal together as a family. Many of the drive-through visitors stayed to be entertained by local musicians Melvin Fraser and Wanda Grant and then took part in a village-wide scavenger hunt that saw five lucky winners take home prizes. If it can be said that small towns and villages are the bedrock of New Brunswick, then Minto’s history as a mining town can be a shining example of how neighbourhoods can set an example for communities across the province — even during a pandemic. Photos courtesy of Horizon’s Queens North Community Health Centre staff.
Each semester involves a mixture of webinars, workshops, videoconferences, readings, as well as Leaders Labs. The program provides an opportunity for Horizon’s people leaders to network, hone leadership skills through iterative and collaborative learning, and work together to share knowledge to solve complex Horizon case studies. Leading One Horizon was recently recognized by the Canadian College of Health Leaders. Horizon employees who complete the Leading One Horizon program receive credits towards the nationally recognized LEADS in a Caring Environment certification. Congratulations to the Class of 2020!
of Horizon’s Executive Leadership Team, their managers or directors and guest presenters. Donning golden graduation caps, each participant received a certificate from Horizon’s Chief Human Resource Officer, Maura McKinnon, and were given the opportunity to speak about what they learned from the program. Nathan Wickett, Administrative Director of Family Medicine at Horizon’s Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital, delivered the valedictory address on behalf of the class. To graduate from this program, participants completed 75 hours of learning over a 10-month period — which, for the inaugural group, was paused, then extended, due to COVID-19.
At Horizon, we know the importance of professional development opportunities for employees. Leading One Horizon is a new program that supports Horizon managers in developing a more solid grounding in core management competencies. There are four components to the program: • You as a Leader; • Leading People; • Managing the Work of the Department; • and Moving Forward. The first class celebrated their completion — or graduation from — the program with a virtual ceremony, attended by Horizon’s President and CEO, Karen McGrath, members “The Leading One Horizon program was a very enriching experience that provided a host of tools, approaches, strategies and other resources that leaders and future leaders can be aware of and practice as needed. The program requires a good investment of time by the participants, but the return value cannot be argued.” – 2020 LOH GRADUATE
Local musicians Wanda Grant and Melvin Fraser entertained guests at the 2020 Minto Harvest Fest.
Participant Testimonials
Great networking and ability to view other perspectives including best practices. Excellent experience.” – 2020 LOH GRADUATE
“Leading One Horizon provided me the opportunity to build leadership and management skills (and know the difference between the two) that are specific to the work of Horizon. The course was also a fantastic networking opportunity with leaders from across many portfolios.” – 2020 LOH GRADUATE
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Staff and volunteers get ready to welcome guests to their drive-though harvest fair.
From left: Emily Shapiro, community developer, and Janet Tree, physiotherapist welcome guests to Harvest Fest 2020.
Guests took home activity kits, which included supplies to make a home craft and a home-cooked meal together as a family.
HONOURING OUR VETERANS
Carla Caissie
Rebecca Agnew
Dan Allan Central Scheduling Saint John Area
Julia Brooks Volunteer Services Saint John Area
Health Services Saint John Area
Moncton Area
Horizon has the unique privilege of providing care to veterans in several facilities. November is a special time of year when we honour our brave veterans at Horizon’s Veterans Health Unit (VHU) in Fredericton and Ridgewood Veterans Health Wing (Ridgewood) in Saint John. This year, the global pandemic affected our Remembrance Day ceremonies, but it certainly didn’t diminish the ultimate respect we have for these heroes – those who never returned from service and those who returned but were changed forever. Horizon and several important members of our communities came together to show our gratitude in a short video. The video project was spear-headed by Nicole Robertson, Supervisor Recreation Therapist, and Jenny Yoston, Music Therapist, at Ridgewood, to honour our veterans in a new and special way. Carol Travers, Supervisor Recreation Therapist at the VHU jumped in to help plan as well.
The video features our President and CEO, Karen McGrath, as well as Royal Canadian Legion local branches, Fredericton and Saint John mayors, police departments, fire department, volunteers and a few others. To our brave women and men veterans: we will not forget what you gave us, because what we value most in life today, is what you put on the line. Thank you for your service. Watch the video here.
Sherry Leech
Isabelle Logan Financial Services Saint John Area
Stephanie Goguen Women and Children’s
Jackie Gordon
Sherry LeBlanc
David Cormier
Jennifer Hawkins Financial Services Saint John Area
Liane Jordan Security and Safety Services Saint John Area
Dustin Clark Community Health Fredericton Area
Saint John Area Health Services
Health Program Saint John Area
Health Services Moncton Area
Fredericton Area
Upper River Valley Area
Susan Neal
Tammy Morehouse
Lynn Meahan-Carson
Kelly McNiven Central Scheduling Saint John Area
Ron McGrath Central Scheduling Saint John Area
Lisa McAllister
Hilary McDonough Smith Community Health Moncton Area
Janis Mallet
Anne Losier
Saint John Area Health Services
Moncton Area Health Services
Moncton Area Health Services
Saint John Area
Moncton Area
Saint John Area
Charo Poirier Moncton Area Emergency Program
Stefan Poziomka Saint John Area Technology Planning
Aidan Proulx Moncton Area Learning Services
Darin Quinn
Karen Palmer Saint John Area Accounts Payable
GinaBeth Roberts
Lee Vickers
Nathan Wickett Fredericton Area Family Medicine
Lynn O’Neill
Miramichi Area
Miramichi Area
Fredericton Area
Moncton Area
Since the class wasn’t able to get together for an in-person graduation photo, a yearbook-style photo was created to serve as a memento of their time together and their achievements!
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