A publication for the staff of Horizon Health Network
Preparing for an mci ‘The ED team made us all proud that day’ Page 8
clean hands save lives
synergy for safety Horizon participates in emergency response training exercise Page 12
Why washing your hands can be the most important thing you do today Page 9
Issue No. 14, Vol. 3 November 2018
A publication for the staff of Horizon Health Network
‘if it wasn’t for this hospital, we wouldn’t have HAD the outcome we did’ In recognition of World Prematurity Day, one family shares how a Horizon health care team provided strength and support Page 5 Meet the 2018 Distinction in Nursing Award winners Page 9 Horizon partnership set to put N.B. on map as “world leader” in breath-based diagnostics Page 14
Contents
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Nurses recognized at 2018 Award of Distinction in Nursing Clean hands save lives!
Emergency response training highlights cooperation
Retiring nurse looks back at long career
One Horizon employee takes to the ice to represent N.B. URVH trio celebrate milestone
SJRH ED team recognized for preparedness for major incident
Psychiatry chief recognized for mental health contributions Moncton nurse manager named president
‘If it wasn’t for this hospital, we wouldn’t have had the outcome we did‘
Speech-language pathologists recognized for expertise
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SMHF exceeds $100k campaign goal URVH Walk of Life raises $10k for cardiac rehab 15 14
Healthy aging: Zoomers on the Go wins prestigious award 16
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Program supports URV cancer survivors to Stay Strong
Study poised to put Horizon on map as ‘world leader’ in breath-based diagnostics
Top 10: Graduation photos shared
Hello / Bonjour: What do you think about the Active Offer?
Performance Excellence: How a waste walk improved outcomes in URV
Horizon is Accredited by Accreditation Canada
On our cover: Alexi Cormier, 4, is photographed at Horizon’s TheMonctonHospital in lateOctober.
In Every Issue Message from CEO Editor’s Note Colleagues’ Corner Look Who’s Shining Top 10
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 .
‘If it wasn’t for this hospital, we wouldn’t have had the outcome we did’ Jennifer and Jean-Philippe Cormier, of Grand-Digue, with their children Alexi, 4, and Malika, almost one, at Horizon’s The Moncton Hospital. Alexi was born at 24 weeks, and the family is recognizing the care of his health care team this World Prematurity Day.
As four-year-old Alexi Cormier pushes his baby sister’s stroller around Horizon’s The Moncton Hospital (TMH), barely tall enough to reach the handles, one thing is clear: he’s got this. Another thing is too: he’s completely happy in his surroundings. “He’s always been so comfortable coming into this hospital,” his mom, Jennifer said. “There’s never a tantrum. He’s always happy to come see everybody that’s cared for him.” “It’s funny,” his dad, Jean-Philippe said, “because they’re almost like friends.” Alexi has always been stubborn, says his parents, and this personality trait is one of the things his parents’ credit with helping him survive and grow since being born at 24 weeks – 16 weeks premature. But the main thing, they say, is the care he received during his 99 days in hospital and the four years of care since then. Surprise and distress In early fall 2014, Jennifer and Jean-Philippe, of Grand-Digue were expecting their first child. “Everything was going fabulously, everything was going great,” she said. “I had no sickness. Everything was right, what it was supposed to be.” In an instant, however, everything was not right. Jennifer was working in Riverview and thought her water broke. On the advice of a physician, she drove herself to TMH, and took the elevator to the Labour and Birth unit on the second floor. There, she learned her water had broke. “I was only six months pregnant. I thought it wasn’t possible,” she recalls. At this time, she was so in shock that she was only concerned about getting back to work; her health care providers soon told her that was not going to happen. She called her husband, and they were briefed on possible complications, no matter if it was days or months before she had her baby. “We knew there was a lot of risk involved,” Jean-Philippe said. “In a way, that was good for us because it painted the picture.” Four days later, Jennifer went into labour and their baby’s heart rate was dropping; Jennifer needed an emergency C-section. On Oct.24, Alexi was born, weighing one pound and five ounces. He was in “distress,” and the first 24 hours in the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NNICU) were critical; he needed an intubation tube to help him breathe. He was stabilized, but on a ventilator for the next eight weeks. “It was a long journey,” his dad said. “Those eight weeks were tough.” “Everything that could have went wrong, went wrong,” his mom said. “But he overcame everything, really.” The family spent a couple weeks at TMH
importance of hand hygiene and made sure they knew their son’s file so they didn’t have to repeat information to each of his health care providers over and over again. “For me, honestly, if I didn’t have their support I probably would have gone crazy. It’s not a normal situation,” said Jennifer. It was these people that instilled in their son a fighting spirit. “Starting at birth, he was really
Dear Staff and Physicians,
A welcome note from the editor
It’s hard to believe 2018 is almost over!
Once again Horizon has a lot to be proud of this year. Accreditation is a huge accomplishment, and one that I hope you took the time to pat yourself on the back to congratulate yourself for! Accreditation signals to our health care peers, our
Welcome to the 14th edition of the Horizon Star! I’m a big fan of podcasts, and I recently listened to one that focused on the “work” behind the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Royal Tour of Australia and other Commonwealth countries. Even though I don’t plan on organizing such a large-scale event any time soon, hearing about all the steps and setbacks, checklists and chores that go into the tour made me think about the all work we put in every day before a new clinic is unveiled, a research paper is published or an innovative surgery is performed. Sometimes this work is gritty (and certainly not always pretty), and oftentimes this work doesn’t pan out like we thought (or want) it to. I’m sure you’ve had a couple of projects like this: You put your heart and soul (not to mention major investments of time and energy and the related stress) into projects, only to have them go off track by some unsuspecting barrier. These things used to be a major source of frustration for me – and they still are. But I have been trying to concentrate on celebrating small victories and promoting quick wins during the “work” process, which has given me a new perspective on working towards a goal. As you read stories in this issue I hope you think about all the work behind them. There’s a story about a long-term research project that’s changing the face of lung cancer diagnosis in New Brunswick (page 14), and there are snippets from your colleagues about their feelings of pride around reaching their educational goals on graduation day (page 17). There’s an incredible story on how Horizon staff helped a little boy who was born prematurely (page 5), and one physician’s work to advocate for mental health research, treatment, and awareness within New Brunswick (page 10). As always, it’s an honour to share your stories, and I hope you’ll continue to reach me at HorizonStar@HorizonNB.ca with new ideas.
patients/clients and their families that they can expect to receive quality care across all of our Horizon sites. Of course our other big achievement is Horizon’s 10 year anniversary. Many of you said it seems like just yesterday you were brought together as one, but in actuality you have been working together for a full decade. One of the most meaningful memories I have from our 10 year celebration was when an employee said it was the first time they truly felt they were part of One Horizon. I hope the sentiment of being One Horizon has clicked for most of you by now, because that’s what we are: many important parts working together to deliver quality care for New Brunswickers.
stubborn,” Jennifer said. “He was a fighter,” Jean-Philippe said. Now, he’s as active as any four-year-old, and enjoys pulling and pushing anything with wheels and loves music very much. World Prematurity Day The Cormiers, whose 11-month-old girl, Malika was born at full term, said having a premature baby, especially after a healthy pregnancy, changed their lives. “I used to be the type to try and plan everything as far as career, family, but it made me realize you can plan everything you want, but everything can change like this (snaps fingers),” Jean-Philippe said. They’re hesitant to give advice to other parents, as every child is different. They recognize while they had a really good outcome, it’s not always like that. “They call it a roller coaster ride. It’s probably the worst roller coaster ride I’ve ever been on. But you just have to hang on, one day at a time, and try to support each other as a couple, too,” he said. “There were some days she was stronger than me and she would pull me back up, and it was some days it was the opposite.” World Prematurity Day is Nov. 17, and the Cormiers’ story of strength and support is common in NNICUs around the world as one in 10 babies is born prematurely. “As a NNICU nurse, it is a privilege to care for and watch these tiny fighters and their families grow,” said Stephanie Cormier, Clinical Lead Nurse, NNICU, TMH. “Our team is passionate about delivering the best care through this difficult journey. We partner with our parents through many ups and downs of the NNICU stay. Parents open their hearts and trust us to provide optimal care. They become part of our family and we become part of theirs.” Horizon is proud of the care its neonatal units and health care teams across the organization provide to premature babies and their families. From Alexi, in his first language: Merci.
before being transferred to the IWK Health Centre. They said they received amazing care at the Halifax hospital, especially when their son was in critical condition, but they were grateful to be returning to a place that “felt like home” as soon as he was cleared. “We couldn’t wait to get back here,” Jean- Philippe said. From the way his NNICU team cared for his fragile skin to the ‘Welcome Back’ sign on the door when they returned from Halifax, it was the little things, Jean-Philippe said, that made all the difference. When they left the hospital, 99 days later, Alexi was five pounds and six ounces. An amazing health care team There are many people who helped care for Alexi, and their family, along the way, and the Cormiers were amazed by the connection and seamless continuum of care between them all. At the beginning of her pregnancy, Jennifer was followed by obstetrician-gynecologist (OBGYN) Dr. Karen Desrosiers, then by OBGYN Dr. Lise Gagnon when Dr. Desrosiers was on vacation. Dr. Ken Gillespie was the OBGYN on call when she went into labour and performed her emergency C-section. When Alexi was born, Dr. Mahamadou Chaibou was on call and cared for him during the first few hours. While in the NNICU, Alexi was cared for by neonatologists Dr. Rody Canning and Dr. Marc Blayney. There were the nurses who became friends (and Alexi’s honorary “tantes” (aunts)), the NNICU ward clerk and EVS workers who always checked in with a friendly hello and kept the unit clean and safe. There were the social workers and psychologists who provided guidance and mental health support, and the speech and hearing, physiotherapy and occupational therapy staff that’ve provided care since Alexi left the hospital. It was all these people who helped Alexi – and his parents – overcome the unknown. It was these people who taught them about the
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Karen McGrath, President and CEO
As I travel across Horizon (as you read this I will be finishing up my fourth CEO tour),
I have met so many incredible leaders in our organization. There is a wealth of leadership talent within Horizon, which is why I am confident the future of health care delivery for New Brunswickers is bright. As with any CEO tour I enjoy the opportunity to find out what’s on your mind. I hope you like these sessions as much as I do. I enjoyed sharing the research with you about what members of the public believe is a Horizon responsibility, and what isn’t. I also hope that I clarified any uncertainties that you may have had. At the end of the day, we’re all part of a big system that needs to work together to support New Brunswickers live healthy lives. With the holidays nearly upon us, I hope you all take the time to reflect on the important year we had. Now more than ever we are One Horizon with 10 years of working together in our review mirror and a clear Horizon in the future. Sure we have our challenges, but I know we can work together to find solutions.
As always I hope you take the time to enjoy the upcoming holiday season and spend it with friends and family.
Sincerely,
Happy reading, GinaBeth Roberts
Karen McGrath President and CEO
Colleagues Corner
Retiring nurse looks back at long career in addictions and mental health
Active at any age: Horizon employee takes to the ice to represent N.B.
thought was to shy away from the experience, but instead, she told herself: “You are 61 years old, no one is ever going to ask you again to play a sport to represent your province, just go for it. Don’t think of all the reasons you shouldn’t, just say yes.” Her advice to others who may be contemplating a late, but competitive, sporting adventure? “When opportunities present themselves, just grab them,” she said. “If there is something you’ve always really wanted to do, don’t ever think you’re too old to start. You might not become a pro, but you can still enjoy it.”
had graduated high school together from Charlottetown Rural (in Prince Edward Island) in 1974. The team played four games total, taking to the ice against Ontario, Quebec and Prince Edward Island. They only scored one goal in the four games, but they had had a whole lot of fun. “We celebrated our one goal as if it were a gold medal,” Maureen said. Team New Brunswick ended up winning the spirit award for the Games. “I would do it again in a heartbeat,” said Maureen. “It was really fun.” Maureen’s initial
Seniors from across the country gathered in Saint John in August to participate in the Canada 55+ Games. The games occur every two years and this year, New Brunswick hosted more than 1,500 participants for a week of friendly competition. Maureen Wallace, who works in discharge planning at Horizon’s The Moncton Hospital, was a member of the women’s hockey team. Maureen has been active her whole life, but it wasn’t until years of sitting through her children’s hockey games that she decided to try her hand at hockey. “I only started playing hockey at 47,” said the 61-year old. “I’d always loved it and had been skating since I was a kid, but it wasn’t until a bunch of women sitting around the rink watching our kids play thought: wouldn’t it be fun for us to play?” The women got together 14 years ago and started a recreational hockey league in Moncton, the Mother Puckers. Since then, they have grown from two to four teams and play every Thursday night. Maureen is the captain of the blue team and noted quite a few Horizon employees have played in the league. For the last couple years, Maureen has been the oldest player in the league. When the call came in from Saint John looking for players for Team New Brunswick’s 55+ women’s team, teammates recommended her for the role. “When the call came from Team NB I thought, ‘Well, I’m not good enough’,” said Maureen. “I’m so glad I didn’t listen to that voice.” Her colleagues were excited for her and wanted to do whatever they could to help accommodate her schedule. When she met with her new team, she quickly realized she and new teammate, Barb Murphy,
Anne French has been a Registered Nurse with Addictions and Mental Health in Saint John for the majority of her 48-year career. The 48th Year of Service milestone is something that few reach, and with reaching this milestone – and before her 70th birthday – Anne
Anne French is retiring after a 48-year career as a Registered Nurse with Addictions and Mental Health in Saint John.
decided it was time to leave.
After graduating from the Halifax Infirmary she moved to Saint John with her then husband Charles Fawcett in 1970. She then began her nursing career in the operating room (OR) at the St. Joseph’s Hospital. As a self-described people person the OR was not a great fit, so when the opportunity to work at the Provincial Hospital (now CentraCare) became available, she jumped at the opportunity. From there she never looked back and has been caring for clients with mental health challenges since 1971. She worked at the Provincial Hospital until 1973 and the remainder of her career has been with the Saint John Mental Health and Addictions office.
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Anne’s son, Mark Fawcett, is an Olympic snowboarder. The two are photographed at the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in 2007.
TeamNew BrunswickWomen’s Hockey team at the Canada 55+ Games opening ceremonies sporting their TeamNB t-shirts.
“Seeing the advancements in mental health has been both rewarding and wonderful to see,” she said. “For far too long mental health issues were kept in the dark leaving many people to suffer in silence and not receive the treatment they need. Today people are much more open and the care we provide is much
more holistic. More and more we’re doing a better job at looking at the entire person.”
Volunteer trio at URVH celebrates a milestone of one of their own
Peter Jones, Marilyn Rose and Debbie Taylor have volunteered together with Horizon’s Upper River Valley Hospital’s Greeter Program since its very beginnings. In fact, they were among the very first volunteers to welcome patients into the hospital the day its doors opened in November 2007. “We were scared to death that first day,” said Marilyn. “But we got through it just fine.” They call themselves an unlikely trio, but through volunteering have formed a bond and friendship over the past 11 years. “We’re not a crew you would think to put together. We kind of looked at each other, laughed and it went from there,” said Debbie. “Now, I wouldn’t volunteer with anyone else. Peter is a blast, he knows every corner of this hospital and he knows all the rules.” Each of them said the laughter they share is what makes their volunteer experience memorable. “We get along so well together, we know what each other thinks,” added Marilyn. In September, Marilyn and Debbie, along with Shelly Hubbert, Horizon’s coordinator of Volunteer Resources and Auxiliary and Alumnae Relations, helped Peter celebrate his
Anne’s primary role is to administer injectable medication, which allows her to see her clients on daily, weekly, or monthly basis. For many of her clients she sees them over many years and has been able to see their mental health improve. Looking back on her 48-year career she has a lot to be proud of and has touched many people in the Saint John area. However if you ask her what her proudest life achievement is, she would quickly tell you that it’s her son, Olympic snowboarder Mark Fawcett. Mark competed in the 1998 and 2002 Winter Olympics and who has been, and continues to be, a trailblazer in the sport. “Recognizing my son had such a strong passion for something at a young age was amazing,” she said. “From there his father and I made the decision to fully support his dream.” Anne will be retiring in December 2018 and will not be renewing her nursing licence. She looks forward to volunteering with her church and spending winters in British Columbia on the ski hill with her son and 12-year-old granddaughter Phoebe.
90th birthday. The group always celebrates birthdays and holidays by exchanging cards and sweets made by Marilyn. Peter hopes to continue volunteering for the next few years. He enjoys the friendship and having a good laugh every time he comes in for a shift. The Greeter Program sees volunteers welcome and direct patients and visitors as they enter various hospital areas and provide assistance Volunteers Marilyn, Peter and Debbie (pictured from left to right, front row) have been volunteering together for more than 11 years and have formed a special bond. With them is Shelly Hubbert, coordinator of Volunteer Resources and Auxiliary & Alumnae Relations at Horizon’s Upper River Valley Hospital.
MaureenWallace on the ice in Saint John as a member of New BrunswickWomen’s Hockey team at the Canada 55+ Games.
to individuals and ease their fears and anxieties during their hospital visit.
Olympic snowboard Mark Fawcett, shows his skills on the hill. His mother, Anne French, an addictions and mental health nurse with Horizon, says he’s her proudest life achievement.
Want to tell your colleagues about the services you provide for patients and staff throughout Horizon? Email HorizonStar@HorizonNB.ca .
Look Who’s Shining! Know someone who’s accomplished something outstanding outside the workplace? Nominate a colleague, peer or volunteer for this feature by emailing HorizonStar@HorizonNB.ca .
SJRH ED team recognized for being prepared for major incident
Nurses recognized at 2018 Award of Distinction in Nursing ceremonies
On Thanksgiving Monday, much of Saint John stood still, in awe of a black plume of smoke that hung over the city. However, the staff of Horizon’s Saint John Regional Hospital (SJRH) Emergency Department was not among them; instead, they raced into action, preparing for the worst. News travelled quickly, too: there had been an explosion at the Irving Oil refinery, which was later confirmed to be caused by a malfunction in a diesel unit. Lori Lavric is the Administrative Director of the Emergency Medicine and Ambulatory Care Program at the SJRH, and was the director on- call at the time of the incident. She received a call at approximately 10:34 a.m. from the nursing supervisor, and quickly headed to the hospital. She asked that the emergency fan out list be activated. It was reported ambulances had been dispatched to the scene, but at that point there had been no confirmed casualties. Due to the magnitude of the explosion and the number of people who work at the refinery and the type of work they do, the potential for a mass casualty incident (MCI) was high and a Code Orange was activated. By the time she arrived on site, the “fan-out” had been activated for the emergency department, and in under an hour, an additional 14 emergency physicians, and 36 staff members, including 27 nurses, four registration clerks, three porters and two ward clerks had joined the emergency department team at the ready.
Horizon’s Nursing Quality and Professionalism Committee launched its new Awards of Distinction in Nursing in June 2018.
The recipients were recognized for their contributions towards nursing professionalism, as well as for their excellence in nursing practice in the areas of leadership, clinical practice, mentorship and nursing novice. Congratulations to the 2018 Award of Distinction in Nursing recipients!
The committee received 43 submissions from across Horizon, and in October, 14 award recipients were formally recognized in a series of recognition events at five facilities.
From left: Karen McGrath, Horizon’s President and CEO; Geri Geldart, Chief Nursing Officer and VP Clinical Services; and recipients Merita MacMillan, RN (Leadership); MichelleWatling, RN (Mentorship); Stuart Keoughan, LPN (Clinical Practice); Marilyn Underhill, executive director, Miramichi Regional Hospital, and Jacqueline Gordon, Regional Director of Nursing Practice at the Miramichi awards presentation on Oct. 2.
From left: Geri Geldart, Horizon’s Chief Nursing Officer and VP Clinical Services, and recipients Alice Harding, RN (Clinical Practice); Gwen Stevenson, RN (Mentorship); Anita Lawton, RN (Leadership); and Nicole Tupper, executive director, Horizon’s Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital at the Fredericton awards presentation on Oct. 3.
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Front, centre, from left: registered nurse Nicole Bustin and Janice Murray, nurse manager and lead RN, Emergency Department (ED) at Horizon’s Saint John Regional Hospital. First row, from left: LiamWalsh, ED pharmacist, and registered nurses Simon Richard, Ashley Stuart, Melanie Dupuis-Robichaud, Rosemary Skodje, Holly Jones and Sonja Skodje. Second row, from left: registered nurses Jennifer Loughery, Sandra McCavour, Jennifer Billingsley, Sarah Guitard, Sarah Comeau, Rae Tremblay, Laurel Webster, Samantha Tabor and Tamara Cosman. Third row, from left: registered nurses Julie Crawford, Stuart Weir, Sheri Fournier, Alison Guimond, Catherine Little and Victoria Crilley. Back row, from left: registered nurses Doug Anderson, Cathy Girard, Eric Lesser, Blair Doull, Traci Surette, AmyWestfield and Katie Gowlett.
admitted patients, including two for intensive care, were immediately moved to the nursing units to make way for any casualties. All rooms in the trauma pod were cleared and teams of one physician, one respiratory therapist, two RNs and one LPN were at the ready with all the necessary equipment to receive and treat patients with major injuries. Throughout the day, the hospital received only
five patients from the incident, none of which were critically ill or injured.
From left: Geri Geldart, Horizon’s Chief Nursing Officer and VP Clinical Service, and recipients Olive Steeves Babineau, RN (Leadership); Kay Blackier, RN (Clinical Practice); and Brenda Kinney, executive director, Horizon’s Saint John Regional Hospital, at the Saint John awards presentation on Oct. 12. Missing from photo are recipients Susan Morris, RN (Mentorship) andWhitney Green, RN (Nursing Novice).
From left: Geri Geldart, Horizon’s Chief Nursing Officer and VP Clinical Services, recipient Daphne McKinney, LPN (Clinical Practice), and Denise Gray, nurse manager, Upper River Valley Hospital, at the Upper River Valley awards presentation on Oct. 5.
From left: Geri Geldart, Horizon’s Chief Nursing Officer and VP Clinical Service and recipients, Marilyn Babineau, RN (Leadership); Tammy Garnett, LPN (Mentorship); Denise Nicholson; RN (Clinical Practice); and Nancy Parker, executive director, Horizon’s The Moncton Hospital at the Moncton awards presentation on Oct. 10.
“However, the potential was there, and what was the most incredible thing was watching the response from the staff,” Lori said. “We were well prepared for receiving casualties in large numbers at that point in time and I feel confident that the department would have managed that situation very, very well. The ED team made us all proud that day.” Despite the high level of stress, staff were calm and organized, thanks to the guidance of Nurse Manager, Janice (Jan) Murray, she added. Three days later, “out of the blue,” the emergency team was surprised with a sweet thank you. Staff from the bakery at Sobeys Lansdowne arrived with a massive cake to present to the staff and thank them for being there for their community. “They were delightfully surprised,” said Lorie Setzke, an emergency department RN. “In the nature of the business that we’re in, we don’t always get a lot of that kind of recognition. It means a lot to them that someone went out and did this. As far as Lori and Lorie are aware, there are no known ties between ED staff and Sobeys; the act was “just a spontaneous gesture on their behalf.” And while treats are always a morale booster, it was the act of recognition that really touched their hearts.
It was already a busy day in the ED, with 10 boarded admissions in the department. The
The Moncton Area Hand Hygiene committee recently hosted three days of hand hygiene educational sessions in an effort to increase hand hygiene compliance within Horizon facilities in the Moncton area. The campaign, “Clean Hands Save Lives,” included 18 sessions at The Moncton Hospital (other facilities had access via video- conferencing) where various speakers from Infection Prevention and Control and Employee Health shared the importance of hand hygiene. The goal of the campaign was to increase hand hygiene compliance. Hand hygiene is the single most important measure we all must do to prevent the spread of harmful germs and prevent health care-associate infections. The key message from this campaign is that we all must make hand hygiene part of our everyday practice. Through educational and informative presentations, videos and speeches, 1,018 staff members were reminded of hand hygiene Clean Hands Save Lives!
Internal Medicine Programs and committee member. “From senior leadership to frontline staff, we received comments including how informative, engaging, and well organized the sessions were.” The positive feedback will help fuel future planning and encourage other areas to recreate the sessions. All the information provided at the sessions is readily available for staff at other Horizon facilities. “Although this campaign involved numerous meetings and took many, many hours to organize, it was well worth the effort,” said Mary Woodworth, Infection Prevention and Control Manager. “Our primary goal is to keep our patients, staff and visitors safe.” Horizon staff in every area and facility should be aware that clean hands save lives and put those words into action! Together, we can make a difference and increase compliance to help keep everyone healthy.
techniques and the steps for ensuring clean hands. The committee also utilized this opportunity to promote the annual flu campaign. “We were overwhelmed with the positive feedback we received,” said Ruth Dunnett, Administrative Director, Ambulatory Care and
Members of TheMonctonAreaHandHygiene committee from left: RuthDunnett, AdministrativeDirector, AmbulatoryCare and InternalMedicinePrograms; MaureenDennis-LeBlanc, InfectionPrevention and Control nurse;MarilynBabineau,WorkforceWellness manager; Dr. GordonDow, InfectiousDisease Specialist; MaryWoodworth, InfectionPrevention andControl manager; andChristineCohoon, InfectionPrevention andControl nurse.
Front row, from left: Dr. Mobin Ataellahi, Sonja Skodje and Kate Gosson, registered nurses, two staff members from Sobeys Lansdowne Bakery department. Middle row, from left: registered nurses Jennifer Billingsley and Catherine Little. Back row, from left: registered nurses JF Carpenter and Rosemary Skodje, licensed practical nurses Janice Eastwood and Deanne McKellar; and registered nurse Julie Crawford.
A Humbling Experience: Psychiatry chief recognized for contributions to mental health field
Speech-language pathologists from across Horizon recognized for their expertise
Dr. Nachiketa Sinha, Chief of Psychiatry at Horizon’s The Moncton Hospital, was recently celebrated by former Health Minister Benoit Bourque in Baie de Bouctouche for his invaluable contributions as a passionate advocate for mental health research, treatment, and awareness within New Brunswick and across Canada. The intimate and private event, attended by Hon. Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Federal Minister of Health, former Miramichi MLA Bill Fraser, and Dr. Sanjay Siddhartha, a colleague and executive of the New Brunswick Psychiatric Association (NBPA), also served as an acknowledgment of Dr. Sinha’s term as President of the Canadian Psychiatric Association (CPA), which came to an end in September. Dr. Sinha has been a practicing consultant psychiatrist in New Brunswick since 2006, and has provided services at his clinic in Moncton since 2016. A fifth generation physician, Dr. Sinha always knew he’d pursue a career in medicine and specialize in psychiatry. “I was always fascinated by psychiatry, but what really drew me to the field was the overwhelming amount of misunderstanding surrounding mental health,” said Dr. Sinha. “I had a real desire to make change.” This desire for change has guided Dr. Sinha’s career, and serves as his inspiration for actively initiating important changes to mental health delivery, such as providing culturally appropriate care to the province’s First Nations communities and playing an integral role in the introduction of Supervised Community Care, an integrated patient- centred and recovery-based approach to treating mental illnesses in New Brunswick. “I strongly believe in access to appropriate mental health care for everyone,” he said. “Every person battling mental health issues has their own unique story and journey and they should all be treated with the same basic dignity and respect.” Dr. Sinha’s commitment to collaborative mental health treatment also extends to his colleagues and profession as a whole thanks to his part in revitalizing the province’s psychiatry association. “Dr. Sinha is steering mental health treatment in the right direction,” says Dr. Siddhartha. “His work has changed the lives of so many people suffering from mental illnesses, and his vision has infused passion into his colleagues and fellow members of the NBPA.” In addition to his one-year term as President of the CPA, Dr. Sinha is a Board member of the New Brunswick Medical Society, a two-term president of the New Brunswick Psychiatry Association, an Associate Professor
Dr. Nachiketa Sinha, centre, accepted his certification of honour from Dr. Sanjay Siddhartha, from left, Hon. Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Federal Minister of Health, former New Brunswick Minister of Health Benoit Bourque, and former Miramichi-Bay du Vin MLA Bill Fraser. University, and the author of an internationally recognized self-help book, Empowered and Strong. of Psychiatry with the Faculty of Medicine at Dalhousie
Moncton endoscopy clinic nurse manager named president of national society
“The only way I could do my job is to know everything about the job,” she said. “I really need to know everything in order to help my staff. In learning and doing, I’m able to stay on top of new trends, equipment, and techniques.” In September, Cathy was named president of CSGNA at the national conference in Quebec City. As president, she leads the national board, a group who set standards and best practices for GI nursing. She acts as the spokesperson for the group and speaks to members across the country. “Being involved on a national level makes me feel confident that our GI unit is being well run,” said Cathy. “We’re following all the standards and I think the unit is absolutely fabulous. Our patients love us, yes they are sedated, but they love the staff.” “I have a bit of a competitive nature,” said Cathy. “I like going to these national events and saying, yes, we do that at Horizon. Some people think the Maritimes are behind the times and outdated, so it’s really nice to be able to compete on a national level.” Cathy has become an expert within Canada, and has been asked to speak nationally about GI, infection control and what nurses need to be successful in endoscopy. As president, Cathy’s goal is to increase certification exam numbers. Nationally, numbers have been low and she hopes to get enough nurses to write the exam to eliminate any chance it could be canceled. She has two years to accomplish her goal. “The GI field is so technical and specific it really comes in handy to have nurses with the knowledge they acquire through certification,” said Cathy. “I never set out to be the President of CSGNA, that was not my intention,” she said. “But I think me being president gives Horizon some well-deserved credibility.” Representing Horizon, New Brunswick and Atlantic Canada on a national level has its perks.
Paula Murray, left, receives her award from Cathy Cormier, Manager of Speech and Hearing at Horizon’s The Moncton Hospital.
From left, Darin Quinn, NBASLPA Past President, Sarah Feltmate, Gloria Yachyshen, and Kari Clark, NBASLPA secretary.
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Three staff members from Horizon Speech and Hearing’s team were recently recognized by their provincial association for the dedication to their profession and clinical excellence. Gloria Yachyshen, a speech-language pathologist (SLP) at Horizon’s Upper River Valley Hospital (URVH), was presented with the New Brunswick Association of Speech- Language Pathologists and Audiologists (NBASLPA) Margaret Christie Lifetime Achievement Award. The award acknowledges her commitment to the profession, as demonstrated by her clinical expertise, research, representation of the profession in the community, and contribution to public awareness of communication disorders. Gloria’s career took her from the Chaleur General Hospital in Bathurst, to schools and the Carleton Memorial Hospital before she began working at URVH 28 years ago. “From preschool speech and language, to fluency and voice, to adult neurogenic communication and dysphagia, Gloria does it all,” her nomination reads. “In addition to helping countless patients improve their ability to communicate and swallow, Gloria has mentored many students and new clinicians alike, setting an outstanding example and standard of what it means to be an SLP.” Gloria has served on the NBASLPA executive council, and has been recognized for her many contributions to the profession. Sarah Feltmate, a speech-language pathologist at Horizon’s Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital, was awarded the Student Supervision Award in Speech-Language
The award is given to an SLP who demonstrates excellence in a specialized area of expertise, has committed to ongoing professional development, shows willingness to mentor colleagues, or exhibits an exceptional ability to apply knowledge and experience to assist clients in reaching their optimum potential. “ ”
Cathy Arnold Cormier, endoscopy clinic nurse manager at Horizon’s The Moncton Hospital, didn’t intend to become President of the Canadian Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates (CSGNA). In fact, she didn’t even intend to work in management or gastroenterology (GI). But, she’s now been in GI for 13 years and is recognized across Canada as an expert in the field. An adrenaline junkie at heart, Cathy began her nursing career in the emergency department in the late 1980s. She pictured herself working in emergency medicine her entire career, but when she was approached to try a casual position in GI she decided to give it a shot. She quickly realized it was an interesting, up-and- coming area. The future was in endoscopy: through minimally invasive procedures, she could save patients’ lives. After working some casual shifts in GI, the coordinator position became available and Cathy was encouraged to apply for that position by some of her colleagues. “Luckily, as coordinator, I was 50 per cent manager and 50 per cent bedside,” said Cathy. “I learned all the procedures in the clinic. Cathy Arnold Cormier is photographed in the Endoscopy Clinic at Horizon’s The Moncton Hospital. She was recently named President of the Canadian Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates (CSGNA).
at Horizon’s The Moncton Hospital, was awarded the Clinical Excellence Award. The award is given to an SLP who demonstrates excellence in a specialized area of expertise, has committed to ongoing professional development, shows willingness to mentor colleagues, or exhibits an exceptional ability to apply knowledge and experience to assist clients in reaching their optimum potential. Paula specializes in pediatric feeding and swallowing in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, working with pediatricians, family physicians, nurses, breastfeeding clinic, other speech-language pathologists and speech- language pathology students. Colleagues describe her as “highly competent, truly invested in our profession, always willing to share her knowledge, and intrinsically motivated to be a better clinician.”
Pathology. The annual award recognizes an SLP who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to the supervision of students as shown by their willingness to supervise students on a regular basis, their ability to provide comprehensive clinical experience appropriate to the students’ abilities, and to create an environment that fosters learning, respect and open communication. “Sarah spent immeasurable time demonstrating and teaching me about compassion, advocacy, and the importance of awareness and acceptance of client diversity,” said her student nominator Danielle Scholten. “These skills cannot be taught explicitly in the classroom but are critical to being an effective clinician, and I am so thankful to have learned from such an excellent example.”
Paula Murray, a speech-language pathologist
Emergency response training highlights cooperation of Horizon, partner organizations
Program supports URV cancer survivors to Stay Strong
also support the program through their presentations during the education day. Julie Brown, a physiotherapist, provides supervision and individualized exercise programs and Karen Cluff, a registered nurse, provides support and guidance. “Our goal is to sponsor this program on an ongoing basis twice a year, however, we do count on donations within our community in order to continue,” said Denise. If you would like to make a difference by supporting cancer survivors as they take back control of their lives, please contact Denise at 506-375-2624. Your donation is greatly appreciated!
Horizon recently participated in a two-day emergency response training exercise, ensuring our facilities and staff are prepared for a nuclear emergency. The event, called Synergy Challenge 2018 and hosted by NB Power’s Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station and the New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization, saw 1,000 people from more than 35 agencies run an emergency response simulation. The goal of the exercise was to test how local, regional and federal organizations work together, ensuring the best response and recovery efforts are in place should a real-life emergency occur. Within Horizon, staff and physicians from many departments and community services took part, playing a vital role in providing care and treatment to casualties in the event of a nuclear accident at Point Lepreau. “The way everyone came together to practice their skills and training in this exercise is a great example of One Horizon teamwork,” said Dennis Doherty, Horizon’s Chief Emergency Management Officer. As part of the exercise, the emergency department at Horizon’s Saint John Regional Hospital received a patient with simulated injuries and contamination for assessment and treatment. An Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) was established within the hospital to manage response efforts, while a reception centre, staffed by Horizon Addiction and Mental Health team members, was set-up at University of New Brunswick Saint John for residents who would be evacuated from the Point Lepreau area.
Cancer survivorship describes the broad experience of living with, through and beyond a cancer diagnosis. It includes the physical, psychological, financial, emotional, spiritual and social challenges beyond the diagnosis and treatment phases. In the Upper River Valley area, Stay Strong is a free and unique program for adults undergoing chemotherapy, radiation, and/or other cancer treatments. The program includes a one-day cancer survivorship education session followed by a 12-week exercise program at the AYR Motor Centre in Woodstock. “The main objective of Stay Strong is to educate participants on different aspects of health and wellness, followed by an exercise program aimed at minimizing the negative side effects that people tend to experience from cancer treatments,” said Denise Gray, Oncology Nurse Manager at Horizon’s Upper River Valley Hospital (URVH). “It will also improve quality of life and allow individuals to maintain their independence.” Through partnerships within Horizon, along with the generous donations from community members, the Upper River Valley area was able to begin host its first 12-week Stay Strong program, in early October.
“It was her hard work and belief in the Stay Strong program that helped us to gain community involvement,” she said. The program would also not be possible without partnerships within the community, including donations from Dr. Alex Wishart, Dr. Kent Orlando, Lenehan, McCain and Associates, the AYR Motor Centre, who donated 12 weeks of free gym time, and the Bath Lions Club, who donated $5,000. The Lions Club is also hosting a Medical Travel Auction on Friday, Nov. 23 at 6 p.m. with proceeds going toward medical travel expenses within the region.
The entire interdisciplinary team at URVH
Horizon’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) during the Synergy Challenge.
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Denise credits Tina Harding, a Patient Experience Advisor, with getting the program underway.
The Bath Lions Club is a major sponsor of the program, having donated $5,000 to the cause. From left is Lori Canam, past president; Karen Smith, King Lion; Denise Gray; Nurse Manager, Oncology; URVH; and KimHoyt, secretary.
Horizon’s Command Centre during the Synergy Challenge.
Emergency department staff assess and treat a patient with simulated injuries and contamination during the Synergy Challenge.
Sharf Chowdhury, Saint John area Emergency Management Coordinator, debriefs Horizon President and CEO Karen McGrath, while Dennis Doherty, Horizon’s Chief Emergency Management Officer looks on at the Synergy Challenge.
The Communications team responded to questions on social media, facilitated media requests and provided updates to the public through public service announcements and news releases. “Horizon’s Emergency Management Team has been preparing for this exercise for over a year, working closely with community partners and this collaboration really pays off,” said Sharf Chowdhury, Saint John area Emergency Management Coordinator. Initial feedback on Horizon’s participation in this exercise has been very positive and lessons learned will be used to enhance training and performance in the future.
Horizon Addiction and Mental Health members. From left: Jennifer Anderson-Apopei, Kelly Quinn, and Beth Campbell, at the Synergy Challenge Reception Centre.
Participants of Upper River Valley’s Stay Strong program, from left: Pearl Dickinson, Linda Petrie, Neil Keenan, Sibyl Sercerchi, Lynn Bull, IreneWilliams, Debbie Goodine, and Sue Tappin.
Study poised to put N.B., Horizon on map as “world leader” in breath-based diagnostics
Sackville Memorial Hospital Foundation exceeds $100k campaign goal
Chemicals from participants’ breath are captured in small metal tubes and sent to Picomole for analyzing.
Campaign donors and Horizon leadership and staff filled the atrium at Horizon’s Sackville Memorial Hospital to hear the results of the Accuracy is the Best Result Good Chemistry Campaign 2018.
The Sackville Memorial Hospital (SMH) Foundation recently celebrated surpassing its $100,000 fundraising goal for the Accuracy is the Best Result Good Chemistry Campaign 2018 with a donor appreciation reception in the hospital atrium and lobby. Donor dollars from the campaign, which raised a total of $107,000, were used to purchase a sophisticated Chemistry Analyzer to ensure SMH laboratory professionals are equipped with the best and most modern technology, allowing physicians to make correct diagnoses and administer timely treatment to patients. “The lab touches virtually every aspect of patient care and we needed to ensure that our lab professionals have the proper tools to do their job,” said Campaign chair Pat Estabrooks. “We’re so thankful to our volunteer campaign team, caring staff, and the many organizations and individuals who donated.” The hospital’s lab, which performs more than 61,000 tests per year, is arguably the hospital’s most vital service, and diagnostic tests are often the least expensive component of the health care pathway, yet they influence more than 70 per cent of all health care decisions.
will put New Brunswick on the map as a world leader in this field.”
It also supports proactive patient care: if health care teams are aware of a patient’s potential diagnosis of lung cancer, they can treat it sooner. The study’s first breath samples were taken in September 2017 and the study is expected to be completed in December 2018. Bernadette Clement said she signed up to participate because she’d do “anything” to help lung cancer patients like herself. A successful outcome of this study opens the door for future studies of other cancers and diseases and sets New Brunswick to be the world leader in breath-based diagnostics. Picomole develops patented and patent- pending technologies for breath analytics into the standard of care for non-invasive clinical diagnostics and personalized medicine. If you would like more information on participating in this study, please contact study coordinator Donna Fairweather at 506-648- 7852 or Donna.Fairweather@HorizonNB.ca.
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Reception attendees, which included over 100 donors and staff, were treated to a tour of the Chemical Analyzer, viewed the new “Partners in Giving Recognition” display, and enjoyed a light lunch. Elaine Smith, Foundation Board Chair, presents A Duty Toward the Living – A History of Healthcare in Tantramar to Karen McGrath, Horizon President and CEO, at the donor appreciation reception. “The SMH Foundation, Sackville Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, its staff and physicians, volunteers and its donors continue to go above and beyond for this hospital, the patients and the community,” said Horizon President and After their 1 or 5 kilometre walk (although some lost track of their laps) around the AYR Motor Centre walking track, the group enjoyed subs provided by Subway. Local businesses and artisans also donated numerous door prizes. All participants also received a bag oatmeal from the Speerville Flour Mill. “The walk provides an opportunity for past participants to reunite and catch up,” said Danica Wallace, Supervisor of Physiotherapy Services at Horizon’s Upper River Valley Hospital (URVH). “Our display board with photos of all our Cardiac Rehab groups always draws attention for past participants and the general public.” The silent auction was a huge success, bringing in $1,160 again thanks to local businesses, artisans and especially participants, some who enjoyed bidding wars. Items ranged for a four-piece patio set from Kent Building Supplies
Medical Lab Technologists Allison McKellar, left, Shawna Alberts and Angela Mundle are photographed with the new Chemistry Analyzer in the hospital’s lab, purchased with donor dollars from the campaign. CEO Karen McGrath, who spoke at the event. “You are committed, dedicated and passionate about improving the health of those around you and I cannot thank you enough for your ongoing support.” The SMH Foundation raises funds and administers its resources to preserve, maintain, and enhance the quality of health care in the Sackville and Tantramar region.
From left: Oncology patient and study participant Bernadette Clement, oncologist Dr. Tony Reiman, and oncology RN and study coordinator Donna Fairweather, are photographed surrounding Picomole’s breath-based diagnostic tool.
Horizon staff and physicians have partnered with Picomole Inc., an innovative medical technology company based in Moncton, to conduct a feasibility study to establish a link between lung cancer and the presence of certain chemicals in breath. Initial evidence showing cancer can potentially be determined through breath was first observed in a study in California with trained dogs. The dogs in the study could detect cancer with over 90 per cent accuracy, using their adept sense of smell to detect the presence or absence of chemicals in a person’s breath. Horizon oncologists Dr. Tony Reiman, who works out of Horizon’s Saint John Regional Hospital, and Dr. Mahmoud Abdelsalam at Horizon’s The Moncton Hospital, are leading the study, which will take breath samples from 100 lung cancer patients and 100 people who don’t have cancer. They will use the breath data from participants to attempt to show Picomole’s ground-breaking technology can detect the presence of cancer at rates comparable to or better than trained dogs. This is what Picomole’s technology intends to replicate.
“There are a number of studies being conducted around the world to try to apply breath-based metabolomics to determine disease; in our case we are looking at lung cancer,” said Dr. Reiman. “A successful study
Walk of Life raises almost $10k for URVH’s Cardiac Rehab Program
The Upper River Valley Cardiac Rehab program held its third successful Walk of Life fundraiser recently, raising close to $10,000. More than 60 participants enjoyed refreshments, a silent auction and an interesting line dance- inspired warm-up to Billy Ray Cyrus’ Achy Breaky Heart.
to a preserves and quilt basket donated by a past participant’s wife and friends. Some happy walkers show off big smiles as they walk the track at the AYRMotor Centre during the third annual Upper River Valley Cardiac RehabWalk of Life. Participants raised $5,295 through pledges, while corporate donations totalled more than $3,000, included $1,000 donations from RBC and Richwil Truck Centre Ltd. Together with the money from the silent auction, a total of $9,250 was raised.
Group of walkers pose for a photo on the tracks at the AYRMotor Centre during the third annual Upper River Valley Cardiac RehabWalk of Life.
The funds raised will help purchase an upright bike, bariatric scales and mini fridge.
Picomole’s breath-based diagnostic tool is photographed in a clinic room in Horizon’s Saint John Regional Hospital’s oncology department.
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