Winter Edition This is the 13th Edition of our Newsletter. If you want to contribute to the next edition, email: newsletter@prefhealthcare.com
President’s Message for 2013
Inside This Issue PSW Council
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Health & Wellness
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You Should Know
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What Would U Do?
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Helpful Info
Team Meetings Linda Flowers February 19
3:00-5:00
Linda McKellar February 19
3:00-5:00
Deb Leblanc February 21
2:00-4:00
Martha Wysocki February 21
As we head into January 2013, we look forward to another exciting year with new initiatives, new faces and a continued focus on improvement. Our organization is committed to providing high quality care, investment in our employees and growth. Our strategic goals for 2013 will be discussed at each of your meetings so that you are kept abreast of our plan and know the important role each of you plays in helping us to meet our goals. Tracy Jones ~ President
I am proud of our accomplishments over the past year. We implemented Blackberry PDAs for our PSWs which allowed them to accept new referrals, confirm their visits and chart online, to name only a few of the features. We implemented a PSW advisory committee, our education team developed a new DVD education program that we successfully sold to external clients and we will be launching an e-learning program. We invested in a leadership program for our educators and client care managers and also in a customer service program for our client care specialists. As we head into 2013, we say good bye to Lynn Slaney, our Director of Education who has been with Preferred Health Care Services since February 2005, and who will now pursue part time opportunities. Please join us in welcoming Art Mathews as our new Director of Education.
2:00-4:00 Lynn Slaney Dir. Ed.
Sandy Jacobs February 28
2:00-4:00
It is also sad to report that Kathy Rimmer will be leaving her position as a Client Care Manager in the north at the end of December. She will be transitioning into the role of Casual Client Care Manager as of February 18th. Kathy has enjoyed working in the north for the past 12 years and has been a dedicated and integral member of the Preferred Health Care team providing excellent care to all her clients. Kathy plans to take some time off to travel and relax. We wish her good luck with this change, and welcome Morgan Lincoln to her new role
Sophia Miller February 28
2:00-4:00
Morgan Lincoln April 16
6:00-8:00
Nora Conrad May 29
5:30-7:30
You can attend any team meeting, 3 are mandatory a yea r
Kathy Rimmer CCM
Heartbeat
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PSW Advisory Council In the fall of 2012 two nominations from each area PHCS services were taken and votes counted. Here are the members of your PSW Advisory Council. Their duties are to bring forward issues that are on your mind and work out solutions or changes where possible. To contact this council leave a message on VM# 7337 or you can speak to them at your team meeting. All calls are confidential. Meet your 2013 P S W Advisory Council. Maria Mederos, Saylinda Muorng, Cindy Budden, Heather Johnston, Darcie Scullen, Henry Meeboer (Chair) Emily Belvedere, Lula Andies, Borgia Pedurupillai , Jay Belen Bueno , Gerri Upshall
Workplace Wellness Committee The goal of the Workplace Wellness Committee is to provide our staff with opportunities to improve their “Health & Wellness” through education and events. For 2013 the following events are planned. (Red Maple, Richmond Hill; Newmarket if north staff sign-up) March. Workplace Violence presented by York Region Police. April. Oral Hygiene — Epiciti-Mobile Dental Care “A healthy smile should last a lifetime” April & May The Pedometer Challenge — the pedometer challenge this year will take place over 2 months. We will let you know when you can sign-up and pick up your pedometer. May is Mental Health week, we are sourcing an educator from York Region to provide this.
It’s BAAAACK!
May 8th—Annual Bake Sale and a 50/50 draw to raise funds for our “Wellness programs”
Join our team as we roll up our sleeves & save some lives When you donate the gift of blood tell the reception at any blood donor clinic, that you are a Partner for Life with Preferred Health Care Services (PREF013392) Together we can make a difference! To listen to upcoming WWC opportunities check voicemail box 7333 To sign up, leave your name, employee number, and voicemail number and the H&W session you would like to attend.
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Heartbeat
Things You Should Know
Education certificates - info cards- completion notes etc. are the responsibility of the PSW to retain and present when necessary.
If you take a CPR course (Level C) with a recognized provider, you will be reimbursed for the fee. Provide the payment proof and a copy of your completion documentation.
PSWs will get correspondence on a new client via PDA. If you have accepted a shift or have an ongoing client, and the shift does not appear on your PDA you must contact the office to clarify. Do not wait until after-hours to verify a shift.
If your PDA does not show your schedule, call the office for your schedule. If for any reason you cannot use your PDA to confirm your visits your backup is always telephony. Continue with your schedule using telephony to confirm your visits and leave Fatema / CCC a message about your PDA. *NEW* You can also listen to voicemail #7575 for instructions. You must be logged into your own voicemail first.
If you need supplies, you MUST give the office 24hrs to have them available to you. Please leave your CCC a message. Or you can send Rose an email only to order supplies. Email Rose at rosalie.rodrigo@prefhealthcare.com and add “supplies” in the subject line.
Annual Accolades and Achievements
E-Learning & Pilot Group 60 staff are testing the new e-learning tool. This tool will make it possible for you to complete education modules from the comfort of your homes. Stay Tuned!
SAVE THE DATE Time to recognize and honour those that have made PHCS the exemplary homecare service that it is today time and location will be announced at a later date
To access the online e-learning guide for those that are signed up for the Pilot User Group ONLY Please go to the Youtube page below. Pause the video or go to full screen as needed to read at your leisure.
http://youtu.be/tWtqYQmZlXk
What Would You Do? While you are visiting one of your clients their Doctor arrives for a house call. This client has confided in you that they do not like this Doctor because of the medication he prescribes which makes your client very sleepy and they feel they are sleeping their life away. The Doctor does his examination and then asks you directly to make sure that your client takes this mediation. The next few visits you notice that your client has not been taking this medication even though you are reminding them. Your client says that they like being more active and not to say anything to the client’s family or to call the office because once again they will be sleeping all day. What do you do? Leave your comments on this scenario to voicemail #8000 We will share your views in the next newsletter
Homemade Hand Sanitizer
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Hand Sanitizer Ingredients 2/3 cup 99% rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) or ethanol 1/3 cup aloe vera gel 8-10 drops essential oil, optional (such as lavender, vanilla, peppermint, grapefruit) bowl and spoon funnel
recycled liquid soap or hand sanitizer bottle
Nothing could be easier! Simply mix the ingredients together and then use the funnel to pour them into the bottle. Screw the pump back onto the bottle and you're ready to go.
How It Works The active ingredient in this hand sanitizer recipe is the alcohol, which needs to comprise at least 60% of the product in order to be an effective disinfectant. Essential Oils in Hand Sanitizer
Regular office hours are from 8 AM – 9 PM, 7 days a week, including holidays. These are the hours when a Client Care Coordinator is present in the office to assist with your calls. Please remember to call the office for non-urgent issues prior to 9 PM each evening. Our CCC’s leave at 9 PM and only urgent calls are forwarded to the Client Care Managers or Director of Client Services. Please check your upcoming shifts via your PDA and report any inconsistencies to you CCC by email using the Goldcare numbers ONLY. Calling for inconsistencies in your schedule for the next day should not be left until after 9 PM and should not be an urgent issue. If it is after hours and you are ill and unable to work the next day, then please call the main line. These calls are forwarded to the answering service. The Client Care Manager can then call your early morning clients. Please also know where you are going the next day. Calling for directions should not be left until after 9 PM.
905-771-2766 Main Line 905-771-2765 Back Door 1-877-924-8800 Toll Free
In addition to adding fragrance to your hand sanitizer, the essential oil you choose may also help protect you against germs. For example, thyme and clove oil have antimicrobial properties. If you are using antimicrobial oils, only use a drop or two, since these oils tend to be very powerful and might irritate your skin. Other oils, such as lavender or chamomile, may help soothe your skin.
HELPFUL PHONE NUMBERS Payroll, Vacation Althea Younger 905-477-4006 ext. 2096 PDA Issues Fatema Alloo ext. 3272 Benefits, Orientation, HR policies: Christina Rizek ext. 3250
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