Connections March 2012 Vol. 10 Issue 2
Corporate Events 13th Annual Founders’ Dinner 24 March, Saturday Ban Righ Hall, Queen’s U. 5:30 p.m. Champagne reception & Silent auction tables open 7:10 p.m. Dr. Goldbloom 8:00 p.m. Gourmet dinner Staff Education Bursaries Deadline for applications: 31 March Contact: Learning & Leadership
Leading the way in compassion and discovery.
Music enhances quality of life
what’s inside New Volunteer Concierge program benefits patients, their families and our staff Nurse-Led Outreach Team Building Providence Care Hospital - RFQ issued Stencilers Guild of Kingston brighten wall at Mental Health Services
www.providencecare.ca ancing Quality of Lif e E nh for over 150 years
On March 2 residents and their family members at Providence Manor were treated to an afternoon ‘ArtsWay’ concert by members of the Kingston Symphony: Gisele Dalbec on violin, Melinda Raymond on viola, and Liz Tremblay on cello. The concert was sponsored by the Health Arts Society of Ontario, the largest performance arts organization in Canada dedicated exclusively to health care. Health Arts Society is driven by the central idea that people in care, especially in long-term care, benefit from intellectual stimulation. ArtsWay programs are also presented in mental health sites. The neurological benefits of music are becoming better known. A research project is to be undertaken with the participation of Health Arts Society by the Institute of Mental Health at the University of British Columbia and Provincial Health Services Authority. This research will help to identify and describe more precisely the outcomes of the ArtsWay program. Health Arts Society will be presenting other musical afternoons for residents of Providence Manor and their families throughout the year: April 20, June 8, September 7, October 26 and December 7. These performances are also open to patients and clients of Mental Health Services and St. Mary’s of the Lake Hospital, who are able to attend - please contact Colleen Stoneman at 613-548-7222 ext. 3160, or stonemac@providencecare.ca.
Providenc e Ca re Con n e c ti o n s
Mar. 2012 Vol. 10 Issue 2
Volunteers lend a helping hand New Concierge program benefits patients, their families and our staff Being or having a family member admitted to hospital can be a confusing and stressful time. Imagine having someone personally escort you to your room upon admission and chat with you and answer your questions. Imagine someone not only letting you know the room number but personally accompanying you to find the room of a loved one. Volunteers at our St. Mary’s of the Lake Hospital have initiated a new Concierge program to do just that. Patients of the Gibson 2 and Palliative Care Units at St. Mary’s, and their families, are escorted by volunteers upon their arrival on the units. The volunteers will help patients being admitted or discharged to unpack/ pack and provide an orientation tour of the unit. They also review information packages with the patient and their family members to ensure they have and understand pertinent information such as laundry, TV, meal and other arrangements and where to find things. The volunteer staffed Concierge desk is located right off the elevators to the units and volunteers will also accompany visitors to find the room of the person they are visiting. “After only one week, we received very positive feedback on the program,” states Janet Hunter, Director of Volunteer Services at our St. Mary’s and Mental Health Services facilities. “Not only do the volunteers assist in orienting patients and their family members to the units, it has been found that they often provide a calming and supportive influence for patients and family members alike and assist in making the work of our staff easier. We’ve found that the volunteer desk has quickly become a welcoming place for patients to stop and chat and that our volunteers provide encouragement to visitors.” The Concierge program has been so successful that consideration is being given to expanding the program to other units in the hospital.
“May I help you?” - the sign says it all! One of our many Providence Care volunteers, Cheryl Yang, mans the volunteer Concierge desk at St. Mary’s of the Lake Hospital. The new program, aimed to assist patients and their family members, has proven to be a great success.
Our Volunteers Providence Care is fortunate to have over 894 volunteers who, in 2010-2011, provided over 51,000 volunteer hours in support of our patients, clients and residents in a variety of ways. We thank all our volunteers for all they do to enhance the lives of others!
Interested in volunteering with Providence Care? Check out the volunteer section on our website: www.providencecare.ca
- Cathy Clark Communications Officer
Providenc e Ca re Con n e c ti o n s
Ma r . 2012 Vol. 10 Issue 2
Nurse-Led Long-Term Care Outreach Team “Long-term care is changing quickly and it’s a wonderful experience to be part of it,” remarks Judy Ferguson, who, along with fellow nurse practitioner, Cheryl Knott, make up the Nurse-Led Long-Term Care Outreach Team (NLOT) at Providence Manor, Helen Henderson and Extendicare. The Outreach Team initiative is one of several projects the South East Local Health Integration Network (SE LHIN) implemented under Ontario’s Emergency Room and Alternate Level of Care Strategy. Its primary intent is to ensure long-term care home residents have access to timely, high quality care within their Homes and to minimize avoidable resident transfers to emergency and hospital admissions. In the three years since its launch, the NLOT initiative has received positive feedback and has had a positive impact on the number of hospital admissions from the three long-term care homes. “Each home is different,” states Judy. “It is a collaborative approach. We work with the administration, front-line staff and residents and their families to identify opportunities for improvement and develop educational strategies on appropriate prevention and care as well as awareness of appropriate
community resources. We also develop evaluation processes to monitor results.” One example is the initiation of a successful Falls Prevention program in response to the identified need to reduce the incidence of falls – a common reason for hospital admissions from the long-term care homes. The team also provides medical reconciliation, offers advanced knowledge to front-line staff and develops and gives educational presentations to appropriate groups such as meetings of Home Administrators. Nurse Practitioners …provide direct care, focusing on health promotion and the treatment and management of health conditions. They are registered nurses with an expanded scope of practice and can diagnose, order and interpret diagnostic tests. They can also prescribe medications and perform certain procedures. In Canada between 2004 and 2008, the number of nurse practitioners grew by 90 percent.
From LtoR: Nurse Practitioners Cheryl Knott and Judy Ferguson make up the Nurse-Led Long-Term Care Outreach Team at Providence Manor, Helen Henderson and Extendicare in Kingston.
- Cathy Clark, Communications Officer
BUILDING...
HOSPITAL
Request for Qualifications issued for project Excerpt from March 6, 2012 News Release: KINGSTON – Plans for a new, state-of-theart health care facility for residents in the Kingston area are underway. Infrastructure Ontario and Providence Care have released a request for qualifications (RFQ) to design, build, finance and maintain the new Providence Care Hospital. The redevelopment plan will bring together Providence Care’s rehabilitation, complex continuing care, specialized geriatrics, palliative care and mental health programs that are currently located at St. Mary’s of the Lake Hospital and Mental Health Services (MHS) buildings. Providence
Care Hospital will be built on a new site, adjacent to the existing MHS facility. Highlights of the new hospital include: � single inpatient rooms, in line with today’s infection control standards; � therapy and treatment spaces on inpatient units, allowing patients to receive care close to their rooms; � clinics on-site within the hospital, providing services accessible to inpatients and outpatients, and easing the transition from hospital to home;
� patient/client environments that link with the outdoors and the use of natural lighting throughout the facility; � a focus on a healthy environment within the hospital and on the facility grounds, with a goal of achieving Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Silver certification in the design and construction of the new hospital; and � improved learning and research Check out the full News Release on our website: www.providencecare.ca
Providenc e Ca re Con n e c ti o n s
Making a difference
Mar. 2012 Vol. 10 Issue 2
BUILDING...
Together our Providence Care family makes a difference in the lives of others in our community Congratulations and thanks to all staff who participated in our staff Pancake Breakfasts for a Toonie on Tuesday, February 21. Together, we raised $532.95 for the Partners in Mission Food Bank. Thanks to Sodexo for supplying all the pancakes, toppings and beverages.
Stencilers spruce up wall at Mental Health Services
Get the latest news at:
http://providencecareredevelopment.wordpress.com/
Clinical user groups involving front line staff began meeting in January to review the Functional Program. Work continues with our PSOS (Project Specific Output Specifications) consultants on the detailed design planning for the new hospital. Questions? Send to: info@providencecare.ca
PROVIDENCE CARE HOSPITAL: Bringing together the programs and services of St. Mary’s of the Lake Hospital and Mental Health Services in one new hospital located at 752 King Street West in Kingston.
WORDS OF APPRECIATION
From a family member of a client of Mental Health Services: “The workers we’ve met are very friendly and helpful, also the doctors I’ve spoken to on the phone.”
From friends of a resident of Members of the Stencilers Guild of Kingston volunteered their time and expertise to brighten up the front lobby wall at Mental Health Services. Our Values of Respect & Dignity, Compassion and Stewardship were artistically added as a banner to the wall. Other areas of our organization have benefited from the artistic talent of the Stencilers Guild throughout the years. For example, the stencilers have created some beautiful wall murals at Providence Manor. Founded in 1991, the Stencilers Guild of Kingston share their talents free of charge and work with a facility to develop ideas in keeping with the facility’s wishes. They then transfer those ideas into lovely murals. Over the past 18 years the group has stenciled creations for an impressive number of locations including Big Sisters, Kingston General Hospital, Queen’s University, Pathways for Children, Teddy Bears’ Picnic, MHS Chrysalis Day Centre, Public Health, CFB Kingston Batoche Centre, as well as doctor’s offices and a banner for the Festival of Trees, to name just a few. Published monthly by: Providence Care Communications Dept. Editor: Cathy Clark, 613-548-5567, ext. 5995
Providence Manor: “We spoke with her caregivers frequently, and I want you to know how very impressed and thankful we are for the care she received.”
From family members of a patient
of St. Mary’s Rehab program: “We want to express thanks for the extraordinary care, compassion and concern. Truly a wonderful team and we deeply appreciate all of your hard work.”
Deadline for Apr. issue: Mar. 23 Send to: info@providencecare.ca