The Mammothon is back for the 11th year of breast screening challenge!
If you’re a woman between the ages of 50 and 74 who has put off having a mammogram, Wednesday, June 6 is the day to make time for you and your good health!
No appointment necessary and parking is free! Call 705-474-8600 extension 2860 for more information.
Spread the word! Download the poster here and pass it along to a friend or family member!
The North Bay Regional Health Centre (NBRHC) has declared a ‘high risk influenza status’ for the Health Centre, including an outbreak on one of our inpatient units.
Mark Daniw, Manager of Infection Prevention & Control explains that a designation of ‘high risk influenza status’ is done as a proactive measure to help protect our patients from increased risk of infections. “It means that along with encouraging influenza vaccination, staff also follow heightened infection control measures—such as hand washing and effective use of personal protection equipment (PPE).”
This change in status reflects the increase of flu-like activity currently seen both in the community and within the hospital. The Health Centre has one unit in the facility currently in outbreak status. Full outbreak control measures have been implemented and we ask for everyone’s patience and consideration during this time.
While not closed to visitors, the Health Centre does ask everyone to follow any instructions posted throughout the Health Centre. “Visitors may want to consider getting their flu shot, and postponing visits if they are feeling unwell, to avoid spreading the virus to those who may be more vulnerable,” Daniw says.
For more information on how to protect yourself from the flu visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/flu-facts
-30-
Contact:
Lindsay Smylie Smith
Communications Specialist
Lindsay.smyliesmith@nbrhc.on.ca
705-495-7592
The North Bay Regional Health Centre (NBRHC) is warning the community about the patient flow crisis currently impacting the Health Centre. Also known as a ‘bed crisis’, this is a situation where the Health Centre sees an increase of patients coming in through our Emergency Department (ED) and there are no available beds to admit them, despite using all of our current acute care space.
Tiz Silveri, Vice President Clinical and Chief Nursing Executive, says the Hospital has been effective in responding to this enormous increase in patient demand, however we are currently beyond our capacity to do so. “When the ED gets backed up, patients don’t move through, creating congestion. This means we aren’t able to perform the primary function of the ED—which is to diagnose, treat and if necessary, admit.”
A bed crisis impacts flow across the entire organization, meaning some patients may be moved or discharged; some may be placed in an unconventional bed; and some elective surgeries may be delayed or cancelled.
Hospitals across the province have all reported operating under very unusual and worrying surge conditions and NBRHC is no different.
Silveri points to a number of contributing factors to the current bed crisis, including the recent closure of the 66-bed Lady Isabelle Nursing home, which saw the Health Centre’s alternate level of care (ALC) numbers jump from 7.5% to 25%. “This closure, combined with ongoing pressures like patients not being able to access the care they need in the community; inability of some to afford retirement living; increase in patients with complex needs and the upcoming flu season, means the Health Centre has to look for ways to care for these additional patients.”
Silveri stresses that patients who require care always have access. “Anyone who requires emergency and acute care services will never be turned away. Patients are discharged when they are medically stable.”
She says during this time, the hospital appreciates the cooperation and patience from the community. “We encourage people to familiarize themselves with the healthcare options available for non-urgent care such as Telehealth Ontario or walk-in clinic availability. Doing this can save you from an unnecessary visit and wait in the Emergency Department.”
However, Silveri stressed, in the event of an emergency, please do not hesitate, and go straight to the Emergency Department.
-30-
Contact:
Kim McElroy
Manager, Communications Department
North Bay Regional Health Centre
705-474-8600 ext. 3130
kimberley.mcelroy@nbrhc.on.ca
It’s never too early to start enjoying books with your children. With that in mind, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and the Service of Pediatrics at the North Bay Regional Health Centre (NBRHC) launched an innovative early childhood reading program designed to promote newborn bonding and development.
Dr. Cheryl Clayton, Service of Pediatrics, NBRHC, says when parents read to their babies while in the NICU, it has shown to help parents feel closer to their baby and gain a sense of normalcy. “Reading, talking and singing to your new baby right from the start promotes early language and literacy development,” explains Dr. Clayton.
Now families and caregivers visiting the NICU will have an opportunity to select a book from the lending library to read to their newborns. “This staff-led initiative is part of a new Learn, Laugh, Love and Read with Me program, which encourages early communication between parent and newborn,” Dr. Clayton says. “Having a library for our littlest patients and their families will be a great addition to our NICU.”
This program was made possible by support from staff in the NICU, the Service of Pediatrics and community partners. “We are very thankful for the generosity of staff, the Knights of Columbus and Eh Vee Designs for their donation of time and resources,” Dr. Clayton says.
Anyone interested in supporting the NICU lending library are encouraged to visit the Indigo FUNdraising page. Proceeds of purchases made online go directly to support the Learn, Laugh, Love and Read with Me program.
For more information visit /foundation/
-30-
Contact:
Taylor Grant
Assistant, Communications & Volunteer Department
North Bay Regional Health Centre
Taylor.grant@nbrhc.on.ca
705-474-8600 ext. 3131
For many of us, taking a bath is a relaxing experience. Some people use it as an opportunity to unwind at the end of a long day, and parents are often encouraged to bathe children to help them relax before bedtime. For patients living with dementia, the experience can often be the opposite—frightening and stressful for the patient, their families and the staff caring for them.
“When you are living with dementia, you are trying to make sense of the world around you,” explains Debbie Hewitt Colborne, RN and Coordinator of Seniors’ Services at the North Bay Regional Health Centre. “This can be more difficult when you need assistance with personal care—it’s an intimate experience and can be very stressful for our patients.”
Knowing that personal care could cause some of the most intense responsive behaviours from patients, staff from the B1 Dementia Transition Unit came up with a plan. “We recognized an opportunity to make bathing a less stressful experience with some changes to our tub room,” Hewitt Colborne explains.
Before the upgrade, the tub room likely wouldn’t have been appealing for anyone to bathe there, let alone a patient who may be feeling vulnerable and unsure of their surroundings. Visually, the room was an institutional looking drab colour and looked very busy and messy—clothing was stacked in the corner, supplies out in the open and pieces of equipment being stored in there.
 |
 |
The team, comprised of nursing, clerical and housekeeping staff, set to work to make the tub room a more calming environment. First the room was painted blue—a shade specifically chosen for its well documented calming properties. Artwork was hung on the wall that could be seen from the bathtub, in an effort to create a more home-like environment. Finally new cupboards were installed with doors that could be closed to store supplies out of sight, and arrangements were made to remove most of the excess clutter and unnecessary items that had found a temporary home in the room.
 |
 |
The biggest change, however, was the installation of a blanket/towel warmer. “This addition was key for the experience of the patient living with dementia,” Hewitt Colborne says.
Katherine Gagnon, RN and Team Lead on B1, has seen first-hand the positive effect these changes have had on patient experience. Gagnon remembers one patient in particular had historically found the bathing experience very stressful—which sometimes resulted in both verbal and physical responsive behaviours.
First staff brought him to the tub room and prepared him for the bath by getting him undressed. “As soon as we did,” she remembers, “we put a warm towel on him right away. Immediately you could feel him relax.”
They continued that way during the entire bath—any area of the patient that was exposed was covered with a warm towel, and they were able to provide his bath without the stress that the patient previously experienced.
Making the tub room more home-like was part of a larger goal to make the environment on B1 more dementia friendly—and to better provide what is known as ‘person and family centered care’. Person and family centered care is the idea that health care should be tailored to a patient’s individual needs and goals, together with the involvement of the patient and their families.
NBRHC has a Senior Friendly Hospital (SFH) Work Plan that demonstrates the organization’s commitment to providing quality care to older adults. As part of our current SFH work plan, we are excited to move forward with our Senior Friendly Care Advocate Program—an educational opportunity for staff to increase their knowledge and expertise in providing quality care to older adults.
Wednesday, May 3, 2017 – Celebrate 10 years of Breast Screening Challenges across the North East. Join other women ages 50-74 who have never been screened. No appointment necessary.
Flu activity is currently high in our community, and the North Bay Regional Health Centre (NBRHC) wants to help ensure you are protected from the virus. Here are some tips to stay healthy this flu season.
The North Bay Regional Health Centre (NBRHC), similar to other hospitals in the province, has been experiencing a peak in flu activity with an increased volume of patients presenting with respiratory illnesses. In response, a ‘High Risk Influenza Status’ has been declared today at the Health Centre.
“As our hospital is committed to patient safety, a High Risk Influenza Status means heightened awareness and infection control measures are in place,” says Mark Daniw, NBRHC Manager of Infection Control. “The hospital strongly encourages all staff, physicians, volunteers and visitors to get their flu shot. This not only protects them from the flu, but also helps prevent spreading the virus to those who may be more vulnerable like very young children or the elderly.”
Daniw says during this time the hospital also appreciates the cooperation and patience from the community. “We ask visitors to follow any instructions posted throughout the Health Centre and to consider postponing their visit with patients if they are feeling unwell themselves,” says Daniw.
The NBRHC wants to help ensure our community and patients are protected, and that individuals seek medical attention if required. As the Emergency Department is currently seeing a surge, please familiarize yourself with the healthcare options available for non-urgent care such as Telehealth Ontario or walk-in clinic availability.
-30-
Contact:
Taylor Grant
Assistant, Communications Department
North Bay Regional Health Centre
705-474-8600 x 3131
taylor.grant@nbrhc.on.ca
The holidays are a busy time for everyone – including our Emergency Department.
Learn some easy ways to prepare for a healthier holiday.
Hospitals across the country are constantly under pressure to minimize costs and become more efficient, while improving patient care. A key strategy that North Bay Regional Health Centre (NBRHC) utilizes to address these challenges is to maximize their participation in HealthPRO contracts, from Clinical and Capital Equipment to Pharmacy and Nutrition and Food services.
“By joining as many of these national contracts as possible, we benefit from high quality products from reputable suppliers at the very best price, enabling us to invest more money in bedside care” says Paul Heinrich, President and CEO, NBRHC. “In fact, the most recent clinical contracts we committed to are positioned to generate savings of up to 46 per cent for our facility.”
A cornerstone to the success of these contracts is a focused effort on engagement and collaboration with frontline users. This begins with HealthPRO’s unique prequalification process which engages registered nurses, risk managers, and subject matter experts from across the country who ensure products meet hospitals’ robust clinical requirements. Lise Morris, Inventory Buyer and Chair of the NBRHC Product Evaluation Committee, then engages her own internal stakeholders to ensure they make the best decision for their facility. “The knowledge of prequalified suppliers and contract scope prior to contract commitment ensures we can provide our clinicians with all the pertinent details to help facilitate our decision-making, while tools such as HealthPRO’s Decision Support Toolkit help us determine the best value.”
This comprehensive process ensures that NBRHC can obtain consensus on contract decisions, leading to consistency and standardization throughout the hospital’s site.