Left to right: Ashley Batenchuk, Jina Thomas, Oluwatobi Olatunji, Maria Waldner, Sarah Sylvester and Lynne Anderson. Missing students in the photo: Juan Restrepo and Natasha Wellman. 

On Nov. 10, eight more students graduated from IERHA’s new Grow Our Own HCA micro-credential course.

The celebration included cake and a presentation of certificates.

Congrats to all the grads and all the best in your bright careers ahead! Thank you to all staff who had a hand in developing and helping us host this training. 

Left to right: Robert Maytwayashing, Elder Robert Greene, Elizabeth Pruden-Skiba, Cheryl Bredin, Ferdinand Funk, Paul Human, Leigha Heald and Bunny Fontaine. Missing: Marcia Thomson.

Congratulations to recent graduates from Interlake-Eastern RHA’s spiritual care education program!

Staff member Ferdinand Funk, regional spiritual care coordinator, and Robert Maytwayashing, Indigenous knowledge keeper and IERHA’s human resource development officer, honoured the graduates at a ceremony at Selkirk Regional Health Centre.

Of special note for grads was the presence of elder Robert Greene, Anishinaabe Elder-in-Residence at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Robert was asked to attend by a friend who was graduating. He drummed and offered a song to graduates.  

Graduate Marcia Thomson had this to say about the experience: "I want to thank my colleagues for their time and for sharing their knowledge and experiences so we can all go forward with Ferdinand and others in this important work — supporting others with our own humanity and willingness to listen, learn and share!”

What is radon and why is it important?

• Radon is a colourless, odorless, radioactive gas that is naturally occurring.
• Radon gas can seep into homes and buildings through cracks, openings and other entry points.

Why is radon a health concern?

• Radon gas is a lung carcinogen and is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking.
• Manitoba has higher levels of radon than other provinces.

What can be done to address it?

• Raising awareness around radon and radon testing is encouraged. Home radon testing is accessible and relatively inexpensive.
• Remediation should occur for homes with elevated radon. Some financial supports exist for remediation.

Click here to read a Q&A about radon.

Learn more about how to access radon test kits.

Efforts are underway at facilities across the region to spread holiday cheer. We’ll be profiling some of the different giving opportunities in our facilities over the issues leading up to the end of December.

Who doesn't love a bowl of soup to make our cold Manitoba fall and winter days feel a little less chilly? This soup is budget friendly, easy to make and super delicious!

Butternut squash is typically ready to be picked in late fall (before any frost sets in), making it a perfect staple to add to all your dishes. This type of squash is an excellent source of potassium and antioxidants.

Check out this recipe for butternut squash soup, as well as squash facts and tips to make your money stretch!

Thank you to community wellness facilitator Marilyn Sitar, dietitian Caroline Le Clair and nursing student Dana Mandryk for sharing this great info, which was originally published in IERHA's Community Wellness e-news. To receive this free monthly e-newsletter, email wellness@ierha.ca and type “Subscribe” in the subject line or click here to fill out an online form. 

Interlake-Eastern’s RHA’s high alert medication policies have recently been updated. These policies govern the use of medications that have a heightened risk of harm such as significant side effects that require close monitoring, those that are complicated to prepare and those with a narrow range from where they are helpful to patients to where they can potentially be harmful if not used appropriately.

The recent changes reflect the adoption of one standard for these medications all across Manitoba and that’s a welcome move, according to our regional director of pharmacy, Kurt Schroeder.

“A longstanding accreditation requirement has been for us to identify these medications and develop strategies to reduce risk and keep our patients safe," Kurt says.

"Addressing these concerns at a provincial level means that no matter where staff practise in the province, we’re all doing the same things with these drugs and treating them the same way."

As risks are mitigated, some medications will be removed from the high alert medication list just as others will be added due to cautions required. The provincial working group comprised of representatives from acute care, long-term care, pharmacy and emergency response services will amend and update the medication list and standard as needed. 

This month, Interlake-Eastern RHA was the first to implement the standard.

“Thank you to all staff regionally, as well as our partners across the health system, who have helped to develop and implement this provincial response to improve patient safety,” Kurt says.

Thank you to Averill Stephenson, executive director of Interlake Eastern Health Foundation, for this submission.

Staff at Teulon hospital were very excited with the recent arrival of a new wheelchair ramp scale because they know how much it would help enhance patient care.

“This wheelchair ramp scale was an immediate need for Teulon as we currently did not have a way of weighing our patients," says Kim Hansen, RNBN, manager of health services.

"Patient weight can be vitally important to how medications are prescribed and how patients’ care plans are managed. This item will be used immediately."

Thank you to Teulon Healthcare Foundation for their continued support and partnership.

Pictured is Mallory Osbak, health-care aide, demonstrating the new scale.

Do you know your four workers' rights?

All workers have four basic legally protected rights related to workplace health and safety:

1. The right to know
2. The right to participate
3. The right to refuse unsafe work
4. The right to protection from discrimination

It’s important that we’re all aware of these rights.

Learn more.

Is your profession or department celebrating an upcoming recognition day? We'd love to share in the excitement! Please send us a brief write-up (250 words maximum) plus a few staff photos for consideration for possible publication in the Wave. Send submissions to ierhawave@ierha.ca.

Display at the St. Laurent Legion #250.

A Korean veteran (Korea “B” Company 2 PPCLl 1A) looks at his picture on display for the first time.

The Red River Métis Veterans Department partnered with the Royal Canadian Legion St. Laurent Métis Branch #250 to host an Indigenous Veterans Day ceremony on Nov. 8.

The Royal Canadian Legion St. Laurent Métis Branch #250 is the only recognized Métis legion in Canada.

The event featured a bilingual memorial ceremony, refreshments and entertainment, including fiddle music.

Veterans Memorial Métis Road features 93 banners hung on hydro poles to commemorate the Métis people who went to war.

Thank you to Lori Buors, Indigenous human resources development assistant, for sharing these photos.

Wreaths were laid that day for veterans and their family members.

Crowds gathered for the ceremony at the St. Laurent Legion.

Fitness instructor Jan Keryluk, who works part-time with IERHA as a wellness facilitator, and participants in her Gimli and Selkirk Zumba classes recently raised more than $2,500 a to help support cancer patients and their families.

Zumba Jan organized an event called the Fitness Family Fundraiser in October and raised $2,535 for the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation. 

Read more on the MBNews101 website.

We welcome the following new staff members who have agreed to have their names printed in the Wave. We wish you all long and rewarding Interlake-Eastern RHA careers!

• Serina Adams, RN BN, Rosewood Lodge Personal Care Home – Stonewall
• Paige Churchill, home care case coordinator, Kin Place Personal Care Home - Oakbank
• Abigail Ebalde, licensed practical nurse, Selkirk Regional Health Centre
• Amy Friedt, administrative assistant, Selkirk Community Health Office
• Tammy Greenway, dietary aide, Kin Place Personal Care Home– Oakbank
• Christine Johnson, ER registration clerk, Selkirk Regional Health Centre
• Satwant Kaur, home care, Selkirk Community Health Office
• Heather LeGood, health-care aide, East Gate Lodge Personal Care Home- Beausejour
• Mary Manzano, manager - health services, Selkirk Regional Health Centre
• Jorge Mogatas, dietary aide, Selkirk Regional Health Centre
• Abigail Olson, dietary aide, Ashern Hospital
• Rachel Pilipchuk, housekeeping aide, Eriksdale Hospital
• Samantha Reykdal, dietary aide, Ashern Hospital
• Taylor Robinson, UNE, Selkirk Regional Health Centre
• Tess Rowson, community mental health worker, Beausejour HEW Building
• James Steinhoff, assistant cook, Selkirk Regional Health Centre
• Brooklyn Storozuk, UNE, Selkirk Regional Health Centre
• Brenda Tesarski, ER admitting clerk, Selkirk Regional Health Centre
• Tara Vopni, home care attendant, Selkirk Community Health Office
• Shelby Werboski, home care scheduling clerk, Selkirk Community Health Office
• Angie Zanewich, dietary aide, Lundar Personal Care Home

KIDTHINK is launching a series of free live online workshops tailored for caregivers.

The workshops are led by KIDTHINK clinicians and are built to help you understand and support the young minds in your care. These sessions are available at no cost thanks to the Bell Let's Talk Community Fund.

Upcoming Workshops:

• Dec. 20: Understanding Childhood Anxiety | 5 to 7 p.m.
• Jan. 17: Understanding Childhood OCD | 5 to 7 p.m.
• Feb. 21: Mindfulness for Children and Caregivers | 5 to 6:30 p.m.
• March 20:Self-Regulation in Children | 5 to 7 p.m.
• April 17: Parenting Tips for Healthy Sleep Habits | 5 to 7 p.m.
• May 15: Understanding Depression in Youths | 5 to 7 p.m.
• June 19: Managing Challenging Behaviour in Children | 5 to 7 p.m.

Register now by clicking HERE or by clicking on one of the links above. Spaces are filling up, so act fast!

ASIST: Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training

Dec. 6 and 7 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Selkirk Regional Health Centre

Participants must attend the two full days to receive certificate of completion This two-day workshop is designed to help all caregivers become more willing, ready and able to help persons at risk and offers practical intervention skills that can be used with people of all ages.

Click here to see a poster with more info. 

Order cut-off is Jan. 26 for delivery to corporate office on Feb. 16.

Visit our online shop.

We're looking for your story ideas!

Send your submission of 250 words or less to ierhawave@ierha.ca by Friday and we'll work to get your story into the next issue.

We're taking a break from publishing editions in weeks following statutory holidays.

There will be no issue of the Wednesday Wave published on Dec. 27.