April 2, 2019
Welcome to E-Connect
Welcome to this week's edition of E-Connect!

Today's newsletter is filled with exciting opportunities that are taking place at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare. Continue on to read about an important new program at our Regional Children's Centre, a change for our neurological rehab patients, and a few ways that we are strengthening our relationship with the University of Windsor.

Happy reading,
Maciah
Our Patients
A plate filled with success: Regional Children's Centre launches breakfast program
Yogurt tubes, cinnamon raisin bread, and scrambled eggs, these are just some of the items filling the bellies of the children in our care at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare’s Regional Children’s Centre (RCC).

Every day, students receiving Intensive Treatment Services within our Day Program at RCC get asked a question when they arrive for school each morning, “Would you like to go inside for breakfast?”

Though a simple question, that many of us are fortunate enough to not give a second thought, for a significant number of these kids, the option to answer ‘yes’ greatly improves not only their day, but their life.

It was over a year ago that the idea of a Breakfast Program at RCC began developing. Staff at RCC consistently heard the same message from many of the children: “I’m hungry”. With limited resources at hand, the children pulled snacks from their lunch to satisfy their morning hunger, resulting in a smaller lunch come the afternoon. This method wasn’t working, it wasn’t sustainable. The children’s basic needs weren’t being met, resulting in agitation, loss of focus, and even outbursts.

Thanks to the determination of two RCC Child and Youth Workers, Lisa Karns and Rita Gidillini, who advocated for the children and their needs, and with a donation from community partner In Honour of the Ones We Love Inc., who raised funds through their Wine and Dine Tour, the RCC Breakfast Program officially launched on March 18 th .

With input from the children, a vibrant menu was created with items such as milk, cheese, bagels, cereal, and hot breakfast every Tuesday with eggs, pancakes, and even sausages.

Countless studies highlight the importance of a healthy breakfast. On many levels, this breakfast program is allowing each child to start their day on a positive note.
“This project is so much more than just feeding the kids,” Rita says passionately. “We are focusing on their overall wellbeing.”

We are overjoyed to say that through the generosity of donors and community partners, the children in the Day Program at RCC receive a hot lunch each Wednesday through a donation from Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare’s Changing Lives Together Foundation, a healthy snack provided through the Ontario Student Nutrition Program throughout each day, and now, a hearty breakfast through the RCC Breakfast Program every morning if they choose.

They say that food is love; at RCC food is strength, food is knowledge, and ultimately, food becomes success.
Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare makes changes to better serve Neurological Rehabilitation Patient Population
Beginning on Monday April 1st, 2019 Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare (HDGH) introduced changes to better serve the neurological rehabilitation patient population in Windsor-Essex. Last year the outpatient neurological rehabilitation program served 550 individuals in Windsor-Essex. Currently, there are 71 individuals on a waitlist for neurologic rehabilitation services who are anticipated to wait approximately six weeks. A neurological rehabilitation patient is considered someone who may have experienced a stroke, acquired brain injury, and other neurologic conditions. 

Recently our partners at Windsor Regional Hospital (WRH) joined the provincial "Bundled Care" program that "is a service delivery and funding model that is designed to promote greater integration in health care delivery, drive high-quality, efficient care and improve patient outcomes and experience." This integrated funding model involving community physiotherapy clinics expands access to outpatient hip and knee rehabilitation. With this system's improvement, HDGH is able to introduce additional capacity to serve the neurological rehabilitation population that our community so desperately needs. Orthopeadic outpatients who were previously served by HDGH will be served by those community clinics identified by WRH.

Having timely access to outpatient neurological rehabilitation care is necessary to facilitate discharge from our acute care partners and transition patients to community treatment. By providing earlier access to outpatient neurological rehabilitation patients can optimize recovery and allow for greater likelihood of achieving their goals. This is a key component of a best practice stroke pathway and is a necessary improvement in post-acute trauma services in our community. 

Sandra Malowitz, a recent patient was able to utilize the neurological outpatient rehabilitation program at HDGH. "I felt grateful that I was there and grateful for my health and recovery. It was great all the staff were so great. Being active in the outpatient program made me feel like who I was before my accident," explained Malowitz. 

HDGH has a number of Rehabilitation programs and services that aim to assist patients in restoring their functional ability and reach their highest level of independence after encountering a catastrophic health event such as an acquired brain injury, cardiac event, stroke, bone break, etc. Through inpatient, outpatient, and community outreach formats, an inter-professional healthcare team works with patients to support personal goals, as well as physical, cognitive, and social needs. Joe Karb, Vice President of Restorative Care at HDGH explains, "HDGH is working diligently to develop a Centre of Excellence in Rehabilitation here in Windsor. This pause and refocus that HDGH has completed is just part of this work. We look forward to specializing in specific treatment services as part of establishing a Centre of Excellence." 
Our People
Becoming Executive for a day
Being an Executive for a major organization, even just for a day is a dream for many with great career aspirations, but for a number of fortunate students at the University of Windsor’s Odette School of Business, this dream became a reality as they took part in the Odette Executive-for-a-Day program.

An opportunity aiming to give students the rare view into what it’s like to be an executive in an organization, Executive-for-a-Day exposes students to new settings and career possibilities, while applying their business knowledge This year, 25 students from Odette’s Master of Management and Bachelor of Commerce programs had the chance to learn from industry leaders from local organizations that were aligned with their interests and career aspirations.

On March 21 st , Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare welcomed Lindsay Ye, a Master of Management Student concentrating on Human Resources Management, as our newest ‘executive’. Lindsay, who travelled to Windsor from China to pursue studies at the University of Windsor, was eager to learn from and shadow our President and CEO, Janice Kaffer throughout the day.

Prior to her arrival in Windsor, Lindsay had over a decade of work experience in executive search by placing leadership teams with client organizations in the Asia Pacific region. She also completed studies in English and Communications from top universities in China. Lindsay was passionate about keeping her knowledge about the working world up-to-date and current, which is what brought her to Windsor.

Lindsay was thrilled to be paired with Janice at a healthcare organization for her Executive-for-a-Day experience.

“I like that I get to learn the differences in how hospitals operate, especially faith-based hospitals,” Lindsay went on to explain how China is a secular country and that she had many questions about how Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare functions, how decisions are made, and how we adapt with the many swift changes in healthcare. “I think it’s really good to know that there are places, like HDGH, that care about the public good.”

Lindsay spent one-on-one time asking Janice questions, hearing from our Governance Coordinator about our Board of Directors, sitting in on meetings, and learning about Centres of Excellence throughout the day.

“I had a great day spent with Jan and all of you experiencing and learning. I’m thankful that Jan and you were all so welcoming. That’s a very inspiring day!” Lindsay wrote.

Though the goal of Executive-for-a-Day is to allow ample learning for the student, Janice was just as excited to learn from Lindsay and to share her knowledge and experiences.

“I believe in hands-on learning,” Janice explains. “As my career advanced, I benefitted from people who had experiences that I hadn’t yet, which is why I think Executive-for-a-Day is such a great opportunity for students at the University.”

Janice went on to say how thrilled she was to have the opportunity to take part in the program, strengthening our organizational relationship with the University of Windsor. She was even more excited to hear that she was paired with Lindsay.

“I believe that in my role, I have the responsibility to lead through relationships and to be a role model. It is important for younger women, and for our community, to see strong female leaders.”

We are grateful that we were able to share the workings of our organization with Lindsay as part of the Executive-for-a-Day program. We always welcome the opportunity to shared knowledge with our community in the hopes of shaping even more strong leaders.
Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare's Board of Directors
welcomes applications
HDGH is now accepting applications to serve on the HDGH Board of Directors. Applications will be selected by matching the candidate’s qualifications against pre-identified requirements of the Board Director Profile, with a particular focus on candidates who have experience and strengths in the following areas: life skills, governance, leadership, change management and performance management, organizational development and workplace culture, corporate law, and financial management expertise. 

Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare is proud to promote and embrace the diversity of Windsor-Essex. We continuously strive to establish and maintain an inclusive organization and believe that the diversity of our staff, volunteers and physicians is an invaluable asset. We are committed to providing equitable volunteer opportunities and accessible volunteer practices for members of all communities, including but not limited to persons with disabilities, Indigenous persons, TLGBQ2S individuals, and members of identified visible minority groups and racialized communities. If you require accommodations during any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know so we can provide you with appropriate services.
Our Identity
Stroke and Cardiac Rehabilitation receive Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare and University of Windsor Inaugural Partners in Research Seed Grant
After a formally signing a MOU in 2017 to solidify a partnership in research, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare (HDGH) and the University of Windsor (U of W) have announced the winners of the inaugural "Partners in Research Seed Grant," funded through their Academic Research Committee (ARC).
 
ARC is a group made up of members from both organizations that have been committed to ensuring the highest quality standards are maintained in research collaborations.
 
"There has been a history of long-standing collaborative working in many fields between the University of Windsor and Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare," said Dr. Michael Siu, VP of the U of W's Research and Innovation Department." Our joint ARC provides a formal mechanism to the shared commitment to ensure excellent research, evaluation and knowledge transfer in our region," he concluded at a press conference Monday.
 
Ten thousand dollars each was awarded to two research projects that will help transform patient care through innovation, research and discovery.
 
Dr. Susan Fox of U of W's Faculty of Nursing and Dr. Nathania Liam, HDGH's Clinical Lead of HDGH's Rehabilitative Programs were granted funds to evaluate the effectiveness of hospital and home based outpatient rehab services for stroke survivors in the Windsor Essex Community.
 
"We know that stroke is one of the common reasons for hospital admissions in Ontario. Locally, it is among the highest in the province," explained Fox. "What this grant will allow us to do is look at the ongoing rehab needs of patients after they leave acute care or inpatient rehab and what setting this best to take place."
 
The second grant went to a group of local and US based researchers who are comparing cardiac rehab models of care in the great lakes central region.

"It is the hope that our work will endorse program characteristics that enhance Cardiac Rehab use and completion. We know now that some populations are less likely to enroll in Cardiac Rehab and are looking at how to maximize uptake to find the ideal model from both an economic and patient care perspective," said lead principal investigator Dr. Cheri McGowan, Associate Professor & Kinesiology Research Coordinator at the U of W. "This has the potential to help thousands of individuals living in Windsor-Essex and beyond to achieve the best possible outcome."
 
Both the University of Windsor's President, Dr. Douglas Kneale as well as HDGH's President and CEO, Janice Kaffer were on hand to honour and congratulate the recipients at Monday's event.
 
"It brings me great pleasure to be here today to formally announce this partnership with our education partners, the U of W, and recognize first hand how both organizations are succeeding in improving the care experience and health of our community through research and innovation," said Kaffer. "By working together with our colleagues across Windsor/Essex as well as patients we serve, research at HDGH and the U of W works to make our region a healthier, and smarter place for everyone."
 
Findings from both studies will be released in Spring of 2020.