December 11, 2018
Welcome to E-Connect
Welcome to the final edition of E-Connect for 2018!

This was an exciting year that brought Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare (HDGH) growth and positive change as we strengthened who we are and what we are here to do: change lives in Windsor-Essex.

It’s humbling to look back at all of the things we have accomplished this year and to think about what is to come.

In 2018, a huge focus of Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare was on Our Identity and reminding our community and ourselves exactly who HDGH is. We are strong and driven; we are generous and community-oriented; and we are compassionate beyond measure. To reinforce these things, we went through a total rebrand in early Spring, pulling from our 130-year heritage. Our refreshed Strategic Plan reflected this growth as we look to the future, focus our priorities and strive to achieve healthcare excellence.

We made our presence known in our community as we advocated for our patients' needs and grew our own programs and services; our Regional Children’s Centre expanded their hours for walk-in mental health services, while our Withdrawal Management Services now support clients in the comfort of their own homes. Our Transitional Stability Centre joined forces at 744 Ouellette with Canadian Mental Health Association and our Community Crisis Centre to create the Crisis and Mental Wellness Centre for a one-stop-shop for clients battling mental illness. We urged our governments to hear our voices as we went through provincial and municipal elections and even hosted an All Candidates Debate on the topic of mental health and addictions. Work still needs to be done on this front, and we hope 2019 brings even more growth for Windsor-Essex and across our Nation.

The point to all of this growth is to change the lives of Our Patients and their families, for the better. Within the walls of our organization, our accessibility evolved as we opened a fully accessible washroom and provided staff with “Je parle français” buttons for our francophone community to easily identify those who speak French. We constructed and opened a second Recreation and Wellness Centre for outdoor exercise at the front of our campus and with a generous gift from the Rotary Club of Windsor St. Clair, we opened a beautiful Children’s Greenhouse to be used by our Regional Children’s Centre. The work of our Unit Based Councils helped start our patient Dining Program, giving the opportunity of company with each meal. Our Research and Evaluation team has worked hard to allow HDGH to receive innovation grants and to host design labs for new programs and services to support child and youth mental health. Work began, and continues, as we prepare for a brand new Health Information System, which will bring our region up to speed on streamlined patient care. The numerous donations we received from our staff, our partners, and our community, will all significantly enhance the patient experience at HDGH.

Our People are our greatest asset and so we celebrated them and their life changing work throughout 2018 with our first ever Employee Appreciation Week, which spring-boarded our revamped Changing Lives Together Recognition Program. Our work in health and safety was acknowledge on a number of occasions, even winning us the Silver Level 2 Gord Smith Healthy Workplace Award, along with numerous individual awards for our impressive people. Though we lost some valuable members of our team, we gained others, including new members of our Board of Directors and Patient and Family Engagement Council. And of course, Our People went above and beyond to show our community what HDGH is all about, donating tens of thousands of dollars, needed items, and their time to local initiatives including the United Way, the Downtown Mission’s Coldest Night of the Year and hot meals program, various food banks, bed nets for the Spread the Net Challenge, school supplies for children in need, and more.

Thank you all for an incredible year. We are eager to experience and share more of the wondrous stories from Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare in 2019.

Until then, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Maciah
Our Patients
Sparky's Toy Drive brings joy to Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare's Regional Children's Centre
“I’ve never met the real Santa before!”

With wondering and excitement exuding from their tiny frames, the children within our Intensive Treatment Services program at our Regional Children’s Centre were treated to a magical afternoon on Monday, December 11 th .

For the third year in a row, our friends at Windsor Police Services, Windsor Fire and Rescue, Sparky’s Toy Drive, and honoured guest, Santa, visited with the children to bring them a special gift and memory that is sure to last a lifetime.

The children were intrigued to see the officers and fire fighters in their spiffy uniforms while their enthusiasm and eagerness showed as their name was called and they went up to give Sparky a high-five or fist bump and accept their present from Santa. Some children even brought letters for Santa to read, expressing that they truly had been good this year.

All of us at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare are immensely grateful for the special partnership we have with our first responders in Windsor and for these positive experience for the children we serve.
Sharing the gift of a memory
At Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare we are blessed by many generous donors who, through their monetary gifts, enhance the care and experience we are able to provide to our patients and clients every day. But a gift that many look past, that is even more valuable than money, is the gift of an experience, the gift of a memory.

For the children, youth, and families, served through our Regional Children’s Centre (RCC), positive experiences and memories aren’t always a reality due to a variety of factors. But thanks to the generosity of our extended Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare family, some of our RCC children and their families were gifted a special night out that many had never had the chance to enjoy.

Lindsay Samoila, Infection Prevention and Control Practitioner at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, her husband Vladimir and four-year-old son, William, are a typical Canadian family who spend numerous hours each week in a hockey arena as William learns to play the beloved Canadian sport.

On November 29 th , William’s team, the Tecumseh Eagles Preschool 1, had some professional hockey fun as they took to the ice at the WFCU Centre during an intermission of the Windsor Spitfires game. As part of the Tim Horton’s Minigame, each team that volunteers to participate, receives 25 tickets to that Spitfires Game.

Knowing of the clients we serve and wanting to promote the important work that we do, Lindsay suggested that the 25 tickets be donated to our Regional Children’s Centre.

“I couldn’t believe that some of the kids we help through RCC have never seen the inside of an arena or a hockey game,” expressed Lindsay. “We want to teach our children the importance of helping others and giving back to our community.” 

To accept the tickets, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare’s Manager of Intensive Family Services, Adelle Greco, visited the Tecumseh Eagles to share how their donation will impact RCC families.

“You have awarded other kids the opportunity to experience something that many have never been privileged to enjoy,” she says as she received numerous high-fives.

When asked what this type of donation means to our clients and families, one RCC Social Worker writes:

A lot of my work revolves around strengthening family bonds… Many of the families that RCC serves do not get many opportunities to go to fun events like this, whether it is due to their current financial situation, scheduling, or other stressors in their lives. It was a great opportunity for parents and children to engage in a fun activity together. This type of donation helps RCC staff promote positive experiences for our families, as that is often a treatment goal.

As the Windsor Spitfires took on the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds on November 29 th , RCC children watched on with exhilaration in their eyes.

“It was great to spend time with my grandma and the rest of the family. We had fun at the game and got to eat hotdogs and pizza!” says one child.

Another parent expressed that it was a great family outing, they had a blast and even spotted themselves on the jumbotron; this was ‘the greatest thing’.

Thank you to the Samoila family and the entire Tecumseh Eagles team for your generous gift that continues to be felt by the children and families we serve.
Our People
Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare's 2 South bring Christmas miracles to Hiatus House
Twas a month before Christmas when 2 South saw the need, so a collection was started, filled with fun toys and food, and everything in between.

We’ve been proud to share stories of the generosity of our staff at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare and our most recent story of giving is no exception.

Back in early November, the team on Complex Medical Care 2 South had the urge to give back to our community. They approached our partners at the Hiatus House – which offers confidential intervention for families experiencing domestic violence – for a list of needed items.

With each item written on a paper ornament, the 2 South Giving Tree was in full bloom as staff, patients, and their families were encouraged to select an ornament from the tree and purchase the item to be donated.

More than 700 items, including electronics, toys for various ages, diapers, clothes, personal hygiene items, food and more were collected for those served by Hiatus House.

“The holiday season is upon us and we are thrilled to be a unit committed to carrying out our Mission of serving not only our patients and families but throughout our community as well,” writes Grace Suryawan, who, along with Jenn Maisonville, and Danielle Girard, organized this year’s collection.

Thank you 2 South staff, patients and families for your incredible gifts. Your overflowing donation is sure to change the lives of those who receive them as they make their holiday that much brighter.
A Giving Christmas
Each year, we are proud to be able to offer festive luncheons to all of our outstanding People at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare. These luncheons provide the opportunity for staff to celebrate the holidays with their colleagues over a delicious meal.

Tickets to the events are sold for a modest $3 which adds up to a significant total. All proceeds raised are donated back into the Windsor-Essex community.

This year, $2,600 raised was donated to Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare partners The Downtown Mission and Assisted Living Southwestern Ontario (ALSO). We were joined at the luncheon by Ron Dunn, Executive Director of the Mission as well as Lynn Calder, Executive Director of ALSO to express how these funds will provide support and resources for the individuals they serve.
 
Thank you to our wonderful staff for all of their hard work and dedication throughout the year and for supporting such a great cause. 
Happy Holidays, Volunteers!
On Monday, December 11th, the hundreds of volunteers and students at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare were celebrated from the invaluable work they do at our annual Volunteer Christmas Luncheon.
Our Identity
Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare launches Crisis and Mental Wellness Centre
At Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare we are committed to improving the health and well-being of the Windsor-Essex community through the delivery of patient/client centred, value based case. HDGH works tirelessly to achieve the reality of becoming our region's Centre of Excellence for Mental Health. Through inpatient, outpatient and community outreach programs, HDGH works with patients and clients with persistent and/or severe mental health issues, those battling addictions and those in crisis. 

One of such programs is the Crisis and Mental Wellness Centre (formally known as the Transitional Stability Centre). The Crisis and Mental Wellness Centre is a one stop shop for mental health services. Serving individuals aged 16 and older, the Crisis and Mental Wellness Centre is a walk in service for those experiencing a mental health crisis. Services offered through this Centre include:

  • Community Crisis Centre: a 24/7 telephone crisis response service for those who require immediate assessment, psychosocial intervention, and support. This service can be reached by: 
  • Calling 519-973-4435 
  • Or through walk-in services offered at 744 Ouellette Avenue.
  • Timely Psychiatric assessment and consultation to individuals requiring diagnostic clarification treatment and/or management recommendations.
  • Therapeutic interventions, medication evaluation and monitoring, and health teaching/coaching.
  • Group based therapeutic sessions.
  • A wide range of support services and educational programs to promote independent living skills.
  • Group sessions to assist people in developing skills and strategies for becoming and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

In January of 2018, HDGH partnered with the Canadian Mental Health Association Windsor Essex County branch (CMHA WECB). Individuals who utilize the Crisis and Mental Wellness Centre will receive prompt and responsive access to appropriate services and will be supported during wait times for these services. 

Individuals wishing to access services offered by the Centre can self-refer, or can be referred by emergency services, community partners and physicians. 
Sharing knowledge to improve care at Children's Mental Health Ontario 2018 Conference
To share their insight on data usage to improve outcomes for the many children and their families in Windsor-Essex who are struggling with child and youth mental illness, members from Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare’s Research and Evaluation team travelled to Toronto for the Children’s Mental Health Ontario’s (CMHO) 2018 Conference.
 
The conference, held each November, welcomes over 600 attendees who share the common goal of advancing mental health services and programs for children and youth across our province.
 
This year, the conference welcomed healthcare professionals from across North America to host workshops on the theme, Innovations in Service Delivery; Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare’s Marla Jackson, Manager and Dr. Jennifer Voth, Research Associate were among these impressive presenters selected out of over 100 submissions.
 
Leading a workshop that discussed creating a data use culture to drive improvement and innovation in child and youth mental health services, Marla and Dr. Voth had approximately 80 Clinical Leaders and individuals in leadership and governance roles in child and youth mental health agencies across Ontario take part. Their workshop featured information on how data-driven approaches are increasingly important methods to align and implement improvement or innovation efforts. However, many healthcare leaders face challenges in building a culture of effective data use. Thus, in their workshop, Marla and Dr. Voth led participants to explore the elements of an effective culture of data use and learned strategies to create such as culture.
 
Their workshop also included a series of structured discussions and activities, where participants got the information and tools they need to lead their agencies toward the development of a data driven organization.
 
Congratulations Marla, Dr. Voth, and our Research and Evaluation team for obtaining the opportunity to bring Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare’s valuable insight and efforts to improve mental healthcare services for children and youth, to this important stage.
Mayor's Charity Golf Tournament donates funds to the Changing Lives Together Foundation
Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara hosted his 10th annual Mayor's Charity Golf Tournament at Beach Grove Golf and Country Club this past September. The main beneficiary of this year's tournament is the Changing Lives Together Foundation in support of Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare with monies raised going specifically towards the establishment of a Cardiac Wellness, Stroke and Pulmonary Rehab Satellite location in Tecumseh. 

This morning, a $15,000 cheque was be presented by Mayor McNamara to Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare's Changing Lives Together Foundation, as well as to four other local charities. Additional proceeds have been earmarked to support another 12 organizations within Tecumseh and the Windsor-Essex Region. 

In addition, the Mayor presented a cheque valued at $5,000 to the Bob Probert Ride which will also benefit the Cardiac Rehab Satellite program in Tecumseh. 

We are tremendously grateful for this growing partnership.
Lighting up the Season of Giving
The Changing Lives Together Foundation of Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare kicked off a longstanding community tradition on Wednesday, November 21st with the official launch of the 32nd Annual Tree of Lights Campaign.
 
As per 32 years of tradition, members of the local Salvation Army Band move attendees in the festive spirit with live entertainment as staff members from each of the departments at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare hung an ornament in remembrance of a loved one.
 
Members of the community are encouraged to participate in making a difference in how Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare delivers care with proceeds from this year's campaign going to support the Patient Benevolent Fund.

Often staff at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare hear stories of patients and clients who cannot afford transportation costs and comfort items, as examples, that are such an important part of their care. This fund, will support those patients and clients and allow Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare to seamlessly assist with purchasing the necessary equipment, comfort items and tools that contribute to each person's unique care plan. 

Each supporter of this year's Tree of Lights Campaign will receive a paper ornament which they can place on the tree in our lobby as well as bring one home to place on their own tree.
 
To support the campaign and honour someone special this holiday season, please call 519-257-5234 or visit   our website .