Welcome to this week's edition of E-Connect,
February is here and 2019 is already shaping up to be an exciting year for Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare.
In today's E-Connect read about a new program that is sure to change, and save, lives throughout the streets of our community, last call to join us for an international event on patient safety, how three of our team members sprang to action to try to save a life, and ways you can celebrate International Women's Day this year.
Happy reading,
Maciah
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Collaborative Mobile Outreach and Support Team (MOST) on the road to help our community's homeless
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A collaboration between Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, Family Services Windsor-Essex (FSWE), Canadian Mental Health Association Windsor-Essex County Branch (CMHA WECB) and Assisted Living Southwestern Ontario (ALSO) is on the road, looking to change the way people receive mental health and addiction support.
The Mobile Outreach and Support Team or MOST, consists of a Driver trained to support those with physical disabilities, Outreach Worker, and Social Worker. The team will provide a mix of supports including basic care needs, assertive outreach, advocacy and linkages to community supports. It will also make primary care connections with the aim to support long- term health improvements.
"The intention of MOST is not to move folks on and out but rather improve their quality of life at the point and time of which they are seen," said Janice Kaffer, President and CEO of Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare. "We are also looking to connect and grow ongoing relationships. We know that mobile outreach can encourage continued dialogue of support and treatment options. Building this trust and confidence is critical to reaching those in our community who are the most vulnerable."
The team will operate out of a multi-functional, accessible, van provided by ALSO clearly marked with each partner's logo. A pilot project at time, it aims to operate until June of this year, Monday to Friday from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.; hours where there are a current gap in services. MOST will begin by traveling two designated downtown and west-end routes, stopping at popular locations identified by existing outreach workers who currently support their clients on foot.
"The mobile function of this team is something unique that will make a big difference. Not only do we now have the ability to stock and distribute basic care needs like socks and food, but also provide a new opportunity of bringing services to this vulnerable population," said Joyce Zuk, Executive Director at FSWE. "By physically traveling to the client verses waiting for them to come to us, we begin to reduce traditional barriers to access like transportation, time constraints and distrust in the system." Zuk's team is providing MOST's outreach worker.
The six-month pilot was made possible through a reallocation of both human and financial resources of the four committed community partners, but will need ongoing funding to continue. A detailed evaluation will be completed after June. It is the hope that this initiative will see continued funding and MOST's vital mental health and addiction service can expand across Windsor-Essex.
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2019 International Patient Safety Symposium this Friday
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The International Patient Safety Symposium is a cross-border event that brings together industry experts from Windsor and Detroit regions. Here, healthcare professionals will share best practices, foster relationships and create a collaborative approach for building international patient safety, knowledge, and resources.
Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare is proud to share that three members of our team are presenting at the event: President and CEO, Janice Kaffer, Director of Health Information Management, Alison Murray, and Manager of Quality and Clinical Projects, Kathy Quinlan. In addition, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare will have a few information booths set up featuring general organization information and projects of our Infection Prevention and Control, Environmental Services, and Professional Practice teams.
Use promo code INDUSTRY for $50 off your ticket price.
On the January episode of their Caring for Kids radio broadcast, Children's Hospital of Michigan hosted Bill Marra, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare's Vice President of External Affairs and Executive Director of the Changing Lives Together Foundation, to discuss the Symposium and Canadian healthcare.
Also joining the broadcast, hosted by Children's Hospital of Michigan Foundation President and CEO, Larry Burns, was Dr. Ken Blanchette, Associate Vice President, Academic, from St. Clair College, and Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare Board Member, and Dr. Rudy Valentini, group Chief Medical Officer for the Detroit Medical Center and Chief Medical Officer and Pediatric Nephrologist at Children's Hospital of Michigan.
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President and CEO to speak at International Women's Day event
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International Women's Day, held every year in March, celebrates the accomplishments and triumphs of women across the world.
On Thursday, March 7th, the University of Windsor EPICentre will be hosting an International Women's Day panel discussion at Waters Edge Event Centre. The evening will feature a seated dinner followed by a panel discussion with some of Windsor's fearless female leaders, including Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare's President and CEO, Janice Kaffer.
Tickets to this empowering and inspiring evening are on sale now.
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Guards, Matt Swindail, Gabby Fillion, and Bryanna Pocock.
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Guarding for all, on and off the clock
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It was just an average Sunday afternoon as Gabby Fillion, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare Security Guard, traveled to work for her afternoon shift. Little did she know, her life saving training would be put to the test before she even clocked in.
As she drove down Tayfour Way, Gabby noticed a man and his dog out for a casual walk. Adrenaline kicked in as Gabby witnessed the man suddenly collapse to the ground. Rushing from her car, Gabby began to assess the situation and the man’s condition; it did not appear that he was breathing and a pulse could not be found.
At 3:45 p.m. on December 30
th
, 2018, Lead Security Guard Matt Swindail received a phone call from fellow guard, Gabby, reporting a man who had fallen and requested Emergency Medical Services (EMS) be called immediately. Matt directed another guard to go out to assist while dialing 9-1-1.
When guard, Bryanna Pocock, ran out of the doors of the Toldo Neurobehavioural Institute, she found Gabby performing CPR on an unresponsive man. Evaluating the severity of the situation, Bryanna radioed back to Matt, requesting he come to the scene and bring an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) machine.
The three guards, along with a nurse who saw the situation unfolding and came to help, took turns performing chest compressions in an attempt to save the man’s life.
Once EMS arrived, the guards and nurse were cleared from the Code Blue.
Though physically and mentally exhausted, Gabby’s compassion did not waver as she remembered that the man had been walking his dog when he had collapsed. Looking around, she saw the small dog, anxious and confused, and brought it inside.
The guards at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare were later informed that the man, who they tried so hard to save, had sadly passed away.
Although this story does not have the happy ending we had all hoped, the courageous efforts and quick thinking of our Security team is one that should be recognized.
A few weeks later, our Security team was contacted by the man’s family who wished to meet with and thank those who helped him. Though the meeting brought tears and questions, tremendous kindness was shown by our guards to the family.
Thank you all for the important part you played in helping this man, meeting with his family, and ensuring his dog made it back home safely.
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February is Heart Month: Registration open for 7th annual
Heart Breaker Challenge
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Each February 1st brings with it the start of Heart Month, a time to educate ourselves and take measures to keep our hearts healthy.
One way to keep our heart in good working order is with a healthy dose of exercise as you tackle the hills and mud at the 2019
Heart Breaker Challenge
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The first of its kind in the Windsor-Essex Region, the Heart Breaker Challenge's main goal is to raise funds for the Cardiac, Stroke & Pulmonary Rehab Programs at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare which support hundreds of local patients each year with their recovery and management of their vascular or pulmonary condition.
Held on May 25th, 2019, Heart Breaker will challenge participants to walk, jog or run roughly a 5-7km course with a number of obstacles throughout.
In the last six years over 7,500 participants have taken the Challenge with over $500,000 raised for needed programs.
Registration
for the 2019 Heart Breaker Challenge is officially open. Are you ready to take the Challenge?!
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Changing Lives Together Foundation to team up with
In Honour of the Ones We Love for International Women's Day
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Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare's Changing Lives Together Foundation is teaming up with In Honour of the Ones We Love Inc. for a very special evening celebrating Windsor's unsung female heroes.
International Women's Day is celebrated across the globe every year on March 8th, honouring and celebrating all that it means to be a woman. For this momentous day, gather the female heroes in your life and join us at Windsor Yacht Club for delicious hor d'oeuvres and dinner.
Tickets to this event, emceed by CTV Windsor's Michelle Maluske, are $100 each and will benefit women's mental health programs at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare.
Call 519.257.5111 ext. 76910 to get your tickets today.
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