Hello E-Connecters!

Tuesday is here again bringing with it a beautiful fall day and more great stories from HDGH.

Read on to hear how you can protect yourself and those around you during this year's influenza season, plus an accomplishment from our Outbreak Management Team; how one of Our People is sharing her heart with her patients; ways we are fighting the winter chill; and how you can change lives with us!

Until next time...

Maciah

With the 2019-2020 influenza season settling in, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare's Outbreak Management Team and Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) department are reminding our Windsor-Essex community to take preventative measures to stay safe and healthy during this influenza season. 

Influenza, more commonly referred to as the "flu", is a highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory passage known to cause fever, chills, runny nose, cough, severe general body weakness or discomfort, headache, extreme tiredness/weakness, and sore throat.

The most effective method at preventing influenza is receiving an annual influenza vaccination. To ensure Our Patients, Our People, and in turn, our community, are protected, each year Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare's Employee Wellness Team offers the influenza vaccination to all staff, patients, volunteers, physicians, and contract workers. Staff are also regularly equipped with up-to-date knowledge on the signs and symptoms to be able to quickly and accurately identify the virus.

We are proud to share that this team has been recognized by the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit as they have been awarded the “Most Improved” certificate for the increased number of staff receiving the influenza vaccine for the 2018-2019 season. In last year’s season, 50% of Our People at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare were vaccinated.

As community members, individuals can help protect themselves and those around them against influenza. These methods include: getting the influenza vaccination, sanitizing or washing hands often, and coughing and sneezing into sleeves or elbows. It is important to know the signs and symptoms of influenza and ensure that you stay home when feeling sick.

To help protect the health of our patients and staff we ask that you refrain from visiting Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare if you are not feeling well.

If you are a patient with a scheduled appointment and have a fever or symptoms of a respiratory illness such as a runny nose, cough, sore throat, or muscle aches please contact your healthcare provider prior coming to the hospital.

For further information on the influenza vaccine, please visit  influenza.ca  and   Government of Ontario's "Fluless" infographic .

“There is nothing else I’d rather be doing.”

Pride exudes from Helena Feloniuk-Coaton when she talks about her vital role as a registered nurse at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare.

Helena was the deserving recipient of our most recent Values In Action Award as part of our Changing Lives Together Recognition program. This monthly award recognizes an individual whose actions exemplify the values of Respect, Teamwork, Compassion, and Social Responsibility.

Her nomination for this award came from a coworker in the Environmental Services department who noticed Helena’s drive and compassion.

 

The Nomination Letter:

I nominate Helena, the RN on rehab units because she goes over, and beyond to help a coworker, a patient, or any family member. She is very compassionate and listens to the patients every time I walk into the patients’ rooms. She is extremely respectful to all her surroundings, she is overall a very hard, and kind working lady. She will even spend a little more time in patients’ rooms, just to help them with whatever is needed, her goal is always to make everyone happy, I believe we should be happy upon her generous actions always!

 

Nursing is an innate part of Helena’s being – she knew this was the path she wanted to be on even in kindergarten.

“I treat my patients as I would my loved ones,” she beams. “I truly live and breathe nursing; it’s my drive.”

As part of this nomination, Helena will be considered for the Outstanding Demonstration of HDGH Values Presidents Award in spring 2020.

Congratulations and thanks you for sharing your heart with our patients and families, Helena!

With Fall officially here, the chill in the air reminds us of the even colder weather on the horizon. In anticipation of this, the annual Coats for Kids campaign has begun throughout Windsor-Essex.

Due to the philanthropic nature of Our People, a collection has been started, led by the team on Inpatient Rehab 3. This team is challenging staff and visitors to donate any new or gently used coats, hats, gloves, scarves, or snow pants for the local recipient of Coats for Kinds, the Unemployed Help Centre.

After just a few short weeks since their collected began, the team has already collected more than 30 winter weather items.

You can support their efforts by dropping off any of the aforementioned items into the specially marked boxes on/near the inpatient units throughout campus. Due to hygienic reasons, boots will not be accepted. Please ensure used items have been freshly washed before being donated.

Donations will be collected now until Friday, November 8th.

Thank you for supporting our efforts of cultivating a healthier, and warmer, community.

We are excited to share with our Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare community the news that an integral founder of our heritage has been recognized.

Venerable Jeanne Mance has been inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame for 2020 !

Jeanne Mance travelled from France to Montreal in 1642, at that time a remote frontier outpost, founding a small wilderness hospital the Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal. This hospital went on to serve the people of Canada for 375 yrs. At time went on and Jeanne became more invested in the betterment of healthcare in her community, with her guidance and efforts, the Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph began to form; this group went on to create more Hôtel-Dieu hospitals throughout Canada including the creation of Hôtel-Dieu Hospital in Windsor in 1888, the official start of the Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare we know today.

Though Jeanne is not with us today to celebrate this achievement, our organization is honoured to carry the Hôtel-Dieu name as a result of her dedication to her fellow human and community.

Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare is proud to sponsor The Pledge 2019 on November 5th.

D id you know a Neurodivergent Child is one who presents with Autism, ADHD, OCD, Mental Health Disorders such as anxiety or a learning disability?

Come together with other families of neurodivergent children, health and wellness partners, community organizations and service providers.

The Big Night Gala is one not to be missed! Reserve your tickets now for our 2019 event taking place on Friday, November 8th at the Ciociaro Club.

Sponsorship opportunities are available here .