NEWS in General – May 18
The Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) is a Delirium prevention program designed to keep our older adult patients active while in hospital. Working with specially trained volunteers who are overseen by the Elder Life Specialist, patients who are enrolled in the program have the opportunity to participate in therapeutic programming (trivia, painting, reminiscing) , have assistance with meals, participate in an exercise program and enjoy the socialization and companionship of our volunteers all while preventing Delirium and functional decline. It has been a long 2+ years and we are so happy to have the volunteers back!
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GGH News
Congratulations to our winners of the Professional Practice Awards for Nursing Excellence
New technology advancing breast cancer surgery
IPAC Champion of the month
Other News
Mission: Nutrition has begun!
Webinar: The COVID Generation – The Effects of the Pandemic on Youth Relationships
Our GGH Onsite Psychotherapist is back next week
The 9th Annual Tour de Guelph – Back Together Again!
GGH News
Winners of the Professional Practice Awards for Nursing Excellence
Congratulations to Michelle Reid and Stacey Clark who are the two winners of the Professional Practice Awards for Nursing Excellence, awarded as part of our Nurses Week celebrations! Each received a framed certificate and a cash prize of $250, along with the applause of their peers.
Michelle is a nurse support in our Paediatric Diabetes Clinic, as well as serving as our Diabetic Nurse Educator for inpatients with diabetes. She supports families who are often feeling overwhelmed with how to manage their child’s new diagnosis of diabetes. Her nominator declared, “As part of the Clinic, Michele is the reason our appointments run so smoothly each week. She helps support families, without judgement, to manage their child’s diabetes. There are honestly so many examples of how Michelle positively impacts both the patients and staff in the Clinic.” The nominator went on to say that patients and their families “are lucky to have someone like Michelle who is so dedicated, accessible, approachable and compassionate.”
Stacey is on our 6 West Surgical Unit. Her nominator wrote she, “… always has time to help a fellow nurse and assist the new PSWs in adjusting to this new environment. She always offers education when needed and is quick to jump in to help no matter who is asking or how busy everyone is. She really goes above and beyond in demonstrating patient-centred care by talking to them, offering emotional support, assisting in any care needs they have but also pushing them toward their baseline independence. Stacey is a wonderful colleague, great teammate, and exceptional nurse. If I ever have to go to the hospital, I hope to get a nurse like her.”
New technology advancing breast cancer surgery
Recently in Diagnostic Imaging, the “Magseed” technology was used on two patients for the very first time. A Magseed is a magnetic marker the size of a grain of rice, made of surgical-grade steel and becomes visible using a dedicated probe. The procedure involves a radiologist placing the seed into a breast lesion before surgery, to guide the surgeon in its removal in the operating room. This allows the surgeon to remove a breast lesion more precisely. Less tissue needs to be removed which improves the experience for our breast cancer patients and speeds their recovery.
Prior to the development of this technology, breast lesions were removed using guidewire that had to be inserted on the day of the surgery. Now, this small ‘seed’ of steel can be inserted weeks ahead of surgery allowing for more flexibility with scheduling surgery dates. This improvement in scheduling will allow our surgeons to perform more procedures more efficiently in a day.
It’s a welcome advancement says Dr. Leigh Bishop, the surgeon who performed the first two Magseed insertions. “This is a real game changer for us. I was quite struck by was the improvement in patient comfort and anxiety. The patients were no longer sitting around pre operatively with a needle wire protruding from their breast with a styrofoam cup over top of it, afraid of moving and dislodging or affecting the placement,” Dr. Bishop explains. “It will be great when we can do Magseed well in advance so that patients won’t need to arrive extra early and starve for longer periods. Overall, this new technology should be greatly beneficial.”
Around 80 to 100 pre-surgical wire localizations are done here each year and the arrival of the technology couldn’t come at a better time, says Dr. Samir Patel, Chief of Diagnostic Imaging. “We are constantly looking to find ways to improve patient flow and experience, particularly in light of those who had procedures delayed during the pandemic,” he said. “Our team of radiologists are incredibly excited about the improvement in accuracy and patient experience this new technology provides.”
IPAC Champion of the month
IPAC is wanting to recognize staff who go above and beyond to provide exceptional care in these extraordinary times. Each month a member of the IPAC team will select an IPAC Champion. With their consent their picture and first name will be displayed on our Hand Hygiene Thermometers and they also receive a gift card.
This month IPAC has selected Francis, RN, SD/ICU. He was chosen because he is exceptional in observed IPAC practices and works hard at keeping himself and his patients safe. Francis also raises great infection control questions to further learning for himself and his team.
Please help us in congratulating Francis as the IPAC Champion for May!
Other News
Mission: Nutrition has begun!
If you didn’t get a chance to get down to the Bistro on Tuesday to get a healthy meal for only $5, you have another opportunity this Thursday when Make-Your-Own Power Bowls will be the feature! And if you are working this weekend, Saturday & Sunday will have nutritious meal deals for staff as well. These opportunities will be available for the rest of May, so keep that in mind when planning your meals each week!
Webinar: The COVID Generation – The Effects of the Pandemic on Youth Relationships
Join us for a lunchtime webinar where you will have the opportunity to listen to, and ask questions of, three community partners who have direct experience working with youth. The focus of the webinar will be the relationship challenges faced by tweens and teens brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and re-emerging from lockdown. Please email SSekulic2@gghorg.ca to receive the WebEx meeting invitation and for more information. This webinar is brought to you SADV Team and GGH Health & Wellness.
Our GGH onsite Psychotherapist is back next week!
Vij Richards, Reg. Psychotherapist is back next Thursday May 26 in the Level 1 Conference room. Please email her directly to set up a time to speak with her: VijRich26@gmail.com. Appointments are 30 or 60 minutes in length and you do not have to be working that day to see her. There will be a poster on the door the day-of outlining her schedule and any additional appointment availability she has.
Skin Cancer Awareness Month – Display in the Bistro
Make sure to head to the Bistro this week to see the display and to grab a word search. Completed entries will be put in a draw to win this incredible skin care basket donated by NOW Health Group Canada / Puresource Natural Products (click photo to enlarge). OR, you could quiz your skin cancer knowledge for a chance to win a prize from our amazing neighbours Afya spa! Thank you so much to our community partners for their generous support.
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The 9th Annual Tour de Guelph – Back Together Again!
Tour de Guelph, presented by Label Design Ltd. welcomes riders back to a group ride cycling event on Sunday, June 26th, 2022. Riders who prefer to ride anytime on their own can do so between Friday, June 10, to Sunday, June 26.
Tour de Guelph supports Guelph General Hospital and other local charities through the Rotary Clubs of Guelph South and Guelph Trillium.
In its eight years, the event has raised over $722,000 for our community and has grown into one of Guelph-Wellington’s largest community sporting events.
About 100 volunteers help with the event each year. Are you interested in volunteering? Learn more here .
Many from GGH have participated in this fun event in past years. Including Dr. Ian Digby who is one of this year’s inductees to the Tour de Guelph Hall of Fame. Read his story HERE.
Would you like to register to ride? Go to www.tourdeguelph.ca.