NEWS in General – May 25
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GGH News
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion – What’s happening?
Another Virtual Job Fair planned
Pathfinder: Homewood’s new online platform coming soon
Tuesdays with Tillie
Mission: Nutrition – days change in June!
Melanoma & Skin Cancer Awareness Month draw coming
Other News
Our Foundation is fundraising for three new ultrasound machines
GGH News
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion – What’s happening?
Submitted by Karen Suk-Patrick, VP People & Support Services
On May 24, our new Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee and the Senior Leadership Team participated in a workshop facilitated by the Canadian Centre for Diversity & Inclusion – helping lay the groundwork for the work the committee’s work over the next 1 – 5 years to support the development of our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion plan at GGH. There was a lot of excitement in the room and a real commitment to listening, learning and getting better as an organization. It is also exciting how this work aligns with our new strategic plan and rooted in our new organizational Values: compassionate, inclusive, collaborative, respectful and inspired.
When we think about why talking and learning about equity is so important we can fall back on our Board’s commitment to creating inclusive, welcoming healthcare spaces and services, free from barriers for EVERYONE at GGH. In order to meet this goal, we need to reflect, learn and listen to understand how we might not be doing that now – by being open to learning about our own biases and blind spots so we can do better.
The committee has already chosen a few areas to focus on in June, reflecting our feedback. Including National Access and Awareness Week (May 29-3), we are planning for PRIDE and Indigenous History Month events in June, including celebrating National Indigenous People’s Day on June 21 and, finally, how to celebrate Canada Day mindfully.
We will continue to engage with you in the coming weeks, supporting awareness building and action.
Things you can do now!
- Be sure that you are up to date on learning about human rights and the Accessibilities for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.
- Stop by the bistro and the employee main entrance area to participate in the Access Awareness Week, PRIDE and National Indigenous People’s Day activities underway in the next month.
- Check out the elearning series, “EDI foundations“. It includes a series of webinars and learning activities to help our employees and volunteers grow, learn and share in building a more welcoming and inclusive workplace. (New resources will be posted through June)
- Share your experiences with the activities with your co-workers, or share about how you are recognizing, learning and acting with the EDI Committee at inclusion@gghorg.ca
- Be courageous and find ways to make it safe to ask your colleagues, patients and their caregivers what we can do to make them welcomed and included at GGH
- Keep in touch by reading News In General
Remember, you can always find information about the committee and the activities underway for the equity, diversity and inclusion plan on our Healthy Hospital site on our intranet.
Another Virtual Job Fair planned
In November, GGH hosted our first ever virtual job fair. With the success of the event, we will be hosting our second Virtual Job fair for RNs and RPNs on Tuesday, June 14.
You will be seeing communication about the event via our social media and other outlets in the near future. We ask you share the information about the event with your friends and family and have them come join our incredible team.
Questions related to the event can be sent to recruiting@gghorg.ca.
And speaking of recruitment, it’s time to welcome the newest members of the GGH team! (right, click chart to enlarge)
Pathfinder: Homewood’s new online platform coming soon
Starting tomorrow, May 26, Homewood Health will be replacing its Homeweb platform with the new Pathfinder Suite, which will offer users unique and personalized tools, resources, and support. Through your own dashboard, you can schedule/rebook appointments, access self-directed programs or try PulseCheck, a series of questions used to create a set of health recommendations tailored to your needs.
For instructions on how to register for an account and to learn more about these services click here (PDF) or for a video demonstrating how it all works, click here (sound required). Note, when setting up an account, you will be asked for your cell phone number, which will be used only by Homewood to send you resources, appointment reminders, etc. and will not be shared with anyone (including GGH). You will also need GGH’s Invitation Code: CMH747
Tuesdays with Tillie
Do you currently go for a walk on your lunch break, or are you hoping to start? Beginning Tuesdays in June, Tillie and her owner Lauren (GGH’s Health & Wellness Specialist) will be going on a 20-minute walk in the lovely neighbourhoods surrounding GGH and are looking for people to join them! Those who are interested can meet on the grassed area in front of the 73 Delhi parking lot at 12:05. Please wear comfortable shoes, sunscreen, and bring along water and anything else you think you might need! If you are interested, please email HealthAndWellness@gghorg.ca to join the mailing list for information and updates, etc. Note: walks will be weather-dependent as Tillie (read: Lauren) isn’t a fan of long walks in the rain, extreme heat, etc.
Mission: Nutrition – days change in June!
Hopefully you have had a chance to pop by the Bistro over the last few weeks to enjoy a healthy $5 meal created by the awesome Bistro staff and subsidized by our Foundation donor, Ruby! In an effort to reach as many people and shifts as possible, starting the week of June 6, the days will change to Monday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. (First come, first served!)
Melanoma & Skin Cancer Awareness Month draw coming
This is a friendly reminder if you have visited the Melanoma & Skin Cancer Awareness Month display in the Bistro and have taken a quiz or word search to fill out, please return them by end-of-day May 30 for the prize draws the next day. Afya Skin & Body Clinic also donated containers of Vivier SPF 30 sunscreen, which will be given out as runner-up prizes for the quiz contest – how generous!
Other News
Our Foundation is fundraising for three new ultrasound machines
The recommended lifespan of an ultrasound machine is seven years. More than half of our machines are over a decade old and urgently need to be replaced. Three new ultrasound machines are needed and they will cost $504,000. The Foundation of Guelph General Hospital is asking the community for support.
“At Guelph General Hospital, every piece of equipment used to care for patients is funded by our generous community,” remarked Elizabeth Stewart, Manager of Annual Giving at The Foundation of Guelph General Hospital. “When you make a donation to the Hospital, you’re helping patients receive the highest quality care, close to home.”
Each year, the Hospital does more than 25,000 ultrasound scans. Scans are scheduled on weekdays from six in the morning until 10 o’clock at night and also on weekends and holidays to keep up with the surging demand.
Mark Lovallo, Ultrasound Team Lead at Guelph General Hospital explained. “Ultrasounds are a crucial part of modern medicine. Our team helps doctors catch tumours early so they can be effectively treated. We’re helping surgeons conduct biopsies and other delicate procedures. We’re showing pregnant women an image of their baby for the first time.”
Older ultrasound machines produce images that are pixelated. Today, the technology has improved dramatically. New ultrasound equipment produces incredibly sharp images. That means doctors can diagnose problems more accurately.
Another big advantage is flexibility. Currently, some of the Hospital’s machines are better suited for breast or pregnancy exams, while others are designed for vascular and general imaging. The three new machines will put state-of-the-art scanners in every exam room that can do any type of ultrasound procedure. That’s going to dramatically improve workflow, allowing more patients to be seen in a day.
A letter has been mailed to The Foundation of GGH supporters who have donated in the past. People are also invited to play the 50/50 Hospital Lottery by visiting ggh5050.ca. Monthly lottery proceeds between April and June will be used towards the new ultrasound machines.