GBGH puts safety first as team receives their annual flu shots

October 26, 2021 – This week GBGH kicked off its annual flu shot campaign within the hospital for staff and credentialed staff. Getting our flu shots is an important and simple way we can protect our patients, colleagues, families and ourselves throughout the upcoming flu season. GBGH President and CEO Gail Hunt and Chief Nursing Executive Angie Saini got theirs from our Occupational Health & Safety team.

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Communications Officer, GBGH

705-526-1300 ext 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

GBGH recruits important new addition for Birthing program with a hometown connection

October 13, 2021 – Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) has made an important addition to the Birthing program through the recruitment of a permanent obstetrician-gynecologist – Dr. Jan (Chevy) Moreau. Until now, birthing services have been safely provided via midwives and family physicians with specialized training, as well as surgeons and anesthetists when needed for cesarean sections and epidurals. Dr. Moreau will continue working with the existing interprofessional team while also filling the role of chief of Obstetrics at GBGH. In addition to providing obstetrical care, he will offer specialized gynecological care to women in the community, increasing consistent access to this important service.

Dr. Moreau comes to GBGH from Barrie where he maintained a private medical practice, and provided obstetrical and gynecological services at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH), practicing there for 27 years and most recently serving as the chief of Obstetrics.

Dr. Moreau’s desire to bring his vast skills and passion for patient care to GBGH stems from a long family history in this area. Having been born at the old St. Andrew’s hospital in Midland and being raised in Waubaushene, Dr. Moreau most looks forward to the opportunity to serve his hometown community.

“I have an immense personal connection to this area through my family and it has fueled my desire to serve my home community as I’ve progressed in my career,” says Dr. Moreau. “Even after growing up and leaving to pursue education and medical practice elsewhere, I’ve always considered myself a proud local of this area. After much thought and consideration, a transition to this hospital is the perfect opportunity for a change that brings the care I provide back to my hometown. I want to do this for GBGH and for the community it serves.”

One of Dr. Moreau’s main priorities will be to recruit an additional obstetrician-gynecologist for the program. He will also further develop and grow birthing and women’s health services at GBGH based on the foundation that has been built over the past five years.

“Both Dr. Moreau and myself would like to acknowledge and thank the team for the many years of valuable groundwork and commitment which has brought the Birthing program as far as it’s come today,” says Dr. Vikram Ralhan, chief of staff, GBGH. “The recruitment of a permanent OB-GYN at GBGH is a significant milestone for the Birthing program, which has been growing steadily since being reinvigorated in 2016-2017 through a partnership with Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH). It has taken exceptional determination and dedication to grow this service for women in our community, but worth every effort so we can offer this care closer to home.”

Obstetric and gynecological services at GBGH are offered through a partnership with Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH), which began in 2017. Through this partnership, patients have access to high quality birthing services close to home across a corridor of care stretching between OSMH’s and GBGH’s North Simcoe catchment area. GBGH is a Level 1 centre providing service for low-risk births, while Orillia is a Level 2 centre for higher risk births.

Since the program was re-established in 2016-2017, the number of births has grown considerably from 116 to a forecasted 188 births in 2021-2022 (year ends March 31, 2022).

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Communications Officer, GBGH

705-526-1300 ext 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

GBGH learns about Indigenous community through Truth & Reconciliation event

September 30, 2021 – Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) recognized Canada’s first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with an event at the hospital. Although GBGH observes Orange Shirt Day annually on September 30, this year presented an opportunity to plan a comprehensive event to increase awareness among its team members of the residential school system, and its impact on Indigenous history and culture.

“GBGH proudly serves a large Indigenous population at our hospital and we are continually striving to improve the care we provide to all members of our community,” says Gail Hunt, president and CEO, GBGH. “The more the hospital team understands the unique culture, beliefs and history of the Indigenous community, the better we can care for them with respect, understanding, compassion and empathy. It is very important for GBGH to offer culturally safe care as part of our role in reconciliation.”

Generously supported by Beausoleil First Nation (BFN), the event included an Every Child Matters flag-raising with Honour song, land acknowledgement, prayer and smudging ceremony, presentation by a residential school knowledge keeper, and drum and intertribal dance performances for staff, credentialed staff and patients. The event, which also encouraged the wearing of orange shirts, was planned in collaboration with BFN / GBGH Indigenous patient navigator Tricia Monague.

“Beausoleil First Nation is encouraged by the Georgian Bay General Hospital’s initiative to raise awareness,” says Councillor Jane Copegog, BFN. “We honour the survivors of the Indian residential school system, remember the children who did not return home, and we commit to meaningful action that will advance the promise of truth and reconciliation.”

As of the 2016 census, there were nearly 22,000 Indigenous people in Simcoe County, or 4.7 per cent of the population. The Indigenous population nearly doubled in this area from 12,985 in 2006 to 21,955 in 2016. Within Simcoe County, North Simcoe has the largest First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FMNI) population at 11.1 per cent. In 2020-2021 at GBGH, self-identifying Indigenous patients made up approximately 8.5 per cent (or 3,115) of Emergency department visits, and accounted for 2,203 outpatient visits (Ambulatory Care), 847 Diagnostic Imaging visits and 291 inpatient visits.

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Communications Officer, GBGH

705-526-1300 ext 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

GBGH expands ultrasound service to better serve the community

Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) is enhancing ultrasound services in its Diagnostic Imaging department to benefit patients in our community. Hours of operation for ultrasound are increasing and the variety of ultrasound service is expanding. Ultrasound technologist Preslee Jarvis performs an ultrasound on a patient in one of GBGH’s three ultrasound rooms.

September 22, 2021 – Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) is enhancing ultrasound services in its Diagnostic Imaging department for the benefit of inpatients and outpatients in our community. Hours of operation for ultrasound are increasing and the variety of ultrasound service is expanding.

With the addition of a technologist certified in musculoskeletal (MSK) ultrasound, GBGH will now be able to offer this new service to patients. MSK ultrasound is an important diagnostic tool to capture images of muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves and cartilage throughout the body. It helps determine where an injury or chronic condition (i.e. tendonitis, rotator cuff tears, joint problems) has occurred and the extent of those injuries or condition. Patients can now request to be referred to GBGH rather than travel outside this area for this procedure.

Additionally, GBGH’s ultrasound hours of operation will increase to 7:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m., Monday to Friday (effective September 25), and 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on weekends (effective September 1). The previous hours were 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, with on-call service on weekends. The goal of extending the hours is to dramatically reduce wait times for non-urgent ultrasounds from 40 days to 14 days.

“By extending our hours and adding this important new service, we are continuing to improve access to important diagnostic procedures for our community,” says Angie Saini, vice president, Clinical Services and chief nursing executive. “Instead of travelling outside our area for shorter wait times elsewhere or for MSK ultrasound, we can now accommodate more patients and offer them additional services, bringing care closer to home for patients.”

Between April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021, GBGH performed nearly 8,945 ultrasound procedures. Given the changes in hours of operation and services available, GBGH forecasts ultrasound volumes to increase by 1,900 – 2,400 annually.

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Communications Officer, GBGH

705-526-1300 ext 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

GBGH’s annual report to the community is now available

GBGH’s annual report to the community is now available on our website. To learn more about the past year at your hospital, check it out here.

GBGH announces next step in resuming visitation to enhance the patient and family experience

July 14, 2021 – Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) is continuing to gradually expand visitation to enhance the patient and family experience. Effective July 14, GBGH is allowing two visitors at a time for inpatients within the set visiting hours of 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. This is an increase from one visitor per patient per day at a scheduled visitation time. Inpatient visits will no longer need to be booked in advance during specific blocks of time.

“GBGH is very pleased to announce we are continuing to gradually increase visitation as local cases of COVID-19 have decreased in the past few weeks,” says Gail Hunt, president and CEO, GBGH. “It is never easy for hospitals to limit visitation as we know how much it improves patient outcomes and experience. Decision made about visitation are always carefully considered based on local case data and maintaining the safety of patients and the GBGH team. We look forward to eventually resuming 24/7 family presence once it is deemed safe to do so, and in line with provincial guidance.”

Visitation for outpatients is also changing for the first time since the pandemic began. GBGH will now permit one visitor per patient in the following areas: Emergency department, Ambulatory Care, Diagnostic Imaging and Day Surgery.

Exceptions to visitor restrictions include visitation for a palliative/actively dying patient. In palliative cases, GBGH will allow up to four visitors at a time, as coordinated with the care team. Birthing patients are also permitted two visitors at a time for as long as they require assistance.

All permitted visitors will continue to be screened upon entering the hospital. Any visitor who screens positive for COVID-19 symptoms will be asked to not visit. In exceptional circumstances (such as a support person for a woman in labour, a parent/guardian of a child in the Emergency department or a palliative/end of life patient), a visitor who screens positive for symptoms will be reviewed by GBGH’s infection prevention and control practitioner or hospital coordinator prior to entry.

All visitors must comply with hand hygiene practices, wear a hospital-provided mask and follow physical distancing. Visitors could also be asked to wear additional personal protective equipment as determined by the care team based on a patients’ condition.

Visitor guidelines are subject to change based on the status of the pandemic within the region GBGH serves.

For more information, please visit http://gbgh.on.ca/covid-19-visitor-restrictions/.

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Communications Officer, GBGH

705-526-1300 ext 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

Board of Directors names entire GBGH team as Exceptional People Award recipients

June 29, 2021 – The Board of Directors of Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) has announced the 2020-2021 recipients of the Exceptional People Awards. The entire GBGH team of staff and credentialed staff are being acknowledged with this year’s award.

The Board of Directors’ Exceptional People Awards are announced annually to recognize staff, credentialed staff and volunteers who have made exceptional contributions to GBGH while exhibiting the hospital’s values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellence and the vision of Exceptional People, Every Person, Every Time.

“When deciding on the candidates for the Exceptional People Awards, there was only one clear option for the 2020-2021 recipients,” says Tim Kastelic, chair, GBGH Board of Directors. “Given the pressures the COVID-19 pandemic has placed on all the hospital’s staff and credentialed staff, we feel this year has been profoundly unique, and as such, is a perfect opportunity to recognize the whole GBGH team for their service and sacrifice.”

Given the challenges the GBGH team has endured this past year, the Board felt it would not have been representative to recognize only a few team members for their exceptional contributions. This past year has demonstrated the GBGH team has worked together through every challenge, all while consistently embodying GBGH’s vision, values and strategic themes.

“GBGH’s team of staff and credentialed staff have worked together through adversity and constant change,” says Gail Hunt, president and CEO, GBGH. “They have come to the hospital uncertain of what lies ahead and have shown great resiliency in spite of it. They have also been called upon to go above and beyond – putting in many hours of planning to ensure our hospital is ready for all pandemic scenarios. Many have worked beyond their regular roles to pitch in where we needed them the most, when we needed them the most.”

In addition to all the extra planning and work associated with the pandemic, the GBGH team has persevered with the details of daily operations, the compassion of patient care and the determined progress achieved on other major projects which still had to move forward.

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Communications Officer, GBGH

705-526-1300 ext 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

GBGH Board of Directors elects new chair and welcomes new members

Tim Kastelic – Chair, GBGH Board of Directors

June 28, 2021 – Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Board of Directors held its Annual General Meeting June 24, during which the chair and vice chair of the Board were determined and new members were welcomed.

Tim Kastelic was elected as chair of the Board. Kastelic has served on the GBGH Board since 2018, was most recently chair of the Audit and Resource Committee of the Board and previously served two years on the GBGH Foundation Board of Directors. Kastelic’s background includes a long career as an executive in the financial services industry with experience in the areas of strategic planning, marketing, financial planning and organizational performance. Kastelic is a resident of Midland, and has spent nearly 50 years in this area – both as a seasonal and full-time resident.

“I’m excited to be a part of the GBGH team going forward, and am grateful for the opportunity to be a member of the GBGH Board among such dedicated volunteers,” says Kastelic. “Our goal is simple – to ensure high quality care, continually improve the patient experience, and invest in our people to make GBGH an organization of choice for dedicated staff to work and credentialed staff to practice.”

Tay Township resident Bernie Uhlich, who has served on the Board since 2017, was elected as vice chair.

At the AGM, GBGH’s Board also welcomed three new members – Paul Farley, Heather Ross and Stan Wolofsky.

Paul Farley is an attorney specializing in administrative law and professional regulation in the accounting industry. Farley looks forward to bringing his past experience in hospital governance to serve GBGH and the community.

Heather Ross joins the GBGH Board with more than 30 years’ experience in the financial services industry. Heather’s interest in joining GBGH’s Board of Directors stems from her passion to enhance quality, patient care within her local hospital and community.

Stan Wolofsky has worked in social work for a career spanning more than 42 years in both hospital and community settings. Stan’s brings vast experience in the areas of patient and health care advocacy, health system transformation, community collaboration and labour relations.

Other continuing directors on the Board include Sara Lankshear, Bernie Uhlich, Barry Stranks, Britt McKerrow, Jerry Van Dyk and Jim Mulligan, who joined the Board in the fall of 2020.

Departing members of the Board include Kristin Monague and Dr. Patrick McNamara who has completed three years as chair.

“GBGH would like to thank Dr. McNamara for his years of dedicated volunteer service to the hospital in this very important role,” says Gail Hunt, president and CEO, GBGH. “Dr. McNamara’s thoughtful input, vast experience and insightful leadership have made him a pleasure to work with during his term as Chair.”

Kristin Monague is also departing from the Board after a three-year term. Monague has been a valuable member, contributing important insights and promoting inclusivity of the First Nations perspective in governance decisions. The hospital thanks her valuable contributions, time and dedication since 2018.

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Communications Officer, GBGH

705-526-1300 ext 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

GBGH returns to safe, limited visitation to enhance patient experience

June 17, 2021 – Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) is re-opening limited visitation at the hospital to enhance the patient experience. Visitation had been closed at the hospital since December due to increased COVID-19 cases within the community during the second and third waves of the pandemic.

“Sadly, we have not been able to permit visitation with our inpatients for six months due to increased community transmission and variants of concern,” says Gail Hunt, president and CEO, GBGH. “Our hospital has always based our decisions regarding visitation on the status of the pandemic in our region and provincial guidance. As there is a positive downward trend in cases within our community and the province generally, we’re aligning our visitation policy with the provinces gradual re-opening. Our GBGH team is very pleased to permit limited visitation as we all know how much it means to patients and family.”

To ensure visitation can take place safely, precautionary measures remain in place.

Admitted patients are permitted one visitor per day at a scheduled visitation time between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. The hospital is asking visitors to schedule an admitted patient visitation time by calling the hospital’s main phone line at 705-526-1300.

The exceptions to one visitor per day at a scheduled time include visitation for a palliative/actively dying patient. In palliative cases, GBGH will allow up to four visitors at a time, as coordinated with the care team. Birthing patients are also permitted one visitor for as long as they require assistance.

Visitation for outpatient services (i.e. Ambulatory Care) and the Emergency department patients remains limited to one visitor if support is required by the patient. Circumstances where support could be required include:

• Pediatric patients – i.e. children under 18 (one guardian permitted with child)
• Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care staff supervising a patient
• Central North Correctional Centre (CNCC) staff guarding an inmate
• Language barrier (translation required)
• Mental health/competency/confusion challenges
• Palliative

All permitted visitors will be screened upon entering the hospital. Any visitor who screens positive for COVID-19 symptoms will be asked to not visit. In exceptional circumstances (such as a support person for a woman in labour, a parent/guardian of a child in the Emergency department or a palliative/end of life patient), a visitor who screens positive for symptoms will be reviewed by GBGH’s infection prevention and control practitioner or hospital coordinator prior to entry.

All visitors must comply with hand hygiene practices, wear a hospital-provided mask for the duration of their visit and follow physical distancing. Visitors could also be asked to wear additional personal protective equipment as determined by the care team based on a patients’ condition.

Visitor guidelines are subject to change based on the status of the pandemic within the region GBGH serves.

For more information, please visit http://gbgh.on.ca/covid-19-visitor-restrictions/.

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Communications Officer, GBGH

705-526-1300 ext 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

Community messages for GBGH Team Appreciation Week

GBGH’s dedicated team of staff and credentialed staff value and appreciate their role of being there for our community when it needs us the most. Throughout the early months of the pandemic, the GBGH team received so many message of gratitude. As the challenging times still linger, we’re inviting community members to once again share their thoughts and thanks.

From June 21 – 26, GBGH will celebrate Team Appreciation Week. Leading into this week, we would love to gather new messages of thanks from our community to show how much you also appreciate them. Send a message via our website’s feedback page:https://gbgh.on.ca/patient-and-visitor/feedback/. Your thoughts and thanks mean so much!