GBGH awarded for championing organ and tissue donation

Trillium Gift of Life Network (TGLN) presented Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) with a Provincial Routine Notification Rate Award for achieving 100 per cent routine notification throughout 2018-2019. Routine notification is the rate at which hospitals notify TGLN when a patient has died and there may be the potential for organ and/or tissue donation. GBGH is one of only three hospitals to meet this target in 2018-2019. From left: Catharine Ritter, hospital development coordinator, TGLN; Janet MacLean, vice president, Clinical Donation Services, TGLN; Dr. Khalid Tahir, medical lead, TGLN and GBGH; Kaitlyn McCague, TGLN lead, GBGH; Gail Hunt, president and CEO, GBGH; and Lucille Perreault, chief nursing executive and vice president, clinical programs. GBGH.

November 8, 2019 – Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) was recognized by Trillium Gift of Life Network (TGLN), Ontario’s organ and tissue donation and transplantation agency, for its outstanding efforts to integrate organ and tissue donation into quality end-of-life care in 2018/19.

GBGH was presented with Provincial Routine Notification Rate Award by TGLN at the hospital’s annual awards dinner. The Provincial Routine Notification Rate Award is presented to hospitals who achieve 100 per cent routine notification throughout 2018-2019. Routine notification is the rate at which hospitals notify TGLN when a patient has died and there may be the potential for organ and/or tissue donation. This marks the second year GBGH is receiving this recognition.

“Routine notification is an important first step in connecting potential organ donors with TGLN,” says Lucille Perreault, chief nursing executive and vice president, Clinical Services at GBGH. “Hospitals play a critical role in discussing the possibility of organ donation with patients near end of life and their families. Our team of physicians and healthcare staff work diligently to identify potential donors and discuss notification with 100 per cent of potential future organ donors or their families, earning us this award.”

GBGH is one of 30 hospitals and four community partners to be awarded a 2018/19 Trillium Gift of Life Network Achievement Award. In 2018-2019, GBGH had 13 tissue donors enhancing the lives of many.

“GBGH is an outstanding example of how applying leading donation practices can save lives,” says Ronnie Gavsie, president and CEO, Trillium Gift of Life Network. “The award is a reflection of the culture of donation established at GBGH, and a reminder of the work that we still need to do in other communities across Ontario. We will not be complacent.”

Today, more than 1,600 people in Ontario are on the waitlist for a life-saving organ transplant, and every three days someone will die without one. While the majority of Canadians support donation only 34 per cent of Ontarians have formally registered their consent for organ and tissue donation.

Some people believe that their age or medical condition prevents them from being a donor. In actuality, age does not preclude someone from becoming a donor, and each potential donor is assessed at the time of death for medical suitability. Others may not have registered under the misguided assumption that doctors won’t work hard to save a life if that patient is a registered donor, but in fact, the priority is always to save a life. Donation is only considered after all lifesaving efforts are exhausted, there is no chance of recovery, and the family accepts the diagnosis of death.

Midland and Penetanguishene – with 54 per cent and 53 per cent respectively – exceed the province with a registration rate of 34 per cent. Midland ranks 19th and Penetanguishene ranks 22nd for organ donation registration out of 170 communities in Ontario. Visit www.beadonor.ca to register or find out more.

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Contact:
Jennifer Moore
Communications Officer, GBGH
705-526-1300 ext 5177
moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

GBGH on track to deliver nearly 200 babies this year

Constance Imrie with baby Glenn Paul Imrie – the one-hundredth baby to be born since April at Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH). With a revitalized birthing program, GBGH was expecting to have 150 births this fiscal year, but is actually tracking to deliver nearly 200 babies.

October 31, 2019 – After partnering with Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH) to continue providing birthing services to its community, Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) has revitalized its birthing program and is tracking to deliver nearly 200 babies in this fiscal year (April 1, 2019 – March 31, 2020). The hospital’s target for this fiscal year was 150.

“We just bought a house in Midland and we wanted to have our son in our home community,” says Constance Imrie, a patient of the regional birthing program at GBGH. “I can’t say enough positive things about our experience at GBGH. The care we received was amazing and even though our son had some mild complications after birth, the team worked so well together, and with OSMH, to assess the situation and provide great, safe care.”

Constance and Doug Imrie recently had the distinction of having GBGH’s one-hundredth birth of the year. With the assistance of the Midland Midwives, Imrie gave birth to Glenn Paul Imrie – a healthy six pound, five ounce boy on September 30.

“Our numbers have dramatically risen which makes this partnership a great success story – for our hospital, our patients and our community,” says Lucille Perreault, vice president, Clinical Services and chief nursing executive, GBGH. “I strongly believe we can attribute this to increasing awareness that GBGH is delivering babies and offering a positive experience for patients and families. Expecting mothers want to have their children in their home community and we want to continue not only providing this service, but growing it as well.”

In 2017, GBGH and OSMH formalized an agreement to offer joint birthing services across North Simcoe. In this partnership, GBGH provides low-risk birthing services in Midland, while higher-risk births are transferred to OSMH. There is a comprehensive process to assess and direct mothers to the appropriate centre for labour and delivery of their babies.

“We’re so pleased with the progress and growth GBGH’s birthing unit has experienced over the past two years as part of our partnership,” says Cheryl Harrison, executive vice president, Patient Care & People Strategy, OSMH. “Yes, this is a unique model – having one program shared between two hospitals – that remains the only one of its kind in the province, but more important, it means women in North Simcoe have seamless access to birthing services between the two organizations.”

The Regional Birthing Program at the GBGH site has increased the services it provides, offering epidurals, nitrous oxide and has also purchased a birthing tub as an additional pain management option in labour. Nursing staff, midwives and physicians have also been participating in enhanced training to ensure their skills are aligned with Best Practices.

To showcase all GBGH’s birthing program has to offer, the hospital is hosting a community open house on November 26 from 4 – 6 p.m. For more information, please visit dev.gbgh.on.ca.

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Contact:
Jennifer Moore
Communications Officer, GBGH
705-526-1300 ext 5177
moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

GBGH puts safety first as team receives their annual flu shots

Gail Hunt, president and CEO of Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) and Nicole Kraftscik, executive director of the GBGH Foundation, each did their part to protect patients by receiving their flu shot during the first days of the hospital’s annual influenza campaign. During the first two days of the campaign, more than 150 immunizations were given to the GBGH team. Photo (from left) – Gail Hunt; Lana Whittaker, RN, Occupational Health & Safety (OHS); Nicole Kraftscik; and Judy Schell, manager, OHS.

October 24, 2019 – Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) launched its annual influenza immunization campaign this week in the hospital’s efforts to ensure patient, visitor and staff safety during the upcoming flu season. During the campaign staff, credentialed staff and volunteers are encouraged to receive their flu shot at the hospital to protect patients, themselves, their loved ones and their colleagues.

“Our annual flu shot campaign is an important part of GBGH’s commitment to patient and our team’s safety,” says Judy Schell, manager, Occupational Health & Safety (OHS), GBGH. “We are committed to ensuring the highest safety precautions are in place to protect patients. We make vaccination a top priority every fall at our hospital so our team of staff, credentialed staff and volunteers don’t pass along the flu virus to our patients and are healthy enough to provide care to patients when they need us the most.”

To make receiving their immunization as convenient as possible, GBGH’s OHS team is visiting departments and running clinics to ensure as many of its team members as possible receive a flu shot during the next five weeks.

“Flu season is a challenging time of year for hospitals as patient volumes rise due to the flu,” says Gail Hunt, president and CEO, GBGH. “This fall we’re already seeing patient volumes well over the number of beds we have at our hospital. With flu season approaching, the need for hospital beds will become even greater. To help ease the impact of the flu season, we are not only encouraging our team to be immunized, but asking the public to consider doing the same. Vaccination has a positive impact on reducing flu activity in the community, and therefore in our Emergency department and throughout the hospital.”

All GBGH patients will be screened for symptoms of influenza upon arriving at the Emergency department (ED) or at registration as part of enhanced safety precautions during the upcoming flu season. Patients with flu-like symptoms will be required to wear a mask and be isolated when possible. GBGH’s new ED includes an isolation waiting room which will be utilized for these patients.

The public is asked to not visit the hospital if they are experiencing flu-like symptoms such as cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, fever, chills and sweats, headache, and muscle and joint pain. All visitors should practice hand hygiene on arrival and exiting the hospital to minimize virus transmission throughout the year and particularly during flu season.

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Contact:
Jennifer Moore
Communications Officer, GBGH
705-526-1300 ext 5177
moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

GBGH stages mock Code Orange to test emergency preparedness

As part of GBGH’s emergency preparedness training, the hospital executed its first large-scale mock Code Orange in the new Emergency department on Thursday, September 26 between 0900 and 1200 hours.

A Code Orange is the emergency code for a mass casualty incident outside the hospital, which could include a Chemical (C), Biological (B), Radio-Nuclear (RN), Explosive (E), or Environmental (E) event due to natural, accidental or intentional acts.

The scenario for this mock Code Orange was based on a construction scaffolding collapse at a high school, causing 17 patients to be transferred to GBGH’s Emergency department with injuries of varying severity. It also involved a CBRNE component, providing the hospital with an opportunity to practice full decontamination processes.

To ensure this exercise was authentic, GBGH worked with the County of Simcoe Emergency and Paramedic Services. Local students from St. Theresa’s High School participated as patients and family members.

Contact:
Jennifer Moore
Communications Officer, GBGH
705-526-1300 ext 5177
moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

GBGH explores Christian Island as part of team bike tour

August 28, 2019 – On August 24, Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) team members and their families spent the day exploring Christian Island as part of the hospital’s first ever Christian Island Adventure Bike Tour. The tour was organized as an opportunity to become more familiar with Christian Island, as well as provide a social and wellness event for members of the GBGH team.

The group – guided by GBGH’s Indigenous Patient Navigator Roberta Manitowabi – spent the morning biking around different areas including the lighthouse, the beach and the pow wow grounds. The tour ended with a delicious BBQ lunch, kindly provided by Beausoleil Family Health Centre.

GBGH shows donors just what their generosity can do – bring enhanced imaging services to the community

Donors gathered at Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) to celebrate the hospital’s new computerized tomography (CT) scanner which arrived in the fall of 2018 and since scanning the first patient October 15, it has performed more than 2,800 scans. More than 2,000 donations contributed to raise $1.35 million to purchase the state-of-the-art scanner for GBGH. The GBGH Foundation is now fundraising the remaining $124,074.

February 12, 2019 – Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) and the GBGH Foundation invited donors to attend a celebration in honour of the hospital’s new computerized tomography (CT) scanner. More than 2,000 donors contributed $1.35 million to purchase the important new diagnostic tool. The names of those donors can now be seen on the foundation’s new CT donor wall.

“When this new CT arrived in late September, it was a huge relief for us as the old unit had well surpassed its lifespan at 13 years old,” says Gail Hunt, president and CEO, GBGH. “The CT is one of the most important tools in our hospital to accurately diagnose what ails our patients. Our team – staff and physicians alike – are so pleased with the new addition. We’re all grateful for our community’s support in bringing enhanced diagnostic imaging equipment to GBGH.”

A CT scanner is used to diagnose disease or injuries, by taking a series of X-ray images of the body. It uses computer processing to create cross-sectional images (slices) of the bones, blood vessels and soft tissues inside the body. CT scan images provide more-detailed information than plain X-rays do. GBGH’s new state-of-the-art unit – a Siemens Somaton Definition Edge – can take hundreds of highly-detailed images in a few seconds versus the original CT scanners of the 1970s which took one image in four minutes. The images can be seen immediately, patients are receiving timely access to imaging care and they are exposed to less radiation.

“The Foundation began fundraising for the CT scanner in 2014 and it is an incredible milestone to see this project near completion – with just a little over $124,000 left to raise,” says David Turner, president, GBGH Foundation Board of Directors. “We are very proud to celebrate our donors because they have made this improvement in patient care possible at GBGH. We celebrate your commitment to ensuring our hospital is equipped to provide exceptional care with our new CT.” 

The CT, which arrived on September 28, scanned the first patient October 15. To accommodate the new CT, GBGH’s Diagnostic Imaging department was extensively renovated, with the CT relocating from a smaller room to a much more spacious one with enough space to accommodate a stretcher and other equipment. Since arriving last fall, the CT has performed more than 2,800 scans. Each year, GBGH performs more than 10,000 CT scans.

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Contact:

Jennifer Russell

GBGH Foundation

705-526-1300 ext 5339

russellj@gbgh.on.ca

Port Severn couple pledges $150,000 to Georgian Bay General Hospital

February 1, 2019 – After a tour at Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) in the fall of 2018, Port Severn couple Donna and Conrad Huber made a $150,000 commitment to the critical needs of the hospital.

“When we heard that the need for equipment and infrastructure is more than $7 million, we wanted to help,” says Donna Huber.  “Thousands of residents rely on GBGH for urgent care, and we want to help ensure our hospital is equipped to provide each patient with the care they need.”

Beginning in 2018, the Huber family pledged $30,000 to GBGH each year for five years, allowing the hospital to use the funds where they are most needed.

The Hubers also shared their story with thousands of community members through a letter mailed in December, asking others to join them in supporting the urgent needs at GBGH. More than 200 donors responded to their request, with collective donations surpassing the $30,000 goal.

“We are so grateful to the Huber family for their generous gift, and for inspiring giving across our communities,” says Gail Hunt, president and CEO, GBGH. “This year, the funds from the Foundation will purchase items such as a portable x-ray machine, vital signs monitors and specialized patient beds.”

GBGH relies on donations from the community to purchase 100 per cent of the equipment needed for patient care and hospital operations.  For more information on getting involved in your hospital, visit www.gbghf.ca

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Contact:
Jennifer Russell
GBGH Foundation
705-526-1300 ext 5339
russellj@gbgh.on.ca

New surgical tower key component to GBGH’s expanding surgical program

Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) celebrated the arrival of a new surgical video tower for the hospital’s operating room (OR) with two of the donors who contributed to purchase the $80,000 piece of equipment.  Front row (from left) – Donors Michael & Sarah Thor. Back row (from left) – Dr. Eileen Sacks, surgeon and president, Medical Staff Association, GBGH; Jen Russell, development associate, GBGH Foundation; Gail Hunt, president and CEO, GBGH; Dr. Paige Churchill, surgeon and chief of Surgery, GBGH;  Lucille Perreault, vice president, Clinical Services and chief nursing executive, GBGH; Toni Whittaker, manager, Surgical Services, GBGH; and Marnie Lightfoot, director, Patient Care, GBGH.

January 30, 2019 – Staff and surgeons from Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) celebrated the arrival and first procedure of a new surgical video tower for the hospital’s operating room (OR). The $80,000 tower was purchased thanks to generous donations from Michael and Sarah Thor, as well as some of their friends and clients.

“When I required emergency surgery last summer, I was so fortunate the OR at GBGH was available,” says Mike. “I later learned that without a second surgical video tower, the second OR wasn’t functional for most procedures. Sarah and I could not imagine if I’d had to wait for surgery, so we decided to raise the funds necessary to purchase one.”

A surgical video tower enables surgeons to perform minimally invasive procedures with tiny high definition video cameras and lights connected to an HD television screen.  It is a critical part of surgical services at GBGH, and the purchase of a second tower had been identified as a priority by the staff, credentialed staff and leadership.

“We use the video tower for every gallbladder surgery, most appendectomies, and increasingly, for colon cancer and hernia surgeries,” says Dr. Eileen Sacks, surgeon and president, Medical Staff Association, GBGH. “It is essential equipment for any operating suite and having a reliable tower is key to growing our surgical program to provide gynecology and urology procedures locally.”

Mike and Sarah committed $10,000 personally to the project, and nine friends and clients collectively contributed $70,000.  GBGH was able to purchase the tower in December and it is already in use with the surgical team.

“The passion that Mike has shown for ensuring exceptional care at GBGH is inspiring,” says Gail Hunt, president and CEO, GBGH.  “We are grateful for his incredible fundraising efforts which have enhanced our surgical program for thousands of patients in our community.”