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

December 1, 2022 – The Board of Directors of Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) has announced the 2022 recipients of the Exceptional People Awards. The Board of Directors’ Exceptional People Awards are announced annually to recognize staff and professional staff (physicians, midwives, dentists) who have made exceptional contributions to GBGH while exhibiting the hospital’s values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellence and the vision of Exceptional Care, Every Person, Every Time.

The recipients of this year’s awards represent a cross-section of team members from across the organization and include the following teams/individuals:

Quality and Safety Award

Environmental Services (Housekeeping)

Over the pandemic, the Environmental Services department has played a critical role in not only ensuring quality and safety at the hospital, but also in enhancing the patient experience. It is common for the hospital to receive positive feedback about this team from patients and family members who recognize their many contributions to care. An empathetic conversation with a family member, or going above and beyond to ensure a patient’s comfort, are daily occurrences among these exceptional professionals. Also,

with new and changing information about necessary cleaning protocols to ensure infection and prevention control, this team adapted to any task and performed their critical responsibilities with attention to detail and steadfast professionalism. The team also contributes greatly to patient flow, as they efficiently respond to discharges with thorough cleaning that promptly frees up a bed for another waiting patient.

Janine Duquette (Infection Prevention and Control lead) and Judy Schell (manager, Occupational Health and Safety)

Janine Duquette and Judy Schell are being recognized for their unwavering commitment to ensuring the GBGH team was kept informed and safe during the pandemic. With countless hours of overtime in the interest of the GBGH team and patients’ safety, Duquette and Schell’s coordinated efforts touched nearly every staff member. Whether it meant providing infection prevention and control education, counselling staff/professional staff through illness and return-to-work scenarios, staying informed on the many and frequently changing Ministry and public health directives, or tracking PPE inventory usage and potential shortages, their combined work exemplified everything about quality and safety leadership needed during the pandemic.

Accountability & Sustainability Award

2 East inpatient unit

The 2 East team is being recognized for their incredible contributions to save lives, advance health equity and protect the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. With half the unit allocated as a COVID-19 hot zone, this team’s dedication and integrity never faltered during some of the most challenging times of the pandemic. Although faced with significant challenges organization-wide, the nursing, clerical and allied health staff on this unit always showed up for each other and patients, working together tirelessly to share the burden of caring for a majority of the admitted COVID positive patients at GBGH.

Vision Award

Dr. Dan Lee (co-chief of Emergency and COVID-19 medical lead)

Dr. Lee is being recognized for the countless hours and invaluable effort he put into his role as COVID-19 Medical Lead. In addition to always fulfilling his many responsibilities as Chief of Emergency, throughout the pandemic Dr. Lee took on additional duties as our resident expert for all aspects of COVID-related medical knowledge. He participated in regular provincial and regional round table meetings to share and gather information about the latest COVID-19 research and public health measures, as well as advise the hospital and the community about necessary steps we must all take to reduce viral transmission.

Maggie Trace – Professional Practice Leader (PPL) and CARE4 Project site co-lead

In both her roles as a PPL and the site co-lead for a major electronic health records project, Maggie Trace has demonstrated tenacity in her purpose of ongoing learning and teaching. Trace consistently demonstrates integrity and hard work as she mentors her peers and shares knowledge to continually improve patient care at GBGH. Respected by peers and hospital partners alike, Trace assisted in leading GBGH’s transition to a new electronic health record system – one of the largest projects in the hospital’s history.

“The Board’s Exceptional People Awards are the highest honour bestowed by the hospital for exceptional contributions to the hospital’s strategy and patient care – whether it be through any of our three strategic themes or a compilation of GBGH’s essential values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellence,” says Tim Kastelic, chair, GBGH Board of Directors. “Every year it is difficult to pick just a handful of team members among so many exceptional people, but that is a positive challenge the Board welcomes. I am so honoured to be affiliated with an organization where high standards of excellence are prevalent across so many healthcare professionals within our hospital.”

In 2021, the entire GBGH team was recognized with the award for their resilience and contributions during the pandemic, including persevering with the details of daily operations, their compassion and dedication to patient care, and for their ability to achieve progress on other major projects which still had to move forward.

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Director, Communications & Stakeholder Relations, GBGH

705-526-1300 ext 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

Georgian Bay General Hospital welcomes two new senior leaders

From left: Marcia Chapman, vice president of Performance and Support Services and chief financial officer and Angela Wiggins, vice president of People and Culture and chief human resources officer, Georgian Bay General Hospital.

November 30, 2022 – Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) has recently welcomed two new senior healthcare leaders to its executive leadership team. Marcia Chapman, vice president of Performance and Support Services and chief financial officer (CFO) and Angela Wiggins, vice president of People and Culture and chief human resources officer (CHRO) are bringing years of valuable healthcare experience and highly-specialized expertise to the hospital.

“GBGH is pleased to welcome both Marcia and Angela to these important leadership roles and looks forward to the many contributions both will make to the service our hospital provides the community,” says Matthew Lawson, president and CEO, GBGH. “Marcia’s experience in both hospital finance and corporate services will be invaluable for GBGH as we continue making changes and improvements within the corporate services portfolio. During a time of health human resources challenges across the province, Angela will work together with the GBGH team to ensure we are an employer of choice both for new recruits and current staff.”

Chapman replaces Matthew Lawson who was formerly the hospital’s executive vice president of Corporate Services and CFO prior to being appointed the hospital’s current president and CEO. In her role, Chapman’s portfolio will include responsibility for Finance, Procurement, Health Records, Registration, Security, Facilities and Environmental Services. She will also manage two of GBGH’s important partnerships with Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) in the areas of Decision Support and Information Technology Services.

Prior to joining GBGH, Chapman – a chartered accountant and chartered professional accountant who also holds a Masters in Accounting – was the Corporate Controller at RVH where she was responsible for the hospital’s finance, business development and supply chain programs. Chapman has spent the past 15 years of her career in various hospital finance-related roles which have included Senior Accountant, Director of Finance, Financial Planning and Analysis, and interim CFO.

Wiggins, a labour and employment lawyer, has been appointed as GBGH’s VP, People and Culture and CHRO to replace the current VP retiring from the organization. In this role, Wiggins’ focus will include enhancing the well-being of staff and the culture of GBGH; leading organizational development opportunities; developing diversity, equity, inclusiveness, and wellness strategies and initiatives; creating and sustaining the hospital’s strategic human resources (HR) plan; labour and employee relations; and oversight of Occupational Health & Safety, Food Services, Volunteer Services and Spiritual Care.

Someone who places a high value on collaboration and creative thinking, Wiggins is already familiar with GBGH, its culture and the HR department as she has been a member of the hospital team since December 2019, providing in-house HR and labour relations counsel on a part-time basis. She has recently also worked in a similar in-house counsel role with RVH.

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Director, Communications & Stakeholder Relations

Georgian Bay General Hospital

705-526-1300 ext. 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

GBGH declares COVID-19 outbreak on 1 North inpatient unit

November 23, 2022 – An outbreak of COVID-19 has been declared on the 1 North Complex Continuing Care and Rehabilitation unit at Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH), in collaboration with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit. The outbreak includes eight patients who contracted COVID-19 while receiving care at the hospital.

Enhanced cleaning and other infection prevention and control measures – including increased testing of patients and staff – are in place. Visitation to the unit is limited to essential caregivers only and the unit is closed to admissions at this time.

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Director, Communications & Stakeholder Relations

Georgian Bay General Hospital

705-526-1300 ext 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

Volunteers Return to Georgian Bay General Hospital

November 21, 2022 – Earlier this month, Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) was pleased to welcome back volunteers after a two and a half year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Volunteers are once again helping in all areas of GBGH, much to the delight of staff at the hospital.  Prior to the pandemic GBGH had over 100 volunteers regularly contributing throughout the hospital.

“Our entire team is incredibly happy to see our volunteers back in the hospital.” says Matthew Lawson, president and CEO of GBGH. “The volunteers are such an important part of our team – from helping on patient care units, to guiding visitors and more. We have really missed them throughout the pandemic as they are an essential part of our team at GBGH.”

As they are such an essential part of the GBGH team, the hospital is also looking to recruit more volunteers. There are currently needs in most areas of the hospital for volunteers including:

• Captains Café (coffee bar)
• Gift Shop
• Information Desk
• Emergency Department
• Ambulatory Care
• Recreation Therapy
• Friendly Visitors – visiting patients, chatting and helping with small tasks.
• Virtual Volunteer Opportunities – making cards, virtual pen pals, and other at-home tasks for those who may not be comfortable coming into the hospital to volunteer.

“Volunteers are an integral part of our team at GBGH and we really missed their presence and positive energy during the pandemic,” says Kimberly Sutherland, Manager, Volunteer Resources, GBGH. “Unfortunately, not all volunteers who regularly helped GBGH and its patients pre-pandemic were able to return. We are actively seeking more volunteers as they greatly improve the patient experience and greatly help our staff in several ways. Volunteering at your local hospital is an amazing way to give back to your community.”

If you are interested in volunteering at GBGH, please visit the website to learn more about how to apply or call 705-526-1300 ext. 5374.

Contact:
Derek Desroches
Communications Specialist
Georgian Bay General Hospital
705-526-1300 ext. 5016
desrochesd@gbgh.on.ca

GBGH transitions to passive screening for COVID-19 symptoms

October 28, 2022 – Effective Tuesday, November 1, visitors and patients at Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) will no longer be actively screened for COVID-19 symptoms upon entering the hospital. Visitors and patients will be expected to review a list of symptoms and if they are experiencing any of these symptoms, to not proceed with their visit. GBGH staff or volunteers, who are now returning to service at the hospital, will serve as greeters, ensuring patients and visitors are passively screening for symptoms and adhering to other COVID-19 protocols still in place, including masking.

“While GBGH is gradually and carefully making some changes to our hospital-specific COVID-19 protocols, the safety of our patients and team are still of the highest importance,” says Angie Saini, vice president, Clinical Services and chief nursing executive. “It is still important that anyone visiting the hospital be aware of any symptoms and not visit while feeling unwell. We have made this transition to passive screening with the expectation that patients and visitors will keep the safety of others in mind by self-monitoring for symptoms.”

While visitors will no longer be actively screened for COVID-19 symptoms and are not required to show proof of COVID-19 immunization, GBGH remains committed to keeping patients, staff, visitors and volunteers safe through a continuation of mandatory masking within the hospital. All patients and visitors will be required to wear a hospital-provided mask for the duration of their visit. Health experts have agreed that continued use of masking in hospital settings remains a simple and necessary safeguard. Masking helps prevent the most vulnerable patients – those cared for by hospitals – from contracting COVID-19.

Visitors and patients will also be expected to sanitize their hands upon entering and exiting the building.

COVID-19 policies are subject to change based on the status of the pandemic within the region GBGH serves.

Contact:
Jennifer Moore
Director, Communications & Stakeholder Relations
Georgian Bay General Hospital
705-526-1300 ext 5177
moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

GBGH puts safety first as team receives their annual flu shots

Photo: Matthew Lawson (centre), president and CEO of Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) received his flu shot along with many of his colleagues this week. Receiving a flu vaccination is especially important this year as the hospital wants to avoid parallel surges in COVID and influenza patients this fall and winter.    

October 24, 2022 – Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) launched its annual influenza immunization campaign this week in the hospital’s efforts to ensure patient, visitor and team safety during the upcoming flu season. During the campaign staff, professional staff (physicians, midwives, dentists) and volunteers are encouraged to receive their flu shot at the hospital to protect patients, themselves, their loved ones and their colleagues.

“With this upcoming flu season anticipated to be more serious than the past two years, it’s as important as ever for people to receive their flu shot,” says Angie Saini, vice president, Clinical Services and chief nursing executive. “Unfortunately we are already seeing flu cases presenting to the Emergency department in addition to an increase in COVID positive patients. The combination of these two illnesses could have a crippling effect on hospitals’ ability to effectively manage patient flow. Receiving a flu shot is critically important as we all help to reduce the burden on the healthcare system from the pandemic and flu season.”

GBGH makes influenza vaccination a top priority every year based on two main considerations – ensuring its team of staff, professional staff and volunteers don’t pass along influenza to patients, as well as ensuring its team is healthy to provide care to patients when they need the hospital.

To make receiving the flu vaccine as convenient as possible, GBGH’s Occupational Health & Safety department is visiting all GBGH department over the coming weeks and also running additional clinics to ensure as many of its team members as possible receive a flu shot.

In keeping with encouraging flu immunization, GBGH also stresses the importance of keeping up with COVID vaccination to reduce serious illness which could result in hospitalization. The bivalent booster vaccine is now available to Ontarians 12 years of age and older if they have completed their previous two COVID-19 vaccines.

As part of the hospital’s ongoing COVID precautions, all patients and visitors are still screened upon entering the building for symptoms of COVID, which can be similar to influenza. All patients and visitors are asked to wear a hospital-provided mask and practice hand hygiene when entering GBGH at the main or Emergency department entrances.

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Director of Communications & Stakeholder Relations, GBGH

705-526-1300 ext 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

GBGH learns about Indigenous community through Truth & Reconciliation event

Group photo (from left) – Tricia Monague, indigenous patient navigator, GBGH and Beausoleil First Nation; Angie Saini, vice president, clinical services and chief nursing executive, GBGH; Carl Assance, residential school survivor; Sandy Reilly, residential school survivor; Angie King, Shki-Giizhgad Kwe / New Day Women; Laval Williams, hand drummer.

On September 30, Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) recognized the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with its second annual event to learn, reflect and remember the significance of the residential school system in Canada’s history. The event included an honour song, the heartfelt accounts of two residential school survivors’ experiences, teachings and the dedication of a new garden. GBGH is creating this garden for FNMI patients and families in phases to which the hospital will add each year until completion. For the first stage, GBGH has planted seven cedar trees to honour the Seven Grandfathers Teachings – the principles of character that each Anishinaabe should live by including Love, Respect, Bravery, Truth, Honesty, Humility and Wisdom. This event was made possible due to the generous contributions of Beausoleil First Nation.

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Director, Communications & Stakeholder Relations

Georgian Bay General Hospital

705-526-1300 ext. 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

GBGH declares COVID-19 outbreak on 2 North inpatient unit

September 30, 2022 – An outbreak of COVID-19 has been declared on the 2 North inpatient unit at Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH), in collaboration with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit. The outbreak includes five patients who contracted COVID-19 while receiving care at the hospital.

Enhanced cleaning and other infection prevention and control measures – including increased testing of patients and staff – are in place. Visitation to the unit is limited to essential caregivers only.

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Director, Communications & Stakeholder Relations

Georgian Bay General Hospital

705-526-1300 ext 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

Happy Franco-Ontarian Day!

September 23, 2022 – Each year on September 25, GBGH celebrates Franco-Ontarian Day – a time to celebrate the unique francophone community GBGH is so proud to serve. Across Ontario, there at more than 600,000 Franco-Ontarians, making up 4.9% of the provincial population. This September, GBGH is celebrating its fifth anniversary as a partially designated French Language Services hospital. This means the hospital provides information externally in both languages, as well as offer French language service in several departments across the hospital.

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Director, Communications & Stakeholder Relations

Georgian Bay General Hospital

705-526-1300 ext. 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca