GBGH opens doors to potential new team members with hiring event

Photo: The 2 East inpatient unit at Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) is one of many departments actively seeking new team members to complete its staffing complement. Anyone who would like to pursue a position with GBGH or are interested in a casual conversation to learn more about the hospital are welcome to attend an Open House and Hiring Event May 16 and 17. Details are available on the hospital’s website – https://gbgh.on.ca/join-our-teams/recruitment-process/.

May 4, 2023 – In its ongoing efforts to recruit talented professionals to join its team of highly skilled professionals, Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) is hosting an Open House and Hiring Event on Tuesday, May 16 and Wednesday, May 17 from 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. Anyone who would like to pursue a position with GBGH or is interested in a casual conversation to learn more about the hospital is welcome to attend. Interviews – either informational or specific to a position – will be available in-person and virtually.

“GBGH’s consistent priority is to have our hospital function with a full staff complement, but that has become challenging since the beginning of the pandemic,” says Angela Wiggins, vice president, People & Culture and chief human resources officer, GBGH. “We’ve  been successful in recruiting for some areas of the hospital which have traditionally been difficult positions to fill, such as Pharmacy and Environmental Services. We’ve also been able to hire 27 nurses in the past six months, yet we still encounter health human resource shortages and are continually seeking creative ways to effectively recruit. Through this Open House and Hiring Event, we are specifically looking to recruit for the Lab and Security, as well as nurses and personal support workers for inpatient units, Emergency and critical care, but welcome the opportunity to speak with any individual interested in our organization.”

Candidates who attend in person will also have an opportunity to tour the hospital, learn more about its culture as a learning organization, and hear about the GBGH work-life experience directly from the ‘Crew’ of current team members. Additionally, there is no résume required to be interviewed.

Interviews will be available in person on a drop-in basis or scheduled virtually (register here for virtual – https://forms.office.com/r/ANDrsnZQJY) with candidates’ potential leaders. Having leaders present and engaged in the interview process during the event enables hospital leadership to make timely decisions about hiring. Successful candidates will leave the event with a job offer for their consideration.

To provide potential candidates with some insight into the hospital leading up to the event, GBGH will profile some of the departments and leaders overseeing the areas of focus for recruitment. This information can be found on GBGH’s social media channels between now and the event.

• Facebook – @GeorgianBayGeneralHospital
• LinkedIn – Georgian Bay General Hospital
• Instagram – gbghmidland
• Twitter – @GBGHMidland / @MidlandHGBG

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Director, Communications & Stakeholder Relations

Georgian Bay General Hospital

705-526-1300 ext 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

Green Team making a big impact at GBGH

Angie Saini and Angela Puddicombe, co-chairs of the GBGH Green Team with the new EV charging stations in the main parking lot at Georgian Bay General Hospital.

April 19, 2023 – In September of 2022, Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) relaunched their Green Team. This group of staff and professional staff  from across the hospital work together to find more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives to support  day to day operations at GBGH.

The following are a few of the environmentally friendly and sustainable initiatives the group has undertaken since their relaunch last fall:

• LED Light Switchover – the GBGH Facilities team has continued work on changing lights around the hospital to LED lights. The cafeteria for example has been switched to all LED lights to conserve and reduce energy use.
• Electric Vehicle Charging Stations – in the fall of 2022 the GBGH Green Team installed electric vehicle charging stations in the main hospital parking lot. Three dual port, level two electric vehicle charging stations have been available since December 2022. This initiative was partially funded through a grant from the federal government’s Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program. This program provides grants of 50 per cent of the total cost of the installation of the chargers.
• Compost Program – later this Spring GBGH will add composting to its garbage collection program to help reduce waste. Additionally the hospital will move to a communal garbage, composting and recycling program (instead of individual bins in offices), with new bins and labelling to make it easy for staff and visitors to sort waste, compost and recycling.
• Printer Labels – GBGH recently changed the process for printing patient labels and bracelets. The new system allows staff to customize the number of labels to help reduce waste, and make better use of all supplies.

“We are very proud of our Green Team and all of the initiatives they have championed so far,” says Angela Puddicombe, Facilities supervisor and co-chair of the GBGH Green Team, “Our group is committed to raising awareness about how we can reduce the environmental impact through many areas of hospital operations.”

On April 21, GBGH staff will also participate in an Earth Day clean-up of the GBGH campus.

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

COVID-19 outbreak on GBGH’s 2 East unit declared over

April 17, 2023 – Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH), in consultation with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, has officially declared the COVID-19 outbreak over on its 2 East inpatient unit.

The outbreak, originally declared April 7, included four patients who contracted COVID-19 while receiving care at the hospital.

During the outbreak only essential visitors were permitted on the unit, but visitation on 2 East is returning to two visitors at a time during the visiting hours of 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Director, Communications & Stakeholder Relations

Georgian Bay General Hospital

705-526-1300 ext. 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

GBGH adding full pulmonary function testing to enhance access for local patients

Photo: Theresa O’Reilly (right), respiratory therapist at Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH), conducts a full pulmonary function test (PFT) in the hospital’s new PFT suite. GBGH has added full PFT to its services to provide high quality, lung function assessment closer to home for the community it serves.

April 4, 2023 – Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) will now be able to provide full pulmonary function testing (PFT) as part of its commitment to grow and align the hospital’s services to meet community needs. Prior to the addition of full PFT, effective April 4, GBGH offered spirometry testing and partial PFT to assess patients’ basic lung function. With this latest service enhancement, patients will not have to leave the area to have this critical lung function testing completed.

“GBGH is committed to providing care closer to home for patients where we can,” says Angie Saini, vice president, Clinical Services and chief nursing executive, GBGH. “Through an investment in the equipment, physician training and respiratory therapy resources, this service will positively impact hundreds of local residents. Bringing full PFT services to our hospital means patients will have access to the gold standard for accurate measurements of lung function, which is crucial in the diagnosis of respiratory conditions.”

When a patient is diagnosed as having decreased air flow through basic spirometry, they are often referred for a full PFT to aid in diagnosing lung diseases (i.e. COPD, asthma, bronchitis, shortness of breath and emphysema), help monitor the response to treatment, and can guide decisions regarding further treatment and intervention. Some patients may also be referred for spirometry or PFT prior to elective surgery to evaluate if they are appropriate to receive general anesthetic. It can also be used to assess the effects of medications and measure progress in disease treatment.

GBGH performs approximately 600 simple spirometry tests per year, with half of these patients in need of more in-depth testing. Without full PFT at GBGH, these patients were previously referred to other hospitals in the region. The hospital projects it will be able to surpass 300 PFT appointments per year with the goal of eventually reaching 500 procedures annually. This estimate is based on the current outflow of local patients to other hospitals in the region.

Patients requiring PFT at GBGH will be referred through their primary care provider if identified as needing a lung function assessment.

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Director, Communications & Stakeholder Relations, GBGH

705-526-1300 ext 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

GBGH launches Emergency Wait Times clock webpage

March 30, 2023 – Starting this week, Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) will publicly display projected wait times in the Emergency department (ED) via the hospital’s websites – both in English and French. Within the coming weeks, GBGH will also post the wait times on a screen in the ED waiting room so patients can refer to it while already in the ED.

When viewing the wait times online, it shows two different categories types of wait time – main ED and Green Zone (See & Treat for minor illness or injury), as well as the number of patients who are:

• Currently waiting (have not yet seen a physician)
• Currently being treated (i.e. they’ve had an initial assessment by a physician)

“GBGH has continued its important work over the last year to improve emergency department wait times,” says Matthew Lawson, president and CEO, GBGH. “The new ED wait time clock aligns with our hospital’s commitment to be transparent with our community. It is also important for patients to understand what to expect when coming to the Emergency department so they can be better prepared for their visit.”

This initiative was a significant priority for GBGH based on the following:

• Providing information to the public about the length of wait times to expect when visiting the ED can improve the patient experience
• It is an opportunity to increase awareness among patients and families about fluctuations in ED volumes, wait times and the triage process (based on the severity of a patient’s condition and their type of injury/illness)

On the website, the public can also access a graph showing when the ED will be busiest over the next six hours (based on historical data from the previous 30 days); a list of alternative resources for minor illness; what to bring when coming to the ED; and a reminder to call 911 in case of serious injury or illness. The page is accessible through GBGH’s website (gbgh.on.ca) and directly through the following link: https://gbgh-predict.oculys.com

Please note, wait times can change suddenly and dramatically based on evolving patient health status and volume.

Contact:

Derek Desroches
Communications Specialist
705-526-1300 ext 5016
desrochesd@gbgh.on.ca

GBGH seeking community feedback in development of new strategic plan

March 13, 2023 – Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) is looking for feedback from the community to help shape the organization’s new strategic plan. GBGH launched its current five-year strategic plan in 2018 and is now in the process of revising that plan to guide the hospital for the next seven years. One of the most important aspects of developing the plan is the inclusion of input from hospital staff/professional staff/volunteers, Board of Directors members, GBGH’s Patient and Family Advisory Council, healthcare partners, unique populations served by the hospital, elected officials and the community.

“This is a tremendously exciting time for GBGH, as we have the opportunity to shape and determine our future directions, in order to best serve our community,” says Matthew Lawson, president and CEO, GBGH. “Our new strategic plan will span seven years to ensure we have sufficient time to implement our strategy and make meaningful progress toward achieving objectives. Although we are still in the development phase, I can assure you the plan will position GBGH to adapt to the continually evolving acute healthcare environment, ensure we are aligning our services with the needs of our community, and focus on fostering a positive environment in which team members can work, practice and volunteer.”

The strategic plan acts as the organization’s roadmap to guide all its decisions and ensure it is accountable to the community it serves. In addition to the survey, the hospital will hold focus groups to gather feedback from specific stakeholders.

The community survey can be found via the GBGH website (www.gbgh.on.ca) or through the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KWFDH3D

GBGH anticipates having the new strategic plan finalized by June 2023.

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Director, Communications & Stakeholder Relations, GBGH

705-526-1300 ext 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

GBGH awarded for open communication about organ and tissue donation

Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) was recently honoured by Trillium Gift of Life Network (TGLN) with a Provincial Eligible Approach Rate Award. This award is presented to hospitals who exceed TGLN’s target of 90 per cent in having organ and tissue donation discussions with eligible patients/family members. GBGH achieved an eligible approach rate of 100 per cent. This is the first year GBGH has reached this target and received this award. Accepting the award on behalf of GBGH are critical care team members (from left): Leslie Tubman, team lead, Intensive Care Unit (ICU); Robin Tucker, ICU clerk; Nicole Lefaivre, critical care professional practice leader; Samantha Townes, manager, ICU; Kaitlyn Davidson, registered nurse (RN), ICU; and Dan Bedard, RN, Critical Care Float Team.

February 16, 2023 – Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) has been recognized with a Provincial Eligible Approach Rate Award from Ontario Health (Trillium Gift of Life Network [TGLN]), the province’s organ and tissue donation and transplantation agency. This award recognizes GBGH for its outstanding efforts to facilitate a discussion about organ and tissue donation between Ontario Health (TGLN) and eligible patients/families of patients at end of life.

“GBGH is very proud of the partnership with TGLN and the critical care team here has taken our role very seriously as facilitators of a difficult, yet important, discussion between TGLN, patients and families,” says Dr. Khalid Tahir, TGLN medical lead, intensivist and chief of Medicine, GBGH. “This is never an easy conversation because it means the end of life for a patient, but it is so important we not be afraid of facilitating these discussions which helps patients and families be aware of options. One of those options is donation and it can have wide-reaching, life-saving outcomes.”

This is the first time GBGH has exceeded the provincial eligible approach rate target of 90 per cent – set by Ontario Health (TGLN) – achieving 100 per cent in 2021-2022.

“The success of organ and tissue donation in Ontario relies on the hard work and dedication of our health care partners. Georgian Bay General Hospital has made an outstanding contribution to organ and tissue donation and this award is a reflection of their commitment to implementing leading donation practices, integrating donation as part of quality end-of-life care, and continuously working to save lives through organ and tissue donation,” says Rebecca Cooper, vice president, Ontario Renal Network and Trillium Gift of Life Network, Ontario Health. “Every Ontarian has the opportunity to demonstrate their support for this life-saving work by registering their consent to organ and tissue donation at BeADonor.ca.”

Despite COVID-19’s continued impact, the province contributed to 807 essential organ transplants while Ontario hospitals supported 302 organ donors and 1885 tissue donors. In 2021-2022, GBGH had four tissue donors enhancing the lives of many.

Approximately 1,300 people in Ontario are currently on the waitlist for a life-saving organ transplant, and every three days someone will die because they did not receive their transplant in time. While more than 22,000 Ontarians have received a lifesaving organ transplant since 2003 and the majority of Canadians say they understand the importance of organ donation, only 35 per cent of Ontarians have formally registered their consent for organ and tissue donation.

Ontario Health’s (TGLN) goal is to achieve 120,000 new registrations between April 1, 2022 and March 31, 2023. Visit www.beadonor.ca to register or find out more.

Both Penetanguishene, with 56 per cent, and Midland, with 55 per cent, well exceed the average provincial registration rate of 35 per cent. Penetanguishene ranks 19^th and Midland ranks 26^th for organ donation registration out of 170 communities in Ontario.

 Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Director of Communications and Stakeholder Relations, GBGH

705-526-1300 ext 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

GBGH receives funding to operate its first MRI, bringing care closer to home

The Honourable Robin Martin (back row, centre), parliamentary assistant to Ontario’s Minister of Health, and the Honourable Jill Dunlop (front row, far right), member of provincial parliament for Simcoe North and minister of Colleges and Universities, recently visited Georgian Bay General Hospital. In addition to touring the facility, they formally announced the hospital will receive funding to operate a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine as part of the Diagnostic Imaging services GBGH provides its community.

February 3, 2023 – Announced during an event today with provincial government officials, Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) will receive $800,000 in annual operating funding to begin providing Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) services, expanding access to these important diagnostic procedures. Prior to this commitment, GBGH was the largest acute care hospital in Ontario without an operating or approved MRI. Having an MRI at GBGH is an another opportunity to bring care closer to home for thousands of residents annually who will not need to travel as far – or wait as long – to receive this essential care.

“The Ontario Ministry of Health understands the importance of expanding access to MRI scanners in rural communities, such as Midland”, said Robin Martin, member of provincial parliament for Eglinton-Lawrence and parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Health. “Having an MRI at Georgian Bay General Hospital will help to reduce wait times for this service in Simcoe North, allowing for more timely diagnosis and treatment while lessening the travel burden that is placed on patients and caregivers who currently have to go outside of the area for this service.”

“The province is ensuring hospitals have the funds they need to operate, and at Georgian Bay General Hospital, this means increased access to diagnostic imaging for people within our region,” said Jill Dunlop, MPP for Simcoe North. “For the Midland area, this funding means residents will have more convenient access to care closer to home through access to GBGH’s first-ever MRI machine, and I was proud to work closely with GBGH on this important initiative.”

GBGH’s future MRI will not only serve the hospital’s immediate community, it will assist in adding capacity to the system which reduces wait times across the region. The addition of an MRI in the hospital’s Diagnostic Imaging department will reduce wait times as area residents can be seen in Midland, making more appointments available at local hospitals for patients located in neighbouring communities.

“Our hospital’s strategy is to grow clinical services in alignment with community needs,” says Tim Kastelic, chair, GBGH Board of Directors. “Bringing MRI services to GBGH has been a priority of our hospital over many years now and has been made possible in part through the influential advocacy of MPP Dunlop. Her ongoing support of GBGH’s growth and service expansion has positively impacted many aspects of our hospital, helping us enhance healthcare services for local residents.”

In submitting its proposal for an MRI, GBGH estimates it could eventually operate it 3,900 hours annually or 16 hours per day, five days per week. At this time, the initial funding commitment will enable the hospital to operate the MRI for 2,000 hours per year – or eight hours per day, five days per week – meeting the needs of an estimated 2,000 local patients.

“We are grateful the provincial government has recognized the importance of adding more MRIs to our regional healthcare system,” says Matthew Lawson, president and CEO, GBGH. “We know there are thousands of local residents experiencing lengthy wait times to receive an MRI and who still have to travel long distances when they do secure an MRI appointment. With the MRIs committed to several local hospitals, it will dramatically improve wait times and equitable access to care across Simcoe and Muskoka.”

In order to accommodate the MRI, GBGH will complete some renovations to an existing space and is committed to starting this work as quickly as possible. The hospital hopes to have the new MRI operational within 12 – 24 months, pending the Ministry of Health’s approval of the proposed renovations.

Additionally, as the government funding covers the operations of the MRI (staff, utilities), the hospital must pay for the renovations, as well as the purchase and install of the new equipment. The GBGH Foundation will work with the community and donors to raise the necessary capital funds in support of this project.

“Being able to raise the funds to renovate and purchase this MRI will be a top priority for our Foundation – and we’ve already begun,” says Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation. “If anyone has had lengthy waits, and then far distances to travel for an MRI, you will know firsthand how important it is to bring this service here to GBGH. Knowing this, we have already received some inspiring gifts directed toward the MRI and will need the added generosity of our incredible community to improve access to the latest technology in diagnostic imaging, bringing care closer to home.”

MRI is a medical imaging technique that uses magnetic fields and computer-generated radio waves to create detailed images of organs and tissues in the body. This provides better clarity for specific body parts compared to other diagnostic imaging technologies.

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Director, Communications & Stakeholder Relations, GBGH

705-526-1300 ext 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca

GBGH gives back to the community through food drive

From left – Matthew Lawson, president and CEO, GBGH; Angie Saini, vice president, Clinical Services and chief nursing executive, GBGH; Janetta Moreau, Facilities clerk, GBGH; Yvette Dusome, president, St. Margaret’s Chapter (Midland) of St. Vincent de Paul; Patty Donaldson, volunteer, St. Margaret’s Chapter (Midland) of St. Vincent de Paul; Angela Puddicombe, supervisor, Facilities, GBGH; Katy Ghovanlou, manager, 2 East inpatient unit; and Andrea Sheehan, Pharmacy Technician, GBGH.

Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) held its annual Holiday Food Drive to collect donations for the St. Vincent de Paul Food Banks in Midland and Penetanguishene. The Food Drive,was organized by GBGH’s Facilities, Environmental Services and Communications departments. Several hundred kilograms of food and toiletries were collected for community food baskets over the three-week food drive.

Contact:

Jennifer Moore

Director, Communications & Stakeholder Relations, GBGH

705-526-1300 ext. 5177

moorejen@gbgh.on.ca