Cardiac Staff Matters 28/09/15

Cardiac Staff Matters is a regular publication of updates, information, points to ponder, and news items that are significant to the Program. The aim is to pass these points on during huddles, in conversations, and by posting in clinical areas to ensure widest dissemination.

1. The welcome mat is extended to:

• Joceline deGraaf, who began her new role as Clinical Resource Nurse on CR4 at SBH on September 21.
• Caroline Jardine, who has accepted a 0.7 EFT term position as an Access Coordinator. She will begin on October 5.

We’re glad to have you both as part of the team!

2. A new central intake process has been introduced in the cardiac surgery clinics as of this week. This new process calls for all outpatient cardiac surgery referrals to be directed to a single place (CR1). Referrals will be reviewed by the medical director for cardiac surgery and assigned to a surgeon. Generally, if the referral source or patient expresses a preference for a specific surgeon, this will be respected. However, consideration will be given to patient urgency, surgeon specialty, waiting lists and surgeon availability. As part of this process, a new cardiac surgery referral form has also been developed. Communications will be going out to referral sources about cardiac surgery central intake as soon as the new referral forms are available.

3. Your input is needed for the Patient Safety Culture Survey. It’s painless and takes only 10 to15 minutes to complete. The voluntary survey, created by Accreditation Canada, will help us gather valuable insight into our collective attitude as an organization about patient safety. This information will help us with our mission to deliver safe and caring services.

To complete the survey, go to https://www3.accreditation.ca/OrgInstrument/ and contact our office for the Organization Code and Password. The survey can be completed until October 2, 2015.

Cardiac Staff Matters 14/09/15

Cardiac Staff Matters is a regular publication of updates, information, points to ponder, and news items that are significant to the Program. The aim is to pass these points on during huddles, in conversations, and by posting in clinical areas to ensure widest dissemination.

1. The findings of a study that established a link between outdoor temperature and the risk of STEMI, the most severe form of heart attack, were presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in London by Dr. Shuangbo Liu. Not only was the story picked up locally (CTV), but it gained national and international attention, being highlighted online by organizations such as the American College of Cardiology, U.S. News and World Report, Science Daily, and CBS (Atlanta), as well as many others. Dr. James Tam was the supervisor for this project. Follow this link to see the local coverage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0M5FRgUa_I 

2. A belated welcome to Dr. Kanwal (Kenny) Kumar. Although already well-known within the program, he started in a new role as a locum cardiac surgeon in August.

3. A big congratulations goes out to all those who participated in this year’s CCCN Manitoba Chapter, Health Promotion and Advocacy Committee’s Step Challenge. This year 4 teams counted their daily steps from June through August for a first prize of a one year CCCN membership. This is a yearly event which encourages us all to get out there and step into exercise. The grand prize goes to the team consisting of Estrellita Estrella- Holder, Chris Kuttnig, Lisa Banman, Lorraine Avery and Jocelyn Plante who clocked a grand total of 1,545,840 steps!

4. A warm welcome is extended to Brenda Lord, who has accepted the .50 term Access Coordinator position, effective Monday, September 14th, 2015. Happy first day, Brenda!

5. Please help us take a vital sign for the health region. You are invited to take 10-15 minutes to answer a 23 question survey on your perception of safety within the 2 organization. The survey, which is called the Canadian Patient Safety Culture Survey, is required as part of WRHA’s regional accreditation process. The purpose is to gather insight into our collective attitude as an organization about patient safety.

We value your opinion. Your answers are kept confidential and your participation will remain anonymous. Please contact our office to obtain the code and password to complete the survey.

The deadline for completion of the survey is October 2, 2015.

6. There have been a number of SBH office relocations within the program this past week:

Chris Kuttnig Clinical Education Instructor, CCU D2015 235-3397 (Same)
Emily Phillips Clinical Education Instructor, A5S Cardiology D2015 237-2363 (Same)
Geri Henry Belinda Landry Abe Laureano ICCS CRNs CR5044 235-3365 (Same)
Allan McConnell Equipment Coordinator CR5054 258-1868 (New)
Divina Cosino Equipment Coordinator CR5054 258-1869 (New)
Carolyn Gilmour Hillier Research Nurse Y3506 258-1139 (New)

7. On Sept 25th, eleven students will be writing the Canadian Society of Cardiology Technologists exam being held at SBH, including 4 of our new casual employees Samantha Nedokus, Kathryn Hurtig, Dilpreet Sidhu and Darcy Marion. Best of luck to all of them! 3

8. Farewell and good luck to 2 of SBH’s full time EKG technologists: Rabeea Siddiqui and Kristina Patskan. Rabeea has joined her new husband in London, England and while there will pursue a Masters degree. Kristina has enrolled in the Mohawk echosonography program and has taken an educational LOA to pursue her studies in Hamilton, Ontario.

9. Welcome back from your maternity leave, Kathy Puzio (SBH EKG technologist)!

If you have any news, items of interest or information that you want to pass on to the rest of the Program and/or if you have feedback, please contact Kelly Lukaszewski at klukaszewski@sbgh.mb.ca or 204.237.2743

Cardiac Staff Matters 31/08/15

Cardiac Staff Matters is a regular publication of updates, information, points to ponder, and news items that are significant to the Program. The aim is to pass these points on during huddles, in conversations, and by posting in clinical areas to ensure widest dissemination.

1. Lisa Bowen began her position as the Program Team Manager for the Cardiac Surgery Inpatient Unit at SBH on August 17. We’re very happy to have you with us, Lisa!

 2. A warm welcome is extended also to Dr. Harry Lapierre, who started a locum in Cardiac Surgery on August 10. He will be with us at least until February 2016.

3. Another new face in the program will belong to Kimberly Kummen! Kim will begin her new role as Administrative Director for the Cardiac Sciences Program on September 21 and will be a great addition to the CSP Leadership Team! A huge thank you goes out to Michael Powell, who filled the role of Administrative Director on an interim basis while the search for a permanent Admin Director was going on. It was great having you with us, Michael!

4. The results of an audit done on 5A cardiology regarding venous thromboembolism prophylaxis is “in press”….follow this link for the online version: http://www.onlinecjc.ca/article/S0828-282X%2815%2900405-5/abstract

5. On the lighter side: These are sentences exactly as typed by medical secretaries (and dictated by doctors?) in NHS (National Health Service) Greater Glasgow:
• Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for over a year.
• On the second day the knee was better and on the third day it disappeared.
• The patient has been depressed since she began seeing me in 1993.
• While in ER, Eva was examined, x-rated and sent home.
 • Skin: somewhat pale, but present.
• Patient has two teenage children, but no other abnormalities.
• Patient was seen in consultation by Dr Jones, who felt we should sit on the abdomen and I agree.

If you have any news, items of interest or information that you want to pass on to the rest of the Program and/or if you have feedback, please contact Kelly Lukaszewski at klukaszewski@sbgh.mb.ca or 204.237.2743