Prairie Mountain Health | September 2015

living healthy. living well.

Emergency Department Flu Shot Clinics in PMH Patient Set to Start October 17 Every year, the flu season in Guide begins in late fall and usually lasts until spring. For 2015- Know Your Options 2016, the flu vaccine is available free of charge to all Manitobans. e know that coming It offers protection against four flu virus strains, including H1N1. Prairie to an emergency Mountain Health launches its flu W department can be campaign after the Thanksgiving stressful for you or a family member. long weekend. Watch for ads and posters in your home community Our Emergency Departments advertising flu clinic dates and (EDs) are here for you if you need locations. Also check out the Prairie emergency care. When an illness or Mountain Health Facebook page and Twitter page for more information! injury happens you need to decide Emergency Department, Souris Hospital continued on page 5 how serious it is. It’s not always easy to know if a medical problem needs emergency care. In some • EMERGENT: Examples: heart attack, major trauma, severe head injury, amputation, situations, emergency medical Inside severe difficulty breathing (due to an allergic this issue of thrive treatment is a must. reaction or other cause), unconsciousness, severe bleeding, severe burns. Letter from the CEO 2 How Do You Decide? For Emergent situations, CALL 911, Understanding how an Emergency Check It Out 2 or your local medical services number. Department works may help you decide Living with Dementia if you need to go there. When you arrive, • URGENT: Examples: head injury (but 4 you go through a process called triage: a still awake), deep cut, foreign body in Get Vaccinated: nurse will speak with you and do a quick the eyes or ears, high fever/uncontrolled Don't Spread the Flu! 5 assessment. The nurse will determine how vomiting or diarrhea in an infant or toddler, ill or injured you are and how quickly you chest pain (not related to a known heart Patient & Family should be seen— basically prioritizing problem), signs of serious infection. Engagement 6 patients. continued on page 3 Support for Those Bereaved by Suicide 7 Healthy Together Now 7 www.prairiemountainhealth.ca By the Numbers 8 Letter from the CEO

finding the staff to fill all of the shifts. All of Do Your your efforts are sincerely appreciated. It’s also getting to be that time of the year where we seem to be much more susceptible Part to Stay to catching nagging colds and flu. Getting vaccinated annually against the flu is the first Healthy and most important step in protecting against this serious disease. Flu outbreaks can start as Penny Gilson early as October, so please get your flu shot. CEO, Prairie Mountain Health Watch for advertising across the region on when and where you can get your flu shot—there It is hard to believe that summer 2015 Penny Gilson, CEO, Prairie Mountain Health will be many opportunities available. Other is already coming to an end. I hope everyone important means of keeping our communities had an opportunity to get some enjoyment, healthy is remembering to wash our hands to relaxation and quality time with family and a week. This can be challenging at the best of reduce the spread of germs, and staying at home friends. I also want to acknowledge many times but can be even more difficult during from work or school if you are sick. While Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) staff and peak vacation times. As a result it takes the many of us have the good fortune to be healthy, physicians who go above and beyond in the whole team working together to ensure that there are those who are much more vulnerable, summer to make sure operations continue staff get time off and shifts are covered so that and us not taking these steps—vaccination, while colleagues get their needed and deserved our residents and patients can continue to get washing our hands, and staying home if sick vacation. The unique thing about healthcare is the care they need. Thank you also to members —puts them at even greater risk. So please do that we are one of the few industries that needs of the PMH Regional Leadership, Management your part to keep our communities healthy this to ensure staffing around the clock, seven days and Scheduling Teams who spend many hours fall and winter. We all need to do our part! n

Remember to follow us on Twitter @PrairieMtHealth and @pmhcareers and Like us on Facebook.

Receiving It’s hard to and Children talk with accepting mourn in children and help from their own teens about others is unique Check it out death, but essential ways and at the Health Resource Centre during times for all need love of grief, what kids need those in mourning, and and support of the adults most is honesty and loving grieving children and who care for them. Sarah’s support. An ideal book for teens especially need Journey describes the grief parents, caregivers, and compassionate support. experience of a young counselors, Finding the In Companioning the girl as she mourns the Words offers practical, Grieving Child, caregivers sudden loss of her father, compassionate, and age- will learn how to comfort and offers compassionate, appropriate guidance on and guide children and practical counsel for adults how to talk with children teens through the journey who want to help grieving and teens about death and of grief. This book is a children. Covered are other sensitive topics, such must-read for parents, common concerns such as terminal illness, suicide, teachers, child counselors, as normal behaviours homicide, accidental and anyone who wants in grieving kids, helping death, the death of a child, to offer support and children with funerals, pet death, funerals, and companionship to children grieving kids at school, cremation. and teens affected by “misbehaviour” in the the death of someone grieving child, and helping they loved. children heal.

The featured books are available to borrow at the Health Resource Centre (HRC), located at the Brandon Regional Health Centre, or check your local library. The HRC is open to the public Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To contact us, please call 204-578-4080 or email [email protected].

2 thrive | September 2015 Your Health

Emergency Department Patient Guide

continued from page 1

• LESS URGENT: Examples: minor fracture/ sprain, severe back pain, skin/wound infection, severe headaches (migraines). Emergency Department entrance, Brandon Regional Health Centre • NON URGENT: Examples: colds, minor cuts, bites, sore throat, sinus problems. AT THE EMERGENCY OTHER INFORMATION FOR DEPARTMENT PATIENTS & FAMILIES If you think your situation is emergent or urgent, don’t hesitate—seek medical attention. What to Bring With You Language Services • Manitoba Health Card If you don’t have family who are able to How Long Will I Wait? • List of medications provide interpretation, please ask the nurse. Patients are seen in order of need, not time of arrival. Arriving by ambulance While Waiting Visitors does not always mean you will be seen • Please do not leave without being treated. We understand and support your need for sooner than other patients. You must also Should you decide to leave, please talk to family and friends to assist you, but for safety keep in mind there may be other groups of one of our staff members first. reasons we can only allow one or two visitors patients who come to this waiting room. • If you are feeling worse, let the nurse know. with you in the ED treatment area at any Some have already been seen by a doctor • Talk to the nurse before going to the time. Occasionally we may need to ask them in their office and are now being admitted washroom in case they need a sample, and to leave during your treatment. Visitors must directly. There may be a maternity patient before you have anything to eat or drink. always respect the privacy and care of other in labour who is also being admitted at the patients. Children must be accompanied by a patient registration area, or a patient who Code of Behaviour/Conduct parent or care provider. is being brought in before you because the Patients, staff and visitors all want to be specialist that they have been sent to see has safe in the ED. Prairie Mountain Health has a Are There Other Options? arrived to see them. policy of zero tolerance to violence. This means Remember, services are not offered on acts of violence, swearing, threats or verbal If you are confident that your medical abuse will not be tolerated. Anyone who is a first-come, first-served basis…the most ill problem does not require urgent or emergent violent or abusive will be asked to leave. or severely injured are seen first regardless of care, there are other options available: when they show up. Before You Leave the • Health Links - Info Santé - Toll-free 1-888- • 1st Priority – Seen immediately. Emergency Department Make 315-9257. A 24-hour, 7-days a week telephone Examples: cardiac arrest, unconsciousness, Sure You Understand: information service. Staffed by registered and severe breathing problems • Your diagnosis nurses with the knowledge to provide answers • Treatment advice • 2nd Priority – Seen as soon as possible. over the phone to questions and • New Prescriptions guide you to the care you need. This service is Examples: severe stomach pain, fractures, • Anything else you might need to do at home head injuries, some breathing problems free of charge everywhere in Manitoba. Admission to the Hospital • / Medical Clinic. • Last Priority – Seen when time permits. Depending on your condition and Unless you require emergency care, Examples: minor cuts or injuries, colds, physician’s examination, you may be admitted seeing your family doctor/primary care sore throats to the hospital and further information may be provider (i.e. Nurse Practitioner) is usually Not everyone will necessarily see a required from you. the best option. Your primary care provider physician, depending on their care needs. The knows your health history and can order nurse who triages you may be able to provide Transfer to a Different Hospital necessary tests or refer you to the specialists the care you need. The nurse may recommend Depending on your treatment needs, you you need. If you do not have a regular primary that you see a physician or nurse practitioner may need to be transferred to another hospital care provider and would like one, call the in a clinic the following day. in the region. continued on page 8

Prairie Mountain Health 3 Brandon University Health Studies Research Spotlight

Living with Dementia The Experiences of Older Couples in Managing Their Lives Together Dr. Fran Racher, Dr. Dean Care, Nancy McPherson, Terri Miller, Sharran Mullins ©istockphoto.com by wildpixel

Brandon University Health Studies faculty friends were sensitive to and able to meet challenges for programs and services. often partner with Prairie Mountain Health as an organization or with staff to make research the needs of the couples as partners and the Next steps include: happen. The goal is to improve the health of partners as individuals. • Public education to help family and friends the community. Supports and resources in the community understand the importance of their role in were frequently described as not enough or supporting a couple living with dementia and Do you know someone living in the not effective, and couples often reached a be aware of the types of practical support that community with Alzheimer’s disease or point where the option to continue to live are helpful. dementia? Through this study, we were able together was no longer possible. • Caregiver education on the course of the to interview eight couples in the Westman We hope that the results of this study disease and help to develop strategies for community with one spouse living with will enhance the understanding of health managing challenges. dementia. They taught us about the impact of professionals, service providers, and family, • Program development that is appropriate dementia on relationships, the challenges in friends, and the general public. A focus on and meaningful with creative and flexible managing their lives together, and the resources sustaining couplehood poses significant activities. required to continue to reside together in their challenges for program and policy development. The couples provided many helpful homes. These eight couples shared their stories Living with dementia must be viewed through suggestions and practical tips to help people with us through a series of interviews every six three lenses—the­ spousal caregiver, the partner with the dementia journey. This information to eight weeks over a 15-month period; a total with dementia, and the couple as a unit of care. can be found on the PMH website at of 46 interviews were completed. Each view will reveal unique opportunities and www.prairiemountainhealth.ca . n Through these discussions, we learned that most couples are creative and resilient Dr. Fran Racher and Dr. Dean Care Sharran Mullins is on staff at in problem-solving. However, the couples’ are from the Faculty of Health Studies at Fairview Personal Care Home within Prairie ability to manage living with dementia Brandon University. Mountain Health and is about to undertake appeared to be strongly influenced by: Nancy McPherson is a Professor in a study of spousal caregivers’ experiences of the Faculty of Health Studies and is the end-of-life care for partners with dementia Population Health Planner Analyst with living in a personal care home. • the severity of the disease, frequency of Prairie Mountain Health. Our thanks to the Alzheimer Society symptoms, and complexity of illness; Terri Miller is a clinician/owner of of Canada for funding, and the Alzheimer Foster Common Unity Counselling Services Society of Manitoba - Westman Regional • the knowledge, commitment, strength, and and a student in the Masters in Psychiatric Office for their support of the project. confidence of the care partner; Nursing Program. She is completing a study • their individual personalities/characteristics to understand the experiences of couples For more information about BU Health and the dynamic of the couple; living with dementia as they undertake Studies research, contact Donna Epp, relocation of the spouse with dementia to Research Facilitator, at [email protected] • and the degree to which the service long-term care. or 204-571-8532. providers, health professionals, family, and

4 thrive | September 2015 Your Health

is strongly recommended for the following individuals: children age 6 months to 59 months, those with a chronic illness, seniors Get Vaccinated aged 65 years or older, healthy pregnant women, residents of personal care homes Don't Spread the Flu! or long- term care facilities, health care workers and first responders, individuals of Aboriginal ancestry, and people who are severely overweight or obese. The flu vaccine is also recommended for household contacts or caregivers of these people.

Are There Any Side Effects? Vaccines are known to be very safe. It is much safer to get the flu vaccine than to get the flu. The most common side effect of the injectable flu vaccine is redness, soreness, and swelling where the needle was given. Some people will experience muscle aches or fever, lasting 1-2 days. With the intranasal flu vaccine, the most common side effects are a runny nose or nasal congestion.

How do I Find Out More Information About the Flu? You can contact your local public health office, nurse practitioner, pharmacy, or physician clinic. You can also visit www. Flu vaccination clinic in Boissevain prairiemountainhealth.ca or www.gov.mb.ca/ health/flu/index.html for more information on the flu and to find flu clinics in your area.n What is the Flu and are approved by Health Canada, and will be References: How is it Spread? provided at no charge to Manitobans. MB Health, and Canadian Immunization Guide Chapter The flu is not a stomach virus, nor is it Every year, scientists monitor the global on Influenza and Statement on Seasonal Influenza Vaccine for 2015-2016 the common cold. The flu is a respiratory spread of flu and decide what flu viruses will virus, and it is spread when an infected most likely cause widespread illness. The flu For the 2015-2016 flu season, the person coughs or sneezes. You can also get vaccine helps your body recognize these flu intranasal (FluMist®) flu vaccine will be the flu when a person touches a surface with viruses so it can protect you. available. However, due to production delays, FluMist® may not be available flu virus on it and then touches his or her until the week of October 26th. For nose, mouth, or eyes. Why Do I Need A Flu Shot more information please contact your The flu is very contagious, and people can Every Year? local public health office. spread the virus before they show any symptoms. Because flu viruses change over time, Some people will not have symptoms, but can each year a new flu vaccine has to be carry the virus and spread it to others. The flu can developed. The protection offered by a flu lead to serious complications such as bacterial shot will also decrease over time, so it very infections, bronchitis, pneumonia, and kidney or important to get a flu shot every year. heart failure. Who Should Get the What is the Flu Vaccine? Flu Vaccine? For most people, the flu vaccine is given The flu vaccine is recommended for all as a needle in the arm. Healthy children two to Manitobans over 6 months of age. Some children are eligible for FluMist®, a form of flu 17 years of age can also receive a spray that is Some people are at greater risk of serious vaccine that is administered via an intranasal spray. put inside the nose (FluMist®). All flu vaccines complications from the flu. The flu vaccine

Prairie Mountain Health 5 Your Health

Patient & Family Engagement ©istockphoto.com by KatarzynaBialasiewicz

atients have an important role to play in their own health care. Patient surveys were conducted throughout the region in a variety of service This includes reading, understanding and acting on health areas. Patients were asked a few simple yes P information, working with staff in decision making and providing or no questions about Patient and Family feedback on health care practices. Growing evidence shows that patients Engagement. Again, below are some results and families who are involved in their health care can, in fact, lead to from the surveys. improvements in how care is delivered.

Prairie Mountain Health strongly and the design, implementation and supports patient and family involvement and evaluation of programs and policies. has hired a Patient Engagement Facilitator • Engagement includes the values and needs to develop a framework for patient- and of patients, healthcare providers, and the family-centered health care. This one-year community. project will see patients, families, and health professionals work together to lay the A family is defined as a group of foundation that will lead to better-quality individuals who are connected by kinship, health care. affection, dependency or trust. The family is This project includes tools and training defined by the patient. A patient is intended to for both patients and staff, and a Steering include all patients, clients, and residents. Committee that oversees the development Early into the project, surveys were and progress of this project. This initiative conducted with both patients and staff, has been made possible through a financial related to the understanding of Patient and contribution by the Manitoba Patient Access Family Engagement in Prairie Mountain Network (MPAN). Health. These surveys gathered information about our current state of patient and family The next steps in the project will include What is Patient and Family engagement in a variety of programs and defining what the desired goals are for Patient Engagement as Defined by services. The information collected will help and Family Engagement in PMH, including Prairie Mountain Health? in the development of a Prairie Mountain identification of gaps between current state • Patient and family engagement is a Health Model for Patient and Family and future state, the development of regional partnership among patients, family Engagement. framework and identifying action items. members, and healthcare providers. The following charts summarize some If you have questions regarding this • This team provides knowledge, insight information collected from the 298 staff who project, please contact Cindy Parypa at and viewpoints for individual care, participated in our survey. [email protected] or 204-573-7687. n

6 thrive | September 2015 Your Health Support for Those Bereaved by Suicide

he Brandon & Area Suicide many things, such as confused, scared, • PMH - South Crisis Services: Prevention Implementation depressed or angry. There are often many 1-888-379-7699 T Network (SPIN) recognizes unanswered questions. Grief work is hard work • PMH - North Crisis Services: the importance of providing as we are left vulnerable and shaken when 1-866-332-3030 someone close to us dies. It may be comforting • Manitoba Farm, Rural & Northern services and supports to those to know that through this emotional and spiritual Support Services: 1-866-367-3276 bereaved by suicide. hard work, we can ultimately arrive at a place of • Manitoba Suicide Line: acceptance, reconciliation and healing. 1-877-435-7170 Research has The Brandon & Area SPIN recently • Brandon & Area Suicide Support Group shown that one of the donated a collection of new books on the topics (support through SPIN & Klinic): most effective ways of grief and loss to the Brandon Regional Health 204-571-4183 Suicide Prevention to cope after losing Implementation Network Centre Learning Resource Centre (see page 2). • Klinic Websites / Smartphone App a loved one is to tap Many of these books are authored by Dr. Alan (funded through Manitoba Health): into one’s support system. This may include Wolfelt, an educator and grief counsellor www.reasontolive.ca family members, friends, neighbours, clergy, widely known across North America for his www.trauma-recovery.ca co-workers, counsellors or support groups. compassionate messages and expertise in the www.calminthestormapp.com Help may be down the street at a friend’s area of human grief. There are practical ideas for kitchen table, or it could be just a phone call healing the grieving heart, body and mind for Visit the Brandon & Area SPIN website away. By reaching out to a local or provincial children, teens, adults and seniors. Anyone can at www.spinbrandon.ca for upcoming crisis line one can get the support, counselling sign out these books. See www.spinbrandon.ca SPIN events, resources, and educational or information that can make a difference in for a complete list of books available. opportunities. If you are a person who would one’s healing journey. No matter who you are For people living in the Prairie Mountain like to become involved in any of the Brandon or where you live, there is help available; get Health region, there are supports and services & Area SPIN’s suicide prevention initiatives, connected—you are not alone. for those who are struggling and in need of contact Kathy Foley at 204-578-2529 or Death by suicide can leave one feeling support. There is hope and recovery. [email protected] . n Healthy Together Now community funding available

The Resilient Journey speaker and a dozen schools took part in the Back Off author, Dick O’Brien, visits the community Tobacco Youth Strategy project that was of Rivers and Brandon and makes a lasting developed for Grade 8 students to increase impression! The folks in the Hamiota their knowledge about tobacco awareness. Municipality are sharing their bulk veggies, Students were rewarded with a healthy living making it easier to access and eat healthy basket upon completion of the program! food and they are building friendships while These are just a few of the projects initiated doing it! Wawayseecappo First Nation to promote healthy living behaviors and they brings the art of healthy cooking to the were all made possible through the Healthy Garden share program in Hamiota men in their community! They are building Together Now funding. Healthy Together Now skills, confidence, positive relationships and is a community-led, regionally coordinated mental well-being. Participating communities delicious, nutritious food all in one kitchen! and government supported, grassroots program and groups identify needs, plan, implement and Skills, confidence and knowledge are being to help prevent chronic disease in Manitoba. evaluate projects that promote healthy living learned at Making Waves Brandon, which Projects are planned and led by individual behaviours in their community. These projects provides affordable and accessible one-on- communities and groups while the Manitoba can reach people of all ages at home, at school, one swimming instruction to children with Government and regional health authorities at work and in their community setting. Health disabilities. A Physical Literacy Workshop provide funding, support and training. Promotion staff are available and willing to help is being planned in Dauphin that will focus Healthy Together Now activities address the communities and groups establish their priorities, on fundamental movement skills and how to four healthy living behaviours that help prevent and plan and build activities to address the develop them featuring guest speakers Dr. chronic disease: tobacco reduction, healthy specific needs of their area. Dean Kreillaars and Michelle Johnson! Over eating, increased physical activity, and positive continued on next page

Prairie Mountain Health 7 Your Health

Emergency Department Patient Guide • If you have a chronic illness, keep your regular appointments continued from page 3 with your doctor/nurse practitioner. Be sure you understand your doctor’s/nurse practitioner’s advice and ask what changes in your Family Doctor Finder toll-free at 1-866-690-8260 between 8:30 a.m. and condition could require medical attention. 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. This program can assist you in finding a primary care provider in your area who is accepting new patients. Prairie Mountain Health is always working to improve patient • Pharmacist. Pharmacists have the authority to prescribe and flow throughout our health care system including in our Emergency administer certain drugs under limited conditions and they can Departments. Enhancing our delivery of care means our patients are provide expert advice about your prescriptions and about over-the- receiving the right care at the right time by the right provider. counter medications. Your pharmacist can help you understand the For a complete list of our programs and services visit our website at medications you take and how they might interact with each other. www.prairiemountainhealth.ca. n Sources: Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS) What Else Can I Do? WRHA Emergency Department Patient Guide • Before you have a medical problem, know your options/contact information and keep those numbers close by so they are there for you when you need them. Healthy Together Now • Ask about your family doctor’s/nurse practitioner’s regular office continued from page 7 hours and after-hours availability. • Ensure you and your family have enough prescribed medication Healthy Together Now Projects over holidays and weekends. • Grassroots: Community members identify, initiate and lead projects. • Evidence-informed: Evidence is used to plan and design each project and to measure its effectiveness. Some quick facts and figures from the PMH • Integrated: Healthy Together Now aligns and blends with existing Community Health Assessment (CHA). For the full programs to add value and enhance their reach. report, please visit the PMH website. • Focused: Projects target priority populations as identified by communities and health regions. 24.8% PMH residents living with mood and anxiety disorders • Sustainable: Strong partnerships and community ownership promote lasting effects.

4,867 PMH residents (55+) living There are several chronic diseases affecting our communities with dementia such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, hypertension, to name a few. Chronic disease prevention is something all of us can help promote in 18.7% Hospitalizations for digestive our communities. Healthy Together Now funding is available in the issues (most frequent cause) Prairie Mountain Health region for chronic disease prevention activities. For more information on how your community or group can get involved and/or access funding please contact the following 24.3% PMH seniors (75+) living in the community use Benzodiazepines Prairie Mountain Health staff: • Brandon: Nikki Dean – Health Promotion Coordinator – 204-578-2194, [email protected] By the Numbers 20,675 PMH residents living with • South: Christa Veitch, Health Promotion Coordinator – a respiratory illness 1-204-328-7101 or [email protected] • North: Pam Chetyrbuk, Community Health Facilitator – 1-204-622-4189 or [email protected] n

24.3% PMH residents (19+) living Designed and printed in Canada by Leech Printing Ltd. 243008 / 243019 with Ischemic Heart Disease

thrive is published Your feedback is encouraged. three times per year by Send comments to: Monica Truffyn Prairie Mountain Health Communications Coordinator 150A—7th Street Phone: 204-578-2319 | Fax: 204-578-2820 Brandon, Manitoba R7A 7M2 [email protected]

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