Collaboration. Opportunity. Perseverance. Resilience. a Collection of Stories, Profiles and Letters Highlighting Horizon’S Response to the COVID-19 Crisis
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PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 Issue No. 21, Vol. 5 Clean your hands Keep your distance Wear a mask June 2020 HorizonSTAR A publication for the staff of Horizon Health Network COLLABORATION. OPPORTUNITY. PERSEVERANCE. RESILIENCE. A collection of stories, profiles and letters highlighting Horizon’s response to the COVID-19 crisis IAL EDITION SPEC A welcome note from Contents the editor Dear Staff, Physicians and Volunteers, Welcome to a special edition of the Horizon Star! This issue features stories, profiles and letters highlighting the collaboration, opportunity, perseverance and resilience shown In the first six months of this year it’s likely you have experienced things that by staff, physicians and our communities during Horizon’s most don’t experience in a lifetime. The same goes for us as an organization — preparation and response to the COVID-19 pandemic over the as One Horizon it has certainly been an extraordinary start to 2020. past several months. 4 5 6 7 As soon as COVID-19 arrived in New Brunswick we quickly evolved; we adapted It is a delicate balance — highlighting these “good news” stories, Boosting morale through ‘Cleaning’ the way through Painting windows of hope at Paying it forward our practices, precautions and policies within our facilities to lower the risk of when we know that our work is not yet done. Our work is not photographs COVID-19 Horizon’s TMH ‘Sometimes a social worker the virus spreading, protecting one another, yet back to normal, our lives certainly aren’t back to normal and Proper donning and doffing Staff member shares life- ‘Even apart, we can conquer needs a social worker’ our most vulnerable patients and all of our we’ll work and live differently than we did pre-COVID-19 for the communities. foreseeable future. of PPE changing ED visit COVID-19 together’ It takes a team This has certainly meant many changes to the But, this space has always been one of recognition, joy, and way you work and your work environment. happy tears, and this issue is no different. Whether you are screening patients and I was so happy to hear that many of you felt the same way. 3 designated visitors at our front doors, Thank you to all those who submitted story ideas, and to the taking virtual appointments with clients at Communications team for putting those ideas into the stories community health centres, enhancing your you see in the pages today. cleaning protocols, or swabbing surgical patients at our assessment centres, you’re These stories are just a snapshot of all of the amazing and kind gestures happening across our organization daily, and I adapting and adjusting to ensure you provide know there are so many amazing stories out there. Here, I will safe and quality health care to all your patients also note some photos were snapped at different stages in our and clients. physical distancing and mask-wearing policies and the majority This is a big ask of you, and one that of photos were submitted by the teams/staff they featured, in inevitably comes with stress and anxiety, and order to reduce foot traffic in areas that we do not work. it’s important now more than ever that our I’m happy to say we’ll be back later this month with a regular caretakers take care of themselves. Karen McGrath President and CEO issue featuring all those stories that were supposed to run in the April issue, and more. 8 9 10 11 That’s why I hope you are leaning in to your Survival kits deliver COVID delights The COVID Fairy Recreation Therapy uses support systems at work — whether through a conversation with your manager, As always, it’s an honor to share your stories, and I hope you’ll happiness in a bag technology to support patients a virtual check-in with your counterpart in another facility, or the mental health continue to reach me at [email protected] with new A ‘beary’ happy HR Operations Community Developers join resources pulled together by our Mental Health and Human Resources teams. ideas. Fredericton Mental Health family local partners to tackle food IT team’s work crucial to staff mindful of self care insecurity pandemic response We must also continue to be role models for those we care for and their loved Happy reading, Pharmacy director boosts morale ones. They will look to us as examples as we continue to live and work in this new environment. We can do this by cleaning our hands, practicing physical distancing and wearing a mask. I am always fortunate and proud to be your President and CEO, but never more so than during this time. Thank you for the leadership and collaboration GinaBeth Roberts This magazine is published by Horizon you have shown during this difficult time, and I hope you find enjoyment and Editor, Horizon Star Health Network’s Communications inspiration in reading these stories. Department, and is distributed free of charge to Horizon staff, physicians and Sincerely, I was overwhelmed by your volunteers. A French version can be found response to this issue, and there online at fr.horizonnb.ca. are still so many more stories to Editor: GinaBeth Roberts Design and layout: Hudson Creative Agency share. That’s why I will include Karen McGrath Printed by: Advocate Printing President and CEO more COVID-19 stories in the Please send comments and/or story ideas to Horizon Health Network upcoming routine June edition. [email protected]. 12 13 14 Stay tuned for that issue Recognizing the teams Horizon staff member writes Thank you later this month! on our COVID-19 Inpatient COVID-19 poetry for your kindness! Units “Zoom”ing in on media How the “Fish Tank” kept OR relations staff safe at Horizon’s URVH The face behind the mask: ‘Cleaning’ the way through COVID-19 Boosting morale through photographs For Jeannie Reckler Benoit, a medical Pathology manager. “Jeannie recognized this laboratory technologist at Horizon’s The and took advantage of the down-time to clean Andrea Woodward Brewer, Nurse Manager, 3SW (Internal Medicine/Family Practice Unit) and Coronary Care Unit (CCU), Moncton Hospital, spring cleaning the the department, and I’ve never seen our Horizon’s Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital (DECHR) facility’s Histology department became an equipment look so good.” Employee recognition is something a manager unsolicited make-work project to help keep juggles along with many other roles and tasks. herself busy as services were suspended “The windows sparkle, the during the Red Phase of our pandemic I was already trying to make 2020 special response. benches are white again, for the Year of the Nurse and Midwife when COVID-19 arrived in New Brunswick. “Our fabulous co-worker took it upon herself and our spirits are lifted,” I wondered: How can we as managers, in to clean up the department,” said pathology Victoria added. “We even the midst of everything going on, give the assistant Victoria Metzler. “We’re not sure why breathe better now, knowing recognition that is needed? How can we show she felt compelled to do this, but this massive our appreciation for all the work done by all undertaking was on!” that our department has been our staff? RNs, GNs, LPNs, and nursing unit Borrowing a step ladder from maintenance thoroughly spring cleaned.” clerks? New hires and our long-time faithful employees? How will they really feel our thanks and arming herself with multiple cleaners, and appreciation? disinfectants and tools to remove grime, wax, In fact, the whole laboratory department is paint, and other lab debris, Jeannie spent very appreciative, and techs are consciously It is difficult to find something besides three full days scouring the department, even trying to keep their work areas clean. organizing a meal or potluck that all shifts moving large pieces of equipment with the would enjoy. In this new environment, all the “We’re hoping this becomes a contagion of help of lab assistants to reach all the hidden normal avenues we have used in past years on cleanliness,” James said with a wry smile. nooks and crannies. or off the unit to celebrate staff, such as Years “Not just for our department, but for other of Service and Nurses Week, have changed. 4 “A thorough cleaning like this is usually departments across Horizon because it really 4 But that doesn’t mean recognition needs to only done once every five years because does have a positive impact on employee 5 stop; in fact, it’s more important than ever. Jeannie Reckler Benoit we’re typically too busy,” said James Dixon, morale, especially during these trying times.” We are all dealing with COVID-19 together. Our daily work has been affected with all of the changes we are implementing in Horizon to Andrea Woodward Brewer, Nurse Manager of 3SW/CCU at Horizon’s Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital care for the staff, patients/clients and public. I has found this Photo Wall to be a great way to recognize her team and employees that support their work Don’t be afraid: Horizon staff member shares believe we need to capture those memories. during the COVID-19 pandemic. life-changing Emergency Department visit I have been taking photos of my co-workers change fatigue, happiness, fun, and pride but many photos – group photos or of singular subjects. since the 1980s. When I became a manager in also worry. Some of those photos are after a 12-hour night When 53-year-old Paul Woodhouse felt a followed her intuition: she dropped Paul off “I definitely take comfort in knowing there is a 2012 I captured many moments at Horizon’s I tell my grown children that I want photos of shift and some are during a day shift.