Medicine and Quality Matters
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Medicine & Quality Matters News for the Interior Health Medical Community June 2021 VP Message from Dr. Mike Ertel, Vice President, Medicine & Quality The summer has begun and gradually the province is opening up to the new normal as the vaccination rates rise. I was able to work a few shifts in Kelowna, and you could see the anxiety lift from people’s faces as they received their first immunization. I encourage medical staff to be involved in your local immunization clinic, if you are able, since it is such an emotionally rewarding experience for all those involved. On another positive note, I would like to thank the medical staff at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops for leading RIH in becoming the first all-digital hospital in the Interior on June 7. Under the leadership of Dr. Todd Ring, Dr. Kiley Cindrich and Dr. Trent Smith, all medical staff contributed to the successful roll out of the Advancing Care Electronically (ACE) program; by attending training, being proactive in supporting each other, and focusing on the ultimate benefit which is increasing quality of care to patients by improved medical documentation. Read more about this transition on p. 13. The work of medical staff over the last 15 months to keep our patients and teams safe has been exemplary. Dr. Mike Ertel giving a COVID-19 vaccine at a Kelowna vaccination clinic in April. Though the work of medical staff over the last 15 months to keep our patients and teams safe has been exemplary; I know it has Earlier this month, I initiated an Interior Health-specific survey to come with a personal toll to many of you. I am concerned about the understand the impacts on our medical staff. We had a 33 per cent lasting impacts of the pandemic on our individual and collective response rate to the survey. My team is still working to synthesize wellbeing. that data, which I share in my next update to medical staff. Research in emergency management points to an expectation of I am concerned about your health, and ensuring Interior Health increased turnover in staff post pandemic. Recently, the Canadian continues to provide access to excellent health care. I know many of Medical Association is indicating 69 per cent of physicians have our programs need every one of you. That deciding to take time increased fatigue and 64 per cent are experiencing anxiety around away can be challenging for the individual, to the team, and to our the pandemic. Provincially, the Physician Health Program has sense of responsibility to our patients and communities. Please experienced a 60 per cent increase in physicians asking for help. don’t struggle with that burden on your own. … VP message continued If you are struggling, need time away, or need help, please do not hesitate to ask anyone on my team – talk to your Chief of Staff or Medical Director. We will support you in finding coverage, if you need to take time off. The Physician Health Program (1-800-663 -6729) is there to support you, as is your family physician. Please, do take that time away to be with the ones you love, and access the care you need. You need to be healthy in order to take care of your loved ones, work effectively with our teams, and deliver good care to our patients. If you are able, I also ask you to look at supporting care across IH, and if asked, please consider providing coverage to another community should it be required. Our medical community has answered those calls in recent months, and I am very proud of that. We had clinicians providing care in the Abbotsford intensive care unit and the Lytton, Lillooet, and Williams Lake emergency departments. This team approach, where we look out for one another, goes a long way to creating the supportive Interior Health medical community we all want. As always, thank you for the incredible work you do every day in meeting the demands in our health-care system. I am honoured to be the Vice President of Medicine in Interior Health because I get to work with the most dedicated and innovative teams in the province. I feel truly blessed. Sincerely, Mike Asking for Help is a Sign of Strength The physician health program provide confidential help, referrals and counselling for physical and mental health issues, plus a wide range of other concerns, including: relationship challenges, substance use, career transitions, and financial issues, colleagues at risk, burnout, and occupational health questions. Access confidential support – anytime you need it. Call our 24-hour helpline for private, discreet assistance with issues that you and your family may be facing. 1-800-663-6729 www.physicianhealth.com Handbook for Physician Health and Wellbeing Throughout the handbook, each chapter acts as an introduction to issues that can and do affect all physicians at some stage in their careers – and then provides practical information for understanding the issue. View and download CanMEDS Physician Health Guide: A Practical Handbook for Physician Health and Well-being, developed in partnership with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Page 2 | June 2021 Supporting ‘long COVID’ patients Post-COVID Recovery Clinics in Interior Health Interior Health estimates that 10 per cent of COVID-19 patients in the Interior Health region will experience lingering symptoms – known as “long COVID,” or Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC). In collaboration with Provincial Health Services Authority, Interior Health is developing a new post-COVID clinic within our region to provide specialized care and follow-up for people who have had COVID-19 and are now in recovery. The purpose of this clinic is to provide access to care, education, and services including research for people with long-lasting COVID-19 symptoms. The clinic is designed to see patients at three months post infection. “The aim is to provide care through virtual platforms that allow multidisciplinary engagement with patients, their primary health-care providers, our allied health team, and researchers,” explains Dr. Jill Calder. IH Post-COVID recovery clinic working group and support group. The IH Post-COVID recovery clinic working group, pictured right, has Left to right, from top: Ross Cuthbert; Holly Buhler; Dr. Jill Calder; developed an IH PASC Care Map supporting a coordinated approach Deanne Taylor; Dr. Susan MacDonald; and Tracey Rannie. with PHSA for Post-COVID-19 Care that is to be equitable, evidence- Missing from photo: Joyce Okofo Adjei, Denisa Urban, and based and patient/community centered. Karyn Morash. Please contact the Interior Health Research Team or Dr. Jill Calder with any questions regarding post-COVID-19 resources. New Faces in M&Q Naomi Jensen Jennifer Hiebert Dr. Jeremy Harris Kyla Gowenlock Director of Quality Director, Medical Chief of Staff, Network Director, Effective May 2021 Program Transformation Kelowna General Hospital Trauma Services Effective May 2021 Effective May 2021 Effective May 2021 Page 3 | June 2021 Physician Spotlight Dr. Glen Fedor CARIBOO MEMORIAL HOSPITAL – Over his 40 years of service as a Family Physician, Dr. Fedor has had a positive impact on many people; most notably on his patients and the staff at Cariboo Memorial Hospital in Williams Lake. His motto around the office, “Docendo discimus. By teaching we learn,” creates a welcoming and educational environment for all to learn. His commitment to starting each day with a smile radiates positivity all around him. He’s eager to share his knowledge about everything he knows and encourages others to do the same because of his belief that memories can live on through lessons that one has taught. Read the full story. Dr. Travis Allen VERNON JUBILEE HOSPITAL – In the vast world of medicine, there are many career paths to take to become a physician. For Dr. Travis Allen, his interest in medicine sparked during a first aid demonstration in third grade. From that moment on, it was clear he would pursue a lifelong journey of helping people. As a Family Physician and Hospitalist at Vernon Jubilee Hospital, he spends his days positively affecting the lives of many ranging from his patients, colleagues, to his greater community. When asked to describe himself in a few words his sense of humour became apparent, as he self-describes as sarcastic, brilliant, hilarious, saintly and of course, humble. Read the full story. Dr. Jeff Harries PENTICTON REGIONAL HOSPITAL – Penticton-based physician, Dr. Jeff Harries, was honoured with the Primary Care and Substance Use Trailblazer Award from the BC Centre for Substance Use on March 10, 2021. Not only is Dr. Harries the inaugural recipient of the new award, he is the inspiration behind it. Dr. Harries has worked tirelessly across Interior Health and beyond to improve the way alcohol use disorder is treated through medical education seminars and his involvement in the provincial guidelines for the clinical management of alcohol use disorder. Dr. Harries has now retired from practice, but continues to provide inspiration and guidance in Alcohol Use Disorder treatment. Read the full story. Watch the Alcohol Use Disorder - A New Approach video and the X-Change Session 4 - A New Paradigm in for Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder to learn more. Page 4 | June 2021 Improving the Medical Staff Onboarding Experience IH Medical Staff Onboarding and Orientation Project A supportive and interactive onboarding experience is key to creating an engaged workforce and healthy workplace. It contributes to higher retention rates, productivity, and, most importantly, career satisfaction. Launched in 2020/2021, the Medical Staff Onboarding and Orientation (MSOO) Project was to improve the onboarding and orientation experience for medical staff within Interior Health. The project builds on consistent engagement The MSOO Project Advisory Committee guides the direction of the project.