October 16, 2018
Welcome to E-Connect
Hello E-Connecters!

I hope you are all staying warm after waking up to the winter-like scene outside our windows this morning. This early frost reminds us of the imminent influenza and winter seasons that are fast approaching. Today's E-Connect reminds you to be proactive when fighting illness this year to protect yourself and those around you.

But before we get too far ahead of ourselves, we have a few more upcoming events to keep you excited about fall. Read on to learn about these stories and more.
Our Patients
Fight Influenza with Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare
With the 2018/2019 influenza season fast approaching, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare's Outbreak Management Team and Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) department are reminding our Windsor-Essex community to take preventative measures to stay safe and healthy during this influenza season. 

Influenza, more commonly referred to as the "flu", is a highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory passage known to cause fever, chills, runny nose, cough, severe general body weakness or discomfort, headache, extreme tiredness/weakness, and sore throat.

The most effective method at preventing influenza is receiving an annual influenza vaccination. To ensure Our Patients, Our People, and in turn, our community, are protected, each year Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare's Employee Wellness Team offers the influenza vaccination to all staff, patients, volunteers, physicians, and contract workers. Staff are also regularly equipped with up-to-date knowledge on the signs and symptoms to be able to quickly and accurately identify the virus.

As community members, individuals can help protect themselves and those around them against influenza. These methods include: getting the influenza vaccination, sanitizing or washing hands often, and coughing and sneezing into sleeves or elbows. It is important to know the signs and symptoms of influenza and ensure that you stay home when feeling sick.

To help protect the health of our patients and staff we ask that you refrain from visiting Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare if you are not feeling well.

If you are patient with a scheduled appointment and have a fever or symptoms of a respiratory illness such as a runny nose, cough, sore throat, or muscle aches please contact your healthcare provider prior coming to the hospital.

For further information on the influenza vaccine, please visit  influenza.ca  and  Government of Ontario's "Fluless" infographic .
Sharing information with our Patients through our
Patient Guide
In order to provide our patients with the most up-to-date information that will enhance their care and experience with at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, each inpatient receives our Patient Guide upon admission.

Our freshly updated Patient Guide provides patients with information on their care team, visiting hours and parking, meal times, discharge planning and more!

If you are, or know of, someone who is an patient receiving Complex Medical Care, Inpatient Rehab, or Palliative care at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare, take a read through our latest edition of the Patient Guide.
Our People
The Face of Advocacy
Being a voice for those in need is what drives Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare’s Safe Workplace Advocate, Angie Tuovinen.

In her role, Angie offers support, resources, and advocacy for all staff to ensure Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare is free from workplace violence and harassment. She is also a huge support for any staff facing domestic abuse.

A Social Worker by trade, Angie has a long resume of helping others, with a passion for those fighting kidney disease. For a decade, Angie provided guidance and comfort to patients receiving care with the Renal Dialysis Unit at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Hospital before realignment. She later became the President of the Canadian Association of Nephrology Social Workers and continues to be an active member of the Kidney Foundation of Canada, also sitting on a number of their sub-committees.

It was this past June that Angie received news that The Kidney Foundation of Canada had selected her to be the recipient of this year’s Mary Lou Karley Patient Service Award. Mary Lou Karley was an amazing Social Worker from the London region who focused on improving the quality of life for people living with kidney disease. 

Along with the Mary Lou Karley Patient Service Award, Angie also won the Jane Dick’s Award in 2015, two significant recognitions for Social Workers working in the world of kidney disease.

Angie feels honoured to win the Mary Lou Karley Award alongside the Financial Burden Working Group, comprised of other dedicated Social Workers from across Canada. This group was successful in lobbying for changes to local transportation services in order to provide subsidized transportation for Windsor and Essex County patients. 

In the past, patients who needed dialysis would have to pay approximately $150 per treatment to travel to Windsor from the County for their three to four-hour treatment, usually three times each week. Many of these patients were forced to make the difficult life decision of paying out of pocket for transportation to their life sustaining therapy or having enough money for food or housing. 

Angie, the Financial Burden Working Group, and many others worked together to secure CareLink Health Transit in Essex County as a subsidized transportation service through government funding for those County patients in need.

“As one person, we might believe that we have little power, but collectively we are mighty. As healthcare professionals, when we see a need, we must go after it and advocate for our patients so that they may be able to advocate for themselves,” Angie says passionately. “This award goes to all of the patients who manage kidney disease with grace. I am proud to be a part of a larger team that could provide some comfort during difficult times.”

Congratulations Angie and thank you for always advocating for patients.
Our Identity
Printing the future of healthcare
Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare is once again excited to partner with the University of Windsor's EPICentre for the 3D Print for Healthcare competition.

Participants will compete to create a tool or device through 3D printing that can be utilized and provide benefits in the healthcare setting.
 
This year, the competition is open to all students, alumni and all community members (including you!). If you’d like to help teams identify problems that you believe could be addressed by 3D printing, please complete the following form and consider registering for the Kick-off event.
Changing Lives is easy when you're having fun
While changing lives through donations is enough to fill your heart with immense joy, there's no better way to give back than while having fun.

Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare's Changing Lives Together Foundation would like to invite you to two of our upcoming events that are sure to bring fun and that do-good feeling.
The Big Night Gala returns to the Ciociaro Club on Friday, November 9th for an evening of fine dining and fun.

Tickets to this enchanted evening are just $100 per person. Gather your coworkers, a group of friends or bring your significant other for a fun evening in support of a great cause.

All proceeds raised at The Big Night Gala significantly supports our mental health programs at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare. 

Get dressed up and enjoy hor d'oeuvres provided by Koolini Italian Eatery, dinner, silent auction, draws, and entertainment.
 
For more information on this event, or to purchase tickets, contact  Linda D'Aloisio  at 519-257-5111 ext. 76922.
Are you ready to get wined and dined while giving back?

On November 4th, join our Changing Lives Together Foundation and In Honour of the Ones We Love for a special Wine and Dine Tour.

Experience what Windsor's Wine Country has to offer in the beautiful Fall weather with stops at Sprucewood Shores Estate Winery, Cooper's Hawk Vineyards, North 42 Degrees Estate Winery, and more.

Finish the day with a delicious dinner at Windsor's Ciociaro Club.

Buses are filling up fast so be sure to call Justin Hopper at 519-257-5111 ext. 73021 to reserve your spot today!