Message from Nova Scotia Health President and CEO, Karen Oldfield |
|
Dear colleagues in health,
The new year began in a serious, sombre way, with two families' losing their loved ones. January has been challenging for Nova Scotia healthcare providers and physicians who are already pushed to the brink. I know how hard teams across Nova Scotia Health work to provide excellent care, and while many of the changes we've begun to implement over the past year are beginning to take effect - it's not as instantaneous as we want them to be.
On Jan. 18, I joined Minister Thompson at a press conference sharing the additional strategies we will use to provide safe, reliable healthcare to patients and their families through the Improving Emergency Care plan, part of Action for Health.
Several changes to Emergency Department care result from suggestions from Nova Scotia Health staff and physicians. Your voice and opinions matter; and will create better care for Nova Scotians. Please keep them coming!
To our healthcare partners outside of Nova Scotia Health, thank you for your continued support and for working with us to move full steam ahead on creating a system Nova Scotia deserves.
Until next month,
Karen
|
|
More, faster
On Dec. 15, I joined Premier Houston, Health and Wellness Minister Michelle Thompson; Colton LeBlanc, Minister responsible for healthcare redevelopment projects; and Dr. Christine Short, Senior Medical Director of Redevelopment, Central Zone, to celebrate an update to health infrastructure projects, specifically the redevelopment of the QEII Health Sciences Centre.
More Faster: The Action for Health Build addresses two critical concerns – the need to expand and improve healthcare services for the benefit of all requiring care at the QElI and the need to respond to unprecedented growth within HRM. The new plan includes the following:
- Over 400 new beds and four more operating rooms
- A new Patient Tower; a larger, more functional Emergency Department; and a new Cancer Care Centre; all on the Halifax Infirmary site
- A major expansion at the Dartmouth General, including a new emergency department.
- New in-patient services at the Sackville Cobequid Outpatient Centre
- Two new stand-alone transition-to-community centres in HRM
- A new Mental Health and Addictions Campus.
- And a new Heart Health Centre.
Read more about the plan.
|
|
Welcome Collaborative will attract foreign physicians to Nova Scotia
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia, with a $1.3 million investment from the Government of Nova Scotia, is launching a program that will recruit 140 doctors to Nova Scotia.
Continuing Care Assistants coming from Kenya
Sixty-five continuing care assistants currently living in a Kenya refugee camp have received conditional job offers to work in Nova Scotia. The new continuing care assistants are expected to start arriving in mid-2023 and will work in the continuing care sector in communities across the province.
More funding to support healthcare recruitment
The province is supporting groups working to attract more physicians and healthcare workers to communities in Cape Breton and Annapolis Valley.
In partnership with Dalhousie University and the Association of Black Social Workers, the province is also funding a cohort of 25 students for the Africentric bachelor of social work pilot program.
|
|
Unsung Healthcare Heroes
Unsung Heroes is a monthly recognition initiative that celebrates exceptional individuals who quietly make a difference working behind the scenes. These team members demonstrate extraordinary commitment to their roles with no expectation of praise or recognition for their dedication to patients, clients, families, visitors and/or colleagues.
In December, 220 people were nominated for January's awards:
- Rebecca Clark, Physiotherapist, Nova Scotia Rehabilitation and Arthritis Centre, QEII
- Sarah Maguire, Clinical Practice Lead, Colchester East Hants Health Centre
- Julie Naugle, Registered Nurse, Dartmouth General Hospital
- John Brothers, Environmental Services Worker, Valley Regional Hospital
- Nanette MacDonald, Dietician, Glace Bay Hospital
To nominate a colleague, scan the QR code. Criteria for nominees include:
-
Going above and beyond: demonstrating a pattern of going the extra mile
-
Inspiration: inspiring change in others
-
Professionalism: being respected for their professionalism and know-how
- Positive impact: making notable positive impacts on patients, clients, families, visitors and/or colleagues
-
Displaying NSH Values: working in a values-based way and demonstrating one or more of the following:
-
Respect: demonstrating a pattern of caring for each other and those we serve
-
Integrity: being recognized for their honest and ethical principles
-
Courage: leading by example and doing what is right, even when it may be difficult
-
Innovation: embracing change, learning new things and exploring new possibilities
-
Accountability: cultivating an environment that encourages ownership and responsibility of actions and decisions
|
|
Read more about the 2022 Making Waves award winners.
|
|
New Endoscopy Room at Dartmouth General
More Nova Scotians are receiving potentially life-saving cancer screening and treatment with the opening of a new endoscopy room at Dartmouth General Hospital.
It is the third endoscopy room at the hospital and allows about 125 more people each month to have colonoscopies as part of Nova Scotia’s Colon Cancer Prevention Program. The new room was made possible with the support of the Dartmouth General Hospital Foundation, which contributed more than $215,000.
Shorter waits for eye surgeries
Nova Scotia Health and Halifax Vision Surgical Centre are partnering to provide faster access to eye surgery. Under a new agreement, the centre will perform up to 6,000 cataract surgeries next year, an increase of about 3,700 from this year.
New neuromodulation clinic at Valley Regional Hospital
A neuromodulation clinic at Valley Regional Hospital in Kentville is now open through partnerships with the QEII Foundation and Bell Let’s Talk.
Neuromodulation is a type of technology that acts directly upon nerves. It changes or modulates nerve activity by delivering electrical agents directly to a targeted area The therapy is intended for one-third of people with major depressive disorders that do not respond to medication.
|
|
Cancer Care team members receive national awards
Two Cancer Care team members were recognized at the Canadian Nursing in Oncology (CANO) conference in Victoria, British Columbia late last year.
Joy Tarasuk, Director of Policy and Planning, was awarded the Boehringer Ingelheim Oncology Nurse of the Year award, and Carolyn Fifield, Manager, Oncology Clinical Programs, was awarded the BD Commitment to Safety Award.
|
|
Public Health’s Vanessa Nickelo recognized for building resilient communities
Vanessa Nickelo has been selected to receive the Emergency Management Exemplary Service Award for Building Resilient Communities from Public Safety Canada for her role as project coordinator on HARS, the Heat Alert and Response System.
|
|
Nova Scotia Health team members receive Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medals |
Dr. Ryan Sommers, Dr. Chris Cook and Raj Makkar were awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal for their community service and leadership through the COVID-19 pandemic.
|
|
|
Chats on change
I've stepped up to the mic and am hosting a regular podcast with Nova Scotia Health staff, physicians and health partners!
Every few weeks, I sit down with a leading healthcare mind and get behind the curtain on innovative solutions and culture-shifting concepts.
If you have a suggestion for a topic, I'd love to hear it. E-mail me.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
