The Manitoba government is investing more than $15 million to reduce patient wait times by adding two new scanners at Selkirk Regional Health Centre and doubling CT scan capacity for Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority.

One CT scanner will be entirely new to the facility, while the other will replace aging equipment to ensure safe, reliable and efficient services. The funding will allow for double the CT scans to be performed in Selkirk to 34,000 scans from the current 17,000 scans annually. Combined, they will serve to support expected increases in endoscopy diagnoses and surgeries at the site.

CT scanners combine X-ray images from several angles to create detailed, three-dimensional models of structures inside the body. They perform critical diagnostic procedures that support the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of injuries and diseases, and the new equipment will be able to complete these important scans faster and with sharper and clearer images.

“We are thankful that these new scanners are being added to the suite of modern services and technology available in Selkirk,” said Marion Ellis, CEO of IERHA.

“Thanks to this generous investment from the province, more people living in the Interlake-Eastern region will be able to more readily access diagnostic services faster. We are grateful for everyone who helped in obtaining this cutting-edge diagnostic equipment for the benefit of patients and their families.”

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IERHA is currently gathering input for its next Strategic French Language Services Plan. 

Your opinion is important to us.  

Please take a few moments to complete this short questionnaire (less than 3 minutes) to assist us in this task.

Merci!

“We’ll continue to tour throughout summer with the objective of reaching out to all facilities. Thank you to all staff who chatted with us! We look forward to more visits ahead.”

Watch your facility for posters identifying when senior leadership will be coming your way.

Click here to see a collage of staff images from some of the first visits.

Thank you to Jennifer Sahaidak, receptionist at Selkirk corporate office, for putting together this beautiful collage.

Pride season is underway!

Tell us what you're doing to celebrate Pride or promote inclusivity for a chance to win a prize.

Email your submissions to ierhawave@ierha.ca by Monday, June 5 at noon.

Click here to watch a video about unconscious biases.

It is critically important that all staff know what to do in the event of an emergency/disaster impacting them directly and/or indirectly. What do you do and what actions should be undertaken? Where do you go? What do you do with your patients/residents? Why it is important to contact the Disaster Duty Officer on-call?

Know where your Disaster and Continuity Management Guidelines document is located and how to use it to manage an emergency or disaster.

• A hard copy is located in the disaster response kit and is also available online at Document Central.

Know what the Incident Management System (IMS) is and how to activate it and utilize it to manage an emergency/disaster.

• Any staff member onsite can fulfill the Incident Commander role - it could be you. It doesn’t necessarily need to be a manager or supervisor.

Know where your disaster response kit is located.  

• Be familiar with the items in the kit.
• The Disaster and Continuity Management Guidelines document (hard copy) is located in the kit.

Participate in disaster exercises whenever possible. Disaster exercises are conducted on a regular basis at all sites throughout the region. Participating in exercises better prepares staff for real emergency/disaster incidents and contributes to building overall confidence.

• Be aware of any recent exercises you performed with the disaster management team.
• All staff should know what to do in the event of an emergency/disaster. What do you do? Where do you go?

Participate in post incident debriefs following emergency/disaster incidents.

Participate in emergency/disaster training and education sessions.

If you have any questions about emergency preparedness, please speak to your manager or to the region’s disaster management office (DisasterManagement@ierha.ca).

If you have any questions about accreditation preparation or would like to participate in discussions related to the WSWQS results, please speak to your region’s accreditation coordinator (bzelenitsky@ierha.ca).

Congratulations to Kerri Donald (left) and Kamila Skorupski (right), the first graduates of the Operating Room Assistant Program in IERHA! 

The newly created position is one part of the strategy by Manitoba Health to improve access to diagnostic and surgical intervention in the province. 

Kerri and Kamila recently completed a 12-week micro-credentialing training program to become operating room assistants (ORAs) at Selkirk Regional Health Centre. 

Surgical and procedural teams across the province are supporting the delivery of care for thousands of Manitobans. The members of these care teams are highly skilled and extremely passionate about the care they provide.

The operating assistant role supports the surgical care team and increases overall capacity across the province. They play an important role in operating rooms, freeing up time for nurses to focus more on performing the tasks that require their specialized skills.

All of this will help to expand the surgical capacity, leading to shorter wait times for procedures and surgeries. ORAs are not trained to carry out the same responsibilities as nurses but are members of the surgical team providing additional support. Responsibilities range from decontaminating rooms and disinfecting equipment to transferring and preparing patients safely for surgery, readying equipment and cleaning post-procedure.

“The ORAs are extremely happy to be graduating from the program. They learned about the position through postings on the IERHA website and reaching out to perioperative management for clarification and questions. They found the course intense and extensive over a short 12-week period, however, beneficial overall,” says Nicole Shead, IERHA surgical services educator.

“The extensive perioperative knowledge and skills that they have gained within the course has helped them anticipate the needs of the surgical team.”

The training was provided at no cost and participants are paid a full salary while completing the course as part of a two-year return-of-service agreement. Applicants to the course must have recognized health-care aide training and at least three years of experience working in an acute care setting.

For more information, please visit Educational Opportunities - Interlake-Eastern RHA (ierha.ca).

Thank you to Nicole Shead, surgical services educator, for this submission.

The acute care team recently met in person at Pine Falls Health Complex.

Left to right: Tanya Hoel, clinical team manager - regional renal health/SRHC dialysis unit; Jordan Lindsay, interim CTM Arborg and Eriksdale; Sharon Jillie, director health services acute, surgical/renal health/outpatient clinic (SRHC); Candace Blahey, director health services acute, rural/regional relief team/ infection prevention and control; Shannon Smith, CTM SRHC day surgery, PAC, PACU, slating team; Sarah Gillon, interim CTM OR/MDR/endo (SRHC); Amber Reichert, interim clinical team manager Beausejour Hospital and rehab unit; Melissa Voth, administrative assistant acute care; Leana Oversby, CTM Pine Falls; Tanya Cheetham, regional lead health services, public health, acute care and chief nursing officer; Tracy Abraham, CTM Pinawa Hospital and Cancer Care; Erin Streu, clinical team manager SRHC OPC, Cancer Care unit, RT, SRHC floats; Katie Hibbs, director acute Selkirk Regional Health Centre, patient flow, emergency departments, surgery, obstetrics; Patrice Lee; director health services acute, Cancer Care, medicine, acute care education; Kim Minnis, CTM Teulon Hospital/regional relief team/interim CTM Stonewall Hospital; Victoria Wilgosh, CTM SRHC inpatient surgery and med/surg; Jessica Bullen, clinical team manager SRHC emergency dept., SCU, PAs/CAs; Jamie Brown, CTM obstetrics and patient flow; Dana DesRoches, clinical team manager Gimli Hospital and CCP.

June 21 is National Indigenous People's Day. How will you be acknowledging this important day in your facility?

If you don't have anything planned yet, talk with your manager and colleagues.

Now is the time to think about what you can do and put it into action for all to see!

Send your photos of your ideas and initiatives to ierhawave@ierha.ca so we can showcase them among staff.

Left to right: Debra Bilawka, recreation coordinator at Lac du Bonnet PCH; Maurice, a resident; and Ron Clinton, a member of the Lac du Bonnet Ice Fishing Derby committee.

IERHA’s health information services staff Doug Buffie and Shelly Simkins were set up at Arborg Bifrost Community Centre to inform students and community members about a career in health care.

IERHA staff were at Arborg Bifrost Community Centre on Wednesday, May 24 and Ashern Centennial Hall on Wednesday, May 17 for the Discover Health Careers Expo.

These career fairs offer attendees insight into the life of health-care professions and the chance to learn about fundamental tasks and skills of both entry-level and highly trained professionals. Attendees can also hear about the endless opportunities from individuals working in different health-care fields that exist here in Manitoba.

Students from Teulon Collegiate attended in Arborg and students from Ashern School attended the career fair in Ashern.

"The students seemed to really enjoy themselves at the career fairs and many expressed how they didn’t realize there were so many different health careers. I think it really opened up their minds about a career," said Lori-Ann Buors, Indigenous human resources development assistant,

Upcoming events are June 1 in Lundar and June 6 in Fisher Branch.

View the full career fair schedule here: Career Fairs - Interlake-Eastern RHA (ierha.ca)

If you hear of a career fair occurring in a community near you or if you are interested in participating in a career fair to promote your profession, please contact us at info@ierha.ca.

About 90 students and community members attended the Discover Health Careers Expo career fair at Ashern Centennial Hall on May 17.

Do you know a staff member who deserves recognition for going above and beyond?

Nominations are now open for IERHA's Chair's Award for Excellence in Customer Service. The award aims to recognize Interlake-Eastern RHA staff members who repeatedly go above and beyond to reflect our vision, mission and values.

Nominees will be evaluated by a committee composed of representatives from Interlake-Eastern RHA’s board of directors and staff. Our board chair will present this award to a deserving staff member.

The nomination deadline is Monday, July 31.

Click here to see the award criteria and for a fillable nomination from.

Blacklegged ticks, which can carry Lyme disease, anaplasmosis and babesiosis, are most commonly found in and along the edge of forests and in areas with thick, woody shrubs or other vegetation.

However, they can also be found in urban areas including household yards. These ticks are typically found from snowmelt to snowfall, with peaks in activity in the spring and fall.

Protect yourself and know how to advise others to minimize their risk of exposure by:

• applying an appropriate tick repellent on exposed skin and clothing, following label directions;
• wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts;
• staying to the centre of walking trails;
• inspecting themselves, children and pets after spending time outdoors;
• removing ticks as soon as possible from people and pets; and
• keeping grass and shrubs around homes cut short to create drier environments that are less suitable for blacklegged tick survival.

Manitoba’s partnership with the eTick program, which is developed and operated by Bishop’s University, helps monitor and assess the continued expansion of blacklegged tick populations. If you find a tick, submit a picture to have it identified by experts who can confirm if the tick belongs to a species capable of transmitting diseases. For more information or to submit a picture of a tick, visit www.etick.ca.

Click here for more information, including a tick-borne disease quick reference guide for health-care providers.

Lyme disease is in our region. Click here to see a federal map that shows risk areas.

Transfusion and blood related information for Manitoba health-care providers has moved from bestbloodmanitoba.ca to Shared Health’s Manitoba health provider resource website healthproviders.sharedhealthmb.ca.

You can find the new Transfusion Manitoba section under Services and Diagnostic Services. The revised pages have updated information including practices and guidelines as well as highlighted news and a resource library.

Anyone visiting the old website bestbloodmanitoba.ca will be rerouted to the new pages.

We welcome the following new staff members who have agreed to have their names printed in the Wave. We wish you all long and rewarding Interlake-Eastern RHA careers!

• Gboye Adenekan, home care attendant, Selkirk Community Health Office
• John Ancheta, pharmacy assistant, Selkirk Regional Health Centre
• Esperance Kararo, dietary aide, East Gate Lodge, Beausejour
• Arshpreet Bhullar, undergraduate nursing employee, Pinawa Hospital
• Makenzie Colbow, registered nurse, Selkirk Regional Health Centre
• Kim Ditchfield, health care aide, Eriksdale and Ashern
• Jason Hubar, registered nurse, Selkirk Regional Health Centre
• Lynn Marusyk, recreation facilitator, Kin Place, Oakbank
• Tracey MCCulloch, registered nurse, Kin Place PCH, Oakbank & Whitemouth PCH
• Nicole Moran, registered nurse, Selkirk Regional Health Centre
• Emily Noulaq-Lloyd, staffing clerk, Selkirk Corporate Office
• Sherryl Perez, health care aide, Selkirk Regional Health Centre
• Danika Phillips, health care aide & medical device reprocessing technician, Selkirk Regional Health Centre
• Alice Smith, pharmacy assistant, Gimli Health Centre
• Michael Taylor, assistant cook, Selkirk Regional Health Centre
• Donna Wowk, registration clerk, Gimli Health Centre

Catalysts for Care

2023 Nursing Grand Rounds Speaker Series

• Tuesday, June 13, noon to 1 p.m.: Laura Walton, RN, MN, director, Health Services, Pan Am Clinic, Winnipeg; Title: Acute pain management from the patient perspective; how can this guide nursing?
• Tuesday, Sept. 12, noon to 1 p.m.: Dr. Brenda Peters-Watral, RN-NP, PhD; Title: “You get used to a certain kind of horrible”. Moral distress in nursing practice: Lessons learned from the experience of Canadian Oncology Nurses.
• Tuesday Oct. 10, noon to 1 p.m.: Dr. Tara Horrill, RN, PhD, assistant professor, University of Manitoba, College of Nursing; Title: Breaking Down Barriers: Pioneering Paths to Health Equity in Cancer Care
• Tuesday, Nov. 14, noon to 1 p.m.: Dr. Vanessa Van Bewer, RN, PhD, assistant professor, University of Manitoba, College of Nursing; Topic: TBA.

LINK TO LIVE PRESENTATIONS: Click here to join the meeting

Click here to access archived presentations.

First Aid & CPR

2-Day Session: June 14 and 15 in Selkirk.

Staff must attend both days to be certified in First Aid & CPR. Registration for the session is on LMS.

The Heart & Stroke Standard First Aid course is a comprehensive 2-day program designed to teach you essential skills to effectively respond to medical emergencies in the workplace, home or other setting.

This course is designed to meet provincial workplace regulatory requirements and covers cardiopulmonary resuscitation, including responding to breathing, airway and circulation emergencies, as well as control of bleeding, shock, stabilizing fractures and dislocations, head and spine injuries, and more. This Heart & Stroke course is ideal for designated First Aiders, Maintenance and Reception staff.

Lunch is provided. Please contact Regional Education at 204-785-4760 or via email education@ierha.ca if you have food allergies.

De-Escalating Potentially Violent Situations 

• June 21 in Selkirk

This workshop is designed to teach people to de-escalate potentially violent situations through assertiveness and interpersonal communication. The training will explore how anger and violence interplay, including opportunities for self-assessment of personal communication styles.

Participants will develop a clear understanding of how to assess the potential for violence and respond with a diverse set of interpersonal tools and strategies designed to defuse potentially violent situations.

Lunch is provided. Please contact Regional Education at 204-785-4760 or via email education@ierha.ca if you have any food allergies. Registration on LMS.

Musculoskeletal injury prevention education classes

Musculoskeletal injury prevention education classes are mandatory for all acute, personal care home and home care staff. This training should take place as soon as possible after hire and then every three years.

Health-care workers are provided with the basic safe patient handling and movement training. Basic proficiency must be demonstrated at time of orientation.

Classes run from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. or 1 to 4 p.m.

Home Care MSIP Education – Register with your resource co-ordinator.

• June 5 — Oakbank
• June 14 — Gimli

Order cut-off is June 2 for delivery to corporate office on June 23.

Visit our online shop.

Rent runs from June 29 to July 16.

The Little Mermaid runs from Aug. 17 to Sept. 3.

Click here to learn how to apply IERHA's corporate discount.

We're looking for your story ideas!

Send your submission of 250 words or less to ierhawave@ierha.ca by Friday and we'll work to get your story into the next issue.

We're taking a break from publishing editions in weeks following statutory holidays.

There will be no issue of the Wednesday Wave published on July 5.