L-R: Ashley Mitchell (NP), Amanda Isaac (Administrative Assistant), Lindsay Cooper (CTM), Lori Grieg & Sherrill Berry (Reston Area Foundation Board Members) Photo Credit: Reston Area Foundation
On June 5, 2023, the Reston Medical Clinic was presented with a grant from the Reston Area Foundation, in the amount of $3000, to cover the cost of purchasing a cryogenic system and new infant/toddler scale for our clinic. This new equipment will allow us to better serve patients, as well as client of the Willowview PCH.
We greatly appreciate the support of the Reston Area Foundation of this project, and look forward to putting our new equipment to good use!
Brandon Foundation
View the latest information from the Brandon Regional Health Centre Foundation. To get your tickets for their “Evening Beneath the Ocean” Gala Dinner & Dance on Saturday, September 16, contact the BRHC Foundation office at 204-578-4227.
You could save the life of someone you love. Time is everything during a stroke. In fact, there is a saying that “time lost is brain lost.”
Stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is cut off. Brain cells die at a rate of 1.9 million per minute after a stroke, so the sooner blood flow can be restored, the better the chance of survival – with little or no disability.
If you, or someone with you, experiences any of these signs, call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number FAST. FAST is an easy and memorable way to remember the major signs of stroke:
FFace, is it drooping? AArms, can you raise them? SSpeech, is it slurred or jumbled? TTime to call 9-1-1 right away.
Don‘t drive yourself or the person having a stroke to the hospital – an ambulance will get you to the best hospital for stroke care. The emergency medical services will be able to determine which hospital in your area can best help.
Treatments can reduce the severity of a stroke and reverse some of its effects, but only if they are given as quickly as possible.
More signs of stroke
The FAST signs are the most common signs of stroke and are more likely to be caused by stroke than any other condition. There are some additional signs of stroke that are less common. They include:
vision changes – blurred or double vision
sudden severe headache – usually accompanied by some of the other signs
numbness – usually on one side of the body
problems with balance
Stroke is a leading cause of adult disability and the 4th leading cause of death in Canada. Currently 878,000 people are living with stroke and more than 108,000 strokes occur each year – or approximately one every five minutes.
We can all beat stroke. Share the signs and help save lives.
Rural Week is coordinated annually by the Department of Family Medicine, Shared Health (Manitoba HealthCare Providers Network) and rural regional health authorities. It provides medical students with the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of how rural and northern Manitoba medical practices function. It also promotes the many benefits of working and living in a rural/northern Manitoba area. This year, there were 24 first-year medical students participating within the PMH communities of Brandon, Dauphin, Hamiota, Neepawa, Roblin, Russell, Souris, Ste. Rose and Treherne.
Pictured (l-r) are James Wagner, Edwin Tse and Roblin physiciansDr. Hina Atif, Dr. Dalia Bushara and Dr. Donatus Osurah.
Medical Students who participated in Rural Week in Dauphin, Ste. Rose and Brandon spent a day at Clear Lake.
U of M Medical Students Lexie Wu, Felicia Daeninck, Davis McClarty and Nolan De Leon enjoyed their time in Ste Rose!
Left to Right: Dr. James Honiball, Dr. Wickus Pieterse, Orest Fylyma, Jun Kim, Jainik Shah
Jun Kim, Jainik Shah and Orest Fylyma were in Russell for Rural Week. “During our time inRussell we were able to see another side of healthcare and the unique environment of rural medicine. We were welcomed with open arms by the community and were able to visit farms, learn more about rural living, and gain a greater appreciation for the entire network of healthcare professionals that keep our rural communities healthy.“
Primary health-care providers to begin taking appointments in early June
Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) is pleased to announce that three new Nurse Practitioners (NPs/Grad NPs) will soon begin seeing patients and clients within the communities of Carberry, Swan River and Virden. PMH CEO Brian Schoonbaert says recruitment and retention of health-care professionals remains a top priority for the health region and the Province, and growing the NP program within the region continues to see positive results.
Grad NP Jenny Ives will see clients at the Swan Valley Primary Care Centre
“Along with our health partners and stakeholders, which include our communities, we continue to look for ways to support, recruit and retain healthcare staff within PMH. By having NPs provide services from base locations across our region, we can maintain the provision of primary care closer to home,” Schoonbaert said.
Upon receiving their full designation, Nurse Practitioners work independently and can provide many services, including:
Completing assessments and physical exams, including pap tests and pre-natal exams;
Diagnosing and managing common issues and chronic conditions;
Prescribing medications and therapies;
Ordering diagnostic tests like blood work, x-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans and MRIs;
Performing minor procedures like suturing, biopsies, wart and mole removal; and
Referring to other health providers, including specialists.
During the first week of June, Nurse Practitioner Vicky Irwin will see clients at the Virden Medical Clinic and in Swan River, Grad NP Jenny Ives will see clients at the Swan Valley Primary Care Centre. In Carberry, Grad NP Robin Catton will begin seeing clients at the Carberry Medical Clinic, effective June 12. To make an appointment with the new NPs, contact the community clinic/site, or find out more information through the PMH website or social media.
As of June 2023, the region will have 26 NPs providing service within 27 PMH communities, nine of which are First Nation communities. NP services are provided at medical clinics, 7th Street Health Access Centre in Brandon, the Brandon Emergency Department, Souris acute care, First Nation Health offices, multiple long-term care sites, and the PMH Mobile Clinic (primary care bus).
Construction work proceeding for new Neepawa Health Centre
Construction work proceeding for new Neepawa Health Centre
If you have recently ventured down Highway 16 on the easterly outskirts of Neepawa, one thing certainly catches your attention. It’s all of the frenzied activity north of the highway near the Lions Campground, which happens to be the site of the new Neepawa Health Centre. A favourable spring has allowed construction to proceed nicely and with the stairwell tower very noticeable, there’s growing excitement on what the finished product will look like.
The state-of-the-art hospital is being built to serve current and future needs as the community of Neepawa grows and town and area residents can access services closer to home. Once completed the new Neepawa Health Centre will feature the following:
around 60 acute care inpatient beds, up from 38 at the current Neepawa site.
an expanded emergency department designed to best practice standards that includes treatment and assessment rooms, trauma rooms and an ambulance bay.
adding a hemodialysis suite with nine dialysis stations.
enhanced space for a number of other programs, such as surgery, diagnostics, and palliative care, as well as outpatient services like chemotherapy (6 treatment stations).
The new health centre will be over twice the size of the current hospital. Construction is tentatively slated for completion in 2025.
If you are hosting an event in your community, please share those details by emailing [email protected], and we would be happy to share that information on our website and on our social media channels.
Support Services
Visit our Transgender Health webpage for information on services available to you within Prairie Mountain Health.
“You fall in love with a person, not a gender. You love a person for who they are, not their parts,”
Crista Bailey-Morrison, Patient Services Manager, Dauphin Regional Health Centre
A twist of fate brought Crista Bailey-Morrison to Winnipeg, enrolling in the Paramedicine program at Red River College. There she would meet her future wife, Chandel, who was studying to become a nurse.
“We tell our kids now, how Mommy and Momma met,” explains Chandel Bailey-Morrison, Care Team Manager at Dauphin Regional Health Centre. “The story starts with how two girls met during lunchtime at a microwave, they fell in love and got married.”
At the time, Chandel didn’t expect to fall in love with another woman. She had never been in a same-sex relationship before and wasn’t sure how to navigate her new-found feelings.
“Honest to goodness, it was like something you’d see in a movie,” says Chandel. “Once we kissed, it was like nothing I’d ever felt before in my whole entire life – all I could feel were butterflies! There were sparks and fireworks and everything was going off!”
After keeping their relationship a secret, for what felt too long, Chandel finally gathered up the courage to come out to her parents. Knowing how traditional her father was, Chandel wasn’t sure how he would take the news. Unexpectedly, he answered back with “I’ve known. I’m not comfortable with it right now but I love you so much and I see how happy you are – that’s all that matters to me.”
“I lost it and instantly teared up. I had been terrified to tell him and had so much fear stored up because I didn’t want it to change our family dynamic. We’re all about family in our house, we had dinners together every Sunday and were always doing things together as a family unit. For him to say ‘I will be okay with it someday’ was a huge relief,” shared Chandel.
From that moment on, Crista became a part of Chandel’s family and was included in everything, even Sunday night dinners; and not just as a friend.
“It happened so fast for us because it felt so natural,” explains Chandel. “I knew she was the one.”
The couple proposed to each other only 8 months into their relationship. Understanding their dream destination wedding wasn’t going to be accessible for everyone, Crista and Chandel made a trip out to Alberta to visit Crista’s family before the big day.
“My dad accepted me and who I loved right off the bat. He’s not with us anymore, but he didn’t care who I was with, as long as I was happy,” shares Crista.
During that trip, Chandel surprised Crista with a small wedding in Banff to have Crista’s dad be a part of the celebration.
“Having Chandel arrange everything for us to get married in the mountains was one of the most thoughtful things anyone has ever done for me,” says Crista. “Having my dad, my biggest supporter, there to give me away was unforgettable.”
When Crista found a job as a paramedic in Dauphin, Manitoba, Chandel followed and found a job as a nurse in their new hometown. As the couple settled into their new lives, it wasn’t long before they started to dream about growing a family together.
“At first moving to Dauphin was a big culture shock and we didn’t really know anyone,” says Chandel. “We met another gay couple in Dauphin, two men – and when you meet another same sex couple, you gravitate towards them because it’s so few and far between, especially in a small town.”
Finding common ground over dinner one night, Crista and Chandel were talking to their new friends about how starting family can be extremely difficult and costly for them as a same sex couple and felt quite discouraged.
“I didn’t know if I was going to have kids have because I didn’t know how we would do it. I accepted that it might not be in the cards for me,” shared Crista.
“I’ve always wanted to be a mom. It was hardwired in me,” explains Chandel. “The next morning when our friends told us ‘we’d like to help you start a family’, I remember being in in utter disbelief. Tears filled my eyes and wouldn’t stop. This kind of gift really was unimaginable. It takes a really special person to do this for someone. To have them both offer was truly a blessing.”
Nine months later Crista gave birth to their first daughter and 16 months later Chandel gave birth to their second. Surrounded by love, the girls now have a ‘mommy’, a ‘momma’, a ‘daddy’ and ‘dadda’ in their lives as well as five sets of grandparents.
“We all decided to be honest with the girls right from the start. This is your ‘daddy’ and this is your ‘‘dadda,” explains Chandel. “They know who their dads are and as they grow up there isn’t any confusion. We celebrate and visit with extended family as often as we can too!”
Chandel and Crista’s story has inspired others within their small town to live their lives authentically. Many have thanked them, including the parents of queer children, for being an example of what queer can look like, both being respected in the workplace and out in the community raising a family.
“My story and background in the rainbow community as I like to call it, gives me an advantage working in health care,” says Chandel. “I gravitate to those who identify under the rainbow. When I care for them I often mention my wife in conversation and you can physically see their anxiety melt away. I’m almost a type of invisible support for them and help to create a safe space in the hospital.”
“We’re just us; it’s not any different,” says Crista. “To those struggling with coming out and the social pressures I’d say, be who you are and don’t try to hide it, that’s only hurting you. The most important people in your life will stick around.”
“In a sometimes-lonely society, coming together during pride and seeing how many people belong to our community, you realize there are more of us out there,” says Chandel. “I feel proud of who I am and who I’ve become on the journey I’ve taken on with my lovely wife.”
With the arrival of June 21 comes the summer solstice, the longest day of the year.
Annually, June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples’ Day (NIPD).
Indigenous people acknowledge the teachings of the four seasons by their representation on the medicine wheel. Summer is a time of growth and warmth. NIPD provides the experience to grow in awareness and understanding and build relationships as people come together to celebrate the culture of Indigenous people.
Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) acknowledges the history, heritage, traditions and experiences of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples within our health region.
Prairie Mountain Health provides health services on the original lands of Treaty 2 & 4, territories of the Dakota, Ojibway and Cree people and the Red River Métis. We acknowledge the traditional territories and treaties that confirm recognition and respect for the Indigenous populations – past and present.
PMH encourages all who deliver health services on the original lands of First Nations people and on the homeland of Métis citizens to recognize the ongoing obligation to provide culturally safe care. As an organization, we will continue to embrace the distinct cultural knowledge, practices and traditions of Indigenous Peoples and continue efforts to strengthen relationships with the Indigenous communities and peoples who we serve.
The Brandon National Indigenous Peoples’ Day Committee will host an in-person event at Riverbank Discovery Centre on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, from 12:00 to 8:00 pm. The outdoor event will include a tipi village, cultural displays, Indigenous entertainment, powwow demonstrations, children’s activities, a bannock demonstration, a food tent, and more. All of which will highlight the unique value of Indigenous culture and ways of knowing. The Brandon Urban Aboriginal Peoples’ Council will hold a tipi raising at the Riverbank Discovery Centre on Tuesday, June 20th starting at 10:30am, in preparation for the events on June 21.
National Indigenous People’s Day Events around PMH – Brandon
If you are holding events in the PMH region, please share information by emailing the details to [email protected]
For NIPD events near your area, contact your local First Nation or Métis community.
For more information on NIPD, check out the Government of Canada’s link
Construction underway soon for expanded Cancer Care site at Russell Health Centre
Construction underway soon for expanded Cancer Care site at Russell Health Centre
L to R: Brian Schoonbaert CEO of PMH, Greg Nesbitt, Minister of Natural Resources and Northern Development, ECCC co-chair Judy Forsyth, ECCC co-chair Gloria T, CancerCare Manitoba Chief of Clinical Operations Ken Borce, Swan River MLA Rick Wowchuk.
The vision of the Russell Expanding Community Cancer Care Committee is coming into focus with the recent announcement that construction is soon beginning on the expanded chemotherapy unit at the Russell Health Centre. Excited committee representatives and community members joined dignitaries from the Province, CancerCare Manitoba and Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) May 26, 2023, for an official groundbreaking ceremony, signifying that work on the $2.5 million building addition has commenced and the anticipated completion date was the end of the year (2023).
“After more than eight years of fundraising for a new chemotherapy unit at the Russell Health Centre, we are delighted that our long-awaited project is now happening,” said Gloria Tibbatts, co-chair, ECCC committee.
Gloria Tibbatts, co-chair, ECCC committee
“Our dream is now a reality that will benefit many. We would like to thank the people from all around our region who have supported us. The power of community and of our donors has made this possible.”
Swan River MLA Rick Wowchuk and Minister of Natural Resources and Northern Development Greg Nesbitt indicated that the much-needed expansion will improve access to chemotherapy in Russell for patients in the community and surrounding region.
“The new Community Cancer Care Centre will ensure more people in Russell and the surrounding region will be able to access the care they need, closer to home,” Nesbitt said.
“Our government supports this community-driven project and we commend the efforts of everyone who worked to make this project a reality.”
The Expanding Community Cancer Care (ECCC) committee includes membership from the communities of Angusville, Beulah, Binscarth, Birtle, Foxwarren, Inglis, Langenburg, Sask., Roblin, Rossburn, Russell, St. Lazare, Shellmouth, Silverton, Solsgirth and Waywayseecappo that has collectively raised $1.8 million toward construction and equipment costs related to the expansion. The total project cost is estimated at $2.5 million. Last spring, the Manitoba government confirmed its commitment of $700,000 to support the remaining costs of this project.
Once complete, the project will add another 2,300 sq.-ft. to the health centre’s existing CancerCare Manitoba chemotherapy treatment space and include:
replacement of the existing nursing station and medication storage area;
creation of a dedicated patient washroom, nourishment area, and a small waiting area;
improved patient privacy; and
space for future expansion of treatment areas, if needed.
PMH has collaborated with health partners and stakeholders to plan for the necessary building planning, construction costs and associated timelines for this important capital project. The regional health authority will contribute annual operating costs for the expansion, including staffing and supplies.
“We are very grateful to the Expanding Community Cancer Care committee for their vision, hard work and dedication in fundraising for this cancer unit expansion,” said Brian Schoonbaert, chief executive officer, PMH.
“This is a true example of success when people and communities come together and contribute to such a worthy project. Cancer is a journey, and this new addition will better serve patients travelling for care in a more comfortable setting. We thank patients and the general public for their patience as we go through the construction phase and look forward to the opening of this new addition.”
Tibbatts said fundraising efforts will continue in the near future, with money raised going towards equipment and an anticipated separate parking lot.
Dauphin HERO Club taking it to the streets again this year
Dauphin HERO Club taking it to the streets again this year
The Dauphin HERO Club is taking it to the streets again this year! The familiar HERO Club Hot Dog Cart resumed operation again this year May 23rd. The HERO Club Hot Dog Cart will be out in front of the former Under One Roof Building/ United Church Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
Shantelle Rank is a Psychiatric Nurse/Community Mental Health Worker for the Psychosocial Rehabilitation Program in Dauphin. She works closely with members from the HERO Club through the Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) Mental Health Program.
“We remain very thankful for the ongoing support we receive from PMH and of course, the general public. Club members are once again really excited to be operating the program regularly again this year. It’s a really great initiative, and something that hints that summer is coming and enjoying the longer days and spending more time outdoors and all that comes with that,” Rank stated.
Patronage continues to be phenomenal. Sales remain steady and many community supporters have become regulars on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Reaction from HERO CLUB Members continues to be very positive and enthusiastic. The members are grateful and appreciative of the ongoing support and patronage shown by the community of Dauphin. The members take great pride in providing a quality food service and are inspired by the opportunity to interact with the public at large. It is wonderful to see Dauphin continue to be a community that embraces and supports the Club in so many ways and on so many levels.
PMH provides coordination and other assistance to the HERO Club through its mental health program. Dauphin (established in 1994) is one of four HERO Club sites within the health region. Roblin, Russell and Swan River are the others.
The HERO Club is an important initiative because it reduces stigma; provides awareness and education as well as advocacy and provides a clubhouse forum whereby the members can strengthen their resiliency and rekindle hope and encouragement. The club truly embraces and is characterized by what it stands for as a HERO – Helping Everyone Reach Out.
The HERO Club Hot Dog Cart is located at 37 3rd Avenue NW outside of the former Under One Roof Building/United Church in Dauphin on Tues. and Thurs. from 10:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
During the month of June men and boys are encouraged to take charge of their health. Get screened, eat a healthy meal, exercise, get outdoors and check in with a friend. Use this month to set good habits in motion, and carry them throughout the year. There are a variety of websites with resources full of everything from healthy recipes to exercise tips to mental health pod casts as well as testicular and prostate cancer checks. Check them out. Find what works for you and get started today.
Canadian Men’s Health Foundation
The Canadian Men’s Health Foundation is a national, registered charity providing information, tools, and motivation for men and their families to live healthier. Canadian men are dying at an alarming rate from chronic illness and leaving their loved ones behind. Yet, 70% of men’s health problems are preventable by living healthier. No matter how you do it—walk, jog, swim, bike, or mow the lawn—any kind of movement adds up to better physical and mental health. Sign up for a ‘Guy’s guide to eating healthy‘ or listen to the Don’t change much pod cast.
Buddy Up
Buddy Up is a men’s suicide prevention communications campaign: a call to action to men, by men. We all have a role to play in men’s suicide prevention. Partners, colleagues, friends, and family. In Canada, men have a suicide rate three times higher than women. Why? We have socialized men to be strong, stoic and self-reliant; showing emotion is a sign of weakness, as is asking for help. Further, men are under served by our traditional health and social service sectors. Men are dying in alarming numbers, all around us, alone. How can we change this reality? Join the Buddy Up Campaign.
Movember
While the month of November is a little ways away, the Movember website is full of resources for guys all year long. Learn more about prostate and testicular cancer and how you can check for signs, early detection is key. Visit Family Man and discover parenting strategies designed with dads in mind. If you are feeling low or overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to reach out for support. Discover numerous resources on where you can get support and how you can help give support if you have a bro that might be struggling.
The John Howard Society of Brandon
The John Howard Society of Brandon (153 8th street) Men’s Resource Centre is open to all and offers a safe and supportive space for men and their families to access resources and information. The center provides programs, services and individual support on issues affecting men and their families.
Programs offered include: Anger Management, Building Healthy Relationships and a Crossroads Program – focused on developing positive life skills.
Services available: Staff can help you connect to community resources, provide information and advocacy. They offer one on one support, Protection Orders, Third Party Reporting and help with Pardons and Record Suspensions.
Drop in services: Free computer and internet access is available. Workshops focused on Legal Issues, Health and Wellness, Art and Music!
Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba
Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba works on building meaningful relationships and provides a space where men can open up and share about their experiences. They offer a wide variety of mental health and wellness opportunities from workshops to peer-support, and One-on-One peer support. You can book a one-on-one peer support session (online/in person) with the Men’s Program Coordinator at [email protected]. Discover more about the peer support groups and additional men’s health resources.
