In the End, Every Moment Matters

Across Canada, National Volunteer Week (April 14-20, 2024) celebrates the individual and collective actions that volunteers participate in to create strong, interconnected and engaged communities. The Palliative Care Volunteer Service would like to acknowledge and applaud the contributions of over 225 palliative care volunteers in many communities across Prairie Mountain Health.

The Palliative Care Volunteer Service is comprised of a network of 20 community service groups who are dedicated to the improvement of palliative care in their local community. Palliative care volunteers come alongside, and complement, the existing professional services available in the home, hospital and personal care home setting. Dedicated and trained volunteers offer an additional layer of support, letting clients and families know that their local community cares. In these moments, and the relationships between them, volunteers find greater purpose, a sense of belonging and hold a common thread of hope. “We understand and share the hope that at some time, or in some way, we will all face the end of life; and when that time comes we will have the love and support of our family and the greater community” (Holly, volunteer).

The theme of volunteer week 2024 is “Every Moment Matters”. For individuals and families facing end of life, every moment is profound and valuable. Palliative care volunteers share their time, skills, empathy and creativity to shine a light in these important moments. Volunteers can be called upon to offer client companionship, caregiver respite, practical resources, end of life vigil sitting and bereavement follow-up. Volunteers also engage in activities that promote palliative care awareness, such as fundraisers, advocacy events, death cafes and community grief workshops. In the moments that matter the most, volunteers are available to hold space for clients and families, with a kind smile, a listening ear, words of encouragement and a caring embrace.

During National Volunteer Week 2024, we come together to recognize and celebrate the importance of each and every volunteer in our program. Volunteering matters and by sharing these moments we co-create the neighborhoods, culture and society we want to live in, and die, in. Thank you to the following community service groups:

Birtle Palliative Care Committee

Boissevain Palliative Care Committee

Carberry Palliative Care Committee

Dauphin Palliative Care Committee

Deloraine Palliative Care Committee

Erickson and District Palliative Care Committee

Glenboro Palliative Care Committee

Hamiota Palliative Care Committee

Killarney Palliative Care Committee

Melita Palliative Care Committee

Minnedosa Palliative Care Committee

Neepawa and District Palliative Care Committee

Reston Palliative Care Committee

Riverdale Palliative Care Committee

Rossburn Palliative Care Committee

Russell Palliative Care Committee

Shoal Lake Palliative Care Committee

Souris Palliative Care Committee

Virden and District Palliative Care Committee

Westman Hospice (Brandon)

If you would like to learn more about the Palliative Care Volunteer Service please visit our website or contact Palliative Care Volunteer and Bereavement Coordinator, Carla Mitchell, 204-578-2310. All volunteers are registered with Prairie Mountain Health and receive training to prepare for the volunteer role.

March 2024 Donations for PMH

**Pictured L-R:** Linda Wakefield – Legion Poppy Fund Committee, Vicki Ketch – Manager – Health Services LTC, Sharon Robinson – Administrative Assistant

Rideau PCH Receives Donation

“We eat first with our eyes”

The Royal Canadian Legion – Branch 003 – Poppy Fund of Brandon MB generously donated $2,843.42 to the Rideau Park PCH. The funds will be used to redesign the decor of one of our dining rooms so that every meal is eaten in a room that provides a comforting and appealing environment. The current dining room was built with function in mind will benefit from decorative updates.

The dining room is a place of engagement and connection. It is more than just a room, it’s a place where everyone comes together for the opportunity to engage in comradeship/fellowship.

This project will be promoted to improve resident satisfaction with their meal experience. Ultimately, this is not so much about the decor but is about respect, dignity and honoring the residents.

The funding was approved first by the Legion Brandon branch, then Legion Provincial Command, and finally Dominion Command. Funding for a dining room has never before been approved. Rideau Park is very proud to have been awarded the Poppy Fund Donation for this project!

Thank you for approving this project and the donation to make it successful.

**Pictured L-R:** JudyGabler, Breanne Farquhar, Heather Boersma

Neepawa Health Unit receives donation

The Ladies Auxiliary in Neepawa was happy to donate 5 lock boxes for medications to the Home Care department. The Ladies Auxiliary is proud to support the needs of the Health Care facilities in Neepawa.

PMH welcomes new Filipino health-care workers

Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) has warmly welcomed additional Filipino health-care workers recruited as part of Manitoba’s Philippines Recruitment Initiative. Since the first regional arrivals in November 2023, it marks a total of 14 internationally educated health care professionals that have been recruited to PMH as of early March 2024.

Neepawa recently said hello to two new recruits, both working at Country Meadows Personal Care Home (PCH). Meliza Diapano, a certified health care aide, arrived in Manitoba with her family in January 2024. Jennifer Diangco, who is an internationally educated nurse, arrived in late February.

In Hartney, health care aide Danil Hebrio began work at Hartney PCH and the Russell Personal Care Home welcomed health care aide Eugene Reyes. Both started in January.

Dauphin Personal Care Home has two new health care aides, Andrea Almodal and Jamaica Alabot. Andrea and her family arrived in Manitoba in late January, and Jamaica arrived in Dauphin in mid-February. In Swan River, Hazel Mae Pesigan arrived in mid-March and will be working at Swan Valley PCH as internationally-educated nurse.

Brandon welcomed Betty Jean Malagum in late February. She is a health care aide working at Fairview Home.

“We’re very pleased to welcome these new recruits to Canada, Manitoba and our health care region!” stated Brian Schoonbaert, CEO of Prairie Mountain Health. “We will continue to work with our dedicated staff and communities to ensure their transition, mentorship and orientation goes as smoothly as possible”.

Overall, there have been recruits to Brandon, Dauphin, Hartney, Minnedosa, Neepawa, Swan River, Virden and Russell. PMH continues to work with provincial partners on the initiative to recruit to more regional communities during April and May.

National Immunization Awareness Week | April 22-30, 2024

When Immunize Canada launched National Immunization Awareness Week in the 1990s, it echoed a very successful program that Canada saw in the 1930s. Back then, vaccines were new, and the diseases they prevent were far too common.

Details can be found in back issues of the Canadian Journal of Public Health, the long-running journal of the Canadian Public Health Association.

One of the earliest campaigns, launched in 1931, was Toronto’s Toxoid Week, which focused on diphtheria. Toxoid Week became a stronger initiative after the establishment of the Health League of Canada in 1935. Largely spearheaded by the now-defunct League, the campaign involved schools, radio stations, newspapers, magazines, service clubs, and physicians to get the message out.

In 1942, it was decided that more diseases needed to be included, and the first National Immunization Week was born: a “coast-to-coast program of education directed towards the prevention of smallpox and whooping cough as well as diphtheria”

Much has changed in Canada since the 1930s. In the mid-1970s, the Health League closed its doors. By then, immunization was common, and several important diseases were fading from memory. In the meantime, new vaccines were developed and are widely used. Smallpox – once a health threat worldwide – was eradicated. Canada was certified polio-free in 1994. Many lives have been saved by immunization, and countless illnesses and long-term health problems avoided. Vaccines truly are one of the great public health achievements of the twentieth century – and onward into the twenty-first.

But some things don’t change. Vaccine-preventable diseases are still very much with us. We need to continue to educate Canadians about immunization and promote awareness of its benefits to health with up-to-date information. We need to involve traditional media, health care providers, and social media. And we need to keep vaccinating! Recent outbreaks of mumps and measles remind us that, if immunization rates drop, diseases will reappear. Immunization rates must remain high in order for individuals and communities to stay protected against vaccine-preventable diseases.

National Immunization Awareness Week is a great time to learn more. Visit immunize.ca for reliable information on immunization for all generations.

How to get a copy of your immunization record

You can get your immunization record by submitting a request via the Immunization Update Request Form and it will be mailed to you.

You may also be able to get a copy by:

Contacting your local pub lic health office
Check if your local medical clinic or physician’s office can provide them to you
Asking at a local nursing station or health centre

The Manitoba Immunization registry was started in 1988. Immunizations provided prior to 1988 are unlikely to be included in Manitoba Health’s official registry. Please check for paper records at home or with your local health care provider. Manitoba Health sends out a copy of your immunization record when you turn 7 and 18 years old.

References
National Immunization Week: November 14 – 21. Can Public Health J 1943:34(10):477. Available at: http://www.jstor.org/stable/41978506 (Accessed April 13, 2017).
Bates G. Diphtheria-Toxoid Week in Toronto. Can Public Health J 1938;29(12):578-82. Available at: http://www.jstor.org/stable/41977695 (Accessed March 14, 2017)

Have You ‘Bean’ Checked for Kidney Disease

PMH wants to take additional steps to encourage community members to protect their kidneys. March is kidney awareness month, and PMH encourages everyone to learn more about protecting their ‘beans.’ The PMH Population Health and Wellness Committee has been developing a public awareness campaign to inform PMH residents about the importance of early detection and screening. You may have noticed posters around your community encouraging everyone to self-screen for kidney disease.

Here are a few facts to share:

The province of Manitoba has the highest incidence and prevalence of kidney failure in Canada
As many as 1 in 10 adults in Manitoba are living with kidney disease, and most don’t even know it
Kidneys can lose 80% of their function before any symptoms are felt

What is kidney disease, and why is early testing so important? Chronic kidney disease means your kidneys are damaged and lose their ability to keep you healthy by filtering your blood. People living with kidney disease progressively lose kidney function, often not knowing they have the disease until advancing to the later stages. As kidney disease worsens, wastes can build up in your blood and make you feel sick. You may develop other problems like high blood pressure, anemia, weak bones, poor nutritional health, or nerve damage.

Kidney disease is classified into five stages; stage 1 indicates normal kidney function up to stage 5, which is kidney failure. Because symptoms don’t always show in the early stages, identifying and managing patients with early kidney disease may slow or prevent the progression to end-stage kidney disease. Often, noninvasive treatments, such as drug therapy and lifestyle changes, may be all that’s needed if caught early.

Anyone can get kidney disease, but some people have a higher probability because they have one or more risk factors. Diabetes and high blood pressure are the most common reasons for kidney disease among adults. Other risk factors include obesity, smoking, having heart disease, frequent use of kidney-damaging drugs, or a family history of kidney disease. Having a risk factor does not mean you will get kidney disease, but it increases your chance and makes early screening more important. A simple blood or urine test is all that is needed to learn if your kidneys are healthy.

Talk to your healthcare provider about kidney disease. To learn more about kidney disease and to take a self-screen test to see if you are at risk, visit www.kidney.ca. Don’t underestimate the importance of early testing for kidney disease. Ask yourself, have you ‘bean’ checked?

Ten years and counting for the PMH Mobile Clinic

Prairie Mountain Health’s (PMH) Mobile Clinic has passed a very notable milestone; February 2024 marked ten years since the primary care bus first hit the road! The Mobile Clinic was the first of its kind in the Province, and although some of the faces and places have changed over the years, there’s one constant: providing access to services where some barriers remain.

On average, the PMH Mobile Clinic (primary care bus) travels 44,000 kilometres annually. This is roughly equivalent to touring across Canada (east to west) nearly seven times annually. Over the past decade, approximately 440,000 total kilometres have been travelled by the Mobile Clinic. That’s certainly a lot of distance covered and patients seen since its implementation.

The Mobile Clinic is staffed by a Registered Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, and Driver who provides administrative support. This team works closely with the staff at the health centres in each community to ensure that individuals’ needs are met.

Currently, the Indigenous communities of Birdtail Sioux First Nation, Ebb and Flow First Nation, O-Chi-Chak-Ko-Sipi First Nation and Keeseekoowenin First Nation receive regular visits. The communities of Canupawakpa Dakota First Nation, Skownan First Nation, and Waterhen also receive regular Nurse Practitioner services from Mobile Clinic providers.

“A Nurse Practitioner can do some of the same things as a family doctor. They can do physical exams, diagnose and treat diseases and other health conditions, and prescribe medication,” says Glenda Short, PMH Regional Lead of Community and Continuing Care. “This allows the Mobile Clinic to provide many services, including regular sexually transmitted blood-borne infection testing, which offers clients a private and confidential environment for testing and treatment.”

Client, community and staff feedback have shaped changes over the past decade. The Mobile Clinic saw greater success by visiting the same communities consistently rather than more communities on a less frequent basis. Therefore, visits currently occur to the same four communities on a consistent schedule.

“Accessing primary health care services close to home is important for all Manitobans,” said Manitoba Health, Seniors and Healthy Living Minister Uzoma Asagwara. “I would like to thank the staff who operate the Mobile Clinic for the great work that they do and their dedication to providing quality and timely health care for residents of Prairie Mountain Health Region.”

Appointment at the Mobile Bus in Birdtail Sioux

Operating a fully functioning primary care clinic on wheels is challenging.

“Adverse weather conditions, staffing shortages, and internet disruptions are a few that can play a role in the clinic’s day-to-day functions,” stated Ashley Vandepoele, PMH Health Services Manager whose team oversees the initiative.

During the heightened stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare systems had to adapt rapidly, and the Mobile Clinic was no exception.

“The Mobile Clinic shifted to involve providing vaccines, doing testing, redeploying staff, as well as physically attending pop-up vaccine locations in campsites and mall parking lots for visibility,” Short said.

Added Vandepeole: “The pandemic also provided space for innovation. One learning was that virtual care could be utilized to meet client needs. This has altered and shaped how the Mobile Clinic functions on days when cancellations are inevitable due to adverse weather and road conditions. Rather than not providing service at all due to the Clinic’s inability to get to the community, we now offer services by telephone on many of those days.”

The Mobile Clinic strives to be an inclusive, safe environment for all to access. PMH regularly welcomes nursing students and physician assistants to participate in their learning journey.

A recent grant approval through Health Care Excellence Canada’s Strengthening Primary Care in Northern Rural and Remote Communities will pave the way for an innovation on the Mobile Clinic. Point-of-care testing equipment is being purchased to support diabetes and renal screening in a number of the communities that the Mobile Clinic serves.

PMH remains proud of the continued success of the Clinic and, with its health partners and stakeholders, collectively strives to enhance services within the large geographic region continually.

We’ll see what the next ten years bring!

We are Dietitians!

Highlighting Dietitian work in Prairie Mountain Health for Nutrition Month in March

In Primary Care

Feeling confused with what you are reading about nutrition online? Primary care dietitians are master myth-busters and trustworthy sources of nutrition information personalized to you. From chronic disease prevention to management, dietitians in primary care are here to help! Meeting with a Registered Dietitian can help you manage irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, nutrient deficiencies, malnutrition, diabetes, heart disease, disordered eating, pediatric picky eating and more. You can request an appointment by calling 1-877-509-7852 or talking to your primary care provider about a referral at your next visit.

In the Community

Prairie Mountain Health Community Dietitians believe that healthy does not have to be fancy. We promote healthy eating that is enjoyable, nutritious, accessible, and culturally appropriate. This could include food from local grocery stores, farmers’ markets, your backyard (or farm), or from the wild.

Community Dietitians work with communities, organizations, and groups rather than individual clients. They promote healthy eating, focusing on nutrition and food skills education, food security initiatives, and healthy food environments. You might see Community Dietitians working in schools, health fairs, daycares, seniors’ centers, healthy baby programs, cooking classes, community centers, and more!

What does this look like in PMH? Dietitians are part of Neepawa Eats Healthy, a group of dedicated partners representing local organizations and community members working together to improve healthy eating outcomes in the community. The partnership includes the Salvation Army, the Town of Neepawa, HyLife, Prairie Mountain Health, and community members. The committee works together on many food-related projects in the community. Currently, we are partnering with local grocery stores to promote a monthly quick, easy and healthy recipe, with classrooms competing to win a catered lunch featuring the Meal in 30 recipes. To see what else Neepawa Eats Healthy is up to, follow them on social media @neepawa.eats.healthy. A Community Dietitian is also involved with the BAG (Better Access to Groceries) program in Camperville and Sapotaweyak Cree Nation, where people order a bag of fresh produce at a reasonable cost to pick up in their community. Some Community Dietitians also facilitate community programs such as Craving Change, Strive to Thrive, and Get Better Together.

Contact the Community Dietitians by sending an email to [email protected]

In Long Term Care and Acute Care

Every healthcare facility in Prairie Mountain Health has a Registered Dietitian who attends the facility and sees the clients. Registered Dietitians work as part of the healthcare team to ensure clients receive the best care. Clients are seen for various reasons in these settings, including malnutrition, inadequate oral intake, enteral feeding (tube feeds), bowel care, diabetes management and texture-modified diets, to name a few. Registered Dietitians are part of the Menu committee for the facilities and work with the Nutrition Services team to make a menu that meets everyone’s nutritional needs.

Dietitians are here to help ensure our clients are nourished. If you have a loved one in a personal care home or acute care setting, you can request that they see a Registered Dietitian.

Please contact Lisa Fugleberg [email protected] for more information regarding acute and long-term care dietitian services.

Looking for nutrition information? Check out these great sites for some great tips and recipe ideas!

Home – Unlock Food

Home & Family (homefamily.net)

Cookspiration

PMH Regional Ethics Committee Looking for New Members

Prairie Mountain Health recognizes that ethical issues and dilemmas will arise in the provision of care and service within the healthcare sector. PMH is committed to deliver quality health services to meet the needs of the population we serve, with integrity, accountability, equity, respect, responsiveness and engagement. Ethical principles and values are incorporated into how decisions are made and care is delivered every day.

The PMH Regional Ethics Committee provides support, resources and education for staff who may encounter ethical issues or dilemmas in their daily work.

The Regional Ethics committee is currently seeking new members from both inside and outside the organization to serve a three-year term.

Are you someone who enjoys discussing ethical issues with others? Are you interested in learning more about how to address ethical issues and support ethics educational opportunities? Are you a patient or family partner, current or retired healthcare professional, spiritual care leader or a post-secondary school teacher/professor? Are you able to meet via Microsoft Teams four times a year for two hours? If so, please reach out to Chairperson Nancy Tregunna at [email protected] for an application or for more information.

January 2024 Donations for PMH

125 Teddy Bears donated to Pediatric Ward at Brandon Regional Health Centre

**L-R:** Sydney Nault (peds), Carole Schell, Glenda Klemick, Cheryl Gagnon (peds)

Glenda Klemick & Carol Schepp from the Calendar Club seasonal store in Brandon Shoppers Mall had a promotion that you could buy a teddy bear for $5.99 if you spent $15 before tax. You could choose to take it home or donate it to the pediatric ward. Many who donated had a personal connection to the pediatric ward.

Russell Expanding Community Cancer Care

Picture and files courtesy of Russell Banner

Judy Snitynsky, Mayor of the Municipality of Russell-Binscarth and Andrea Glasman from the Expanding Community Cancer Care Committee with a cheque representing the $200,000 in funding the municipality has given to the Russell building addition project over the last two years.

‘Mental Health on the Prairies’ conference looking to build hope and renew connections

Talking about mental health is important every day of the year, and the entire community is invited to come together this spring to join a conversation about building hope and renewing connection to support good mental health.

The Mental Health on the Prairies Hybrid Conference and Community Conversation will be held April 24^th, 25^th, and 26^th, and is hosted by Brandon University. The meeting will bring together researchers, professionals working in health and social care, educators, community groups, and lived experience experts to have critical conversations about mental health research, services, and experiences.

The conference includes three keynote presentations designed for the whole community. Chris Beaudry – Former Humboldt Broncos Coach—will talk about the “heroes and dragons of mental health” sharing his experience of working with trauma. Dr. Jan DeFehr from University of Winnipeg will share extensive research and community practice in a presentation about breaking down psychiatric divisions. Finally, Sera Davidow—a filmmaker, author, activist and Director of a peer-to-peer support and training organization—will talk about mental health through a harm reduction lens. Each of the keynote presenters offer different perspectives on mental health that are critical to building hope and renewing connections. Please register to participate.

The conference and community conversation will help share important information about mental health and support services with a wider audience.

“Connection is so important. We know that people who feel more connected report better mental health and they can cope better with mental health problems,” said Dr. Catherine Baxter conference co-chair and Professor in the Faculty of Health Studies.

The event planning team also includes community co-chair, Maria Kent, as well as mental health advocates, educators and researchers from the faculty of nursing, arts, and science at Brandon University.

Ultimately, the event aims to draw together a broad range of individuals from academic experts across the country to share knowledge and engage in critical conversations about community-based mental health research and solutions, to engaged community members who want to share their thoughts and experiences around mental health.

“This conference and conversation is an ongoing priority for us, and an important objective of our Centre for the Critical Studies of Rural Mental Health,” said Dr. Linda Ross, Acting Dean of Health Studies at BU. “I look forward to hearing the conversations and actions it generates.”

Mental Health on the Prairies is open to everyone. Anyone interested in participating in the Mental Health on the Prairies Conference and Community Conversation should go to the conference website for more information.

Success is built at Brandon University. Our growing, progressive campus welcomes a diverse and inclusive community that combines proud tradition with shared ambition. Through our excellence in teaching, research, and scholarship, we educate students to make a meaningful difference as engaged citizens and leaders. Join us at BrandonU.ca

CONTACT US:

Rob Henderson
Marketing Communications Officer
204.727.9762
[email protected]

Grant Hamilton
Director, Marketing and Communications
204.571.8542
[email protected]