August 31st marks International Overdose Awareness Day
August 31st marks International Overdose Awareness Day
Purple chairs from around the region in 2022
Ste. Rose RCMPSte. Rose Primary Health Care CentreEast Parkland Medical ClinicSte. Rose Health Centre
This annual worldwide campaign to end overdose aims to remember without stigma those who have died and acknowledge the grief of the family and friends left behind.
In 2022 some Prairie Mountain Health staff joined in the efforts to acknowledge and support people in their communities, raise awareness about the hidden impacts of overdose, and reduce stigma by creating purple chairs and placing them in visible locations with an explanation of their purpose. Community partners were invited to join in and bring this topic to light in our communities.
The 2023 theme for International Overdose Awareness Day is “Recognizing those people who go unseen,”: aiming to honour the people whose lives have been altered by overdose. They are the family and friends grieving the loss of a loved one, workers in healthcare and support services extending strength and compassion or spontaneous first responders who selflessly assume the role of a lifesaver.
Join us in continuing to be a part of the change. Get Involved – International Overdose Awareness Day (overdoseday.com) has other options for getting involved, resources, and campaign materials available if you’d like to host an event in your community. Help bring awareness to the Purple Chair Campaign. Print this poster and display it in your community. If you decide to paint a purple chair or do another campaign, let us know; we would love to see all the efforts made. Email Ashley Vandepoele at [email protected] and let her know about it!
Did you know? Cauliflower is part of the mustard family, as well as being a cruciferous vegetable along with broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, collard greens, and kale. The white part of the cauliflower, sometimes called the “curd” due to the resemblance of cheese curds, is the edible part of the plant. There are about 80 different varieties of cauliflower in North America, including green, yellow, and purple varieties.
Raw cauliflower is roughly 92% water, with a small amount of carbohydrates and protein. Cauliflower is considered high in Vitamin C, with moderate levels of B Vitamins and Vitamin K and a good source of fiber. Cauliflower is a very delicous and versatile plant that can be roasted, grilled, boiled, fried, steamed, pickled, or eaten raw. In recent years cauliflower-based product consumption increased by 71% in the United States as cauliflower started being used as a low carbohydrate and gluten free alternative to grains.
Before you go loading up on cauliflower it’s important to know that eating cruciferous vegetables may cause gas, bloating and abdominal discomfort. This is due to the high fiber content as well as raffinose, a complex carbohydrate that ferments in the gut. When increasing your fiber intake, it’s important to drink plenty of water, increase the fiber intake gradually, as well as chew food well to decrease those side effects. Over the counter gas reducing products can help break down those complex carbohydrates like raffinose. Since cauliflower and other cruciferous vegetables have moderate to high levels of Vitamin K, people that take blood thinning medication like warfarin need to be mindful that eating a lot of cruciferous vegetables can impact the efficacy of these medications.
Check out these delicious ways to enjoy cauliflower:
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.
Information updates regarding critical motor vehicle incident near Carberry
Information updates regarding critical motor vehicle incident
phone
Prairie Mountain Health CRISIS ASSISTANCE
If you are within the Prairie Mountain Health Region and in need of mental health support please call 1-888-379-7699.
Shared Health and Prairie Mountain Health responded to a serious motor vehicle incident which occurred near Carberry on June 15.
Prairie Mountain Health offers our deepest condolences to all those affected by this tragedy.
We want to thank all first responders including members of Shared Health Emergency Response Services team, for your remarkable response to today’s tragic events. Work is underway to ensure supports are available to all who responded today with the utmost of skill and professionalism.
Brandon Regional Health Centre as well as Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg and the Winnipeg Health Region received patients related to this event, and/or had patients relocated in order to create capacity at Manitoba’s tertiary centre (HSC).
The Code Orange called earlier in the day triggered an all-system response to the incident. Response teams transported patients and emergency department, surgical and critical care teams at HSC and Brandon Regional Health Centre (BRHC) supported the care needs of incoming patients.
Message from Brian Schoonbaert, CEO, on behalf of Prairie Mountain Health
Yesterday, our region and some of our communities were thrust into the most tragic and surreal circumstances that one could never imagine possible, or be fully prepared for. There are no words to cover the enormity of the tragedy in the critical accident near Carberry.
On behalf of our staff, Board, communities and stakeholders, our hearts ache, and our deepest sympathies and condolences go out to the families and loved ones of all involved with this unbelievable tragedy.
From the bottom of our hearts, we sincerely appreciate the outpouring of support we have received from throughout the country.
We thank the emergency personnel who answered the call to deal with this major critical incident—coordinating response to a mass casualty event is complex, difficult and physically and emotionally taxing.
We want to take this opportunity to acknowledge and recognize the significant contribution staff at Brandon Regional Health Centre made yesterday as the initial primary site managing the majority of accident victims who were sent to hospital.
The response of ALL of our health teams was extraordinary! It was an incident unlike we have ever managed in our facility or region. It was truly an ‘all hands on deck’ response, with every department stepping up and doing their part. Quite simply, it’s another example of our “healthcare heroes” in action, and as always, it’s awe-inspiring and never in question!
The Emergency Medical Services response to this tragic event was well-coordinated, patient-centred and highly efficient. We thank Shared Health and STARS Ambulance for all of their assistance.
Mental Health and Wellness
Witnessing and responding to such a tragedy is, of course, unexplainably difficult. We realize that people must support each other and make no hesitation in reaching out for support. It’s okay, to not be okay.
We have mental health teams of professionals working with and supporting the communities of Dauphin, Carberry, Brandon and Neepawa. Mental health support for those impacted by yesterday’s tragedy can contact the general mental health crisis support line at 1-888-379-7699.
An update regarding community support in Dauphin:
In collaboration with our partners at the City and RM of Dauphin, we are providing support at Credit Union Place (Curling Rink), which is now the area for overall community support. The support centre commenced operation today (June 16) at Noon. Please watch for more information about the centre and hours of operation, which right now are Noon to 10 pm. PMH is also collaborating with officials in Carberry, and we currently have mental health support present there now.
Individuals in the health region who are struggling with their mental health are encouraged to call 1-888-379-7699 to access support.
We know the days to come for members of our communities will be unquestionably difficult and filled with sorrow and grief. We urge those impacted or affected not to hesitate to seek health supports, which are readily available.
Thank you.
More Help is Available
Tragedies such as the incident near Carberry can have a significant impact on our mental health and well-being.
If you, or someone you know, is struggling with this news and is in need of support, please know help is available.
Wellness Together Canada counsellors are available 24/7 to speak with anyone in need of assistance by calling 1-866-585-0445. Help is also available by reaching out to one of the resources listed below or by visiting https://ow.ly/4EVn50OPZZh.
Crisis Response Centre: 204-940-1781 or toll free 1-877-499-8770
Klinic Suicide Prevention & Crisis Support Line: 204-786-8686 or toll free 1-888-322-3019
Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868
Manitoba Farm, Rural & Northern Support Services: 204-571-4182 or toll free 1-866-367-3276
First Nations & Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line: 1-855-242-3310
For any members of Shared Health ERS team seeking immediate support please contact our Employee Assistance Plan at 204-786-8880 or 1-800-590-5553.
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
