PRACTICAL NURSING PROGRAM ANNOUNCED FOR NEEPAWA

Prairie Mountain Health was excited to learn of the province’s investment in a one-time, 25-student cohort for its practical nursing diploma program in Neepawa. The Manitoba government is providing $2.1 million in combined capital and operating funding to Assiniboine Community College (ACC) to offer the practical nursing program in Neepawa.

Advanced Education and Training Minister Sarah Guillemard and Health Minister Audrey Gordon say the one-time offering in Neepawa will provide students with training close to home, allowing them to study, work and strengthen health care in the region.

“Nurses from rural communities are more likely to stay or return to rural health settings and graduates of this program will be eligible to fill positions at the new hospital under construction in Neepawa scheduled for completion in 2025, “ Gordon stated.

“We are pleased to be able to contribute to training people for careers in health care throughout the province. Nursing is Assiniboine’s largest single program and our graduates have a track record of getting jobs and staying in Manitoba.” said Mark Frison, president, ACC. “This welcome investment by the Manitoba government allows us to respond to needs in Neepawa and we look forward to working with the community to expand access in this growing region of the province.”

At nearly four times the size of the existing Neepawa Health Centre, the new hospital will include:

• 63 acute care inpatient beds, an increase from 38 at the current site;
• an expanded emergency department designed to best practice standards that includes assessment and treatment rooms, a trauma room, stretcher bay and ambulance bay; and
• enhanced space for a number of programs such as surgery, diagnostics and palliative care, as well as various outpatient services including chemotherapy, ambulatory care and an eight-station dialysis unit.

Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) CEO Brian Schoonbaert says the region continues collaborative efforts with the province and education institutions like Assiniboine to further strengthen the health-care workforce in the region.

“Training nurses close to home allows them to learn in a familiar environment and have the opportunity to learn about and apply for jobs in their community upon graduation,” said Brian Schoonbaert CEO of Prairie Mountain Health. “It also helps meet the high demand for nurses in PMH. We are pleased to work with Assiniboine and our stakeholders to offer learners in the health region this opportunity.”

The investment in Neepawa further aligns with the provincial Health Human Resource Action Plan, which launched in November 2022 with a commitment to add 2,000 health-care providers, invest $200 million to retain, train and recruit health-care staff across Manitoba, and eliminate mandated overtime.

Shoal Lake Yellowhead Clinic secures Nurse Practitioner services

The Yellowhead Community Clinic in Shoal Lake welcomes Nurse Practitioner (NP) Cathy Scofield-Singh, who will begin seeing patients on March 13. Scofield-Singh will be joining the Shoal Lake Medical Team on a permanent basis. Cathy will also provide coverage to the personal care home while NP Tanya Radford is on maternity leave. Once Tanya returns from maternity leave, the two NPs will work in Shoal Lake.

The Clinic will also be served by Hamiota physician Dr. Chris Brenneman, who will work some itinerant shifts starting in May to continue to provide services to Shoal Lake and area residents. Dr. Heather Gooden, who practices full-time in Hamiota, will remain to oversee patients within the Shoal Lake Transitional Care Unit.

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.

Schofield-Singh comes to the Shoal Lake Clinic after working at the Ste. Rose Primary Health Care Centre, where she started with Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) in 2018.
Cathy did a short locum in Shoal Lake in the fall of 2022, and the clinic staff and board were so happy with her services they approached her about a move to Shoal Lake. This worked for Cathy personally, so it is a positive move for both the community and Cathy. She will be a welcomed addition to the medical services team in Shoal Lake.

As an NP since 2013, Cathy has over 30 years of experience as a Registered Nurse (RN) with a diverse nursing career. She graduated from the University of Manitoba’s Masters of Nursing NP program in October 2013. Before becoming an NP, she also had an opportunity to work in remote northern communities as a Primary Care Nurse for over ten years.

PMH Primary Health Care Manager Diane Ciprick says the Region was pleased to facilitate conversations with Scofield-Singh, allowing her to move into the opportunity in Shoal Lake.
The health region continues to be very active in Nurse Practitioner recruitment and retention efforts. To date, 23 NPs provide service within 27 communities, which include shifts on the Mobile Clinic, services at medical clinics and in the 7th Street Health Access Centre.

CAREER SPOTLIGHT: Health Information Services

The Health Information Services (HIS) team includes Health Information Management Professionals, Medical Transcriptionists and Clerical staff who work in health centres throughout Prairie Mountain Health. This team is about managing healthcare data; collecting, storing, managing and transmitting a patient’s electronic medical records (EMR) in a professional, caring, and confidential manner.

Clerical Staff (Clerk III)

Clerk IIIs work in various areas within the HIS program, such as patient registration, switchboard and the records processing unit. The Clerk III Health Information staff are responsible for accurate and timely registration and processing of the admission/discharge/transfer (ADT) system while following the Provincial and Regional Registration Guidelines and practices. In addition, they process records, including secure storage, maintain the confidentiality of health information, and ensure all records are complete and accurate. This position also supports communication within and outside the facility. The switchboard is the communication hub of the facilities. In this area, they receive patient inquiries, page/communicate with health care providers, and operate the call centre for all Emergency codes within the facilities.

Education Requirements: Clerical staff in HIS are required to have a certificate in Medical Terminology. The Canadian Red Cross and Red River College offer Medical Terminology certificate programs.

Medical Transcriptionists

Medical Transcription changes voice-recorded reports into written texts that become a part of the permanent health record. Physicians and other health care providers dictate information gathered during patient encounters, and medical transcriptionists listen to the recording and transcribe it. These medical reports include clinical findings and therapeutic procedures in the health record and transmission to physicians and other healthcare facilities.

Education Requirements: All Medical Transcriptionists graduate from a recognized Medical Transcription Program. Check out Canscribe Career College or the Academy of Learning College offers the Medical Transcription certificate program as well as Medical Office Assistant (both needed if attending Academy of Learning College).

Health Information Management Professionals (HIMP)

Health Information Management Professionals provide services in all aspects of health records management. This includes data collection, disclosure, retention and the proper disposal of health information. The HIMP codes and summarizes all inpatient and same-day care health records accurately and efficiently. This is done by following the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) Standards and utilizing the appropriate Coding Classification System. This health data is transformed into information that can be analyzed and used to help in healthcare delivery, patient safety, and decision-making.

Education Requirements: All Health Information Management Professionals are graduates of a Health Information Management Professional Program and can be certified with the Canadian Health Information Management Association (CHIMA). The Canadian HealthCare Association (CHA Learning – online) or Red River College offers the Health Information Management Professional certificate program.

All of the functions within HIS are tied together with our Administrative Assistants and our Management team. The Health Information Services portfolio offers plenty of room for growth and career advancement and is currently recruiting for positions within our team!

Visit our Prairie Mountain Health careers page at https://www.pmh-mb.ca/careers.

PMH organizes health care students tour as part of recruitment activities

If Willie Nelson’s “On the road again” wasn’t blaring, it should have been! Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) hosted a rural bus tour for health-care students January 21-22 and the weekend initiative drew great reviews. PMH Recruitment Supervisor Larissa Kominko says nine students took advantage of the opportunity to visit several communities and facilities in the health region and came away with a better appreciation of the numerous advantages of working and living in rural Manitoba.

“Spending time and making connections with the students was so rewarding,” Kominko said. “Being able to showcase the amazing lifestyle of rural Manitoba, the hospitality of small towns and all the programs and services that our local hospitals and personal care homes have to offer was amazing. I think it is fair to say that all involved made a very good impression, as students were extremely overwhelmed and excited about all they saw and heard over the two days.“

This year, health-care students from both the University of Manitoba and Brandon University were part of the two-day tour, with site visits to Dauphin Regional Health Centre, St. Paul’s PCH, Grandview Health Centre, Roblin Health Centre/PCH, and Russell Health Centre. During the road trip, information was also shared about communities the bus travelled through, which included Gilbert Plains, Neepawa, Minnedosa, Shoal Lake and Rossburn.

Planned activities at Asessippi Ski Resort (between Roblin and Russell), and Northgate Trails, located in Riding Mountain National Park, provided participants with a chance to get some exercise and have some fun!

Some comments from participants included:

“Thanks for the opportunity to explore rural communities and future potential careers. I didn’t realize it, but I really needed to get outside of the city.”

“I genuinely had an amazing time this weekend. Thank you so much!”

“Thanks to everyone who organized the trip. It was a really great experience seeing all of the communities. I definitely have a lot to think about!”

Kominko says the tour built upon a similar initiative that was organized in 2019, before the COVID pandemic surfaced. She adds, the region is always evaluating and improving upon the various strategies it undertakes in regards to recruitment and retention initiatives. She stated plans are already in the works to hold a smiliar event in another part of the geographically large health region.

Medical students gather in Brandon as part of rural interest group

In partnership with the Manitoba Health Care Providers Network (MHCPN) and Max Rady College of Medicine, Faculty of Sciences, Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) hosted the University of Manitoba medical student Rural Interest Group in Brandon on January 27-28, 2023. The Rural Interest Group (RIG) weekend highlighted the benefits of practicing medicine in rural communities and available lifestyle opportunities. Some 34 first and second-year medical students took part.

PMH continues to be a strong advocate for the initiative as it provides the health region with additional opportunities to engage medical students early in their training. Clinical workstations were set up at Brandon Regional Health Centre that allowed students to put their skills to the test by undertaking tasks like suturing, casting and airway management.

Student RIG Co-President Sydney McLaughlin says after a brief event pause, due to the state of the COVID-19 pandemic, all of the students learned a lot and had great fun at the same time.

“The weekend went really well and I am really happy with how things went!” McLaughlin stated.
“On behalf of both the Rural Interest Group and the University of Manitoba Medical Classes of 2025 and 2026, I would like to extend a huge thank you to PMH for welcoming us back this year. These events are so important for our education as they expose students to what it is like to work in rural medicine, provide opportunities for students to network with doctors and residents, and give us an idea of what it is like to work within the health region.”

Both MHCPN and PMH sincerely appreciate the support of regional physicians, staff and volunteers who help make the RIG weekend a success.

Two new Physician Assistants recruited to Swan River

Physician Assistants (PAs) are healthcare professionals who practice medicine under the supervision of a physician. They complement existing services and aid in improving patient access. Recently, National Physician Assistant (PA) day was recognized. Prairie Mountain Health also acknowledges and says “thank you” to its Physician Assistants who work in our region and are based in Brandon, Dauphin and Swan River. PMH continues recruiting for these professionals with the recent addition of two new Physician Assistants in Swan River. Even more exciting is that one of the new PAs, Charnae Betcher, a Swan River resident, is returning to her home community to work.

Betcher graduated with a Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) from the University of Manitoba (UM) in October. Based out of the department of family medicine, Max Rady College of Medicine, the UM MPAS program has recently started its 15th year. Of the three PA programs in Canada, UM is the only one to offer the program at a master’s level. MPAS is a highly competitive program, with over 150 applicants vying for just 15 spots. Beginning in early December, Charnae will be located at the Swan Valley Primary Care Centre (SVPCC )as part of the My Health Team initiative.

“I am grateful to return to Swan River and serve the community where I grew up,” Betcher said.

“ I hope to contribute to enhancing local health care as a PA by working collaboratively to improve access to healthcare services, patient outcomes and quality of life.”

Fellow recruit James Awuah will be based at the Swan Valley Health Centre. Awuah, who started in mid-November, comes to the Region from South Dakota, USA. He currently lives in Regina, SK., with his family. He graduated from the University of South Dakota in 2018. He had been practicing emergency medicine and family medicine at critical access hospitals in North Dakota and South Dakota until he joined SVHC.

“I am very excited to be part of a team that continues to make a positive impact in the lives of community members,” Awuah stated.

“I am thrilled to continue to promote life and good health to the people I come across daily as a Physician Assistant. The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”

Swan Valley Primary Care Centre physician Dr. Leah Koetting says health care is a team effort and Physician Assistants have a vital role.

“By working alongside physicians in hospital rounds, the clinic, and the emergency department, they ensure more patients are seen and treated in a timely manner.”

According to the Canadian Association of Physician Assistants, the introduction of PAs into the country began within the Canadian Armed Forces in the 1950s. Manitoba was the first province to introduce PAs into the healthcare system in 1999, and today, approximately 800 certified PAs are practicing in Canada—with over 500 in Ontario. As of December 2022, there will be 10 PAs practicing within PMH in Brandon, Dauphin and Swan River.

A Physician Assistant has the skills and experience to deal with medical emergencies, specialty practice environments, and everyday healthcare needs. The PA is a physician extender and not an independent practitioner; they work under the direction of supervising physicians within the client/patient-centered care team. As part of their comprehensive responsibilities, PAs can:

• conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests.
• counsel on preventive health care.
• assist in surgery, and write prescriptions.
• Participate in education, research and provide some administrative services.

In Brandon, some PAs assist in general and specialist surgery along with areas like kidney disease and the renal unit. In Dauphin, the two PAs undertake different responsibilities —one works within the surgery program and the other within primary care.

Prairie Mountain Health CEO Brian Schoonbaert says the region continues to look at ways to increase the recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals.

“PMH has hired more Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners and Clinical Assistants to expand primary care availability. We continue to meet with our stakeholders and partners to review challenges and discuss potential solutions to health human resource shortages that the rest of the province and country face now.”

Schoonbaert sincerely thanks all PMH staff for their continued efforts to provide patient care during this challenging period in the healthcare system. He adds the region remains committed to exhausting all available options to address these challenges.

Nurse Practitioner hits the ground running in Souris area

Note: As part of national Nurse Practitioner Week, which takes place this year from November 13-19, PMH is pleased to introduce the newest recruit to the health region.

Hello, my name is Danielle Lewis MN RN (NP) and I am the Nurse Practitioner (NP) who recently accepted a position within Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) region at Souris Medical Associates, Souris Hospital, and Sioux Valley Health Centre.

I grew up on a cattle farm close to Melita. I enjoyed living the farm life, playing hockey, baseball, badminton and acting in community musicals. Upon my high school graduation, I moved to Winnipeg to attend University.

While working on my nursing degree, I worked as a health care aide at St. Boniface hospital on a variety of floors and Jocelyn House providing palliative care in a home setting. After graduating with my Bachelor of Nursing from the University of Manitoba, I worked as a Registered Nurse in the Intermediate Care Nursery, Children’s Acute Medicine, and Brandon Emergency Room.

I graduated from the University of Saskatchewan Master of Nursing Nurse Practitioner program in 2020 and began working at Swan Lake First Nation Health Centre. Afterwards, I joined Southern Health in the first solely NP lead model in Manitoba, which included primary care, in-patient care and enhance primary care/extended hours.

Excited to work closer to home, I came back to PMH in August of 2022. My primary site is Souris and includes clinical as well as hospital practice. I also work part-time at the Sioux Valley Health Centre. I provide care for a range of acute and chronic health concerns and conditions. In my practice, I do a lot of teaching and believe in empowering patients to understand their health and participate in their care.

In addition to being an NP, I am a wife and Mom of two boys ages 5 and 2. I continue to play hockey, baseball, enjoy camping and teach yoga. In both my practice and personal life, I believe that if you do not make time for health, you will be forced to make time for illness.

The health staff and community members have been very welcoming and supportive. I look forward to working with you all and growing my role for many years to come.

For more information on Nurse Practitioners within PMH, view the health region’s website.

Five New International Medical Graduates Recruited

Physician recruitment efforts continue within Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) region. One of the initiatives the region utilizes as part of overall recruitment strategies includes the provincial Medical Licensure Program for International Medical Graduates (MLPIMG). The ‘IMG Program’ assists foreign-trained doctors in obtaining their medical license to be able to practice as a primary care (family) physician in Manitoba.

“During the past year, the region sponsored five physicians to participate in the ‘IMG’ Program,” said Brian Schoonbaert, PMH CEO. “After much consideration, doctors that successfully graduated from the program were strategically placed at various sites within PMH communities (or nearby areas) that require additional sufficient physician resources.

This year, these communities included Neepawa, Roblin, Russell, Virden and Swan River. Physicians and their start date in each community are listed below.

• Shady Attalla Virden (started Sept. 19)
• Dalia Bushara Roblin (started Oct. 3)
• Samin Izadi Swan River (started Sept. 19)
• Sidra Jawed Neepawa (started Sept. 19)
• Dina Koreen Russell (started Sept. 19)

In return for regional sponsorship, IMG doctors agree to practice in their respective communities for four years. The Program is supported by the University of Manitoba —Max Rady College of Medicine, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba and Manitoba Health.

Last year, five PMH-sponsored IMG physicians were placed in the communities of Killarney (2), Minnedosa, Roblin and Swan River.

“The International Medical Graduates program is an excellent example of partners coming together to provide Manitobans the care they need where and when they need it,” said Minister of Health Audrey Gordon. “The program supports physician placement in much needed rural communities throughout the province by matching them with internationally trained physicians. The province is proud to strengthen healthcare by supporting this program and delivering quality care to all Manitobans.”

During the next rotation, which is already underway, PMH is sponsoring five more IMG physicians who commenced their training program this past June. If successful, they will be able to commence practice within the health region sometime next fall (2023).

PMH hosts Family Medicine Residents’ Retreat

Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) was proud to host the provincial Family Medicine Residents’ Retreat, which took place in Brandon on September 23-24, 2022. The in-person event had been on hold for the past few years because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

PMH CEO Brian Schoonbaert was pleased with the event and was confident participants would leave with a much better understanding of the many physician practice opportunities available in rural Manitoba.

“We believe that the lifestyle choices new physicians seek can be found in our rural settings. Our landscapes offer open prairies, serene and bustling communities, many lakes, small ‘mountains,’ numerous walking, hiking and biking trails, and close access to both provincial and national parks. We hope that recruits recognize what we already know; living and working in rural settings can be very rewarding!

Over 90 family medicine residents attended the weekend gathering, which featured information sessions on breastfeeding, geriatric frailty, Medical Assistance in Dying, point of care ultrasound and physician billing and finance information. An interactive job fair allowed many recruiters, including Regional Health Authorities and physician clinics throughout the province, to showcase their areas to prospective doctors.

Schoonbaert says PMH will stay in touch with those interested in rural medicine.

“Within our health region alone, there’s lots to look forward to, including the construction of a new $127-million hospital in Neepawa and larger renovations planned for Brandon Regional Health Centre (BRHC) that will add a new ICU, more medical beds, and an expansion to the neonatal ICU. There are also enhancements planned for the Westman Cancer Centre so that when paired with the BRHC upgrades, Brandon will become the intermediate care hub for western Manitoba.”

Some other smaller capital projects are planned for hospitals in Dauphin, Souris, Killarney and Virden, which will help enhance localized service delivery and improve access to quality patient care. There are other exciting developments and expansions which have been announced by Manitoba Health and Shared Health, including the construction of a new hospital in Portage and additions to hospitals in Steinbach, the Boundary Trails Health Centre in Morden/Winkler and Selkirk, to name a few.

Schoonbaert sincerely thanks all of those from PMH that helped to organize the event and represent the health region at various functions.

The last Residents’ Retreat was held in 2019 and hosted by Interlake/Eastern RHA.

Closer to Home with Rural Medicine Opportunities

“Dauphin will always be home,” said Dr. Lauren Baker. “To provide care to a community that means so much to me is rewarding and also fulfilling. I absolutely love it here.”

From a young age, Dr. Lauren Baker admired the doctors in her hometown of Dauphin and credits their compassion and kindness for inspiring her career in medicine. Today, as a first-year resident in the Parkland Family Medicine Residency Program working out of the Dauphin Regional Health Centre, Dr. Baker is experiencing this support and kindness firsthand, from doctors who are now her colleagues.

“It’s such a strong teamwork environment here between all the health-care providers,” said Dr. Baker. “Everyone helps each other out and each doctor brings a unique set of skills to the community. From obstetrics to geriatric care, it’s an amazing opportunity to be able to learn alongside them.”

Dr. Baker’s first real experience in clinical medicine was through a program called Home for the Summer; an educational work placement to help medical students gain interprofessional skills and practical experience. While participating in the program, Dr. Baker quickly realized the support and opportunity available in rural health care settings, including in her home town of Dauphin.

“Throughout my journey I’m thankful to have had a variety of experiences and a lot of hands on learning,” said Dr. Baker. “Today in the residency program and as a new mom, I also feel lucky to be able to say it has been very supportive and the instructors are there for you every step of the way.”

The Parkland Family Medicine Residency Program is well-established in Dauphin, known for its resident support and educational opportunities. Each month, residents gather for two days of learning from local physicians. These sessions cover a wide range of topics, from emergency simulations to farm safety, each intended to prepare them for what they’ll see on the job, especially in a rural community.

“I truly believe that learning family medicine in rural Manitoba is the best place to prepare you for whichever path you want to pursue in the future. You get it all here.” said Dr. Baker. “In rural programs, you really build up the skills and confidence to work independently. This means working through situations where you might feel unsure of how to get started.”

Rural Family Medicine Programs are offered in both small and larger health facilities across rural Manitoba, providing medical students with diverse training opportunities that are unique to the health needs of the populations they serve.

The Parkland Family Medicine Residency Program Dauphin program is led by Dr. Scott Kish, Site Education Director and Site Medical Lead of the Parkland Family Medicine Residency Unit at the University of Manitoba. Dr. Kish is well-known in the community, devoting his efforts to the program and his full-time practice, making sure everyone feels supported. Recognized both provincially and nationally, Dr. Kish is a recipient of the Family Physician of the Year Award in Manitoba and the Rural Physicians of Canada Rural Service Award.

“Looking at how programs like this have developed in places like Portage la Prairie, Steinbach, at Boundary Trails Health Centre and in communities in Interlake-Eastern Health Region, I’m excited about the training opportunities that exist in rural communities across Manitoba,” said Dr. Kish. “Each area has started to really grow and it’s encouraging to see how we are able to meet the community needs.”

In Dauphin, the ‘community’s needs’ include care for more than 8,000 Dauphin residents as well as people living in surrounding communities and parts of northern Manitoba.

“Caring for people who come from a wide variety of backgrounds and cultures is a true benefit to us as care providers,” said Dr. Baker. “We serve many different populations here in Dauphin including Indigenous, Ukrainian, German, and Filipino residents to name a few. Learning from those we serve helps us build up knowledge and experience to provide more comprehensive care.”

For Dr. Baker, being part of the residency program in her hometown of Dauphin has been the perfect fit, offering her opportunities to care for her community and become a great doctor close to home while balancing her life as a new mom.

“Being a part of the community, having those connections, there’s a familiarity with patients that I really value,” said Dr. Baker. “They often feel more comfortable around me because of our shared community experiences and networks. This helps to develop trust, making it easier for them to open up and easier for me to provide better care.”

“It’s a great place to learn and practice,” added Dr. Kish. “With a great group of physicians, the incredible geographic location, many opportunities, and outdoor activities like kayaking and cycling, it feels like a world-class destination.”

For information about the Family Medicine Residency—Rural Stream visit their webpage. For employment opportunities in the Prairie Mountain Health Region, visit the Health Careers Manitoba webpage.