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Fourcast Invites Community Members To Join Committee For New Consumption And Treatment Services Site
/Fourcast has announced the formation of a new Community Liaison Committee (CLC) for the Consumption and Treatment Services (CTS) Site at 220 Simcoe Street.
File Photo.
Once established, the CLC will foster and maintain positive relationships between local stakeholders and Fourcast, the agency that is operating the CTS. It will also provide a formal mechanism for members to collaboratively and respectfully resolve concerns, while raising awareness about the impact of the service in the community.
The committee will give neighbours, nearby businesses, and service providers an opportunity to contribute to the success of this life-saving service, says Forecast.
The application process for the committee is open now.
Fourcast Executive Director Donna Rogers emphasized the importance of engaging community members in the work of preventing drug poisoning deaths and related harms.
“Like any harm reduction initiative, the CTS has a role to play in promoting the health and safety of individuals and the community as a whole,” said Rogers. “As we respond to the devastating impact of the drug poisoning crisis in our region, it is vitally important that we continue to keep our neighbours informed and engaged in collaborative efforts to make our community a safe and inclusive place for all.”
The CLC will meet quarterly or as needed beginning in June 2022 and will continue to meet for a one year term ending in June 2023. Membership will include up to 17 individuals from neighbouring businesses, nearby residents, and service providers in addition to an independent process facilitator and notetaker.
Individuals interested in volunteering with the newly created Community Liaison Committee are encouraged to complete an application at https://forms.office.com/r/GzUhhzkJQn. Applications will be accepted until May 20.
PRHC Awarded Highest Possible Standing By Accreditation Canada
/Accreditation Canada has issued its formal decision letter congratulating Peterborough Regional Health Centre for achieving Accreditation with Exemplary Standing – the highest possible designation for an accredited organization, on Thursday.
File Photo
This is the second consecutive time PRHC has been awarded with this distinction.
Every four years, a team of Accreditation Canada surveyors are invited to PRHC to evaluate more than 2,700 standards based on quality, safety and efficiency. Based on a site visit in early April, Accreditation Canada has advised that PRHC met or exceeded 98.6 per cent of these standards, the hospitals highest ever score.
The Accreditation Canada website describes the Exemplary Standing designation as being awarded to “organizations that go beyond Accreditation Canada’s requirements and demonstrate excellence in quality improvement.”
“This achievement can be attributed to the hard work and dedication of each and every healthcare professional, employee and volunteer at PRHC,” said Dr. Peter McLaughlin, President & CEO. “This year, we have been faced with challenges unlike anything we have seen before. And yet throughout our on-site survey, our healthcare workers continued to demonstrate all of the qualities that make them such a remarkable team of hardworking people who are committed to providing excellent patient care and support.”
The on-site Accreditation survey team specifically commended PRHC for preparing for and participating in the Accreditation program during a global pandemic, as well as:
• Having a committed, engaged, and knowledgeable Board of Directors, strong leadership with a patient-focused, collaborative approach to care, and healthcare professionals, staff and volunteers who are engaged in quality improvement and proud of the care and service they provide.
• Ongoing engagement with our Patient Experience Steering Committee; their expertise and insights ensure that the patient voice continues to be at the forefront of our discussions and decision-making.
• Promoting a comprehensive Seniors’ Care Strategy and working with community partners to bring about affordable seniors’ housing; an initiative that has been recognized and awarded by the Ontario Hospital Association.
• Collaborative relationships with our community and healthcare partners.
• The implementation of a new, regional clinical information system, which has introduced additional communication tools for serving patients.
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Dr. Thomas Piggott Unites With Two Other Ontario Public Heath Agencies And Urges Ontario's Chief Medical Officer To Reinstate Mask Requirements
/Dr. Thomas Piggott from Peterborough Public Health has united with two other Ontario public health agencies to send a letter to Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health sharing concern with continued high disease activity, for a temporary province-wide masking mandate to bring down sixth wave transmission.
File Photo.
“COVID-19 risk continues, and masking remains a key strategy to protect yourself and others,” said Piggott. “I strongly recommend continuing to wear your mask, and with colleagues am asking the Chief Medical Officer of Health to consider broadening the temporary mask requirement to protect our communities.”
The letter, sent to Dr. Kieran moore, awas signed by Dr. Piggott, Dr. M. Mustafa Hirji, Medical Officer of Health & Commissioner (Acting), Niagara Region Public Health & Emergency Services and Dr. Shanker Nesathurai, Acting Medical Officer of Health, Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.
In the letter suggests that Ontario temporarily broadens the mask requirements in Ontario to include indoor public spaces such as workplaces, schools, college and universities, as well as essential service settings (such as grocery stores and pharmacies).
They reference the Ontario Science Table, that has recently reported persistently high amounts of COVID-19 in the wastewater, as a key marker of transmission.
They also note that in each respective region, hospitalizations have either remained steady, or increased since the last wave.
“The return of masking could help protect those with inequities and vulnerabilities, relieve the pressures on our hospitals, and most importantly protect the health of the people we serve,” the three note.
PRHC President And CEO Dr. Peter McLaughlin To Retire After 50 Year Career In Healthcare
/The Board of Directors of Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) announced on Wednesday that Dr. Peter McLaughlin has decided to retire in 2023 after 17 years with PRHC, during the last eight of which he has served as the hospital’s President and CEO.
Dr. Peter McLaughlin. Photo courtesy of PRHC.
“The board is so grateful for Peter’s leadership, first as Chief of Staff and most recently as President & CEO of PRHC,” said Louis O’Brien, Chair of PRHC’s Board of Directors. “He has been an exceptional leader, and we are thankful for his vision and his commitment to providing the best possible care and support for our patients and community. His thoughtful, steady and compassionate leadership style has earned him a great deal of respect, and he will be deeply missed.”
During his tenure as President & CEO, PRHC has faced significant challenges and achieved many successes, including:
• Highest possible standing from Accreditation Canada in 2017
• An award for Leading Governance Excellence from the Ontario Hospital Association in recognition of
PRHC’s collaboration with Peterborough Housing Corporation to develop supportive, affordable housing for seniors
• National recognition by the Canadian Patient Safety Institute (CPSI) for work in safe handover and clinical cultural competence initiatives
• International recognition by the National Safety Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) for surgical safety standards
• Successful implementation of Epic, a new, regional clinical information system that will transform the way PRHC and its partner hospitals deliver care for generations to come
• Supporting the organization through the last two years of the COVID-19 pandemic
• Incorporating patient and family engagement into all levels of the hospital’s work and decision-making
• Creating a culture of continuous quality improvement, with a focus on patient and staff safety
• Providing leadership in the creation and continued growth of Peterborough Ontario Health Team
• Fostering more collaborative relationships with partners in the community and across the region
“It has been an absolute privilege to lead this team of dedicated people, who have worked so tirelessly to provide the highest quality of care to the people of our community and region, often in the face of incredible challenges,” said Dr. McLaughlin. “I am profoundly appreciative of the incredible support I have received over the years from our Board of Directors, the hospital’s leadership team, our healthcare workers, our community partners, the PRHC Foundation, our volunteers, and everyone else who has helped to shape healthcare in Peterborough and the surrounding region.”
The Board of Directors has struck a search committee and selected an external firm, Boyden Canada, to support a national search for a new President and CEO. Additional details will be shared in the weeks ahead.
Dr. McLaughlin has agreed to continue in his role until a successful candidate is selected, with a goal of retiring on or around May 31, 2023.
Plans to honour Dr. McLaughlin will be shared closer to his retirement date.
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Suspected Drug Poisonings Reported By Peterborough Public Health
/Peterborough Public Health issued a warning today, following an increase in suspected drug poisonings over the weekend.
Photo by Luke Best.
Between Friday and Saturday, Peterborough Public Health detected increases in drug related Emergency Department Visits and Paramedic Calls for Service.
During this period, there were eight Emergency Department Visits and seven Paramedic Calls for Service, representing a total of 13 unique incidents.
In the last week (April 25-May 1), there were 10 drug-related Emergency Department visits and 10 Paramedic Calls for Service. This increase has prompted Peterborough Public Health to issue a public warning in the hopes of preventing further harms in the community.
If you use drugs, Peterborough Public Health recommends that you:
Avoid using drugs alone
If you use with a friend, do not use at the exact same time
Have a plan – Ask someone to check on you or call the National Overdose Response Service 1-888- 688-6677
Carry a naloxone kit, keep it visible and close to you o Avoid mixing drugs o Test your drug by using a small amount first
Call 911 immediately if someone starts to show signs of an overdose and/or cannot be resuscitated after naloxone is administered
Peterborough Public Health encourages everyone to recognize the signs of opioid overdose and know what to do:
Skin is cold and clammy
Fingernails or lips are blue or purple
Body is very limp
Can’t wake the person up
Deep snoring or gurgling sounds
Breathing is very slow, erratic or has stopped
Pupils are very small
If an overdose is witnessed: Call 911. Give naloxone. Stay with the person until help arrives.
Under Canada’s Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act, anyone who seeks medical help for themselves or for someone else who has overdosed will not be charged for possessing or using drugs for personal use.
Residents can anonymously report drug poisonings and other bad drug reactions using the ‘Drug Reporting Tool’. Any information shared through the tool supports Peterborough Public Health and community partners in responding to and preventing drug poisonings in the Peterborough area. The Drug Reporting Tool can be accessed by clicking here.
For more information, or to find out how to access naloxone, please visit www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca and search for “Opioids” or click here.
Community COVID-19 Risk Remains Very High According To Peterborough Public Health
/Peterborough Public Health’s (PPH) Community COVID-19 Risk Index remains at the “very high” level for a third week as the virus circulates widely and impacting residents across the region, PPH reported on Wednesday.
Photo courtesy of PRHC.
“While most indicators continue to register above the threshold for “very high risk” level, there are early signs that local transmission is starting to plateau,” said Dr. Thomas Piggott, Medical Officer of Health. “I urge residents to keep taking personal precautions because the pandemic is still causing a surge in our hospital system as many vulnerable residents are still getting quite sick, and high levels of staff absenteeism in many sectors is affecting service levels.”
Dr. Piggott emphasized the importance of the Community COVID-19 Risk Index as a tool to help individuals make personal decisions around their health as we learn to live with fluctuating transmission levels. Current guidance recommended under the “very high risk” level is to wear a mask, avoid indoor social gatherings and high-risk settings, and get all vaccination doses you are eligible to receive.
“With third-dose vaccination rates at only two-thirds of those eligible, there is lots of room for improvement as this is an effective way to prevent serious illness from COVID-19,” said Dr. Piggott.
Dr. Piggott also reminded residents that a negative rapid-antigen test (RAT) does not automatically rule out COVID-19 infection. Current guidance from the Ontario Science Table noted RATs are less sensitive in detecting the Omicron variant, and recommends when symptomatic people take at least two RATs separated by 24 hours to be confident they are not infected.
Ontario Government Announces 128 New Long Term Care Beds Coming To New Home In Havelock
/The Ontario government is allocating 128 new beds to a new long-term care home in Havelock, announced on Tuesday.
Photo courtesy of the Office of Dave Smith.
This is part of the government’s $6.4 billion commitment to build more than 30,000 net new long-term care beds by 2028 and 28,000 upgraded beds across the province.
The Township of Havelock-Belmont-Methuen will seek proponents who are interested in developing and operating the long-term care home on municipally owned land in 2022.
“The people of Havelock have waited far too long for a long-term care centre. The previous sole source deal had no reasonable prospect of being built,” said MPP Dave Smith. “Today, we are taking measures so that Havelock is in control of the long-term care home that they deserve. They can choose the best fit for their community instead of being told who they had to use. They can choose a provider who will get it built.”
Typically, those wishing to operate long-term care homes submit applications through the call-for-applications process. In this case, working with Havelock, the Ministry is allocating the 128 beds prior to the town identifying a licensee. Once the town selects an operator for the proposed home, the ministry will review the project in the same manner as all other applications.
There are now 539 new and 357 upgraded long-term care beds that are in development or under construction in the Peterborough area, including the following projects:
• 84 new and 172 upgraded beds at Extendicare – Peterborough
• 68 new and 124 upgraded beds at OMNI – Riverview Manor
• 35 new and 61 upgraded beds at Pleasant Meadow LTC
• 224 new beds at PeopleCare – Peterborough
Peterborough Public Health Warns Public Of Increase In Suspected Drug-Related Deaths
/Peterborough Public Health is notifying community members about an unusually high number of suspected drug-related deaths for April.
Photo by Luke Best.
Through Peterborough’s Early Warning and Surveillance System, Peterborough Public Health and partners have detected high numbers of suspected drug-related deaths.
As of April 19 , there have been 14 suspected drug-related deaths in Peterborough County and City.
This increase has prompted Peterborough Public Health to proceed with issuing this notice in the hopes of bringing awareness to and preventing further drug-related harms within our community. Any substance bought from an unregulated supply should be considered tainted. Any drug can be mixed or cut with toxic substances, and even a small amount can cause a fatal poisoning.
Peterborough Public Health advises if you use substances:
Do not use drugs alone.
If you using with a friend, do not use at the exact same time.
Have a plan – Ask someone to check on you or call the National Overdose Response Service 1-888-688-6677.
Carry a naloxone kit. Keep it visible and close by.
Avoid mixing drugs.
Test your drug by using a small amount first.
Call 911 immediately if someone starts to show signs of an overdose and/or cannot be resuscitated after
Naloxone is administered.
You are at greatest risk when you are using alone. If you are using drugs right now, it is critical that you take action to stay safe. Use with a friend and do not use at the same time. You can also ask someone to check in on you or call the National Overdose Prevention Service at 1-888-688-6677.
Community members are encouraged to know the signs of opioid poisoning and how to respond. An opioid poisoning may look like the following:
Skin is cold and clammy;
Fingernails or lips are blue or purple;
Body is very limp;
Cannot wake the person up;
Deep snoring or gurgling sounds;
Breathing is very slow, erratic or has stopped; and/or
Pupils are very small.
If an overdose is witnessed: Call 911. Give naloxone. Stay with the person until help arrives
Under Canada’s Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act, anyone who seeks medical help for themselves or for someone else who has overdosed will not be charged for possessing or using drugs for personal use.
Peterborough Public Health is also encouraging members of the public to use the recently launched ‘Drug Reporting Tool’. This tool is an anonymous survey to report overdose incidents and harms in the community. Any information shared through the survey supports Peterborough Public Health and community partners in responding to and preventing overdoses in the Peterborough Area. The Drug Reporting Tool can be accessed by clicking here.
Over $3.4 Million Invested Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Expansion of Eating Disorder Support and Services
/Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) is receiving $3,409,974 from the Ontario Government as part of its $572.3 million investment to reimburse hospitals across the province for their lost revenue during the pandemic announced Friday.
Ontario has a total of 2,436 adult and pediatric ICU beds. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
