Peterborough Regional Health Centre Launches Strategic Plan For 2024-2029

Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) has announced the launch of its 2024-2029 Strategic Plan.

Photo by Keegan Beekers.

The new strategic plan sets goals for the next five years, focusing on supporting and enabling growth, innovation, people, technology, and data to improve the care we provide at PRHC.

“Our strategic plan reflects the inspiration, talent, and willingness of our people to pursue great things and work toward a bright future for PRHC and the patients and families we serve,” said Dr. Lynn Mikula, PRHC President and CEO. “It also acknowledges the realities we are working within today, including higher patient volumes and acuity, and financial and health human resource pressures. Continued investment by the provincial government and the support of generous donors through the PRHC Foundation will be critical as we pursue the commitments outlined in our strategic plan.”

These commitments include providing timely and excellent care, being a workplace where people can thrive, expanding tertiary services to support our region, transforming data and analytics to support people today and into the future and building the hospital’s teaching and research focus according to a press release.

“PRHC is at a pivotal point in its evolution, poised and ready to achieve great things,” said Mikula. ”The commitments we have set out in our strategic plan are key steps in our journey as a provider of acute, tertiary care services for a region that is rapidly growing and expanding, and I’m excited to move this work forward.”

“The Board of Directors is thrilled to see PRHC’s new strategic plan launched after many months of consultation, planning and hard work across the organization,” said Robert Gibson, PRHC board of directors chair. “We have every confidence in Dr. Mikula and the team at PRHC as we move forward together into this new era of acute healthcare in our community and region.”

PRHC’s 2024-2029 Strategic Plan also outlines a new purpose statement and five values to guide and reflect the work of the organization and its people:

Purpose statement:

One team, here when you need us most.

Values:

• Act with courage

• Embrace our community

• Find common ground

• Lead and learn

• Recognize and appreciate

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COVID-19 Spring Vaccine Available

According to Peterborough Public Health, the Ontario Ministry of Health is recommending that eligible residents who are deemed high-risk receive a dose of the XBB COVID-19 vaccine this spring.

Photo by dAVID tUAN bUI.

This comes after the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) guidance.

From April to June, the following residents who have not received a COVID-19 vaccine within the last six months are recommended to receive a dose this Spring. Eligible residents include:  

• Adults 65 years of age or older 

• Adult residents of long-term care homes or other senior congregate living settings (ex. Retirement residences) 

• Those 55 years of age or older who identify as First Nations, Métis or Inuit and their non-Indigenous household members who are 55 years of age or older 

• Those six months of age or older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised (due to underlying condition or treatment) 

• Speak with your healthcare provider if you are uncertain about your health status and eligibility 

Residents who are not eligible at this time are asked to wait for further guidance about receiving another dose closer to fall according to Peterborough Public Health.  

Eligible residents can receive their spring dose at a participating pharmacy. A full list of local pharmacies offering the COVID-19 vaccine including pharmacies vaccinating those ages six months or older, is available online.

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North Kawartha and Trent Lakes Well Water Drop Off Program Resumes On Tuesday

The well water sampling drop-off program in the Township of North Kawartha and the Municipality of Trent Lakes resumes Tuesday.

Photo by dAVID tUAN bUI.

The program offers free sample collection kit pick-up and sample drop-off.

Water samples can be dropped off at,

• North Kawartha Municipal Office is located at 280 Burleigh St., Apsley, Ont., on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m.

• Trent Lakes Municipal Office, located at 760 County Rd. 36, Trent Lakes, Ont., Tuesdays and Thursdays between 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.

The samples are then couriered to the Public Health Ontario Lab in Peterborough for testing. Empty sample bottles can be picked up during regular business hours.

Well water testing is recommended twice a year: once in the spring and once in the fall. The samples are tested for two types of bacterial contamination: total coliforms and E. coli. PPH says that anyone can become ill if they consume contaminated water, but young people, older adults and immunocompromised individuals are at higher risk.

Samples must be dropped off at the municipal offices within 24 hours of collection to ensure they reach the lab and are processed in a timely manner.

Residents are encouraged to carefully read each kit's sampling and collection instructions. Filled sample bottles should be delivered to the municipal office's front desk. Staff will then place them in a fridge until the courier collects them.

Water samples can also be dropped off at the following locations:

• Havelock-Belmont-Methuen Township Office, 1 Ottawa St., Havelock, from Monday through Thursday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

• Peterborough Public Health, 185 King St., Peterborough, is open between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon on Fridays.

• Public Health Ontario Laboratory, 99 Hospital Dr. weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Residents will receive water quality results by mail or can call Public Health Ontario’s Interactive Voice Response at 1-877-723-3426.

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Peterborough Public Health Issue Drug Poisoning Alert High Number Recorded Wednesday

Peterborough Public Health (PPH) is issuing an alert of high drug poisonings that were observed on Wednesday.

Photo by dAVID tUAN bUI.

There were five drug poisonings resulting in EMS calls or ED visits which are considered higher than the normal rates over the last five days according to PPH.

While Naloxone cannot reverse the effects of sedatives, PPH says there is no harm in administering it if you suspect a drug poisoning.

Drug poisoning can look different for every person, depending on the drugs involved. PPH urges everyone that drug poisoning is a medical emergency and always to call 9-1-1.  

This is a list of actions you can take if you suspect the following:

Drug Checking:

• Available at Consumption & Treatment Site (CTS) – 220 Simcoe St.

• Test strips for fentanyl, benzos, and xylazine are available at the CTS during hours of operation (9:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.; daily)

Harm Reduction Support:

• Consumption & Treatment Site (CTS) – 220 Simcoe St. Open 9:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.; daily

• National Overdose Response Service – 1-888-688-6677 (NORS)

• Krasman Centre - Warm Line & Peer Crisis Support Services – 1-888-777-0979

  • krasmancentre.com/what-we-do/warm-line-peer-crisis-support/; Available 10 a.m.-midnight

Crisis Support:

• 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline - Call or text 9-8-8; National 24/7 suicide or emotional distress hotline. Telecare Distress Centre of Peterborough – call 705-745-2273; Open 24/7

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Interim Co-Executive Directors Hired at Peterborough Community Health Centre Hires to Spearhead Establishment of New Community Health Centre

The Board of Directors of the Peterborough Community Health Centre (CHC) has appointed David Jeffery and Christine Brander as Interim Co-Executive Directors, announced on Wednesday.

JOHNATHAN BENNETT, CHC DIRECTOR AND CHAIR IS PART OF FOUR BOARD OF DIRECTOR MEMBERS. PHOTO BY DAVID TUAN BUI.

“David Jeffery is renowned for his decade-long leadership at Chigamik Community Health Centre, and brings a wealth of experience in establishing inclusive and culturally sensitive healthcare environments,” said Jonathan Bennett, Peterborough CHC’s board chair. “Under his guidance, Chigamik CHC evolved into a bilingual and Indigenous-focused healthcare facility, catering to the diverse needs of communities in North Simcoe Muskoka. We are so pleased that he and Christine will join us to lead the establishment of our CHC.”

Jeffery's dedication to inclusivity and accessibility makes him a natural leader who can guide the Peterborough CHC toward its mission of promoting community well-being according to a press release.

“I am honoured to collaborate with Christine Brander in leading the establishment of the Peterborough Community Health Centre,” said Jeffery. “Together, we are poised to create a healthcare model prioritizing inclusivity, accessibility, and community empowerment.”

Brander has over two decades of healthcare expertise across various domains which include acute care and primary care settings. With a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance and Management, Brander’s extensive background encompasses medical education, hospice palliative care and health system planning.

She had a recent tenure with the Ontario Health Central Region System Strategy, Planning, Design and Implementation team.

“I am thrilled to join the Peterborough Community Health Centre as Co-Executive Director and contribute to positive changes in healthcare delivery," said Brander. “With a focus on collaboration and innovation, we will strive to enhance accessibility and effectiveness in delivering healthcare solutions that make a meaningful difference in people's lives.”

Newly funded, which was sought on Feb. 16 last year, the Peterborough CHC is positioned to address the region's pressing healthcare needs while focusing on social determinants of health and supporting vulnerable populations as stated in a press release.

The CHC’s key initiatives are attracting new family doctors and nurse practitioners, reducing pressure on hospitals, attaching thousands of patients to healthcare providers, serving as a hub for social services, and promoting a healthier, safer downtown community.

The Peterborough CHC's programs and services will encompass comprehensive primary care, mental health services, chronic disease management and culturally appropriate care facilitated by Indigenous Traditional Healers. Additionally, the centre will be pivotal in coordinating social services and collaborating with Indigenous partners.

The next phase of the Peterborough CHC initiative involves securing an interim location and commencing client services by the end of the calendar year.

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Local Couple Donate $1 Million to PRHC Foundation

Local philanthropists Martin and Denise Pick have made a $1 million donation to the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Foundation while unveiling a new sign recognizing the couple’s efforts.

(left to right) Denise Pick; Martin Pick; Lesley Heighway, PRHC Foundation President & CEO; Dr. Lynn Mikula, PRHC President & CEO; Charles Pick, Denise and Martin’s son , Dr. Rardi Van Heest, daughter-in-law and Dr. Joslin Cheverie, PRHC General Surgeon. Photo courtesy of PRHC.

Lesley Heighway, PRHC Foundation President and CEO said the donation represents the Pick’s life-long love of community and shared dedication to improving the lives of friends and neighbours.

“Martin and Denise believe in the power of philanthropy to make their hospital and hometown great,” she said. “They have a long history of making transformational gifts and their generosity has been shaping the future of healthcare in this region for years. We’re beyond grateful for their continued support.”

The couple, who both have long-standing relationships with PRHC as donors and volunteers, said they were inspired by the hospital's continuous commitment to innovation and excellence.

“Denise and I feel that the quality of healthcare available in a community is tied to its overall quality of life – to its ability to grow and prosper,” said Martin. “We want to help make sure the doctors and nurses at PRHC have the tools they need to deliver the best care. To do that, we need to support them and give them the equipment that will allow them to innovate.”

“The more we can do to support PRHC, the more we can help improve healthcare for patients from Peterborough and our surrounding communities,” said Denise. “We hope our donation encourages others to join us.”

The Picks’ donation was made through the Remembering Otto and Marie Pick Charitable Foundation, a family charitable fund named for Martin’s parents. Lesley explained that the gift is already improving care for patients across the region through investments in minimally invasive intervention and state-of-the-art diagnostic technology.

“The Pick family’s gift was instrumental in allowing PRHC to upgrade a general operating suite with state-of-the-art minimally invasive surgical tools this winter – one of four suites undertaken by the Foundation,” she said.

“(The investment) has given my colleagues and me access to brand new, leading-edge equipment to perform cancer surgeries,” said Dr. Joslin Cheverie, PRHC general surgeon. “This new, specialized system is letting us operate with increased precision. It’s an advancement that has tremendous potential for the treatment of bowel and other cancers.”

The remainder of the Picks’ gift helped fund two new, cutting-edge CT scanners that generate higher-quality, more comprehensive images to support safer, more accurate diagnoses. The expansion and upgrading of the Health Centre’s Interventional Radiology suites is also ensuring PRHC’s experts can treat more urgent and chronic conditions like cancer, stroke, and traumatic injury without invasive surgery.

“It’s so encouraging to have the support of people like Martin and Denise Pick, who care as much about our healthcare future as we do and are willing to invest in us and the technology we need to make our vision a reality,” said Dr. Lynn Mikula, PRHC President and CEO. “This is more important than ever, given the system-wide challenges we are facing,” she continued. “Addressing these challenges requires fresh thinking and innovative solutions. We simply can’t move forward without the partnership of individuals, families, and organizations who share our vision for the hospital and what we can achieve together.”

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Peterborough Regional Health Centre Recognized As A Level III Trauma Centre

The Ontario Ministry of Health has identified the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) as a Level III Trauma Centre, announced Tuesday morning.

pHOTO BY Keegan Beekers.

The recognition came on the recommendation of the Regional Trauma Network (RTN) in consultation with Critical Care Services of Ontario (CCSO).

After being identified with he new title, PRHC’s new trauma team has been working closely with programs and departments across the hospital to develop a trauma site model that encompasses team and policy development, quality assurance, community outreach and education, data collection, and a continuing medical education component – in addition to offering direct trauma care to patients according to a press release.

“Becoming an active member of the Regional Trauma Network is exciting news for PRHC,” says Dr. Troy Tebbenham, PHRC medical director of the trauma program. “This means that our team will help to drive improvements in trauma patient care – not only locally at our regional hospital but at the provincial level as well – with a focus on creating a best-in-class trauma system that reduces death and disability related to injury.”

A significant element of its trauma program’s establishment involves community education as stated by the PRHC. The trauma team has been providing seasonal injury prevention and safety tips across the hospital’s social media channels and has launched a community education program called ‘Stop the Bleed.’ This international program provides community members with the skills and basic tools tho stop uncontrolled bleeding in an emergency.

PRHC’s trauma team will work closely with Peterborough County-City Paramedics, Peterborough Police Service and Peterborough Fire Services to continue to educate and implement programs within local school boards, businesses and the general community to decrease the incidence of trauma events for the year ahead.

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Hometown PTBO: Jason Wilkinson Being a Online Fitness Coach After Trent and His Cookbook

This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday talks with Jason Wilkinson about his post-graduate life at Trent University, becoming an online fitness coach and his book, ‘More Than a Cookbook.’

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HPK and Peterborough Public Health Vote to Merge By Jan. 1 Next Year

The Boards of Health for the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (HKPR) District Health Unit and Peterborough Public Health (PPH) are seeking provincial approval and funding to merge during a virtual press conference on Wednesday afternoon voluntarily.

Screenshot.

The decision was influenced after the Ministry of Health announced plans to strengthen the public health sector in August by offering one-time funding, resources and support to local public health agencies that decide to merge by Jan. 1.

“The province has informed us they have a three-year merger support fund,” said Dr. Natalie Bocking, HKPR medical officer of health. “The amount of that fund has not been disclosed and so we don’t know what the province has put aside to be available for those health units that are merging.”

Bocking adds that the total sum could be teased over the coming weeks. There would be an increase in funding even if the health units were unsuccessful or opted not to merge.

“All health units have been informed that we should expect a one percent base increase from the province in the next three years, in the absence of mergers for the health units that will not be merging of which there are many,” she explained.

Last November, a Joint Board Merger Exploration Working Group was established with representatives from both health units and external consulting firm Sense & Nous to prepare a comprehensive Feasibility Assessment Report according to a press release. These findings were recently presented to both Boards of Health for consideration to help make an informed decision.

Both Bocking and Dr. Thomas Piggott, PPH medical officer of health agreed that all funding aside, the merger had several benefits between the two organizations.

“The primary benefit is going to be strength in numbers and strength in capacity and size across a larger geography,” said Piggott. “It means that our critical capacity could potentially be improved. There’s a lot of opportunity to improve the strength of our programs and services.”

“There will be some time found when we look at streamlining of services and some efficiencies found,” said Bocking. “We will be able to put that time and any efficiencies found into additional programs and services.”

During their meeting on Feb. 15, the HKPR District Health Unit Board of Health decided to proceed with a proposal to merge with Peterborough Public Health voluntarily.

“We have been diligent in the timeframe provided to review and consider all possible outcomes and impacts of a voluntary merger,” said David Marshall, Chair for HKPR District Health Unit’s Board of Health. “Ultimately, we agreed that by merging with Peterborough Public Health we can strengthen our capacity to deliver exceptional public health programs and services and to better respond to the unique needs of our small urban and rural communities.”

Should both health units merge, the population serviced would be roughly 345,000 people, according to Bocking.

During their meeting last Wednesday, the PPH Board of Health decided to proceed with a proposal for the voluntary merger with the HKPR District Health Unit.

“Over the past several months, we have carefully examined how a merger can strengthen the services that we provide to our communities,” said Joy Lachica, PPH Chair for the Board of Health. “This process revealed that joining together offers us the best pathway possible to protect and promote public health and keep our residents healthy. We are thrilled to start this journey together.”

The HKPR District Health Unit and PPH Boards of Health will submit a joint voluntary merger application to the Ontario Government by April 2. The application proposes how a proposed merger would benefit the communities they serve while supporting outcomes and priorities identified for public health by the Ministry of Health according to a press release.

Mergers of public health units require provincial legislative change which will not be definitive until the province has approved this and commits adequate funding for its success later in the year.

PPH and HKPR District Health Unit will continue operating independently during the provincial review period.

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Campbellford Memorial Hospital to Open New Dermatology Clinic

Campbellford Memorial Hospital (CMH) is opening a new outpatient Dermatology clinic operated by Dr. Ashley O’Toole.

Photo courtesy of Campbellford Memorial Hospital.

She is a Royal College-trained dermatologist from Peterborough having received her medical degree from McMaster University in Hamilton and completing her residency in dermatology at the University of Ottawa.

She is also an adjunct professor at Queens University, is a co-author of over 25 peer-reviewed publications and has been involved as a sub-investigator for over 90 clinical trials on conditions such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa, alopecia, acne, itch, glabellar lines and vitiligo.

The clinic is scheduled to operate on the first Friday of every month. It will cater to a wide array of dermatological concerns including acne and rosacea management, rashes such as psoriasis and eczema, and suspected skin cancers.

The hospital encourages all individuals needing dermatological care to talk to their health care provider. Referrals are already being accepted. 

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