Horizon’s cafeterias have implemented the “Eat Well Restaurant Program” and currently have the program in place in the following areas:

• TheMonctonHospital

• SaintJohnRegionalHospital(cafeteria and Fast Break Operation)

• MiramichiRegionalHospital

• UpperRiverValleyHospital

AndcomingsoontoTheDr.EverettChalmersRegionalHospital.

TheMangoProgramisasuccessfulhealthylivinginitiativethatbeganin2002intheMiramichiArea and was developed to promote healthy eatingandanactivelifestyle.TheMangoProgram currently has many initiatives in the community to help support this message including the Eat Well! Restaurant Program, Go 42!MangoKidsFunRun,MangoMania,SteppingOut,MangoChampionoftheCommunity,andaBiggestLoserCompetition.

In2012theMangoProgramwasrecognizedbyDietitiansofCanadaandKraftCanadaandwasawardedthenationalSpeakingofFoodandHealthy Living Award: Excellence in Consumer Communication.TheMangoProgrampromoteshealthy lifestyle decisions by encouraging customers to make healthier choices such as increasing their physical activity or eating more nutritiousfoods.

DietitiansofCanadastatethat“balance,varietyand moderation are key elements of healthy eating”.Asaproviderofretailservices,webelieve that offering a choice to our customer isextremelyimportant.Wealsorecognizethatcustomers are not always aware of which items meethealthynutritionalstandards.Tohelpcustomers make informed decisions, Horizon’s cafeteriashaveadoptedtheMangosymbol.TheMangosymbolidentifiesthehealthychoicesavailable and customers are encouraged to look fortheMangosymboltosupporttheireffortsinchoosinghealthyoptions.

Look for the mango symbol in your cafeteria today.

Have you heard of the Mango Program?

BARBARA THOMPSONRegional Director of Environmental Services and Food and Nutrition

Vol.4,Num.1

Stuart Weir, Registered Nurse

The Daffodil of Hope Fund Donates Comfort Items to Oncology Clinic

Elizabeth Mabey (in blue) and Eleanor Getson pose with the newly donated items.

JeanDean(formerunitmanagerofOncology)andMoniqueLevesqueKing,OncologyClinicalNurseSpecialistattheSaintJohnRegionalHospital(SJRH)supportedthefocusofraisingfundsforcomfortitemsforourOncologypatients.ElizabethMabey,RegisteredNurse,withfinancialsupportfromtheSaintJohnRegionalHospitalFoundationandScotiabank,madeandsoldcharmbracelets.

Untilrecently,TheDaffodilofHopefundssatdormantinthebank.Thanksto supporters, the Funds have been used to purchase a washer, dryer, and weightsfortheSJRHOncologyUnitand6smallbarfridgesfortheStemCellTransplantrooms.AniPodanddockingstationwith2headsetswaspurchasedfortheChemoRoomandRoom15nowhas4newblankets.Radiationalsoreceived2iPodsand2dockingstations.

Theremainderoffundswillbeusedthroughouttheyearforadditionalcomfortmeasures.

HORIZON BOARDW.DavidFerguson, Board Chair, Fredericton

Linda Aitken, Upper Kingsclear

FrançoisM.Beaulieu, Saint John

MikeCoster, Miramichi

Jo-AnnFellows, Fredericton

LindaG.Forestell, Saint John

Dr.ErikKlein, Hampton

MichaelMcCoombs, Miramichi

JohnMcKay, Miramichi

KathleenMcMullen, Sackville

JaneMitton-MacLean, Moncton

Luigi Rocca, Moncton

MarySchryer, Quispamsis

KaySimonds, Woodstock

OnJanuary29,theBoardofHorizonHealthNetwork(Horizon)approvedournewfive-yearstrategic plan that will serve as a guide to improve health careservicesinthisprovince.Thisplanwasdevelopedoverthelastyearaftersignificantconsultationwithstakeholders,includingstaff,patients,thecommunityandpartners.

Theplansetsforthanewdirectionfortheorganizationandprovidessolutions to improve the overall patient experience and health outcomes forNewBrunswickers.Sincetheplanwasapproved,ourcommunityengagementseffortshavenotceased.Inadditiontonumerousinterviewswithmedia,Ihavebeenmeetingwithvariouscommunitygroupsandstaff.Thisisanimportantstepaswebegintoimplementtheplan.

NewBrunswickershavenotbeenreceivingthebestvalueforthemoneytheyhaveinvestedintheirhealthcaresystem.ThepeopleofNewBrunswickhavehigherratesofcancerandheartattackscomparedtootherprovinces.Wealsohavesomeofthehighestratesofobesity,diabetes,heartdiseaseandrespiratorydisease.ForaprovincewithminimalGDPgrowthandvirtuallyzeropopulationgrowth,ourhealthstatisticsdonotbodewellforthefutureofourprovince.

Asourpopulationages(18%arenowover65yearsofage)weneedtoshiftourfocus,andinfrastructure, to offer the best care possible for the population of today and tomorrow in a manner thatrespectsourprovince’sfinancialreality.Simplystated–NewBrunswickersneedtoseeabettercaremodelandabetterreturnontheinvestmentontheirhealthcaredollars.

At Horizon, we will begin by placing our patients and their families at the centre of all decisions relating totheirhealthcare.WewillalsobeimplementingchangessothatNewBrunswickerswillseemoreservicesofferedwithintheircommunity.Webelievethatthiswillprovideamoreholisticapproachtohealth care while also providing better disease management, and serving our aging population more oftenintheirhomesandcommunities,andnotinourhospitalbeds.

We’veidentifiedfourstrategicpriorities,whichprovidesolutionstoissueswehavenow,andcanexpecttohaveasourpopulationcontinuestoage.Horizonwillimplementthefollowingstrategicpriorities:

1. CreateandsustainanexceptionalPatient and Family Centred Care environment.

2. EstablishsevenHorizon Centres of Expertise to ensure the best treatment possible (ofwhichtwocentresalreadyexist.)

• AgingandEldercare• Neurosciences• Maternal/Child• Oncology• Nephrology• Cardiology-NBHeartCentre(SaintJohn)• RehabilitativeMedicine-StanCassidyCentreforRehabilitation(Fredericton)

3. Improve accesstocommunity-basedprimarycareandsupportcomplextertiaryservicesthatouragingpopulationwillrequire.

4. Workwithallofourstakeholderstoenhance the careprovidedtopatients.

TheHorizonCentresofExpertisewillbedesignedtoprovidestrongcentralclinicalleadershipinourmajorprograms.Thiswillhelpusprovidethebestandsafestqualitycareforpatientsinallsettingsbyleveragingprofessionalswhoarehighlytrainedandskilledtotreatspecificillnesses.Inthissystem,clinicalleadershipwillbecomemorecentralized,butNewBrunswickerswillstillhaveaccesstotheservicestheyneedintheircommunity.Thismovetomorecentralleadershipshouldprovideforbestpractice,andalsosupportincreasedmedicalresearchandinnovationwithinNewBrunswick.

In this issue of Connects you will continue to read about Horizon’s commitment to Patient and Family CentredCare,ourprograms,servicesandpartnerships.Theserelationshipsareimportant.Horizoncannotimplementthechangesoutlinedinthestrategicplanonitsown.Welookforwardtoworkingwith our staff, patients, communities, and government to form partnerships and improve the health of NewBrunswickers.

Sincerely,

JohnMcGarry President and CEO

JohnMcGarry, President and CEO

IN THIS ISSUE

Translation Services for Diverse Languages

Have you heard of The Mango Program?

Ebola Preparedness

STRATEGIC PLAN FACT SHEETS VIDEO

Servingourpatientsofvariedlinguisticandmulticultural origins is an area of importance for patient and family centred care as our communities welcome residents of international origin.

Horizon has a Language Line service available for our staff and physicians to assist with the translation of many languages (including MandarinandKorean)toensurecomprehensionand explanations occur with patients and

caregivers to appropriately address clinicalneedsinatimelymanner.Theinteractionsoccuroverthetelephonewithaninterpreter.

Representatives can help identify the language andprovidetranslationforspecificquestionswithmeaning-by-meaninginterpretationthatensures that patients, physicians and staff are all onthesamepagewhenitcomestoquestionsofcare.

Translation Services for Diverse Languages

MARGARET MELANSON Vice President Quality & Patient Centred Care

SevenHorizonemployeesinFrederictonrecentlyreceivedLeanSixSigmaWhiteBelt&WasteWalkcertificates.Thecertificateswereawardedinrecognition for completing special projects that createdefficienciesand/orreducedcostswithintheirdepartments.

Admissions and Patient Registration

AsManagerofAdmissionandPatientRegistration,oneofAnnaMarieDaamen-Hawkes’projectswasa60-dayinpatientpassproject.Thegoal of the inpatient pass project was to increase patient safety by knowing when patients are in oroutofthebuilding.Herdepartmentcreateda tracking system for all patients who have a writtenphysicianorderforapatientpass.

AnnaMarieexplainsthat“itisessentialthatthisinformation is entered accurately and efficiently forqualitycontrolpurposes.”Asaresult,sinceMay1,2013,allunitclerksutilizeanorderentrysystem when the patient leaves the unit and whenthepatientreturnstotheunit.“Itisalsovery important to enter in the system “on leave” and the patient’s “estimated return date”, says AnnaMarie.“ThisalsoassistsNutritionandFoodServicesineliminatingfoodwaste”.

NB Extra Mural Program

NBExtraMuralProgram(EMP)Manager,AmeliaBeaney,carriedoutthreeWasteWalks.Oneexample was the need to reduce the time staff spent“onhold”onthephone.Thedevelopmentofafaxformprocesswithconfirmationofreceipt,allowed staff to better utilize their time and maximizeexistingresources.

A second example involved monitoring expiry datesonsupplies.Itssatelliteofficeappearedto have an excess of supplies that were nearing expiration.TobemoreefficientinmanagingEMPinventory,thesuppliesweretransferredtotheFrederictonofficeanddispensedasneeded.Thesavingsforthisinitiativeamountedto$1,200.“I found it very useful to have taken the White Belt training and I have incorporated a lot of the “lean” philosophy in my every day work”, adds Amelia.

Patient Safety

ForPatientSafetyConsultantPaulaPickard,herthreeprojectsinvolvedreviewinginternal-departmental processes, with the goal of improvingworkflowefficiencyandcost-effectiveness.Herprojectsincludedmaking

minor changes in the process for printing documents, making the process of locating and dialing phone numbers more efficient, and lastly making improvements to the data entry and data validationprocessesusedbyherteam.

ThechangesimplementedduetothesethreeWaste Walk projects saved the department $4,275.AsPaulaexplains“itwasan‘eye-opening’experience to see the savings that can be had, when making simple changes to everyday processes.”

Emergency Department

“Theprojectsincludedchangingpractices,changing products, and removing unused productsfromtheEmergencyDepartmentattheDr.EverettChalmersRegionalHospital”,describesProjectManagerJenniferLittle.“Oneexamplewould be the change of cleanser used for blood workandIVinitiation.BychangingoutSoluPrepstickstoSoluPrepswabs,therewasasavingstothedepartmentof$9,405peryear”.

As a team, the seven members completed 10 WhiteBeltprojectsto-datewithsavingsofapproximately$54,000.

Saving Money Through Process Improvement

Recipients of the award include (front row, left to right) Paula Pickard, Amelia Beaney (back row, left to right)

Jeanne McIsaac, Jennifer Little, Anna Marie Daamen-Hawkes and Patti Byrne.

Missing from photo is Kelsey MacDonald.

The Moncton Hospital’s New Oncology Clinic: A brighter, more comfortable place to heal

CarolynDeVitoisaglass-half-fullkindofperson.TheRegisteredNursetellsherpatientsitisnotthat there are more cancer patients, but that cancer patients are living longer because there aremoretreatmentoptionsavailabletothem.

“Patients say to me that it’s too bad we need this place,” she says referring to the new Oncology CentrerecentlyopenedatTheMonctonHospital.“Itellthem,‘noit’snotthattherearemore people with cancer; it’s that people are living longer and so we need more space to treatthem.”

TheMonctonHospitalisoneofthebusiestmedicaloncologyservicesinNewBrunswick.In2013,theclinicreceived12,700patientvisits.

Because of increasing demand, the previous treatment area located on the sixth floor of the hospital had become so tight that family members couldn’t visit with patients during theirtreatment.Thenewfacilityisamuchlargeropen space, allowing patients to have someone staywiththemduringtheirtwotothree-hourtreatments.

NathanTowerssayshecouldn’tbelievethedifferencebetweentheoldandthenewspace.ThecancerpatientfromRiverviewwasrecentlyinforhistenthchemotherapytreatment–hisfirstatthenewclinic.

The Friends of The Moncton Hospital Foundation contributed $6 million to the project and $3.5 million

was provided by the provincial government.

RUTH DUNNETT Program Administrative Director, Internal Medicine and Ambulatory care

TheEbolaVirusDisease(Ebola) has been top of mind for people across the globe,especiallyhealth-careworkers,formanymonths.Thecurrentoutbreakin West Africa has led to planning and preparation at hospitals across Canada, Horizonfacilitiesincluded.Horizon’sEbolaPreparednessTaskForcewasestablished in the fall and has been meeting regularly to ensure Horizon is preparedtocareforEbolapatientswhileensuringtheprotectionofstaff.ThetaskforceisledbyDr.ÉdouardHendriks,VicePresidentMedical,Academic,andResearchAffairswiththesupportofChiefEmergencyManagementOfficer,DennisDoherty.

Over the past few months plans have been established, Personal Protective Equipment(PPE)orderedandreceivedandtrainingconductedtoprepareHorizonstaffforanypossiblescenario.Trainingisongoing,asstaffmemberscontinuetobetrainedontheuseofthePPE.

DR. ÉDOUARD HENDRICKSVice President Medical, Academic and Research Affairs

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Saving Money Through Process Improvement

The Moncton Hospital’s New Oncology Clinic

The Daffodil of Hope Fund Donates Comfort Items to Oncology Clinic

March is Nutrition Month

EBOLA TASK FORCE MEMBERS:

Dr. Édouard Hendriks VP,  Medical, Academic and Research Affairs

Dennis Doherty Chief Emergency Management Officer

Marilyn Babineau Manager Workforce Wellness

Jeff Carter Corporate Director Support Services

Sharf Chowdhury Emergency Management Co-ordinator

Claire Esson Regional Director Health Information Management

Debbie Godlewski Director of Public Health

Roy Hess Manager Environmental Services

Janet Hogan Corporate Director Communications and Community Relations

Anne Kilfoil Regional Director Workforce Development

Brenda Kinney Executive Director of Saint John Area

Dr. Na-Koshi Lamptey Medical Officer of Health

Merita MacMillan Infection Prevention and Control

Bruce MacPherson Director Community Health Centres and Regional Director of Population Health and Chronic Disease

Leslie Reid Regional Director Workforce Relations

Brent Roy Director of Public Affairs

Daryl Steeves Regional Administrative Director Laboratory Services

Nicole Tupper Executive Director of Fredericton Area and Chair of the Emergency Network

Dr. Duncan Webster Infection Diseases Specialist

Follow@JohnCEOHorizon

Eating healthy is hard enough but eating healthy at work can be an even bigger challenge.ThatiswhythisyearforNutritionMonth,wearelookingtoinspireCanadianstomakehealthierchoicesatwork.Thethemefor2015isEating9to5. 

Healthyeatingatworkhasmanybenefits:boostconcentration, improve productivity and vitality, and decrease missed days of work by improving overallhealth.Sowhatarewewaitingfor? 

Therealityisthatitcanbeverydifficulttoeathealthyatwork.Rushedmornings,notimeforalunchbreak,mid-dayslumpandend-of-daydinner struggles are just a few of the eating challengesweface.Herearesomequicktipstohelpyouovercomethesechallenges. 

RENÉE MURPHYRegistered Dietitian, Dietitian Supervisor, Mango Program 

March is Nutrition Month

Hospital emergency departments are screening patients using the HorizonTriageAlgorithmandtheProvincialPatientDispositionProtocol,ifEbolaissuspected.TheSaintJohnRegionalHospitalisHorizon’s only designated facility to treat Ebola patients; the other facilityintheprovinceistheDr.Georges-L.-DumontUniversityHospitalCentreinMoncton.PatientswhoaresuspectedtohaveEbola will be transported to the nearest designated facility for treatment.

ThePublic Health Agency of Canada has been monitoring the arrivaloftravelersfromEbolaaffectedcountries.Enhancedbordermeasures allow Quarantine Officers to screen and assess travelers arrivingfromSierraLeone,Guinea,LiberiaandMali.Travelerswho are not showing any symptoms of illness are provided with instructionsandaninformationkit.Thiskitincludesathermometerthat travelers will use to check their temperature twice daily for 21 days.NewBrunswickPublicHealth will then monitor these travelers whiletheyareinNewBrunswickforthe21daysfollowingtheirdeparturefromtheEbolaaffectedregion.

Planning and preparing for Ebola has involved coordinating withmanyorganizationsandcountlessindividuals.Horizonhasdedicatedresourcestoensuringourpatientsandstaffarewell-cared for in any situation, being prepared is our best tool to keep peoplesafe.

ThenumberofnewEbolacasesisdecreasingandtherehave been improvements in laboratory testing times, allowing peopletobediagnosedandtestedquickly.Accordingtothe World Health Organization, the Ebola epidemic has now moved into a second phase, as the focus shifts from slowing transmission to endingtheepidemic.Effortshavemovedfromrapidlybuildinginfrastructuretoensuringthatcapacityforcasefinding,casemanagement, safe burials, and community engagement is used as effectivelyaspossible.

“Everything stood out when I walked in,” he says,withhisgirlfriendsittingbesidehim.“It’smorecomfortableforpatients.Youcanseeoutsideandallthegoing-ons.There’sevenaTVateachchair.”When you have to sit in a chair for hours, it can feel pretty long and lonely with no one to talk to orjusttositwith.

Although cancer tends to have a sad and scary undertone to it, walking into the new clinic almost makes you forget, at least for a moment, whereyouare.Therearewearyfacesaroundforcertain,butlookingatpatientsandtheirfamily/friends together chatting or comforting each other gives you a real sense that this is a place of healing.

Bright, modern and open are the words most usedtodescribethenew17,200-square-footfacility–comparedtotheprevious8,550squarefeet.Besidesthelargereceptionspacewithplenty of seating, the separate treatment area isevenbigger:withanotherwaiting,lounge-type area; a kitchen; windows all around; and a nursingstationwithlotsofdeskspace.Amongother improvements, the centre has increased its exam rooms from seven to 12 and added researchspaceandoncology-pharmacyservices.Therearealso23newparkingspotsnexttothebuildingdedicatedsolelyforclinicpatients.

Carolyn says it is going to take some time to get usedtoallthespace,butaddsitwasalong-timecoming and she is thrilled with her new working environment.

“We desperately needed a better space for our patients,” she says, with her fellow registered nursesnoddingtheirheads.

TheMonctonHospitalisoneofthelargestreferralcentresforoncologyinNewBrunswickwith more than 50 per cent of patients coming fromoutsidetheMonctonArea.In1997,whenthe clinic moved to the sixth floor of the hospital, therewere6,675patientvisitsannually.Sincethen, patient visits have almost doubled and about 40 per cent of all surgeries performed at thehospitalarecancerrelated.

TheMonctonHospital’sOncologyTeamoffers advanced cancer care to patients from NewBrunswickandneighbouringprovinceswith access to some of the best oncologists inthecountry.Careisprovidedthroughaninterdisciplinary team including; oncologists, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, clerks, social worker, psychologist, dietitian and pharmacystaff.

On average, there are 25 to 30 chemotherapy treatmentsperday.Thenewfacilityismorespacious and accommodates patients, family and staff in a safer, more efficient andconfidentialmanner.Thenewrecliningtreatmentchairsaremorecomfortableaswell.

“It’sjustnotsodrearyordrowsy.I’dliketotakethischairhomefortheDaytona500,”Nathanaddslaughing.

Make breakfast a habit: A healthy balanced breakfast will help you feel more alert and improve your concentrationatwork.Notimeinthemorning?Noproblem,hereareafewhelpful hints:

• Preparebreakfastahead-makebarley,quinoaoroatmealporridgeandrefrigerateinportions.

• Mixupsomemuesliwithtoastedoats,dates coconut and almonds to add to yoghurtandfruitinthemorning.

• Boilyoureggsontheweekendforthefollowingweek(hard-boiledeggscanlastuptooneweekintherefrigerator).

Snack smart:Hungrybetweenmeals?Haveasnack that includes carbs to fuel your brain and proteinforlonger-lastingenergy.Hereareafewexamples of healthy snack combinations:• grapes+cheese• veggiesticks+hummus• slicedapples+peanutbutter• driedfruits+unsaltedalmonds

Enjoy lunch away from your desk: Bringing lunch from home is a great way to save you moneyandtohavecontroloverwhatyoueat.Boredofthesameoldsandwich?Thinkoutsidethelunchbox!Reinventdinnerleftovers.Letyour creativity to be inspired with what is availableinthekitchen.Adddicedtomatoes,black beans, red onions, lime juice and hot sauce to your leftover rice to create a delicious vegetarianlunchbowl.

Recruit your family to help: After a hard day at work, planning and preparing meals as a team can help you feel less stressed about preparing food for your family during mealtimerush.Ontheweekend,everyonecanstartplanningmealsfortheweek.Preparingingredients for the next day the night before is a greatwaytogetorganizedandtosavetime. 

Ebola Preparedness