ghs 2015 sept newsletter

Gitxsan Health Society
September 2015 Newsletter
Message from the Executive Health Director:
We would like to extend our sympathies to all those that have lost
loved ones in the past few months, our thoughts and prayers are with
you as you meet each new day. I would also like to thank our staff for
the work they do each and every day, providing care for our community members according to our ancestors.
Over the past few years Gitxsan Health has been involved in the
accreditation process with Accreditation Canada. In May 2013 we
received the Primer Award, from there we had some work to do to
prepare for the full Qmentum phase. We updated our policies and
procedures, we invited some community members to participate,
and we had planning sessions with the Board and Staff. A lot of
good work went into preparation by all Staff and Board members.
We are very proud to say that we successfully passed the
Qmentum. There are 570 required operational practices that were
looked at; we met 551 of those criteria. The purpose for going
through Accreditation is to look at what services we provide and
compare how we deliver those services based on best practices
across the country. In the Primer phase they come and look at
what we say we are doing and give recommendations. In the
Qmentum phase they come to see that we are doing what we say
we are doing, following policy and procedure, and maintaining a
safe environment for clients and staff. (continued on page 2)
Inside this issue
Doctor Visits to Gitxsan Health p. 3
Hogim Dii Dilts Program P.4
Immunization Clinic Info P.5
Aboriginal Support Program P.6
Weight Loss Challenge Results P.7
Mental Health Program P. 8
Patient Travel Program P. 9
FAST program event p. 10
Annual Salmon Run Results p. 12
PCAP/MCH Calendar p. 14
IRS Calendar p. 15
Recovery Support Calendar p. 16
Northern First Nation
Partnership Info p. 18
Healthy Snacks for Children p. 19
FNHA Info on Fentanyl 20
Upcoming Events 24
GHS
!
PROGRAM
Very proud Board &
Staff. The day we
received notice
from Accreditation
Canada that we
were Accredited
with
Commendation!
Thank you for your
contribution and
all your hard work.
Great
accomplishment!
SURVEY
IS BEING DELIVERED DOOR TO
DOOR IN GITANMAAX, KISPIOX
AND GLEN VOWELL.
COMPLETE A QUESTIONAIRE TO
BE ELIGIBLE FOR A PRIZE. CALL
KISPIOX HEALTH CENTRE FOR
INFO OR A COPY.
250 842-6236.
Proudly providing high quality client centered services & programs since 1995!
Gitxsan Health Society
A healthy unified Gitxsan nation … while walking on the breathe of our Grandfathers and Grandmothers
Executive Health Director’s Message continued
All of the staff and Boards from the past contributed to this success, through the building
of the foundations of policy and procedure, proudly providing health services and
programs while following Gitxsan protocols and traditions
On July 10th Gitxsan Health celebrated 20 years of providing health services and programs,
this was a very proud moment for our staff and Board. We had special guests offer
words of congratulations and encouragement. We heard from Doug Kelly, who is the
Chair of the First Nations Health Authority. Don Ryan and Alvin Weget shared some of
the history on how Gitxsan Health came to be. We also heard from Colleen
Erickson
who represents the North on the First Nations Health Authority Board. It was a great
evening of acknowledging all those that contributed to Gitxsan Health ~ thank you!
On July 11 we hosted the 3rd annual Skeena Salmon Run. Each year the run evolves and
improvements are made. This year we had more participants from our local communities
and family’s participating. We started the run so that our community members could
participate in a run like the Sun Run without having to travel. It is important for our
health to be active, if we are having a hard time walking now, in 5 or 10 years it will be
harder, so we need to start now.
We have held four Return To Spirit workshops and the participants all felt that they
received valuable information through the sessions. The workshop helps us to realize
what we are carrying around with us, which is not helpful to our spiritual well-being, and
offers ways to help us make positive changes in our thoughts. We plan to offer more
opportunities in the near future.
A new and exciting opportunity has come our way to offer doctors’ services through ehealth, we look forward to being able to provide medical services in our centres. We are
working on the policies and training needed to have the services fit our organization.
Take care of one another, use words to encourage and lift up one another, especially with
children, as it is easier to build up self-esteem than to repair it as an adult
Julie Morrison,
Executive Health Director
Proudly providing high quality client centered services & programs since 1995!
Gitxsan Health Society
A healthy unified Gitxsan nation … while walking on the breathe of our Grandfathers and Grandmothers
Hogim
with
Diabetes
HogimDii
DiiDilts
DiltsProgram—Living
Program (Diabetes
Program)
Hello Everyone:
We will be having our Diabetic Clinic days, with Betty Thomsen, RN:
September 16, 2015 at the Kispiox Health Centre-- pending
September 22, 2015 in Sik-e-dakh Health Centre
September 23, 2015 in Gitanmaax Health Centre-- pending
Betty and I have been trying to have regular clinic days in each of our
three communities. We have only been able to co-host four of these
days throughout the summer.
With the Fall fast approaching, we are attempting to book one clinic
day in each community per month. In the past few clinics, we have
been able to see, conference, or screen twenty five (25) community
members/clients. We now have a total of 115 clients in the Diabetes
program.
Deanna’s Schedule:
Sik-e-dakh Health Centre
Monday, Thurs & Friday
Deanna Whieldon, Diabetes Nurse/Wound Care Nurse
SAVE THE DATE:
The Mobile Mammogram team will be at the
Gitanmaax Health Centre on October 1, 2015 from
11 am - 6 pm and on October 2, 2015 from 8 am - 5 pm.
For info, contact Rose, Cancer Care Nurse at 250 842-6320 (Tues or Wed)
SEE INSIDE FOR THE SEPTEMBER 2015
CALENDARS FOR THE:


PCAP/MCH
IRS Program
Kispiox Health Centre
Wednesdays
Gitanmaax Health Centre
Tuesdays
SAVE THE DATE:
Our 6th Annual Cancer
Awareness Walk will be on
Thursday, October 8, 2015!
For info, contact Rose at
250 842-6320.
Proudly providing high quality client centered services & programs since 1995!
Gitxsan Health Society
A healthy unified Gitxsan nation … while walking on the breathe of our Grandfathers and Grandmothers
,
GHS IMMUNIZATION WALK –IN CLINICS
Open to adults, children & infants. Protect your child from many childhood diseases
by having them immunized on time. Vaccines trigger your child’s own immune system to make antibodies to fight diseases. For immunizations to work it is important
for your child to have the immunizations on time.
Immunization Schedule for infants/children/adolescents:
2 months
. 4 months
6 months
. 12 months
18 months
. 4 – 6 years
Grade 9
Please make sure your child is up to date on all vaccines/immunizations. For
information, please call your Community Health Nurse in your community.
Kispiox
Gitanmaax
TIME: 10:30 a.m. – 3:30
p.m.
PLACE: Kispiox Health
Centre
Every Thursday
TIME: 10:30 a.m. – 3:30
p.m.
PLACE: Gitanmaax Health
Sik-e-dakh
TIME: 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
PLACE: Sik-e-dakh Health
Centre
Centre
Every Tuesday
Every Thursday
We are on the web!
Check out www.gitxsanhealth.com.
Or
Gitxsan Health Society Facebook page.
Proudly providing high quality client centered services & programs since 1995!
Gitxsan Health Society
A healthy unified Gitxsan nation … while walking on the breathe of our Grandfathers and Grandmothers
Aboriginal Support Worker Program
Hi Everyone ~ I’m moving into my 2nd month of employment as part-time Aboriginal Support Worker for
GHS. I’m enjoying my orientation and the various tasks on my plate. So far:
I’ve completed a quick review and overview of the First Nations Health Authority in their role as funding
body for the GHS programs and services. I was especially interested in their strategic frameworks around
holistic health, traditional wellness and health governance, for example. They have a very informative
website with a lot of good information.
I’ve attended Elders Luncheons in Gitanmaax, Sikedox and Kispiox to introduce myself. I will be printing
off a pamphlet outlining all the different activities I can be involved with both in the communities and
with the programs.
I’ve connected with each department of GHS. I will begin to meet with each of the programs in upcoming
weeks to determine and confirm my role within each service area.
I attended a four-day workshop of Returning to Spirit with 21 other GHS employees and it certainly lived
up to the good comments of others who had previously participated in it. I highly recommend this workshop to anyone looking to make positive changes in their lives or seeking a new way of looking at things.
I also attended a demonstration of the eHealth unit at the Gitanmaax Health Centre where medical and
health practitioners from different parts of the province took us on a virtual tour of how these units can
be utilized by our communities to access a high quality of healthcare from a distance. How exciting! GHS
is finalizing guidelines and procedures for Gitxsan eHealth and then it will be up and running.
In the meantime, a demonstration of this unit is being planned for elders where we can show what and
how this machine (and the doctors and specialists) will work for all of us in our communities. I already
have a few names of elders that want to sit in on this demonstration - and I even had someone volunteer
to be a patient during this demonstration! Call me at the Kispiox Health Centre to add your name if you
want to come and watch how all this will work. Date and time will be confirmed to all the elders interested. The demonstration will take place at the Gitanmaax Health Centre.
I have a questionnaire that I will be taking out to the 3 communities to find out what is known and/or
how much the various GHS programs and services are being used. Your participation is completely voluntary and anonymous. Everyone in your home can fill one out (minors must have parent/guardian assist
them). For those that choose to participate, you can enter your name for a chance to win (Youth 0-18
years): $50 Point 18 gift cards, $50 iTunes card, and a grand prize of an IPad or (Adults): $300 cash x 3.
For those on Facebook, I will confirm when I begin the survey and which health centre I’ll be at on various
days. Keep in mind that I work only on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. If there is any change to
that schedule, I’ll get the word out.
~ Ardythe D. Wilson
Proudly providing high quality client centered services & programs since 1995!
Gitxsan Health Society
A healthy unified Gitxsan nation … while walking on the breathe of our Grandfathers and Grandmothers
ANNOUNCEMENT—TELEHEALTH DOCTOR VISITS AT A GITXSAN HEALTH CENTRE
Effective September 29th, the Gitxsan Health Centre
will be expanding medical services allowing
members to see a doctor via telemedicine.
A highly trained Telemedicine Assistant will perform an examination of each patient
with the doctor directing the examination over video. The Telemedicine Assistant will take all
vital
statistics (blood pressure, heart rate, temperature) and record them in the patients file.
From there, the doctor may direct the Telemedicine Assistant to use other medical technology –
a digital stethoscope to hear heart and lung sounds, a digital otoscope to see inside ears, eyes and
nose and a digital camera to record any skin and eye abnormalities. The doctor can see the
patients condition very well with pictures to define conditions rather than notes.
Many doctors report great satisfaction with this technology as they can see how a condition has
progressed or regressed from valuable pictures rather than relying on memory and notes.
The Telemedicine Assistant charts everything the doctor is communicating to the patient so the
doctor is able to spend 100% of their time focussing solely on communication with the patient.
Many patients report that the telemedicine visits “are the best they have had in years! The doctor
spoke to me the whole time!”
Gitxsan Health Centre has partnered with Livecare to bring telemedicine to the community and
their history of healthcare delivery is impressive. Their high standards of care have been able to
save patient lives in remoted communities where patients have often been years without medical
attention.
Livecare operates 4 other clinics in remote and First Nation communities and provides a unique
model to do so. Three weeks of telemedicine and one week with the doctor on site at the Gitxsan
Health Centre. Members get to meet their doctor and the doctor can learn in-depth what each
patient condition and treatment requirements are. This model provides a great relationship between doctor and patient and continuity of healthcare for the community.
We look forward to welcoming Telemedicine into the community and invite you to call your local
Community Health Nurse to learn more about when you can book your first appointment to see
the doctor.
Proudly providing high quality client centered services & programs since 1995!
Gitxsan Health Society
A healthy unified Gitxsan nation … while walking on the breathe of our Grandfathers and Grandmothers
GHS 3rd Annual Skeena Salmon Run 5 K 10K HALF MARATHON
Thank you to all the participants that participated in the run
this year. Sorry for the delay on the race results somehow the
file got packed away with our supplies. All staff plan this
event at the side of the desk but have their regular duties to
attend to as well.
Thank you to all the staff volunteers and community
volunteers that made this event possible. All GHS staff that
are present on Saturday July 11, 2015 are volunteering their
time as it is not paid time:)
So grateful staff keep coming out each year. If you are
interested in volunteering next year please visit our Skeena
Salmon Run on Facebook. If you have any feedback inbox as
well -all feedback is welcomed:):):)
We had 82 participants this year. Please join our FB page
event and add yourself to Skeena Salmon Run as a friend to
keep updated:)
Thank you to the following for their generous donations:
Silver Tip promotions value $701.56;
Mark Armundrund -waterbottles; Gatorade
City West $200;
Scott Graham $100;
Brenda Emerson, Accreditation Canada $125
Jennifer Sampare, Executive Assistant
Orange T-Shirts for participants &
Green shirts for volunteers! :)
Proudly providing high quality client centered services & programs since 1995!
Gitxsan Health Society
A healthy unified Gitxsan nation … while walking on the breathe of our Grandfathers and Grandmothers
WTG to all the Participants!! Congratulations on
finishing the run/walk We are so proud of your
accomplishment. Role models to us all!
Proudly providing high quality client centered services & programs since 1995!
Gitxsan Health Society
A healthy unified Gitxsan nation … while walking on the breathe of our Grandfathers and Grandmothers
Mental Health Program
We are very pleased to offer CONFIDENTIAL Counseling services to members from
Gitanmaax, Kispiox and Sik-e-dakh If you would like to see anyone of our Mental Health
Counsellors, please call either:
Alf Brady,
David Hockin,
Tamara MacLeod,
Ricardo Pickering
Gitanmaax Health Centre at 250 842-6320
Mondays—Thursdays
Gitanmaax Health Centre at 250 842-6320
Tuesday - Fridays
Sik-e-dakh Health Centre at 250 842-6876
Mondays, Tuesdays & Wednesdays
Kispiox Health Centre at 250 842-6236
Wednesdays—Fridays
For after hours, if you are feeling overwhelmed, depressed, confused, suicidal or just
need someone to listen please call:






Northern Health: Mental Health & Addictions at 250 842-5144
Wrinch Memorial Hospital 842-5211 or 911
CRISIS LINE 1 888 562-1214. It is available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. It
is confidential and they do not have call display.
YOUTH SUPPORT LINE at 1 888 564-8336 (teen) that operates 4 p.m. to 11
p.m., 7 days a week, after hours calls are directly forwarded to the 24 hour line.
There is a YOUTH CHAT WEBSITE for youth in crisis or who may need information or referrals. The website has the same hours as the youth line.
Check out the website www.northernyouthonline.ca
For SUICIDAL
CRISIS, call 1800 SUICIDE
If you know someone is having a difficult time
dealing with a divorce, break-up, or grieving the loss
of a loved one, please reach out to him/her. Let them
know we have Counsellors readily available if needed.
Proudly providing high quality client centered services & programs since 1995!
Gitxsan Health Society
A healthy unified Gitxsan nation … while walking on the breathe of our Grandfathers and Grandmothers
Patient Transportation Program
Clients must be
Gitxsan Health Society provides patient travel assistance to
Gitanmaax, Kispiox and Sik-e-dakh (Glen Vowell) Band
members who live within the catchment area between
Houston and Terrace, including Kitimat, Gitlaxt'aamiks (New
Aiyansh), Laxgalts'ap (Greenville) , Gingolx (Kincolith) and
Gitwinksihlkw (Canyon City).
referred to a Specialist
Medical transportation benefits are not provided when a
client is eligible for benefits under any other publicly funded
health or social program, such as Insurance Corporation of
B.C. (ICBC) or Workers Compensation Board (WCB), the
alternate coverage must be used first.
Gitanmaax Health
All Patient Travel medical referrals, TAP forms, confirmation
forms, etc., can be dropped off at either the Gitanmaax Health
Centre, Kispiox Health Centre or Sik-e-dakh Health Centre with
the Receptionist or faxed to Kispiox Health Centre at 250 8425587.
For further information, please call the Patient
Transportation Dept at:
or health facility; you
cannot self-refer.
Drop off your completed
referral form at either the
Kispiox Health Centre,
Centre or Sik-e-dakh
Health Centre well before
your scheduled appointment so your travel
arrangements can be
made in a timely manner.
Clients must
provide confirmation of
attendance from the
health provider/health
facility. Please have the
Kispiox Health Centre
Specialist’s office or health
Tel: 250 842-6236, 250 842-5165 or 1800 663 9935
facility stamp your
Fax: 250 842-5587
confirmation form that is
Weekend Emergency Contact: Cell: 250 842-8629 If you do
not receive an answer, please be sure to leave a message and
we will get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you.
provided in your travel
package and return it to
the GHS Patient Travel
Office. Thank you.
Proudly providing high quality client centered services & programs since 1995!
Gitxsan Health Society
FIRST ACTION & SUPPORT TEAM
“Embracing life through suicide awareness and community empowerment”
“GRIEF IS WORK” DAY WORKSHOP
facilitated by Kevin hegseth,
b.a.Certified N.L.P. Practitioner
FOR MORE INFO OR
TO PRE-REGISTER
PLEASE CONTACT:
Veronica Green,
Fast Program
Coordinator@
(250) 842-2320
Develop the tools to help others & yourself
Learn and Understand the grieving process
discover the many different forms of loss & unravel the many secondary losses
grasp the importance of forgiveness
BOX 223
HAZELTON, B.C. V0J 1Y0
TEL (250) 842 – 2320
FAX (250) 842 – 2326
Toll free: 1-800-663-9935
appreciate the difference between genders
LOCATION: elders room – Gitanmaax
Health station
when: Sept. 21 & 22, 2015
Community: Gitanmaax, B.C.
time: 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Daily
TRANSPORTATION
FROM KISPIOX
GAS BAR &
GLEN VOWELL
HEALTH STATION
TO GITANMAAX
WILL BE PROVIDED
Lunch & Snack will be served Daily
Proudly providing high quality client centered services & programs since 1995!
Gitxsan Health Society
A healthy unified Gitxsan nation … while walking on the breathe of our Grandfathers and Grandmothers
2015 Weight Loss Challenge Results
We are very pleased to announce the winners of the 2015 Weight Loss Challenge:
• $500 First Prize Winner: Valerie Rubinato: Congratulations on having the highest weight loss percentage
out of all the participants that signed up. She lost 14.35% body weight.
• $250 Second Prize Winner: Shelley Johnson Congratulations on having the second highest weight loss
percentage out of all the participants that signed up. She lost 12.62% body weight
The winners were based on the highest weight loss percentage. The start weight and end weight were
used to calculate the weight loss percentage.
We had monthly draws in each health centre for $50.00 each. The clients who came in to weigh each
month were eligible to be in the monthly draw. We thank Gitxsan Watershed Authority and the Gitxsan
Chief’s office for generously donating the money for the monthly cash draws. The winners were:
Kispiox Health Centre
February 2015 Yolanda Stevens
March 2015
Victor Denny
April 2015
Victor Denny
May 2015
Sandi Reviakin
June 2015
Bernice Gawa Johnson
July 2015
Shelley Johnson
Gitanmaax Health Centre
February 2015 Trevor Morrison
March 2015
Melanie Smoke
April 2015
Stephanie Morrison Johnson
May 2015
Stephanie Morrison Johnson
June 2015
Lorraine Moore
July 2015
Lorraine Moore
Sik-e-dakh Health Centre
February 2015 Diana Pakka
March 2015
Deanna Whieldon
April 2015
Corrine Wale
May 2015
Diana Pakka
June 2015
Henry Wilson
July 2015
no participants
Proudly providing high quality client centered services & programs since 1995!
Gitxsan Health Society
UPCOMING EVENTS for September 2015
Community Luncheons
Place: St. Peter’s Anglican Church Hall
Time: 12 p.m. Every Thursday
For information, please contact the Healthy Community
Facilitators; Arnold at 250 842-6320 or Jordann at 250 8422320.
Community “Free” Movie Night
PLACE: Gitanmaax Tri Town Theatre
Doors at 6:30 p.m. Starts at 7 p.m. Every Wednesday
Movie Listings will be announced on Facebook community events
pages. For information, please contact the Healthy Community
Facilitators; Arnold at 250 842-6320 or Jordann at 250 8422320.
September 15, 2015 Scotiabank Aids Walk for Life
Time: 11:30 a.m.—12 p.m.
Start at Hagwilget Bridge Lookout (old Hazelton side). Ends at the
Hazelton Mental Health & Addictions office. For info, contact Marilyn
at 250 877-0042.
September 22, 2015: Sik-e-dakh Community Lunch
Place: Sik-e-dakh Health Centre
Time: 12 p.m.
For info, please call the Sik-e-dakh Health Centre at 250 842-6876
September 22, 2015: Diabetes Clinic Day
Place: Sik-e-dakh Health Centre
Time: 11—3 p.m.
For info, please call Deanna at 250 842-6876
GHS BOARD MEMBERS
Gitanmaax Reps.
Valerie Simms Muldoe
Dianne Shanoss
Kispiox Reps.
George Muldoe
Sadie Harris
Sik-e-dakh Reps.
Barbara Huson
Tony Sampare
Off Reserve Reps.
John Olson
William Starr
————————————
Kispiox Health Centre &
GHS Administration
(250) 842-5165 or
250 842-6236
1-800-663-9935
Patient Transportation
(Emergency Cell)
weekends only
250 842-8629
Gitanmaax Health Centre
(250) 842-6320
Sik-e-dakh Health
Centre
(250) 842-6876
PCAP/MCH Office
(250) 842-2319
This newsletter is proudly produced by Gitxsan Health Society
FAST & IRS Office
@Gitxsan Health Society.
(250) 842-2320
Proudly providing high quality client centered services & programs since 1995!