RR - October 2011 - Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre

OCTOBER 2011
royal review
A m o n t h ly p u b l i c at i o n f o r R V H s ta f f p r o d u c e d b y t h e C o r p o r at e C o m m u n i c at i o n s D e p a r t m e n t
RVH gets top marks
from Accreditation
Canada
Royal Victoria Hospital received the final
report from Accreditation Canada and
has achieved full Accreditation. This is a
phenomenal result as only 20 per cent
of healthcare facilities surveyed receive
this high ranking. It is the highest ranking
possible from Accreditation Canada.
To receive full Accreditation, without
conditions, an organization must meet
90 per cent or more of the high priority
criteria as outlined by Accreditation
Canada. RVH met and exceeded
these expectations.
“Accreditation is one of the most
effective ways for healthcare organizations
to regularly and consistently examine
and improve the quality of their services.
Healthcare organizations that participate
in Accreditation Canada’s programs are
evaluating their performance against
national standards of excellence,” says
Janice Skot, RVH President and CEO. “We
embrace this process as it allows us to
shine the light on our successes, as well
as areas where we could improve. What
our ranking tells us is that we are doing
exceptionally well on all fronts. This is due
in large part to the leadership shown by so
many throughout the surveying process, as
well as the staff’s commitment to patient
safety and an organization-wide focus on
quality improvement.”
Accreditation
Canada
recognized
RVH for two leading practices including
Canada’s first Temporary Radiation
Treatment Clinic and the collaborative,
award-winning, Thoracic Intake Clinic.
RVH was also recognized for many other
innovative practices and received positive
comments about the dedicated staff and
the outstanding volunteer program.
R V H ROYA L RE V IE W
Royal Vic receives $13.8 million to
begin operating expansion
(Left to right) Jon Babulic (Chair, RVH Board of Directors), Jennifer Rodgers (Director, Patient Safety, Quality & Risk
Management), Jonathan Wiersma (Director, Decision Support), Tricia Swartz (Accreditation and Patient Safety Specialist) and
Janice Skot (President and CEO) celebrated news of the funding at a recent meeting of RVH’s Board of Directors.
RVH has learned it will receive $13.8 million in new base funding this year to begin expanding
services, as part of the Phase 1 Expansion Project. This Post Construction Operating Plan (PCOP)
funding will be used to increase patient visits and procedures and to fund additional facility costs.
The money will also support staff recruitment and orientation to the new building, as well as
equipment commissioning.
PCOP funding is a critical piece of the hospital expansion puzzle as it is used to pay for the
additional costs associated with increased services, patient volume and workload that will come
with the redevelopment. This is the third installment of PCOP funding that Royal Victoria Hospital
has received, bringing the total to more than $18 million. That money will flow over three years and
is rolled into the hospital’s annual operating budget.
“Receiving this funding is a very important milestone for RVH, as we enter the homestretch
of construction on our ambitious expansion,” says Janice Skot, President and CEO. “Knowing
adequate operational funding is in place allows our staff, physicians and volunteers to focus on a
safe, carefully-phased move into the new building. Over the next several months we will steadily
ramp up our volumes and services so that when we open the doors to the Phase 1 Expansion in
early-2012, we are fully prepared.”
This has been a successful few months for RVH in terms of funding. In addition to receiving
$800,000 in new operational funding for a second MRI unit, we also received $4.5 million in onetime transitional funding to open 24 interim transitional beds, expand Operating Room hours and
retrofit existing space for new day surgery suites, as well as expand Geriatric Emergency and Nurse
Practitioner coverage.
Exceptional People. Exceptional Care
PA G E 1
royal review
OCTOBER 2011
SERVICE
Patient Satisfaction:
What’s working well
Retirements
personal need fulfillment
and response to call
lights. And based on the
satisfaction results for
our medical and surgical
patients in fiscal year
2010/11, RVH does many
things very well.
Our Strengths:
•
•
•
•
Organization Goal: Improve Patient Satisfaction
Based on the most recent indicators, patient satisfaction has
drastically improved between Q4 of fiscal year 2010/11 and Q1 of
2011/12 and we continue to trend upward.
Patient satisfaction represents all the
reasons why so many staff and physicians
at RVH decided to get into healthcare
in the first place. It represents a career
full of purpose, worthwhile work and
making a difference. The vast majority of
healthcare professionals are committed
to excellence. Excellence means caring
for patients in the safest and highest
quality way we can given the tools and
skills available.
Earlier this year, the Royal Review
took at look at several of the service
excellence teams involved in the be
excellent! initiative. One of these teams
is the Service Excellence Measurement
Team responsible for measuring,
interpreting and communicating the
progress of the hospital’s goals for
patient satisfaction. The team members
are the in-house experts on key metrics
for patient satisfaction and can relay
information about improving patient
satisfaction to colleagues around the
hospital.
Research tells us there are four
common drivers of patient satisfaction
– communication, pain management,
PA G E 2
PEOPLE
Courtesy of admission
Courtesy of nurses
Courtesy of physicians
Nurses and physicians
working together
• Physicians acknowledge
patient during consultation
• Overall physician care
When
asked
for
comments, patients of both
the medicine and surgery programs have
very positive things to say about their
experiences at RVH.
So often we hear only the negative
experiences about hospitals, but what we
need to remember each day is that we
really can have an impact on people just
by doing what we do every day. Here are
just a few examples of the complimentary
words.
“I am very appreciative of the prompt
and good service by RVH.”
“I am very grateful to all for the
exceptional treatments I received. The
nurses who looked after me were like
angels, very caring and loving. I feel
privileged to have been a patient in your
hospital.”
“All staff were amazing. They worked
together quite well and they all care about
the patient. We are lucky to have a fine,
first class hospital. If I ever win a lottery, I
will not forget this hospital. Thank you all
for saving my life.”
Keep up the exceptional work!
(Left to right) Pam Bates, Cheryl Godin and Margo Robinson
Pam Bates (RN, Birthing Unit)
Pam Bates started at RVH in Obstetrics
as an RNA in 1969 and then became an
RN in 1977. She has lived in Barrie for 39
years and celebrated her last day at RVH on
August 25. Now that Pam is retired, she looks
forward to spending more time at the cottage,
catching up on some projects around the
house, gardening, skiing and snowshoeing.
She’s soon off to Chicago and then hopefully
to Europe next year for her 40th wedding
anniversary.
Cheryl Godin (RN, 4SA)
Cheryl Godin officially ended her 40 year
career at RVH on July 27 after having spent
her entire training and professional life at
RVH. Throughout her time at the hospital,
Cheryl worked as a float nurse and then in
Obstetrics and the Special Care Nursery. Now
that retirement is upon her, Cheryl is saying
yes to opportunities she hadn’t considered
before. She feels she “has more to contribute”
and is also spending more time with her
grandchildren.
Margo Robinson (RN, 4SA)
After spending her entire career at RVH
in Obstetrics, Margo Robinson officially
retired on August 22. Margo now looks
forward to travelling and line dancing, as
well as enjoying more live theatre with
her husband as members at the Shaw,
Stratford and Drayton Festivals. Margo
also wants to continue volunteering at the
food bank and is contemplating a return to
higher education.
R V H ROYA L RE V IE W
Exceptional People. Exceptional Care
royal review
OCTOBER 2011
AUXILIARY
Out of the blue
By Lorri Champagne,
RVH Auxiliary Public Relations
Barrie and the surrounding communities
came through again for the RVH Auxiliary!
The RVH Auxiliary’s Annual Tag Days was
a rousing success again this year. Thanks
to the wonderful people of Barrie, Innisfil,
Stroud, Craighurst and other communities, we
surpassed a total of $21,450.
Many thanks goes to Jean McGinley and her
‘behind the scene’ team of between 40 to 50
volunteers and over 300 ‘Tagger - Volunteers’.
They all cheerfully braved cool temperatures to
raise funds for the Auxiliary’s commitment of
$1.5 million, for the new seven-bed Coronary
Care Unit.
What’s up next?
Be sure to add the RVH Auxiliary’s Annual
Bazaar and Bake Sale to your calendars. Our
annual major fundraiser will take place at
the A.N.A.F. Club, on George St. in Barrie, on
Saturday, November 5, 2011, from 9 a.m.
to 1 p.m.
Brand new to the Bazaar this year is our first
‘Penny Sale’! There is something for everyone
and children are welcome. There are free
giveaways for kids, face painting and clowns.
Admission is free, the facility is wheelchair
accessible and there are bank machines on
the premises. Please go green by bringing your
own bags for filling up with treasures and the
yummiest treats of all kinds.
Another Canadian first
RVH is implementing a new medication
management system throughout the hospital
which includes transitioning to a unit dose
system, and begins with the installment of
automated dispensing cabinets, manufactured
by Omnicell, in the ED, ICU and OR. A complete
QUALITY
roll-out to all acute care areas will take place over
the next three to five years.
These unit dose cabinets also represent another
Canadian first for RVH as we are the first hospital
in Canada to purchase Omnicell’s new technology.
The cabinets are stocked with unit dose packaged
medications specific to the particular care
area, and also contain narcotics and controlled
medications, while providing required security and
documentation associated with these medications.
“A unit dose is the amount of a medication
administered to a patient in a single dose. A
unit dose system means that medications are
dispensed in a ready-to-administer format and
usually no more than 24 hours supply is provided
by the pharmacy,” says Judy Chong, Director of
the Pharmacy. “This system is also considered a
best practice because it provides improvements
in medication safety, system efficiency, job
satisfaction and effective use of human resources.
It is also standard for medication management by
Accreditation Canada.”
The unit dose cabinets at RVH will improve
both patient and staff safety, as well as reduce
nursing time related to narcotic medication control,
provide more time for pharmacy staff to devote
to medication safety and patient care, increase
nurse satisfaction due to reduction of the risk of
medication errors, and improve workflow.
Training for staff on the cabinets located in the
ED, ICU and OR, is taking place this fall.
SERVICE
New central patient registration area
RVH Auxillary member, Sandy
R V H ROYA L RE V IE W
To provide more effective and efficient
care, Royal Victoria Hospital has opened
a new Central Outpatient Registration.
To celebrate the opening of the office
located just inside the current main
entrance, Hilary Rodrigues, RVH’s Chief
Financial Executive, joined Linda Long,
Director of Health Records, and the team
Exceptional People. Exceptional Care
responsible for the new initiative. All out
patients will now register at Central Outpatient
Registration with the exception of those
visiting RVH for Ambulatory Care, Outpatient
Laboratory, Fracture Clinic, Women’s Imaging,
Pre-admission Clinic, Arthroplasty Intake Clinic,
Surgical Services, Imaging, Mental Health,
Birthing Unit or Oncology.
PA G E 3
royal review
OCTOBER 2011
PEOPLE
PEOPLE
EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE SURVEY
WANT TO WIN
AN IPAD?
We’re giving one a week away until
October 28th.
Complete your Employee Experience Survey,
let your manager know and they’ll enter your
name in the draw to win.
QUALITY
Improvements in hand hygiene
monitoring
The Infection Prevention and Control
(IPAC) department is pleased to announce
it has a new electronic hand hygiene audit
tool. With the support and expertise of
Rob Farrell, the Clinical Informatics and
Applications team and data analyst Zhilong Jin (Decision
Support), IPAC has completed a small pilot project and
begun to use the new electronic audit tool for all data input.
More info on the audit tool will follow in later editions of the
newsletter.
Hand Hygiene Champions
The IPAC team would like to
recognize the outstanding hand
hygiene efforts of RVH’s allied health
professionals.
These dedicated
team members include Occupational
Therapists,
Physiotherapists,
Environmental Services, Pharmacy,
Quality Utilization Management Program (QUMP) and
Community Care Access Centre staff.
New org chart released
RVH recently released its revised organizational chart.
Due to RVH’s remarkable growth, we have also had to
adapt some of our structures and procedures. The reporting
structures outlined in the org chart will not only help align our
new scope of services, but will better prepare us to manage
the increased patient volumes and staffing levels.
To view the new organizational chart, please visit the
intranet under the Important News section or the RVH website
under the About RVH section.
PA G E 4
Jon Babulic (left), Chair of the RVH Board of Directors, was in attendance with Janice Skot
(right) to present the awards to recipients such as Jean Hewitt (centre)
who won the Award of Distinction.
RVH Auxiliary honours its Blue Brigade
The RVH Auxiliary recently recognized outstanding and exceptional volunteers
during its annual awards tea.
One of these incredible volunteers is Jean Hewitt, who was honoured this year
with the Award of Distinction.
Hewitt began her volunteer career in 1988 and soon became part of the
Auxiliary Executive where she filled many roles including President.
Her contributions were recognized in 1999 with the Outstanding Service
Award and the Auxiliary Life Membership. Many of the hospital staff have come
to know her as “Queen Victoria,” a role she gladly plays at any special hospital
event which requires a “royal presence.”
“Those of us who work in the healthcare industry and, especially in a busy
hospital setting, know first hand how important volunteers are,” says Janice
Skot, RVH President and CEO. “In fact, I would say - without volunteers our
hospital could not function.”
In addition to Jean Hewitt’s award, Jessie Aitken, Jean Noy, Jo Nutt, Kathy
Parliament, Joy Rodgers, Jennifer Srigley and Margaret Tervit, received Life
Memberships.
Auxiliary members were also honoured for years of service including: Norma
Stevenson - 50 years; Helen Needham – 45 years; Eileen Scruton and Margaret
Whelan – 35 years; Beverley Browne – 30 years and Doris Allen, Eva Marton,
Sheila Rothwell and Mary Rose Stone – 25 years. Volunteers were also honoured
with Outstanding Service Pins and Award of Merit pins.
SERVICE
Childrens Development
Services moves
Staff
from
the
Children’s
Development Team including Manager,
Mary Riggin-Springstead, and Director
of Women and Children’s program,
Karen Fleming, gathered alongside
some young clients and Janice Skot,
President and CEO, to celebrate the grand opening of their new ‘home’ at Barrie
by the Bay, (80 Bradford Street). The new location houses the Simcoe County
Preschool Speech and Language Program, Preschool Occupational Therapy, the
Simcoe Muskoka Parry Sound Infant Hearing Program Intervention Services and
the Simcoe County Autism Diagnostic Team.
R V H ROYA L RE V IE W
Exceptional People. Exceptional Care
royal review
OCTOBER 2011
Hospital Happenings
PEOPLE
SERVICE
Cell phone policy changes
RVH recently revised its policy regarding
cell phone use within the hospital. Advances
in technology mean the previous ban on
the use of electronic devices has been lifted
throughout the majority of the hospital, with
the exception of the Special Care Nursery. In
all areas of the hospital, devices should be set
to vibrate at all times and hospital staff has
the authority to restrict the use of electronic
devices if they determine it is interfering with
patient care.
policy regarding
RVH has changed its
hospital.
cell phone use in the
itted
public is now perm
Cell phone use by the
n of the
ital with the exceptio
throughout the hosp
sery.
Special Care Nur
For further details on the policy change and the
guidelines for public usage, please visit the intranet.
New mammography units in
Women’s Imaging
Just in time for Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October,
RVH’s Women’s Imaging program recently acquired four new
digital mammography units that will improve the quality of images,
use less radiation, and be more efficient, therefore improving
patient flow. These state-of-the-art units produce exceptionally
sharp digital images allowing technicians to see the finest details
even in dense breast tissue.
QUALITY
National Safety Week 2011
By Tricia Swartz, Patient Safety and Accreditation Specialist
The Patient Safety, Quality and Risk Management Department, along with the Infection Prevention
and Control Department, are excited to present National Patient Safety Week from October 31 to
November 4. On November 3 from 8:30 a.m. to noon, you are invited to participate in the third annual
Safety Fair to celebrate this important week. Last year more than 200 staff visited the fair and we hope
to be able to grow this great attendance and enthusiasm for staff and patient safety. Be prepared for
exciting booths, interactive displays, and many prizes and games. The Safety Fair is your opportunity
to view unique safety improvements, programs and education directed at staff and patients alike.
We hope to see you there!
Don’t
Forget
…about the RVH Health Library
The library can be your ultimate search engine by providing the
following services:
•
•
•
•
Databases
Lit searches
Journal articles
Reference collection
•
•
•
Interlibrary loans
Internet
Leisure reading
Yours for the asking.
R V H ROYA L RE V IE W
Exceptional People. Exceptional Care
United Way
campaign
kicks off!
Hardship can befall anyone – regardless
of socio-economic position. And if this is
unfortunately the case, we may have to rely
on a community organization to help us
through that hardship. For the past 52 years,
the United Way has funded member agencies
and community impact initiatives supporting
children, people with special needs, the
homeless, youth and adults.
One in three residents of Simcoe County, or
approximately 150,000 people had their lives
improved last year by programs and services
supported by the United Way of Greater
Simcoe County. More than $1.62 million was
raised through the United Way’s employee
campaign in 2010 with RVH raising
$30,577.08 through staff contributions!
In fact, the money raised by the United
Way is the largest non-government source
of social services funding in Simcoe County.
This funding is distributed throughout
organizations such as:
• YMCA of Simcoe Muskoka
• Canadian Hearing Society
• Deaf Access Simcoe Muskoka
• Epilepsy Simcoe Muskoka
• Simcoe County Association for the
Physically Disabled
• David Busby Street Centre
• Simcoe Community Services
• Family Services York Regions
Once again, it is time for the annual
United Way Employee Campaign to kick
off. Last year we surpassed our goal of
$30,000 and now we are setting our sights
on raising more than $32,000 for the
2011 campaign.
More details
regarding the
kick-off event
will follow at
a later date.
PA G E 5
royal review
OCTOBER 2011
PEOPLE
The
Staooffp
Sc
Manager of new
Respiratory Unit
Tracey Fletcher
has joined RVH as
the Manager for the
new Respiratory Unit.
Over the next couple
of months, she will
be working with her
colleagues in the
Medicine Program
to finalize program
planning, recruitment and hiring for the new
Respiratory Unit. Tracey recently worked
at Toronto Western Hospital as a Patient
Care Coordinator and has spent 10 years
working in acute care both as a staff member
and Clinical Educator. Tracey’s experience
includes intensive care, intermediate care,
infection prevention and control and care for
the respiratory patient. Tracey graduated from
York University with a Bachelor of Science in
Nursing and completed her Masters of Nursing
through Athabasca University.
New FIPPA Specialist
Erin Baker joined
RVH in late September
as the Freedom of
Information and
Protection of Privacy
Act (FIPPA) & Risk
Management Specialist.
As the January 1, 2012
application of FIPPA to
hospitals looms close, Erin’s initial main focus
will be on driving forward the RVH FIPPA
implementation plan. Erin brings experience
from roles at the Central LHIN, the MOHLTC
and the Ministry of the Attorney General. Erin
has a bachelor degree in psychology from
the University of Western Ontario and she is
currently enrolled in the Masters of Health
Administration program at the U of T. At this
time Erin is located in office 2433, in the new
pathology area.
PA G E 6
New Lab Director
Barbara Lemay
joined RVH recently
as the Director of
Laboratory Medicine
replacing John
Ngui-Yen who retired
in the summer.
Barbara has been a
leader in Laboratory
Medicine for over
20 years having worked in leadership roles
at the Hospital for Sick Children, the Brant
Community Healthcare System in Brantford
and the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario
in Ottawa. Most recently, Barbara held the
position of Director, Laboratory Medicine at
the Peterborough Regional Health Centre
and was the Interim Laboratory Manager for
the Weeneebayko Area Health Authority at
the Weeneebayko General Hospital in Moose
Factory. Barbara brings leadership skills,
knowledge and energy with her to RVH and
she is very excited to join one of Ontario’s
most productive, efficient and state-of-the-art
Laboratory Medicine departments.
Tracey Keighley-Clarke
takes on new role
Tracey KeighleyClarke has assumed
the role of Interim
Vice-President,
Regional Cancer and
Clinical Services.
Tracey was chosen
to temporarily take
over this portfolio for
the next three to six
months while a permanent Vice-President
is found. Tracey will be familiar to many
people at the hospital as she has been at
RVH in a variety of roles for several years,
most recently as the Director of the Simcoe
Muskoka Regional Cancer Program. She
has extensive experience, is highly qualified
and is excited for this interim role as we
continue to progress towards the opening
of the new Diagnostic Imaging facilities, the
Simcoe Muskoka Regional Cancer Centre
and bringing new programs to the Pharmacy
Department in the spring of 2012.
New Surgery Services
Administrative Assistant
Nicola Charity
has joined the
Surgical Program as
the Administrative
Assistant. Nicole is
in her fourteenth year
as an administrative
assistant and is
currently working
toward a certificate in management from
Georgian College. Nicola is coming to RVH
from the Independent Living Services of
Simcoe County and Area where she has been
an Executive Assistant/Team Leader.
Jamie Campbell joins the
Foundation The RVH Foundation
is excited to announce
that Jamie Campbell
has joined the team
as the Foundation
Assistant. Although
Jamie is new to the
Foundation Office he
is certainly no stranger
to RVH having worked
with Environmental Services for the past eight
years. Welcome to the Foundation
Team Jamie!
Michele Mousseau
joins Chronic Disease
Management
Michele Mousseau
has joined RVH as the
new Manager in Chronic
Disease Management
and Renal Services.
Michele is a graduate
of Lakehead University
with a Bachelor of
Science Nursing degree and has completed
the Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner
Certificate Program at McMaster University in
Hamilton. Prior to joining RVH, Michele was a
Regional Complex Continuing Care Program
Coordinator and has worked in both acute and
long-term care settings.
R V H ROYA L RE V IE W
Exceptional People. Exceptional Care
royal review
OCTOBER 2011
PEOPLE
Winners among us
ON THE
S
C
O
D
NEW
K
C
O
L
B
Dr. Peter Gioulos
Iris Laylock
Iris Laycock of Human Resources recently
competed in a triathalon in Wasaga Beach in which
she took first place of 12 competitors in the 45 –
49 age category. This put Iris in 58th overall out of
218 participants.
Iris has been competing in triathalons for the
past eight years and leading up to her winning
result, she came in third and second in similar
competitions in Gravenhurst and Bracebridge this
season.
Iris claims running as her strongest of the three
disciplines which she says she took up because
her husband is a contractor and worked long days,
so it occupied her time.
“I wanted to change things up a bit so I added
Suzanne Stockie
biking into my routine,” says Iris. “A friend
suggested that I should try swimming and then
try to do a triathlon, eight years ago, which I did.
I love the challenge of being able to do all three
disciplines and try to improve on them each race.”
Suzanne Stockie of the Business Development
department recently competed in the Centurion
Cycling King of the Mountain competition at
Blue Mountain outside Collingwood. In her first
competitive race Suzanne ended up as the female
winner in the 30 to 35 year old category for the
100 mile race and was also winner of the King of
the Mountains in that same category.
Congratulations to both Suzanne and Iris on
these exceptional achievements!
JENN
IFE
NS TIO
CA
- COMM
ORE
UN
I
MO
Angie Alles (Nutrition & Food Services) on the Cabot
Trail, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia
What are the things you most remember?
• Beautiful scenery
• Great seafood
• Friendly and generous people
What didn’t you like?
• Cold, rainy weather
What would you recommend to others?
• Stop at all the lookouts on the Cabot Trail, and
breathe in all the beautiful scenery
• Go to all the small towns and mingle with the
Maritimers - you’ll be welcomed with open
arms and they always thank you for visiting
S - JENNIF
TION
ER
ICA
RVH On the Road Again...
-C
OORE OMMU
N
RM
l
Roya a
i
Victor l
ta
Hospi
Angie Alles (centre) with RVH volunteers Ross and Joy
Rodgers, who she met while on the Cabot Trail.
If you are planning a trip or have just come back from one and have a photo of yourself travelling
with something from RVH (spirit wear, mug, name tag), we want to see it! Please submit your travel
photo and info (based on the questions above) to Jennifer Moore at [email protected].
R V H ROYA L RE V IE W
Exceptional People. Exceptional Care
Dr. Gioulos has
recently joined the
Dentistry Department
as an Oral Maxillofacial
Surgeon. Dr. Gioulos
graduated from the
University of Toronto
with his Doctor of
Dental Surgery in 2001. He also completed his
General Dentistry residency and his Oral and
Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Toronto.
Dr. Gioulos has now joined the Huronia Oral
Surgery Group on Wellington Street in Barrie and
has recently moved to Barrie from Thornhill.
Dr. Emily Chan
Dr. Emily Chan
joined the Anesthesia
Department as an
Anesthetist in early
September after
completing her
Anesthesia residency
at McMaster University.
Dr. Chan also received her Doctor of Medicine
from McMaster in 2006. Dr. Chan held
positions at Hamilton Health Sciences and St.
Joseph’s Hospital in Hamilton. She has recently
moved to Barrie from Mississauga.
Dr. Niki MacNeill
Dr. Niki MacNeill
joined the Laboratory
Department as a
Pathologist in early
September. Dr.
MacNeill graduated
from Dalhousie
University with her
Doctor of Medicine and completed her residency
in Anatomical Pathology at the University
of Toronto. As well as completing a clinical
fellowship in Gynecological Pathology at the
University of Toronto, Dr. MacNeill recently held
positions as a Staff Pathologist and the Deputy
Medical Lab Director at Lakeridge Health in
Oshawa.
PA G E 7
royal review
OCTOBER 2011
Getting to know you
PEOPLE
By Marlene M. Salojärvi, Occupational Health and Safety
In centuries past, healers
would cure by a laying
on of hands – using the
power of touch to drive out
illness. In modern times,
those healers’ hands have
more than touch to offer.
Steve Bishop
They have sutures and
from Materials Management
scalpels, prosthetics and
pacemakers, defibrillators and devices galore. But
none of this would be possible without someone
supplying healers with the tools of their trade.
That’s where Stephen Bishop comes in. Think
about the thousands of different types of equipment
and supplies that fill a modern hospital. Then think
about what it would take to ensure all the equipment
and supplies are always available for us to use.
Stephen has been meeting this challenge for the
past 23 years in Inventory Control for Procurement
Services and Materials Management.
A word from our
Ask anyone about him and the response never
changes - Stephen always follows through to
track a missing item, source a back-ordered
supply or ensure delivery of a critical piece of
equipment. He is patient and conscientious,
going above and beyond his job duties to provide
excellent customer-focused service at every turn.
In speaking with this quiet father of three, his
commitment to RVH is apparent.
Why are you proud to work at RVH?
“RVH is a fine institution – we’re here for the
community. I’m proud that this expansion we’ve
needed for so long is finally coming to fruition. It
will save so many people the stress of having to
drive to Toronto for their procedures.”
Why do you think your role at RVH is so vital
to patient care?
“Nurses and doctors are the mainstay of RVH,
but without the supplies and tools they need, the
Patients
I wanted to send a note of thanks to RVH because I had a wonderful experience
with one of your volunteers recently. I had injured my ankle and was in the
Emergency Department. After I was sent to minor injury, casted and provided
with crutches, I was asked if I would like a wheelchair ride to the front
entrance. After much consideration, I said I would. A volunteer named Ihor
came to take me to the front entrance and asked me if I was getting a cab home. I
told him that I wasn’t and had driven to the hospital in my own car. I asked him to leave me at the
main entrance and then I would go to my car, but he thought the walk would be too long. Ihor ended
up pushing me in the wheelchair to the parking machine, helped me get my parking ticket, pushed
me to my car, helped me get in the car, and put my crutches in the back, all with a wonderful smile.
He is absolutely the perfect example of “Exceptional Care” -- you have a wonderful volunteer!
A.B. Collingwood
You Asked It:
How are you going to accommodate the parking for visitors and staff? Is there going
to be level parking or underground?
There is no underground or multi-level parking planned for the expansion. We are not
currently operating at capacity for parking, but do foresee this happening in the next 18-24
months. Therefore we have a number of different options available to us in the surrounding area
and each is being considered based on proximity, zoning by-laws and financial considerations.
Once a decision is reached it will be communicated broadly to staff and the public.
R V H ROYA L RE V IE W
Exceptional People. Exceptional Care
procedures can’t be done – the patients can’t be
treated. As we move into the new building, there
will be more equipment and supplies needed,
but everything will still have to come through
this department.”
When asked about pastimes away from work,
Stephen smiles when he talks about snowshoeing
in the winter and hiking in the summer. “I like to
just pack a snack and go.
But perhaps the most telling personal tidbit is
what he cites as his favourite book of all time –
Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables. “It shows how one
act of kindness can turn a person around and
create more kindness down the road.”
Given the accolades of his colleagues and letters
of appreciation in his employee file, it’s clear that
Stephen is living that message.
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Would you like to have an event,
travel photo, staff celebration or
department news included in the
Royal Review? If so, please contact:
Jennifer Moore
Corporate Communications
Ext. 41618
[email protected]
Submissions are due by the 15th of
the month. We appreciate visuals to
accompany stories, so please submit
any photos you may have.
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