First Local Case of Seasonal Influenza Reported by Peterborough Public Health
/Peterborough Public Health reported the first local lab-confirmed case of seasonal influenza in our area on Friday.
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Peterborough Blogs
Peterborough Public Health Announces Free Healthcare Provider Consultations For Vaccine Questions
/Questions about COVID-19 vaccines can now be answered by phone through a free consultation service announced by Peterborough Public Health (PPH) on Friday.
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Residents with personal health questions or other concerns about COVID-19 vaccines can book a private phone consultation with either an Ontario physician or pediatric nurse to get answers.
"We know there are many residents who just want clear and straightforward answers about COVID-19 vaccines especially if they have health conditions they want to discuss,” said Brittany Cadence, PPH communications manager. “We understand many are trying to weigh the risks and benefits to getting vaccinated against getting sick and spreading the disease itself."
These services are being offered by two provincial healthcare partners – the Scarborough Health Network and Toronto SickKids Children’s Hospital. Their contact information can be easily accessed by visiting www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca/consultation.
“We want to ensure anyone with concerns about the vaccine knows about these services, especially parents of younger children, as we expect they’ll have lots of questions once the pediatric COVID-19 vaccine is authorized by Health Canada,” said Donna Churipuy, director of public health programs.
"With the imminent authorization of pediatric COVID-19 vaccines, we expect parents and caregivers will have lots of questions to make an informed choice for their children,'“ added Cadence. “Youth over 12 years of age and over can also speak with a pediatric nurse from Toronto Sick Kids Hospital."
The Scarborough Health Network provides private, non-judgmental phone consultations with a physician through their service called VaxFacts.
Toronto SickKids Hospital has a team of pediatric nurses available to speak with anyone over the age of 12 about the COVID-19 vaccine. Both services are available free of charge, by appointment.
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City of Peterborough Releases Workplace Vaccination Policy Results
/As of Nov. 12, 97.4 per cent of City employees were compliant with the City’s COVID-19 Workplace Vaccination Policy, the City announced on Thursday.
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Under the City’s COVID-19 Workplace Vaccination Policy, employees are required to submit proof of vaccination, submit proof of medical exemption, or regularly submit COVID-19 testing at their own expense and on their own time if their position is eligible for that option.
Out of 1,049 active City employees, 94.57 per cent have submitted proof of vaccination.
There are currently three employees who are on unpaid leave due to the COVID-19 Workplace Vaccination Policy.
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Fourcast Announces Expansion, Gets Funding For Addictions Services
/Addiction treatment centre Fourcast will expand with $500,000 in annualized funding for mobile withdrawal management services from the Ontario Government announced at Victoria Park on Friday.
(left to right) Deputy Mayor Bonnie Clark, Coun. Keith Riel and Donna Rogers, Fourcast Executive Director were in attendance at Victoria Park joining MPP Dave Smith for the announcement. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The funding is part of the Ontario government’s investment of $32.7 million in new annualized funding for targeted addictions services and supports including treatment for opioid addictions.
Ontario is committing $3.8 billion over the next decade to implement Roadmap to Wellness, Ontario’s comprehensive plan to build a modern and connected mental health and addictions system centred around the needs of individuals and their families according to the press release.
“The fight against the opioid crisis requires a robust local response including a comprehensive array of services to help people beat addiction and live healthy, productive lives,” MPP Dave Smith said. “The key to this effort is strong support at every level of their recovery. $500,000 in annual funding will expand detox services, outreach, and primary medical care for more people struggling with addiction.”
Community Withdrawal Management allows individuals to withdraw from substances in their homes or in another location under medical supervision.
This new funding will hire a nurse practitioner a program manager and two addictions workers into the program. It will be integrated with Peterborough Regional Health Centre’s Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) Clinic and other existing services such as housing, social services, residential and addiction treatment and high-quality primary medical care.
"Fourcast appreciates this investment in community withdrawal management services especially the opportunity that it provides to expand our existing program, “ said Donna Rogers, Fourcast executive director. “This new funding will add outreach and nursing capacity to our existing team. Quick and comprehensive response for people who make decisions to change their substance use is important and this investment allows us to improve access and incorporate much-needed nursing support into our response."
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PRHC Receives New MRI Machine and Critical Infrastructure Upgrades
/A new MRI machine is being invested into the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) from the Ontario Government to address wait times for diagnostic imaging announced Wednesday.
Photo Courtesy of PRHC.
A payment of $101,023 from the Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund will support upgrades and repairs to emergency infrastructure.
“This new MRI machine will save thousands of trips to other communities each year with local residents being able to access this health service right here in Peterborough,” said MPP Dave Smith. “Fewer trips for families to Toronto or Kingston for health care saves money in gas and meals while reducing travel time and the impact on the environment.”
Over the last 10 years, the demand for MRI services has increased on average by approximately four per cent annually and wait times have got longer with 54 per cent of cases completed within target wait times in 2013-14 to 39 per cent of cases completed within target in 2019-2020.
“Since 2017, the demand for MRI services at PRHC has continued to increase. In fact, outpatient MRI requests have increased 53% from 2017 to 2021. The addition of a second MRI at PRHC will not only improve access to care closer to home for our patients, it will decrease wait times and offer modern, leading-edge MRI technology for patients in our community and region,” said Dr. Peter McLaughlin, PRHC President and CEO, PRHC. “I am thrilled that PRHC is among those hospitals across Ontario to receive funding for a new MRI machine as part of this investment.”
This new investment brings additional MRI service to Peterborough making it easier for patients to receive the care they need closer to home. It is part of the government’s $30 million investment in the 2021 Budget to support MRI services for patients and add new MRI machines to hospitals across the province.
“Our government made a commitment to end hallway health care, and that includes ensuring that patients have access to high-quality MRI services,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “By providing hospitals with annual investments to support net new MRI machines, our government is helping to ensure that these vital services are available patients now and in the future.”
The Ontario Government is investing up to $324 million in new funding to enable Ontario’s hospitals and community health sector to perform more surgeries, MRI and CT scans and procedures including on evenings and weekends according to the press release.
The 2021 Budget, Ontario's Action Plan: Protecting People's Health and Our Economy, outlined a total of $1.8 billion in additional investments for hospitals in 2021-22.
This includes funding to create more than 3,100 additional hospital beds to increase capacity. There is an increase of $778 million in operating funding to ensure all publicly funded hospitals will receive a minimum one per cent increase to help them keep pace with patient needs and to increase access to high-quality care for patients and families across Ontario as stated in the press release.
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Ontario Government Invests $375,000 Into Hospice Peterborough For COVID-19 Relief
/Hospice Peterborough gets a $375,000 boost from the Ontario Government to offset any costs incurred from the COVID-19 pandemic announced on Tuesday.
Hajni Hős, Hospice Peterborough Executive Director (left) with MPP Dave Smith (right) in front of Hospice Peterborough on London Street. Since 2018, the Ontario government has invested $40 million to add over 200 new hospice beds in Ontario for over 7,000 additional patients annually. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The money given is a 36 per cent increase from last year and brings their 2021-2022 funding to $1,425,000. During the COVID-19 pandemic, residential hospices experienced a decrease in community donations which are used to help support day-to-day operations as stated in the press release.
This capital investment is part of Ontario’s $23 million to help residential hospices across the province provide high-quality, compassionate end-of-life services and care to people and their loved ones.
This new investment is in addition to the province’s annual investment of over $74 million per year in palliative care.
“Hospice Peterborough will continue to provide high-quality, compassionate, end-of-life care to meet the needs of our clients, their families and caregivers in our community,” says Hajni Hős, Hospice Peterborough Executive Director.
As Ontario’s plan to end hallway health care, the government is investing $23 million to help residential hospices across the province provide high-quality, compassionate end-of-life services and care to people and their loved ones.
This investment is one factor in an integrated approach to reduce silos in health care and create a seamless, patient-centred system according to the press release.
“There’s no question Hospice Peterborough has felt the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; community events to raise capital and support programming was cancelled,” said MPP Dave Smith. “This boost in funding will help them reorient, plan for the future and deliver the best care for patients.”
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Ross Memorial Mourns the Passing of Long-Time Doctor and Champion of Women's Health Dr. Gargi Bhatia
/Ross memorial hospital announced the passing of Dr. Gargi Bhatia on Thursday.
Photo courtesy of Ross memorial Hospital.
Dr. Bhatia has provided obstetrical and gynecological care at Ross Memorial Hospital since 1980.
A champion of women’s health, Dr. Bhatia has garnered the respect of patients, colleagues and the entire community.
She was presented with a James Ross Award of Excellence, presented annually to individuals for their exceptional initiative in going beyond their defined role and doing so with excellence in 2014.
“Dr. Gargi Bhatia touched so many lives over her 40-plus years at Ross Memorial Hospital,” says Dr. Bharat Chawla, RMH Chief of Staff. “Having known Dr. Bhatia personally and professionally for 24 years, I am proud to call her an incredible physician, a caring colleague, a determined advocate for women’s health, and a dear friend. My thoughts are with her husband, Raj, children, Sacha and Sonya, and the entire Bhatia family. She was extremely proud of her family and especially thrilled with the addition of her new granddaughter. She will be dearly missed.”
Dr. Bhatia passed away on Nov. 3, 2021 following a medical emergency.
“Ross Memorial Hospital extends its deepest sympathies to the Bhatia family, everyone here at RMH, and so many in the community who have benefitted from her care and kindness.”
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Record Influenza Vaccination Rates of Healthcare Workers Resulted in Zero Lab-Confirmed Cases Last Year
/Peterborough Public Health is hoping last year’s strong flu shot uptake among local healthcare workers portends similar vaccination rates this year for even better community protection.
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“Last year’s impressive influenza vaccination rates show that local healthcare workers understand that the vaccine is essential to protecting their patients and the community,” said Patti Fitzgerald, Manager of Infectious Disease Programs. “We appreciate their leadership as the flu vaccine starts rolling out across our region, and hope to see strong vaccination rates again this year for everyone’s benefit.”
Each year Peterborough Public Health produces a report on healthcare worker flu immunization rates focusing on those who work in long-term care facilities (LTCF), retirement residences, and at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC).
For the 2020-2021 influenza season, the median vaccination rate of all LTCFs was 87.2%, up 5.1% from the previous year. Influenza vaccination rates among PRHC staff also increased from last year, up 3.4% to 84.5%.
A total of zero lab-confirmed influenza cases were reported for the 2020-2021 surveillance season. Zero influenza outbreaks were reported in LTCFs, retirement residences, and the local hospital for the same period, compared to three outbreaks in these settings the previous influenza season.
This year’s flu vaccine has already been made available to healthcare workers and is currently publicly available through pharmacies and health care providers.
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Peterborough Public Health Highlights What Exiting Step-3 Means for Residents
/Peterborough Public Health is reminding local residents that continuing to follow public health measures is more important than ever as capacity limits ease in certain settings under the Plan to Safely Reopen Ontario and Manage COVID-19 for the Long-Term.
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“By and large, our community has done a great job adhering to public health measures, and this commitment is a major reason why cases aren’t increasing,” said Donna Churipuy, Director of Public Health Programs. “If we keep up with these practices, such as screening for COVID-19 symptoms, providing proof of vaccination and wearing a mask, we can expect case counts to remain stable even with more social contacts.”
Churipuy noted that the latest Ontario Science Table report included a warning based on the experience of Nordic countries in Europe: lifting public health measures can drive a new wave, even with strong vaccine coverage because there are still too many people who are unprotected, and the virus can still circulate.
“We need to remember that this reopening plan has to be gradual. Even though many venues have increased capacity limits, which we all want, the entry requirements for clients and user groups remain the same,” said Churipuy.
“The relaxation of capacity limits within certain settings is a development made possible by our community’s collective hard work,” said Julie Ingram, Manager of Environmental Health. “Local businesses and organizations must remain highly compliant with other workplace and sector-specific public health measures such as COVID-19 screening, masking, recording contact information and confirming proof of vaccination, so that we can enjoy increased social interaction over time.”
“Masks remain key to preventing the spread of COVID-19 both indoors and outdoors whenever physical distancing isn’t possible. It’s one of the measures that is going to help to keep us on the province’s proposed reopening timeline, and until we have a high vaccination rate among our five to 11-year olds, it will help protect them too,” said Dr. Ian Gemmill, Acting Medical Officer of Health.
The province has made further amendments to O. Reg. 364/20 under the Reopening Ontario Act, 2020 to remove capacity limits for outdoor organized public events, such as parades, outdoor memorial services and other similar events. This amendment was published on Wednesday, October 27 and updates to appropriate sectors will be communicated over the next several days.
The latest information is always available on Peterborough Public Health’s website www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca.
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Ontario Expands Paramedicine for Long-Term Care Program For Peterborough and Surrounding Area
/The province’s community paramedicine for long-term care program is being expanded announced by the Ontario Government at the Peterborough County-City Paramedics on Thursday.
As of June 2021, more than 38,000 people were on the waitlist to access a long-term care bed in Ontario. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
“Seniors in our community deserve a patient-centred health care system; one that offers excellent, high-quality care in their homes, hospitals and long-term care facilities,” said MPP Dave Smith. “This new program will enable offer health care services in their homes, reduce emergency room visits and improve quality of life before they find a spot in long-term care.”
The program is already operational across 33 Ontario communities. It is being expanded to an additional 22 communities including Northumberland County, Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes. The program was first piloted across five communities in October 2020.
The program works alongside primary care and home and community care to provide the following services to eligible seniors:
Access to health services 24-7, through in-home and remote methods, such as online supports
Non-emergency home visits and in-home testing procedures
Ongoing monitoring of vital signs to prevent escalation of chronic medical conditions
Assessments, referrals, diagnostic procedures and point-of-care testing
