Mandatory Masking Policy Returns to Peterborough Regional Health Centre
/Effective immediately, the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) has reimplemented masking in all direct patient care areas.
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Peterborough Blogs
PRHC Foundation Seeking Volunteer Campaign Ambassadors
/The Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Foundation seeks volunteer ambassadors for the Foundation’s Campaign for PRHC.
(From left to right) Lesley Heighway, President & CEO; Jane Lovett, Manager, Community Giving & Engagement: and Hanna Méthot, Community Giving & Engagement Coordinator. Representatives of the PRHC Foundation team are headed out into the community to recruit Campaign for PRHC Ambassadors, gather patient and donor stories and share how donor support is shaping the future of patient care at PRHC. Photo courtesy of PRHC.
Everyone is welcome as an ambassador, according to Lesley Heighway, PRHC Foundation President & CEO.
“Our family, friends, and neighbours from across the region have told us that they think of PRHC as a cornerstone of the community, where the excellent care they received was part of some of the most meaningful moments of their lives,” she said. “We’re grateful that our supporters want to share their stories and inspire others.”
Volunteers help raise the funds needed to empower world-class care close to home, introduce lifesaving services, attract top healthcare professionals and inspire solutions to the hospital's critical challenges according to a press release.
“The ambassadors program will support that – connecting volunteers enthusiastic about our donorfunded regional hospital and the health and future of our area, who want to celebrate what PRHC means to them and what’s possible through the power of community,” said Heighway. “If you have a story about the great care you received, a message for staff, or want to say thanks and connect with our community through a fundraising event, please let us know. We want to help you share that passion.”
To volunteer as a campaign ambassador, email foundationeventsonline@prhc.on.ca or call 705-876-5000.
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The City of Peterborough Announces Partnership With Family Physician Think Tank
/The City of Peterborough is collaborating with the Peterborough Family Doctors’ Think Tank to support its new approach to physician recruitment and retention, announced on Wednesday.
Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.
The Think Tank is a consulting and brainstorming group of independent family physicians in Peterborough which focuses on local advocacy and grassroots-level changes to maximize physician recruitment and retention.
The Think Tank is providing guidance and making recommendations to the City’s new Physician Recruitment Coordinator and is partnering with the City on joint projects that support primary care in Peterborough. The Think Tank's advice will be critical to the City’s efforts to highlight Peterborough as an ideal place to have a primary care career.
“Peterborough has a great deal to offer prospective physicians so they can contribute meaningfully to various types of patient care while also living in a community in which they are valued as leaders,” said Mayor Jeff Leal. “We’re thankful for the opportunity to work with local doctors through this partnership to understand the diverse practice types and evolving careers of family doctors.”
The Think Tank’s founder, Dr. Madura Sundareswaran, emphasizes the importance of this partnership.
“Peterborough is a fantastic place to live and work, and the Think Tank is excited about the City‘s innovative and unique new family physician recruitment and retention strategy. Family physicians should be part of the recruitment effort, and, as such, we are proud to be working with the City to leverage the strengths of Peterborough and its local physicians,” said Dr. Sundareswaran. “We all share the common goal of ensuring that everyone in this community has access to a primary care provider, and we look forward to working together to achieve this goal.”
The City’s physician recruitment efforts aim to work towards fair and equitable access to primary care, a challenge faced by many communities across the province. As retirements and administrative burdens increase, it is vital to expand access for new patients and maintain care for those already with a family doctor.
The City’s Physician Recruitment Coordinator, Chantal Van Parys, is centralizing resources and now serves as prospective physicians' main contact.
Over the coming months, the City will showcase what Peterborough can offer recent graduates and family physicians who have yet to settle into a practice.
This collaboration with the Think Tank is part of the City’s pilot project, and the City has committed to funding it until December next year.
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CUPE Not "Horsing Around" To Ontario Government's Privatized Healthcare Plan
/Serving as a metaphor in response to the Ontario Premier’s plan to bring privatized healthcare to the province, members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) have brought a 15-foot trojan horse to a rally at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) on Thursday morning.
The 15-foot trojan horse is making 61 stops along the province. It made a visit at the Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay after it made a stop at the PRHC. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The horse is synonymous with Greek mythology. During the Trojan War, the Greeks used a wooden horse disguised as a gift to gain access to the city of Troy and secure a victory. Soldiers were hiding inside the wooden horse as an ambush.
In May of last year, Doug Ford, Ontario Premier, had Bill 60 (Your Health Act) pass legislation to allow private clinics to conduct more OHIP-covered surgeries.
CUPE believes this bill is a trojan horse and disrupts and negatively affects the public healthcare system rather than both being able to co-exist.
“It's actually the opposite,” said Sharon Richer, CUPE secretary-treasurer of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions. “What it is going to do, (is) create longer wait times, create staffing issues and more hallway medicine that we're already today.”
According to CUPE, $968 million was spent on for-profit staffing agencies last year. The report continues to state that there was an increase of 212 per cent for private, for-profit clinics from 2023-24. This drains resources from the public system, contributing to staffing shortages and long wait times, says Richer.
“If you don't have the money, you're not going to be moved up into the line and the waitlists are going to grow longer here and that private clinics are only going to take healthy patients,” she said. “What's going to be left for the hospitals are people with medical issues on top already with the surgery that they're having so it's going to create longer wait times.”
While CUPE says it has not affected the PRHC for now, they have already seen its effects elsewhere in Ontario.
“In Don Mills, people are going to have their cataracts done at a private clinic and they're charging OHIP, $1,269 where if they have it done in a public hospital, it costs OHIP $508,” explained Richer. “This is almost two-and-a-half times more. This is our public taxes paying for these private clinics to make a profit and this is why we're sounding an alarm.”
CUPE’s solution to the problem is funding public health care. According to their report, Ontario has the fewest beds per 1,000 people across the country and the lowest staffing levels. They want increased healthcare funding in the public sector and to stop privatization.
CUPE hopes the trojan horse sends a message to Doug Ford and the Conservative government about reconsidering privatized healthcare.
“We're going across the province, we have 61 stops in various communities and we're talking to people,” concluded Richer. “There will be an election coming up in the spring and people need to make sure healthcare is the number one topic in this election and they need to force Doug Ford to repeal the Bill. If we get a new government, the government needs to repeal the privatization for the clinics, Bill 60.”
Recalled Beef Jelly Tongue Products Sold in Region
/Health Canada has issued a recall of Beef Jelly Tongue products following confirmed cases of listeria linked to these products that have been sold within the region.
THe product sold at the Bridgenorth Deli. Photo courtesy of the Government of Canada.
One case of Listeria infection has been confirmed following the purchase of the product at Bridgenorth Deli, located at 871 Ward St. in Bridgenorth, prior to being informed of the recall.
The premise is cooperating with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Peterborough Public Health (PPH) regarding the product recall and assuring the safety of their clients according to press release. The deli is making every effort to contact the customers directly.
A visible display of sliced beef jelly tongue being sold. Photo courtesy of the Government of Canada.
Actions to take:
DO NOT EAT recalled products
If you are ill and think you have consumed the product, contact your healthcare provider immediately.
Check to see if you have recalled product and throw out or return to location of purchase.
Symptoms to monitor for:
Vomiting
Nausea
Persistent fever
Muscle aches
Severe headache
Stiff neck
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Peterborough County Launches Healthcare Needs Assessment Form to Help Bring Physicians to Area
/Peterborough County has launched its new Healthcare Needs Assessment form to gather crucial insights directly from the residents to gather insight regarding the strategic plan for the future of healthcare in the region.
Photo courtesy of Peterborough County.
The form provides feedback on all health and human services and facilitates the development of comprehensive healthcare solutions closer to home. It also allows residents to register their need for a primary care provider and will act as the official list for residents without a family practitioner according to the County.
“We recognize the challenges faced by many in our community, including the difficulty in accessing primary care and the burden of long-distance travel for healthcare services. Through this initiative, we aim to streamline the process, eliminating the frustration of wait lists and offering a Peterborough County centralized database for physicians seeking new patients or considering relocation to our vibrant region. This will eliminate the need for residents to contact already overwhelmed practices or by having to deroster from their current physician to be considered. This list will be the only place residents need to register,” according to a statement issued by the County.
The Healthcare Needs Assessment form available online or call 705-930-4765. Together, we can create a healthcare landscape that meets the needs of today and tomorrow, ensuring a brighter and healthier future for all residents of Peterborough County.
"We are taking action to assist residents who need access to healthcare. To begin the essential work of recruiting and planning for the future of primary healthcare delivery in our communities, the Healthcare Needs Assessment form will provide a convenient and consolidated overview of where resources are needed across our county,” said Bonnie Clark, Peterborough County Warden. “Our goal is for healthcare to be more accessible for everyone; rural or urban, young or elderly. I encourage every resident in Peterborough County to complete the Healthcare Needs Assessment Form.”
“I am deeply honoured to serve in this capacity, dedicated to the fundamental mission of ensuring equitable access to primary care for every resident of Peterborough County,” said Lori Richey, Healthcare Advancement Coordinator. “Our commitment extends beyond immediate solutions; it entails the meticulous implementation of a comprehensive, long-term strategy, shaped by the invaluable insights of our community members. Together, we are fostering a healthier future for the vibrant community of Peterborough County.”
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International Overdose Awareness Day Held to Reduce Stigma and Mourn Those Lost From Drug Addiction
/Moms Stop The Harm Peterborough held an International Overdose Awareness Day memorial service honouring those lost at the Silver Bean Café in Millennium Park on Friday afternoon.
Kelly Whetung looks over her late son Joey who passed away from drug poisoning in Dec. 21, 2017. The event had a photographic mural and white crosses in purple decor to honour those fallen to drug addiction. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The day coincides with International Overdose Awareness Day that is held every year on Aug. 31.
The global event is to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma of a drug-related death. It also acknowledges the grief of families and friends suffering from losing a loved one or a victim of injury as a result of a drug overdose.
During the event, stories of how speakers’ loved ones were lost or affected by drug addiction, claiming that there should not be a stigma for it and no judgment should be passed for those suffering.
Between Jan. 1 and July 31, 2022, Peterborough paramedics responded to 234 suspected opioid-related 911 calls and drugs were responsible for 343 emergency department visits according to Peterborough Public Health (PPH).
“I think the crisis requires a continuum of response and massive investment. We look at how we respond to other societal crises including the COVID-19 pandemic and it requires an all-of-society, massive investment on many interventions and solutions.” said Dr. Thomas Piggott, PPH medical officer of health.
Of that same span last year, there were 182 calls, and 232 ER visits but an increase of 43 deaths.
“We need support to address the toxic supply of drugs on the streets. We need support to prevent substance use in the first place. We know that trauma and social determinants of health are the drivers of why many people end up using drugs or have a substance use disorder,” Piggott continued. “We need access to treatment in this community. People that want treatment still can't get access, that needs to improve. We also need to keep people alive and harm reduction responses are trying to do that. People may not be ready for help today or tomorrow but they need they need help to stay alive.”
PPH offered quick sessions on administering aid with a naloxone kit at the event and gave them out for free. Piggott says that carrying naloxone is even easier than learning basic first aid and CPR and this information can be life-saving.
“In five or ten minutes, we can safely train people on how to administer it,” he said. “I think if you are around people who use drugs, if you are in an area of the city where you may see and find somebody who needs help, this is an easy way to learn a little bit more about how you can save a life so I encourage people to carry naloxone.”
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Peterborough Public Health Confirms Two Cases of Rabies Found In Local Bats
/Peterborough Public Health (PPH) received reports of two confirmed rabies cases in the local bat population, announced on Tuesday.
Photo by David Tuan Bui.
PPH reminds residents to avoid interacting with wildlife as all mammals can carry rabies.
Although it’s rare, with vaccination and public health control measures, human infection with rabies is nearly 100 per cent fatal according to PPH. While animal bites are responsible for most instances of rabies transmission, saliva contamination of cuts, scratches and mucous membranes are also possible.
PPH suggested the following to protect your family and your pets from rabies:
Keep pets up to date with their rabies vaccination. In Ontario, it’s the law that all cats, dogs, and ferrets over three months of age must be vaccinated against rabies, and this vaccination must be kept up to date.
Teach children to avoid wild animals, pets they don’t know and animals that are acting strangely.
Talk to your veterinarian about vaccinating your livestock against rabies.
Stay away from any wildlife, dogs or cats you don’t know or any animal acting strangely. Remember, only mammals can carry rabies.
Keep pets away from wildlife. Don’t let pets run free and keep them indoors at night.
Don’t feed, transport or relocate wildlife.
If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, wash the area thoroughly with soap and water immediately, seek medical advice immediately and then contact Peterborough Public Health at 705-743-1000.
If your pets or livestock have had contact with a wild animal, such as a bat, skunk, fox or raccoon, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible. Veterinarians seeking assistance with risk assessments or animal post-exposure management can call the Agricultural Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300.
For non-emergencies of sick/injured wildlife, call the Ontario Rabies Hotline at 1-888-574-6656, or Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative at 1-866-673-4781. If the animal poses a public safety issue, contact police.
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Campbellford Memorial Hospital Expands Partnership to Enhance Patient Care
/Campbellford Memorial Hospital (CMH) has announced an expanded partnership with the Toronto Grace Health Centre to provide eligible CMH patients with remote care monitoring and personal support worker (PSW) assistance.
File photo.
This initiative ensures a safe discharge home for patients awaiting long-term care and helps address the hospital’s alternate level of care (ALC) pressures according to a press release.
The fully funded Remote Care Monitoring Plus (RCM+) program — which CMH applied for and received approval for last summer — offers a comprehensive solution for patient care said CMH.
The program equips patients with a pendant that uses geolocating technologies to detect wandering or falls. The program provides extensive PSW support and access to nursing care through Home and Community Care services.
“We are thrilled to offer the RCM+ program to our patients,” said Heather Campbell, VP of Patient Care. “This innovative program has proven to be a safe and effective care option, allowing eligible patients the ability to stay at home while waiting for long term care.”
Patients who meet the program's eligibility criteria benefit from enhanced care, ensuring their safety and well-being while transitioning to long-term care. The RCM+ program exemplifies CMH's commitment to providing high-quality, patient-centred care while addressing the challenges faced by the healthcare system in Ontario.
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Blue-Green Algae Blooms Expected This Summer Says Peterborough Public Health
/Peterborough Public Health (PPH) advises residents to protect themselves and their pets from blue-green algae (BGA), which may bloom in local lakes.
FIle photo.
