When going with recorded online modules for 2020 Fall CME meant losing interactive classroom discussions, we turned to an idea as old as the internet itself: discussion forums.
Now the forums we created in MedicLEARN gap are super active with great suggestions and thoughtful questions.
More than two months into the pandemic response, you may be having more intrusive feelings than usual. Work, home and everything in between is still very different this week than it was at the beginning of the year. The uncertainty and stress may be taking their toll.
After undergoing laminoplasty this winter, Julie came back to work at the beginning of May sporting a little extra hardware. Surgeons gave her four plates and 11 screws to open up the lower cervical vertebrae giving the spinal canal a bit more space. She assures us that all of her new screws are secure and not the least bit loose. Glad you're back, Julie!
We've seen medication shortages before, but not like this. With the COVID-19 pandemic demanding more medications and supply chains broken, a lot of important drugs that we use in healthcare are getting scarce.
Prescott-Russell Paramedic Service is now the second service to implement the auxiliary medical directive, Assessment of Patients with Possible COVID-19.
Prescott-Russell last Friday joined Hastings-Quinte in using the new directive. The move follows a high proportion of the service's paramedics completing online education for the directive.
In a year where we focused on coping and wellbeing over productivity, the measures of RPPEO successes are unlike other years. As we moved through the tension of unknowns and the stress of continuous adaptation, 2020 challenged us to grow as people - and as an organization. On Boxing Day, the Government-ordered shutdown of Ontario began. With new infections hovering near an average of 2.300 a day, deaths increasing to just under 50 a day, and hospitalizations due to COVID reaching about 1,000 each day, the system of alert levels is temporarily suspended. Public Health modelling suggests that Ontario infection rates have not yet peaked. All areas of the province are required to observe additional closures and stay-at-home advisories for non-essential outings until January 9, with all of southern Ontario under shutdown until January 23.
Long-time RPPEO colleague Christine Ash died on July 16 after a three year battle with cancer.
Despite the pandemic, she was surrounded by her family at the time of her passing. She is survived by her husband Doug, and adult children Connor and Allison, whose wedding, unfortunately, was postponed in May, because of COVID-19.
Associate Medical Director Dr. Christian Vaillancourt has added some 'Stiell' to his growing trophy cabinet.
Dr. Vaillancourt was named the Ian Stiell Research of the Year for 2020 by the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians at last week's Canadian Association of Emergency Physician Annual Awards.
Long-time RPPEO colleague, Susan Duncan, has announced her retirement date - March 31, 2021
First on the agenda is heading to New Orleans for a month with John. Next up is attending more bluegrass festivals with her Dad. She is looking forward to spending more time with her grand-kids and great-grandkids, and finally landscaping their property after 11 years of living there! Homemade bread baking is also in the plan. Yum
It's Staff Appreciation Week at The Ottawa Hospital, so we thought we'd put that right up front: we appreciate you! Your work makes it all function in quality & safety, education, medical direction and all the hidden infrastructure of administration and technology. And, you bring you to us. That's something that only you can do! So, thanks for being with us.
