Speak Up for Patient Safety

It's Canadian Patient Safety Week. Under the banner, #ConquerSilence, this week is devoted to encouraging everyone involved in healthcare to say something whenever they have a concern.

This week, the RPPEO will take to social media to encourage paramedics to report their concerns about patient safety to us. We're highlighting the RPPEO's fair and just approach and the new tools we're building to help paramedics speak up.

Now we're committed!

Spring 2021 CME announced, staff working on content

We pushed the little green 'go' button launching Cycle 1 2021 CME last week.

New to our line-up this year is a series of four one-hour workshops featuring paramedics who are content specialists. Registration is now open for paramedics to attend the virtual live events with four presenters that Jeremiah has lined up across May 4, 5, and 6.

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Methoxyflurane Study Launches Treatment Phase

Our research study will begin to use Penthrox on the road in Hastings-Quinte starting on Wednesday.

Since Health Canada approved Penthrox for pain relief use in Canada in 2018, paramedic services have been adopting the non-opioid analgesic.

The low-dose medication is delivered to patients by an inhaler which patients who have acute trauma may use themselves when they're in the care of paramedics. Patients report improvements in pain scores, with "side effects" that include dizziness and euphoria.

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From the Region

Two more paramedic services in our region announced projects last week to bolster their community paramedic programs in long term care with new government funding announced last year.

Hastings-Quinte Paramedic Service is building a community paramedicine program that's responsive to people "at-risk" of requiring long-term care who are not yet wait-listed. Chief Doug Socha announced last week that the project has received approval for four years of funding totaling $6M.

Jeffrey Carss, Chief of the Leeds Grenville Paramedic Service, joined municipal and provincial leaders to announce last week that their long term care project is receiving just over $3M. Their project is also aimed to provide some home care services to help people stay in their homes longer.

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Welcome to the team, Ivy!

Ben is pleased to announce that we have a new Data Analyst! Ivy Ma will join Quality & Patient Safety at the RPPEO in this new role on February 22. With orientation at The Ottawa Hospital today, expect to find Ivy in our RPPEO places starting on the 23rd.

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Ingrid Heading to Queens U

The call to higher learning whispers in many ears.

Now, Ingrid has decided to heed the call! She begins her pursuit of a PhD at Queens University later this year.

In her research for the degree from the University's Faculty of Education, Ingrid plans to look at the future of licensing and certification exams in health professions.

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Spring at the RPPEO

Starting today, Ontario residents aged 75 and older will be able to book a COVID-19 vaccination. More than half of people 80 and up have had at least one poke so far in Ontario. People 60+ may also be able to get the AstraZeneca vaccine through local pharmacies or primary care providers, according to the government.

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Happy Retirement, Susan!

Susan Duncan retires from the RPPEO this week! All her years of work-a-day life will be part of the past, starting April 1.

We'd like to thank you, Susan, for the work you've put into paramedicine here at the base hospital.

While Susan will be laying down all her regular responsibilities, she won't be gone too far. Susan has decided to volunteer to help compile our cardiac arrest data for 2020. The TOH has accepted Susan as a volunteer in this role, and we are so pleased to have her continue her contributions in this way!

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Happy International Women's Day!

"IWD is a day to recognize and celebrate the outstanding achievements of women around the world. Women have made significant contributions socially, economically, culturally and politically, and inspire future generations to succeed. Presently, women around the world are playing a tremendous role responding to COVID-19, including as front-line health-care workers, caregivers and educators in their communities. However, women and girls are also enduring the worst of the pandemic’s impact such as unemployment, loss of educational opportunities, and decreased access to health care."

- The Journal cover story

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New One-Stop Wellness Tool

Available to Staff, Managers and Physicians

Recently, The Ottawa Hospital launched its new online tool, the Wellness Navigator.. The Wellness Navigator compiles health and wellness resources in one place and it is arranged in a way where you can access resources relevant to you.

You can access the Wellness Navigator from myHospital, SharePoint or from your hospital computer desktop by clicking the Wellness Navigator icon.

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