November 2017 Kelsey Trail Health Region

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

SHA prepares to launch ............2

Melfort physicians move .........4

Just Ask! video contest .............5

Fundraising success .................6

Recognition award ...................9

HPV vaccine ...….………………...11

KTHR Pulse

As you all know we are transitioning to become

part of the Saskatchewan Health Authority

effective December 4, 2017. At that point in time

Kelsey Trail Health Region will no longer exist.

Change can be challenging given the unknowns

surrounding what is to come but it can also be

exciting given the opportunities that may arise.

With this change, you may have many questions

about how the transition may impact you on both a

personal level as well as the services that are

provided to you.

While there will be some changes to senior administrative levels,

management and support services will continue to be located throughout

the communities within the former Kelsey Trail Health Region. Health

care programs, services, facilities and the work of front line personnel are

not changing and the great work they do every day will continue as is.

I am very proud of the accomplishments of Kelsey Trail Health Region.

Working collaboratively as a team while living our values of

Accountability, Transparency, Respect, Excellence and Engagement has

allowed us to achieve great success as a health region. Kelsey Trail Health

Region has been a leader in many areas in the provision of excellent care

to those we serve. Through our collective wisdom and strength, we have

often forged a new path that has set us distinctively apart in terms of our

enduring commitment to improving the lives of our patients, residents

and clients. I am confident that work will continue as part of the

Saskatchewan Health Authority.

When I took on the role as CEO of Kelsey Trail Health Region, I

wholeheartedly believed that it was due to the dedicated efforts of KTHR

physicians and staff that the health region was able to provide safe, quality

health care to all of our residents day after day. The same holds true today

and will into the future— KTHR’s most valuable resource has and

continues to be its physicians and staff! You are in very capable, caring

and experienced hands.

It has been an honor and a privilege serving as the CEO for Kelsey Trail

Health Region. Thank you.

MESSAGE FROM THE CEO

SASKATCHEWAN HEALTH AUTHORITY

PREPARES FOR LAUNCH

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On Monday, December 4, 2017, the new Saskatchewan Health Authority

will launch. On that date, the employees and operations of the 12

Regional Health Authorities will officially transfer to the new

organization. There will be no changes to health care programs,

services, facilities or phone numbers as a result of transition. Residents

and patients should continue to access care in the same way they always

have.

“The transition to a single provincial health authority is a significant

milestone, as we work to better integrate and coordinate health care

services for Saskatchewan people, wherever they live,” Health Minister

Jim Reiter said. “The focus is on streamlining governance and

management across the province. Frontline employees will carry out

their day-to-day patient care responsibilities as usual.”

By moving to a single provincial health

authority, the provincial government will be

able to reduce senior administrative staff

positions by 86 per cent and reduce senior

administrative staff salaries by 80 per cent or

$9 million annually.

“Maintaining local connections and preserving

strong community relationships is a priority

for our government and for the Saskatchewan

Health Authority,” Rural and Remote Health

Minister Greg Ottenbreit said. “While there

will be some changes to senior administration,

management and support services will

continue to be located across the province,

and local health system contacts and

representatives will still be available to

community partners.”

“While the transition into one organization will formally occur on

December 4, the work to unify the health system under a single

organization and co-ordinate system-wide transformation to improve

patient care will take time,” Saskatchewan Health Authority CEO Scott

Livingstone said. “We are embarking on a multi-year journey in

collaboration with patients, health care providers and partners across

the health system.”

When the Saskatchewan Health Authority launches, it will be the largest

organization in Saskatchewan, employing more than 44,000 employees

and physicians responsible for the delivery of high quality and timely

health care for the entire province.

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WINTER SLIPS, TRIPS & FALLS AWARENESS

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MELFORT PHYSICIANS MOVE TO NEW CLINIC

Physicians practicing with the Family Physicians Group in Melfort started a new work week in a new location with a move to the new Wellness Centre adjacent to the Melfort Hospital on November 27th.

Last week, many of the Melfort physicians located at the Melfort Mall or the Nirvana clinic relocated their practices over to the new Wellness Centre in anticipation of their first day of operations in their new space. “Although some work on touch-ups and deficiencies will be taking place during the week of November 27th through 30th, the new clinic space will officially be open for business on Monday, November 27th,” stated Dr. Eben Strydom of the Family Physicians Group.

Among the 12 physicians currently practicing in Melfort, nine have relocated and are practicing in the new clinic space. Patients of Dr Eben Strydom, Dr. Jarryd Bryshun, Dr. Stephanie Nyberg and Dr. Adewole Omolambe began accessing their physicians from offices at the Wellness Clinic the morning of Monday, November 27th.

Patients of Dr. Danielle Desjardins, Dr. Robert Steffen, Dr. Olabode Ige, Dr. Michael Stoll and Dr. Jordan Wingate began visiting their family physicians in their new location at the Wellness Clinic on Tuesday, November 28th.

Patients of Dr. Pierre Hanekom will continue to visit the Nirvana clinic until Dr. Hanekom relocates his practice on February 1, 2018. When Dr. Levendall returns to practice from maternity leave, Dr. Levendall and Dr. Watts are both expected to relocate their practices to the new Wellness Clinic space.

As a result of the change in location, several Melfort physicians’ phone numbers also changed effective November 24th, with the exception of Dr. Hanekom. His phone number will change effective December 1st.

“We are extremely excited to begin working in our new spaces but ask for the public’s patience as we get used to our new surroundings,” Dr. Strydom said. “One of the most exciting aspects of the relocation to the Wellness Centre is the proximity

we, as physicians, as well as our patients, will have to the hospital. The ease of accessing additional diagnostic testing such as lab and x-rays is of significant benefit to our patients and physician access to our acute care patients, as well as the emergency room, will ensure patient care is not disrupted.”

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Students in Kelsey Trail Health Region are being asked to help change the stigma surrounding mental health.

Through the Just Ask! Video contest, students are tasked with creating videos that convey positive messages about mental health. In an effort to engage youth in positive mental health, the students are asked to use their own words and images to produce videos describing what positive mental health is while helping to create a culture that supports and promotes asking questions and seeking help to improve mental health.

The positive mental health promotion campaign, Just Ask! was originally created by Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region (RQHR). Students between the ages of 12 and 18 are eligible to enter the contest with winners determined through online voting.

Entries are being accepted until April 27, 2018. To learn more about the contest and view some of the award winning video submissions from last year, visit: http://www.kelseytrailhealth.ca/Programs/PHC/Pages/JustAsk.aspx

STUDENTS INVITED TO SUBMIT VIDEOS

Physician Clinic Number

Dr. Jarryd Bryshun 306-752-3335

Dr. Danielle Desjardins 306-752-8820

Dr. Pierre Hanekom 306-752-8824 (Dec.1, 2017)

Dr. Olabode Ige 306-752-8819

Dr. Tamzyn Levendall/Dr. Alexander Watts

306-752-8825

Dr. Stephanie Nyberg 306-752-8818

Dr. Adewole Omolambe 306-752-4900

Dr. Robert Steffen 306-752-8828

Dr. Michael Stoll 306-752-8817

Dr. Eben Strydom 306-752-8822

Dr. Jordan Wingate 306-752-8827

NEW MELFORT PHYSICIAN CLINIC

PHONE NUMBERS

RADIOTHON FUNDRAISER SUCCESSFUL

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Volunteer staff from the Melfort Hospital and members of the North

Central Health Care Foundation came together to host a successful

fundraising pancake breakfast and radiothon on Friday, October 20th.

The fundraising campaign was directed at raising the remaining $310,000

of the original $510,000 cost of the replacement and upgrading of the

digital x-ray equipment at the Melfort Hospital. The day kicked off with a

pancake breakfast at the Melfort Curling Club before moving over to the

Melfort Hospital for the radiothon hosted live by CJVR FM/CK750. At the

conclusion of the day-long event, over $85,000 had been raised.

Melfort Hospital is one of seven diagnostic imaging sites in Kelsey Trail

Health Region (KTHR) that has been upgraded from outdated computed x-

ray technology to the industry standard digital technology, aligning all

diagnostic imaging equipment in the health region to a safer, higher quality

at an affordable price. KTHR worked in partnership with community Trust

Committees and Foundations in each of the regional diagnostic imaging

sites to cover the costs associated with the purchase and installation of the

new technology. Community Trusts and Foundations were tasked with

raising the funds required for the equipment purchase while KTHR covered

the costs associated with site readiness and installation.

The Hudson Bay Health Care Facility Trust Committee

reached its fundraising target for the purchase of a new

diagnostic ultrasound machine with a $30,000 donation

from Park Derochie.

Pictured are Betty Lou Palko (left), chair of the Hudson

Bay Health Care Facility Trust Committee, and Margaret

Miller (right), Facility Administrator of the Hudson Bay

Health Care Facility with Doug Barker, Saskatchewan

President of Park Derochie.

HUDSON BAY FUNDRAISING GOAL REACHED

Dandelion Soup

This story was dictated to Carmen Derenowski (Recreation Therapist) by Gertie Melynchuk at Red Deer Nursing Home in Porcupine Plain in April 2016. Gertie was born in 1910.

Have you ever tasted dandelion soup? In the old days people were resourceful, and made use of whatever they had. When I was 17 I worked for a Hungarian family in Bjorkdale, Saskatchewan. I was looking after the children as their mother was always in bed having another baby. I think their last name was Newly. The best part was that the children didn’t speak English and I didn’t speak Hungarian. Whenever the children would ask for something I would just say “No” because I had no idea what they were asking for. Then the children would run to their mother and she would have to come out and explain what they wanted.

Mrs. Newly made dandelion soup in the spring. You have to pick the dandelion leaves when they are nice and fresh. It has to be before the flowers come out or the white milk is in the stems. This makes them bitter and tough. The soup also had onions and salt and pepper. Oh, yes it was very tasty!

I met my husband, Mike Melynchuk, at a dance. He had come to Saskatchewan from Manitoba to work the harvest. And was he cute! We had 10 kids so he must have been good looking. My children were born from 1939 to 1960. I had 2 boys, 4 girls, then 2 boys then 2 more girls. I had them in pairs.

Mike had to walk nine miles to Mistatim, Saskatchewan to catch the train to Hudson Bay. There he paid $10 at the municipal office to get a quarter section for our homestead. Our homestead was right beside the muskeg. I was the first bride to have a wood house; 12 by 14. I was so proud of my little house. I had five of my children there. I had a bedroom and a kitchen and an extra room were the children slept. As more children came I built bunk beds out of 2x4’s. After harvest every year we would put new straw in the mattresses. So that way we had a new bed every year.

In those days you could cut a cord of wood and take it into town piled on a rack. A cord is wood cut and split 4 feet high, 4 feet wide and 8 feet long. It sold for $1 dry or .75c green. We always had a big garden. My neighbor Ellen Coty helped me learn to sew. Back then people helped each other. They shared, if one had more than they needed they would give it away to someone else. We worked hard all week. On Saturdays we went to town. In the evening we played cards at the neighbour’s, while the children played outside. I wouldn’t want to be a child now they don’t know how to play anymore. We never worked on Sundays, it must have been against the law! Sometimes we would play ball and then have a lunch.

People of today don’t know what work is. They work in a store or as a teacher, finish their day and say “Oh, I’m so tired”. Really! People are so spoiled. The greatest thing is to have running water. We used to have to carry our drinking water 1 mile. The neighbor shared his well, it was a 90 foot one dug by hand with a shovel. As the hole got deeper he would put the dirt in a pail and it was hauled up to the top by rope. He had a ladder to get to the bottom. Then extra rungs were added. It was a hard life but a fun life.

SENIOR’S CORNER

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FLU CLINICS WINDING DOWN

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Kelsey Trail Health Region’s public

seasonal influenza immunization

campaign is beginning to wind down.

Immunization is considered the most

effect measure in preventing influenza

and all individuals six months of age and

older are eligible to receive the vaccine

free-of-charge. Multiple public flu clinics

and a number of local pharmacies have

been providing flu vaccines since the

public flu campaign kicked off on October 23rd. The final KTHR public flu

clinics are scheduled on Monday, December 4th in Nipawin and on

Wednesday, December 6th in Melfort and Tisdale.

Vaccination is especially important for those at high-risk of influenza

complications. Pregnant women, young children, seniors, those with

underlying health conditions, the immune-compromised and their

caregivers are among those considered at higher risk and for whom

influenza could a have serious impact. Flu clinics are scheduled in an effort

to get ahead of the circulating flu virus therefore, the earlier a person

receives the flu vaccine, the better protected they will be when flu season

peaks.

Members of the public who are unable to receive their flu shot at one of the

public immunization clinics can schedule an appointment for a flu shot with

their Family Physician or Nurse Practitioner (NP), or local Public Health

office. Participating local pharmacies will also continue to provide the flu

shot after the public clinics are over.

NEW RESIDENT AT PARKLAND PLACE

Residents of Parkland Place in

Melfort are excited to introduce the

newest member of their family—

Spotty!

Spotty showed up a Parkland Place

this fall and decided to adopt the

residents and staff as her own.

Parkland Place staff graciously

chipped in to help cover Spotty’s

early vet costs and with the added

generosity of Gateway Veterinary

Clinic, she has received all of her

necessary shots and been spayed.

Spotty is a most welcome addition to

Parkland Place!

AROUND THE REGION

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Canada Day at Melfort Hospital

BURTON RECEIVES RECOGNITION AWARD

Former KTHR Infection Control Nurse Vi Burton was recently

presented with a Member Recognition Award from SASKPIC, the

Saskatchewan chapter of Infection Prevention & Control Canada

(IPAC Canada). Vi has been active in SASKPIC for 13 years

including two terms as Treasurer. She served as President of the

Saskatchewan chapter in 2010 when the National IPAC conference

was held in Saskatoon. Vi is a member of several IPAC Canada

interest groups and has participated in numerous provincial IPAC

groups and subcommittees. She is considered a great teacher and

mentor as the result of her practical wisdom and pursuit of

excellence.

Congratulations, Vi!

On behalf of SASKPIC, Gwen Cerkowniak (right)

presented Via Burton with the SASKPIC

Member Recognition Award .

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KTHR has welcomed several new physicians to the regional healthcare practitioner team over the past few months.

In July, Dr. Alexander Watts, Dr. Stephanie Nyberg and Dr. Jarryd Bryshun joined the Family Physicians Group in Melfort. Dr. Watts is providing coverage for Dr. Tamzyn Levendall who is currently on maternity leave. Dr. Nyberg has taken over Dr. Jennifer Begin’s practice. Dr. Begin resigned in July and has relocated to BC with her family. Dr. Bryshun has taken over the practice of Dr. Richard Van der Ross, who relocated to B.C. last year. Dr. John Renouf of Melfort also retired in July.

Dr. Achraf Zakaria joined the Northeast Medical Clinic in Tisdale in early October while Dr. Milad Hanna joined the Kelvington Medical Clinic in early November. Dr. Collins Omondiagbe resigned from the Kelvington Medical Clinic in September.

Dr. Abosede Adesina of Nipawin resigned from her practice at the Nipawin Medi-Clinic in early November. Dr. Kevin Sawchuk joined KTHR as the new regional locum physician beginning November 15th.

PHYSICIAN UPDATE

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HPV VACCINE AVAILABLE TO BOYS THIS FALL

Grade 6 boys in Saskatchewan can now receive the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine for free as part of the province’s school immunization program. This is an expansion of the existing HPV vaccination program for Grade 6 girls. “Our province has one of the most comprehensive vaccination programs in Canada,” Health Minister Jim Reiter said. “We are pleased to provide $750,000 annually for this additional investment in the health and well-being of our children.” Approximately 7,500 Grade 6 male students will be eligible to receive the free HPV vaccine, in addition to the province’s 7,500 Grade 6 female students. HPV vaccines are most effective when given to young people. As children head back to school, health officials are encouraging parents to ensure all of their children’s vaccinations are up to date. Free childhood immunizations are available for all infants and school-age children in Saskatchewan. “Immunization is the most effective way to protect your children against infectious diseases that can be very serious or even deadly,” Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said. “I urge parents to ensure children are fully vaccinated to maximize the benefits of immunization.”

HPV is the most common sexually-transmitted virus in Canada and is linked to a number of cancers, including mouth, throat and cervical cancers. Publicly-funded routine vaccinations are easily available in Saskatchewan at public health clinics (for pre-school children) and through school-based programs (for school age students).

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Kelsey Trail Health Region

901—108th Avenue

Box 1780

Tisdale, SK

S0E 1T0

Phone: 306-873-6600

Fax: 306-873-2372

www.kelseytrailhealth.ca

KTHR THROUGH THE YEARS 2002-2017