Keeping up with Kensington November 2018

KEEPING UP WITH

Volume 2 | Issue 11 November 2018

K E N S INGTON EYE DONATION MONTH

LETTER FROM THE

CEO

Hard to believe we are already in November!

May is Vision Month, we sat down with Dr. Jennifer Liao,

Optometrist at the Kensington This is a very exciting month for Eye Institute Advanced Ocular Surface Therapeutic Kensington Health.

Year round,Contact Lens Clinic. we are dedicated to maintaining, and continuously improving, high The Eye Bank receives 4,000 donated eye tissues annually for sight-saving transplants, education and research. quality care in all of the services we offer.

Our annual Quality Day event on November 22 is an opportunity for staff to share how they implement quality improvement into their everyday work.

Celebrate your accomplishments this year at the Staff Holiday party.

Don’t forget to sign up soon as spots are limited (see back page for more details).

TTC PRESTO The TTC is discontinuing monthly TTC passes and as a result our Staff TTC program will be ending on Dec 31, 2018.

The last sale of employee discounted monthly TTC passes will be in December. Monthly passes will still be available on Presto cards but they will not include the discount.

Staff purchasing a December employer discounted monthly TTC pass will be eligible to receive a free Presto card .

Remember to sign up when you pick up your December metropass!

November is Eye Donation Month and the Eye Bank is raising awareness to encourage more people to register as organ and tissue donors.

This internationally recognized month also focuses on honoring donors and their families, and celebrating eye tissue recipients.

“Eye tissue is a valuable resource, and by donating, we can help others by restoring their sight,” says Christine Humphreys, Executive Director of the Eye Bank.

“In Ontario, people are suffering while waiting for their corneal transplant. Tissue availability is one of the factors that slows down the process of corneal transplants.

Right now, the average wait time, depending on where you live in Ontario, for a transplant is 252 days.”

REGISTER TO BE A DONOR AND GIVE THE GIFT OF SIGHT: https://bit.ly/2JiHEXd

By registering as a donor, you can:

• Give two people their sight back with corneal transplants • Repair and treat disease in eight people’s eyes with scleral transplants • Grant comfort to your family,

knowing you have provided the gift of sight • Contribute to research and education in the prevention and treatment of eye disease.

Stopping the stigma There are many misconceptions about eye donation: • “Eye donation” does not necessarily mean the entire eye is donated; in many cases only the cornea (the clear, dome-shaped surface that covers the front of the eye) is donated • Even if you have glasses, poor vision, are blind, or suffer from cataracts or

glaucoma, you can still register to be a

donor.

Learn more about the impact you can make with eye tissue donation: https://bit.ly/2P6ZCC4

MEET THE W.R.A.P. COMMITTEE There is a new committee at Kensington Health. The W.R.A.P. ( We Respect All People) Committee aims to promote diversity and inclusion within our community. There are 16 members on the committee from all entities across the organization.

Members will act as a link between the committee and their entities.

The first W.R.A.P. event was to support Fort York Food Bank during their Thanksging food drive. It was a huge success – for only 5 days of collecting.

“Our next event is a sock drive to support St. Felix Centre, a community centre for vulnerable people.” said Nina Ambros, W.R.A.P. Chair.

“We want to collect 2000 pairs of socks by December 7 and we need your help!”

Here are your W.R.A.P representatives: Jamie Wickham - Human Resources (Management Rep) Nina Ambros - Communications representative (Chair) Sheila Chan - Eye Bank representative (Secretary) Antoinette Julien - Kensington Gardens Perlita Agyecum - Kensington Gardens Daisy Wong - Life Enhacement Melanie Miller - Client Services Darla Matheson - Quality Denise Lloyd - CUPE Tina Angelakos - Kensington Hospice Jennifer Pereira - Kensington Diagnostic Imaging Centre Reena Joshi - Kensington Vision and Research Centre Nedilyn (Nedy) Apellido - Kensington Eye Institute Jamie McClymont - Kensington Screening Clinic Teri Henderson - Second Mile Club Judy Kennedy - Kensington Gardens resident

W.R.A.P. Committee members are excited about bringing inclusion and diversity initiatives to Kensington, through their upcoming events.

For more information on the Committee and their events, please contact Nina at nambros@kensingtonhealth.org

GIFT OF SIGHT The Rebekah Assembly of Ontario and The Grand Lodge of Ontario, Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) recently visited Kensington to present the Eye Bank with a gift of $3,560 in support of research in vision and blindness. The Rebekahs and IOOF contribute to causes focused on the love of humanity through service and example.

The Memorial Research Committee of the Odd Fellows and Rebekahs of Ontario started in 1982, with the aim of funding research to help those with vision loss. For the past 40 years, the Committee has continued to steadfastly support new research, technology and equipment at the Eye Bank.

Since the Eye Bank joined Kensington in 2015, the Committee has donated more than $15,000.

Their efforts have supported research on the treatment and prevention of eye disease, transplants of ocular tissue and recently funding the laminar flow hood, which provides a sterile environment to process eye tissue for transplant.

“It’s important for us to donate to the Eye Bank as many of us know someone, or has a family member, with vision loss,” - Bernice Hall Stevenson, member of the Rebekahs of Ontario.

“It’s a meaningful contribution to make, and many of the members have even left donations in their wills for our Committee.

We want to make sure that this essential work has the funding to continue for years to come.”

Kensington is grateful for the partnership of The Memorial Research Committee of the Odd Fellows and Rebekahs of Ontario.

Their three-and-a-half-decade history of support, is nothing short of visionary.

To learn more about how you can support the Eye Bank, visit: https://bit.ly/2iKDrjc

FEATURE STORY:

FOCUS ON QUALITY

Join us for Quality Day on November 22 Quality Day is an annual celebration at Kensington Health.

This year’s theme is “Engaging our people”. Our guest speaker is Catherine Wang, Vice-President of Clinical Operations and Diagnostic Partnerships at University Health Network. Her focus throughout her career has been on quality improvement for patients at the hospital and system-level.

Catherine has been asked to talk about the importance of quality, and her own experience of building a culture of quality improvement at the University Health Network.

Quality Day Agenda Join us on November 22 at the Multipurpose room of 45 Brunswick Ave. There will be four available sessions for you to attend.

Zelda Bernardo created end-of-life care kits for nurses at Kensington Gardens. Her project was one of the 14 quality improvement projects presented at last year’s Quality Day.

Everyone from Kensington Health is encouraged to attend at least one session, and are welcome to come to all.

• 7 a.m. –

Residential & Community Care Panel

At Kensington Health, quality improvement is an integral part of our work. Staff continuously look for ways to improve processes at every entity and initiate new projects to enhance the experience of people in our care.

• 11 a.m. –

Guest Speaker Catherine Wang, Vice-President, University Health Network

One example is the implementation of end-of life care kits at our long-term care home, Kensington Gardens.

Caring for someone at their end-of-life requires sensitivity and compassion. It’s important to make the person feel as safe and comfortable as possible.

• 2 p.m. – Employee Poster

Presentations

• 3:30 p.m. - Ambulatory Care Panel

Building momentum for Quality Improvement Zelda Bernardo is a Registered Nurse who’s been working at Kensington for 16 years. Last year she noticed that the nursing team did not have specific supplies readily available to provide care to residents who were approaching end-of-life.

Quality Day is supported by a Quality Committee and led by Director Darla Matheson and her team: Ana Paula Anjos, Quality Manager and Gemerdine Maravilla, Quality Coordinator.

Zelda participated in last year’s Change Day. Want to participate?

Do your part to support positive change and make a pledge at changedayontario.ca.

Spread the word about your pledge and your story on social media using #ChangeDayON and tagging @ChangeDAy ON and encourage your friends and family to make their own pledges.

“Simple things make a big difference.” - Zelda As a quality improvement advocate, Zelda also participated in last year’s Change Day by making a pledge. She pledged to recognize differences and preferences of residents to incorporate them to their plan of care for a better delivery and quality of life.

“Knowing our residents’ preferences and accommodating them makes them happier, and it makes our jobs easier. This year I want to evolve my pledge to include family members and caregivers.”

What is change day?

When asked for advice for her colleagues on what to pledge, Zelda replied:

This year’s Quality Day will be combined with Change Day Ontario, a day where everyone can make a personal pledge to improving compassionate quality care.

“Your pledge should be your guide in your role. If you’re passionate about what you do, you will end up satisfied and happy.”

Recently the nursing team added a special mouth-spray to prevent dryness and give comfort to the residents.

The spray was not covered by government funding, so the Kensington Health Centre funded the cost of the spray to improve quality of care for residents.

Developed by Health Quality Ontario, this campaign is a great way to create a common quality goal for a team or to bring people together, foster positive conversations and collaborate around an uplifting movement.

Attend Quality Day on November 22 to learn more about how you can play a role in quality improvement.

Zelda’s project was one of the14 Quality improvement initiatives featured at last year’s Quality Day, an event for staff to learn more about quality improvement and how they can implement it in every aspect of their work.

Change Day Ontario invites everyone within the Ontario healthcare system to make a yearly pledge toward improved compassionate quality care.

Zelda came up with the idea of putting together kits to make sure that the nursing team had everything they needed at hand while providing end-of-life care. The kits allow nurses to give comfort to residents instead of spending time looking for supplies.

Since then, the end-of-life kits have been implemented across both Kensington Gardens buildings, and are continuing to evolve.

Have a question about quality improvement ?

Contact Gem Maravilla at gmaravilla@kensingtonhealth.org

TIME TO CELEBRATE It’s that time of the year again. The Kensington Health Staff Holiday party is on Thursday December 6!

Let’s celebrate all the amazing work in 2018! Everyone is encouraged to attend but sign up early because we have limited space.

This year’s theme is Winter Wonderland and it’s encouraged, but optional, that you dress in white, blue and silver. Join the party for a chance to win great door prizes, connect with your colleagues and see some new dance moves. There will even be a few surprises.

This year’s celebration will include a sit-down dinner, with all the fix’ns. Select your meal option when you sign up for the event.

Sign up is located at the reception desk of 25 & 45 Brunswick during the first two weeks of November!

WELCOME NEW STAFF Janet Walter-Mcgill, PCA Kensington Gardens Flordeliza Cayetano, PCA Kensington Gardens Tenzin Palzom, PCA Kensington Gardens

SEND A LETTER OF SUPPORT We are excited to announce that our home, Kensington Gardens, officially kicked off this year’s Better Seniors’ Care campaign!

Help us make a change happen and support our seniors by visiting wwww.betterseniorscare.ca

Dechen Sangmo, PCA Kensington Gardens Sarah Young, RN Kensington Screening Clinic Ara Naz, Case Manager Second Mile Club

UPCOMING EVENTS

HUMANS OF KENSINGTON Jackie passed her Certified Eye Bank Technician certification this fall with the highest mark of her cohort.

Kensington Health Quality Day - November 22 Join us for our second Kensington Health Quality Day. This year’s theme is “Engaging our people”.

Read this month’s feature story for more details!

“I started working at the Eye Bank last November after working in a multi-tissue bank in Edmonton for 10-years.

Kensington Health Staff Holiday Party - December 6 Remember to register at reception of 25 & 45 Brunswick Ave. during the first two weeks of November.

Sock drive - Stayed tuned for more details Join the W.R.AP. Committee in their goal of collecting 2000 pairs of socks for the St. Felix Centre.

Jackie Clark, Eye Bank Coordinator, Eye Bank of Canada (Ontario Division)

I love to stay active. Through my work, I’ve seen a lot of preventative diseases that could have been avoided with regular physical activity.

It made me more aware of my well-being, while understanding the importance of taking care of my health.

In addition to biking to work every day, I’ve recently taken up a new hobby, kick-boxing.”