We respectfully acknowledge that we are located in the traditional and treaty territory of the Michi Saagiig (Mississauga) Anishinaabeg and Chippewa Nations, collectively known as the Williams Treaties First Nations, which include: Curve Lake, Hiawatha, Alderville, Scugog Island, Rama, Beausoleil, and Georgina Island First Nations . We respectfully acknowledge that the Williams Treaties First Nations have been stewards and caretakers of these lands and waters, and that today remain vigilant over their health and integrity for generations to come We offer our gratitude to the First Nations for their care for, and teachings about, our earth and our relations May we honour those teachings We are all Treaty people
Elizabeth Selby Message from
Board Chair
B . A .Sc . Ed .D .
This year marked my final term serving as Board Chair for the Northumberland Hills Hospital Board of Directors.
Reflecting on the year just past, NHH has continued to find innovative ways to uphold its four strategic pillars—Connected care close to home, Accountable care, Responsive and healthy work environment, Exceptional care, every time, for every person—and ensure they remain at the forefront of care
On a Board-level, we have benefitted from the addition of four new Community Members over the past year—Laina Andrews, Mary-Ann Cocchetto, Randall Freeborn, and Carol Anne Bell-Smith—who bring a wealth of knowledge, lived experience, and skill to NHH
We are also saying goodbye to two retiring members of the NHH Board of Directors—Starr Olsen and Pam Went—who both served three, three-year terms .
Starr served the Board for nine years and was most recently the Chair of the Quality & Safety Committee
Pam Went also served on the Board for nine years and was Chair for three years during the COVID-19 pandemic . She chaired several committees and played a critical role with our CEO in strategic planning
I offer my sincerest thank you to both Starr and Pam for their unwavering commitment and service, not only to NHH, but the community of west Northumberland County .
As the hospital continues to expand along with our growing community, our Board is experiencing growth to help support and guide the many exciting changes planned in NHH’s future
In recent months, we also had an opportunity to host a third Virtual Board Volunteer Open House, inviting expressions of interest from local individuals interested in volunteering with the Board as Community Members . As we have seen in years past, this open house format generated strong interest
I would like to thank Susan Thivierge, Executive Assistant, Susan Walsh, President and CEO, our Chief of Staff Dr . Mukesh Bhargava, and the Senior Leadership Team for their support throughout my tenure as Board Chair I am equally grateful to the Board Directors and Community Members for their continued dedication and commitment to service excellence
I would also like to extend gratitude to the commitment shown by the NHH Auxiliary, Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC), NHH Foundation, and other volunteer partners Our Foundation is seeing wonderful success with their Exceptional Community, Exceptional Care campaign, the largest fundraising campaign in the organization’s history, and in the history of Northumberland County .
It’s been a pleasure to be part of this collaborative community spirit.
Please accept my sincerest thank you for the honour and privilege of being Chair of the NHH Board of Directors for two terms - 2017-2019 and 2022-2024. I will watch with keen interest from the sidelines as our hospital continues to grow and evolve with our community.
Susan Walsh Message from
President & CEO
RN, BScN, MSc, MBA
The 2023-2024 fiscal year proved to be both a significant and exciting time of growth at NHH.
Although we are in our 20th anniversary year as a hospital, NHH is continuing to grow and gain new competencies.
We are currently in the third year of our multi-year Strategic Plan, which is becoming more ambitious and vibrant as time goes on . Under this Strategic Plan, we are continuing to strengthen our Shared Purpose of People First with the completion of our first Experience Framework, exploring new and innovative ways to support the community of west Northumberland County
As you will see under our Facts and Figures section of the Report on pages 10 and 11, our community is growing rapidly, as is the need for care
In the last year alone, we saw a rise in nearly all services Emergency Department visits significantly increased by over 2,403 to exceed 40,000 for the first time. Total admissions jumped from 5,027 to 5,493 and we saw additional increases in chemotherapy visits and out-patient ambulatory care visits to name a few
To meet the rising needs for care, we also saw growth within our NHH teams . While shortages in Health Human Resources can often be synonymous with hospitals, I am pleased to share that we are moving towards stabilization Currently, we have 885 full- and part-time staff, and 168 medical practitioners and continue to onboard new members for a variety of roles across the hospital
NHH is made special by the many incredible individuals who bring their time and specialized skills to our hospital.
From frontline care teams and support staff to administration, everyone plays an important role in a patient’s care journey . Behind each number and statistic is a person who is committed to our shared purpose, People First
And, of course, we are indebted to the huge number of volunteers who contribute time and talent to NHH through other means, including our Board and Community Committee members, the NHH Foundation, the NHH Auxiliary, our Patient and Family Advisory Council, Spiritual Care and other volunteer partners
As a community hospital, we are also very familiar with the importance of maintaining strong partnerships . We continue to witness the power of community collaboration across our hospital and its direct contributions to patient care and experience
My role as Co-Chair for the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N) is an opportunity I welcome to further strengthen critical community partnerships and initiatives through collaboration By working together with other health and social care providers in the County, and with patients and caregivers, we can better enhance how care is delivered, and address priority needs more swiftly and with greater efficiency .
We remain committed to growing alongside our community and ensuring that People First remains at the heart of care.
Dr. Mukesh Bhargava Message from
Chief of Staff
MD, ABIM
It is truly inspiring to be part of such a supportive community.
Your unwavering involvement and commitment to our ecosystem is invaluable On behalf of the entire medical staff, I extend my deepest gratitude for your incredible efforts in raising funds during our largest capital campaign to date The Foundation and Auxiliary have truly outdone themselves this year!
The growth in Northumberland is evident, and we see it reflected in the increasing volumes across our hospital Visits across all services are on the rise, and occupancy in our inpatient units has significantly increased It is remarkable how our teams have risen to this challenge, ensuring that despite the growth, we have not faced gridlock . However, wait times and access to care remain our most pressing challenges While it may be worse elsewhere, our team firmly believes that access to care should be better and continues to work diligently on improvements through recruitment, innovation, and program development
Recruitment of talented professionals has been a cornerstone of our strategy to improve access . NHH has been reasonably successful in this regard . Medical Affairs has streamlined the recruitment process, and in the past year, we have welcomed many new members to the medical staff This has enabled us to maintain two hospitalist lines, appoint new leadership in diagnostic imaging, and bring on physicians trained in respirology and critical care . Recruitment and retention efforts have stabilized the departments of General Surgery, Emergency Department, and Obstetrics/Gynecology The Ontario Telemedicine Network clinics saw a record number of patient visits, with 2,320 visits NHH is also exploring opportunities to better support the collaborative recruitment of primary care providers in the community . Through the NICE (Non-Urban & Non-Rural Innovation Collaboration Effort), we have embarked on a design-thinking exercise to enhance recruitment and retention in Northumberland County
Team NHH has successfully reinstated the Respirology program, offering bronchoscopies and both inpatient and outpatient consults This advancement brings high-quality care closer to home Additionally, the growth in stroke care has been significant with the opening of a dedicated stroke unit and the implementation of processes to facilitate advanced stroke treatment in Toronto through the Endovascular Revascularization Therapy program for eligible patients This initiative has led to complete recoveries for patients who presented with severe symptoms, showcasing the coordination between NHH and tertiary care centres in Toronto within a critical window of time
I am grateful for the new medical staff leaders who have stepped up to take on additional responsibilities alongside their busy clinical lives . Dr . Erin Pepper, Chief of Maternal and Child Care; Dr . Deljit Dhanoa, Chief of Diagnostic Imaging; and Dr Francesco Mulé, Division Head of Palliative and Supportive Care, have all assumed new leadership roles
Further improvements in the Northumberland healthcare ecosystem are highlighted by our improved provincial rankings for the Emergency Department, increased patient volumes, higher patient acuity, Intensive Care Unit occupancy and enhanced care closer to home We have also seen a rise in the number of learners coming to Northumberland to work with our preceptors
On behalf of the exceptional medical staff and leadership team, we commit to giving our best effort to improve every day
Thank you for your resilience and compassion.
A Year in Review
Click on an event description or date to learn more
PACE Talks continue with successful community partnership
April 11, 2023
Funding announcement from the Government of Ontario
August 25, 2023
Walk-in counselling service expands with new partnership
June 20, 2023
NHH adds rainbow crosswalk for Pride
Recruitment campaign launched to support NHH Auxiliary recruitment
July 24, 2023
NHH welcomes Dr Bryce Chen, Hospitalist and Emergency physician
May 31, 2023 new October
August 28, 2023
New Integrated Stroke Unit opens at NHH September 19, 2023
NHH Board welcomes four new community members
October 5, 2023
NHH brand refresh and new partnership with NCAM announced in celebration of 20th anniversary November 8, 2023
NHH welcomes Dr Emmanuel Udoeyop, Obstetrician/ Gynecologist
November 21, 2023
Two neurologists, Dr Courtney Anne Scott and Dr Karen Ho, welcomed to NHH medical team
January 25, 2024
First baby of 2024 welcomed January 1, 2024
NHH recognized nationally for environmental responsibility
January 11, 2024
Local Governance
Board and Ex-Officio Members
From L-R, front row: Sharon Anderson; Don Morrison; Bree Nixon; Kate Zimmerman (VP, Integrated Care and Chief Nursing Executive); Susan Walsh (President and CEO); Cyndi Gilmer (Vice Chair); Elizabeth Selby (Chair); Pam Went
Second row: Michael McAllister; Laurel Savoy; Dr . Mukesh Bhargava (Chief of Staff)
Third row: Dr Jude Obomighie (President, Medical Staff Association); Mike Cassaday, Gavin Ivory (Chair, NHH Foundation Board) Absent: Starr Olsen; Kendra Simmons; Ross Stevenson; Selena Forsyth (President, NHH Auxiliary); Dr Pavel Ketov (Vice President, Medical Staff Association)
Board Directors
• Sharon Anderson (Ward 3)
• Mike Cassaday (Ward 3)
• Cyndi Gilmer, Vice Chair (Ward 1)
• Michael McAllister (Ward 2)
• Don Morrison (Ward 2)
• Bree Nixon (Ward 1)
• Starr Olsen (Ward 2)
• Laurel Savoy (Ward 2)
• Elizabeth Selby, Board Chair (Ward 2)
• Kendra Simmons (Ward 1)
• Ross Stevenson (Ward 2)
• Pamela Went (Ward 3)
Ex-Officio Members*
• Dr Mukesh Bhargava, Chief of Staff
• Selena Forsyth, President NHH Auxiliary
• Gavin Ivory, Chair NHH Foundation Board
• Dr Pavel Ketov, Vice President, General Medical Staff Association (GMSA)
• Dr Jude Obomighie, President, GMSA
• Susan Walsh, President and CEO
• Kate Zimmerman, Vice President Integrated Care and Chief Nursing Executive
* Ex-officio members are appointed by virtue of their office
Interested in opportunities for Board service?
Find the Expressions of Interest form and answers to Frequently Asked Questions, including information on the NHH Board, biographies of current Board and Community members, policies, and meeting materials, at nhh.ca
For details on roles and responsibilities
Board Directors
Twelve local directors and seven ‘ex officio’ members form NHH’s skills-based Board of Directors, responsible for developing policy, planning for the future and monitoring operational and financial performance
Community Members of Board
From L-R: Laina Andrews, Randall Freeborn, Leslie Orpana and Myles Noel .
Absent: Lynda Sellar, Carol Anne Bell-Smith, and Mary-Ann Cocchetto .
Community Members
Direct community participation in the governance of NHH—and succession planning for the Board—is further supported by Community Members who serve on specific Board committees .
Connected care close to home
Build inclusive and integrated care pathways to secure a foundation for sustainability and growth C
A
R
Accountable care
Unleash the power of technology, information, and innovation to improve experiences, efficiency, and outcomes, including quality and safety .
Responsive and healthy work environment
Create and sustain a work environment and culture that engages, empowers, and promotes positive morale
Exceptional care, every time, for every person
Build a culture where each person receives high-quality, reliable, whole-person care, service, and support
Team
Dr. M. Bhargava Chief
Susan
Board of Directors Senior
Volunteer Partners
Leadership Team Jennifer Gillard
Al-Ali
Facts & Figures
Integrated Stroke Unit
September 19, 2023, marked the opening of the 6 bed Integrated Stroke Unit at NHH . Notable successes to date, include:
• 33 patients admitted . *
• 94% of patients with stroke received Dysphagia Screening (swallow screening) *
• The allied health team has increased the median number of Rehab Intensity Minutes to 50 minutes per patient, per day . NHH is currently leading the Central East Stroke Network Stroke Sites for this indicator *
• NHH implemented a weekly Stroke Volunteer Peer Visiting Program in partnership with the March of Dimes, supported by a dedicated Patient and Family Advisor
*Data from September 19, 2023 – December 31, 2023
Emergency Department
• Over the last fiscal year, NHH achieved and sustained a top ten ranking of 74 sites monitored across the province for the P4R (Pay for Results) Ambulance Offload Time for the Emergency Department .
Community Mental Health Services
• In the past fiscal year, patient waits for counselling service continued to improve and is now on average 68 days compared to an average of 289 days the year prior Due to many initiatives implemented by the Community Mental program including a new care delivery model, collaborative partnerships with other providers, this has led to the 76.5% improvement in the wait times yearover-year for the counselling service .
• Two case workers in the last year have supported 661 individuals for Homelessness Case support .
Surgical Services
• 95.1% of available core operating hours utilized .
Laboratory
• NHH’s blood wastage is steady near 0% due to our partnership with PRHC Blood Bank and our interlaboratory distribution protocols We send expiring blood units and other blood products for use at PRHC rather than letting them expire in our refrigerators, as we understand how precious and valuable these products are .
Environmental Services
• Since April 2023, Environmental Service Workers (ESWs) have completed 53,936 bed, wait and assessment area cleans across the organization
Joint Communications and Community Engagement
Through joint annual planning with our volunteer partners, NHH works hard to ensure clear, consistent and timely information sharing with our community
• 12,410 combined social media followers across NHH, NHH Foundation and the NHH Auxiliary’s social media channels (Facebook, X, LI, Instagram)
• More than 57% of subscribers open the NHH and Foundation monthly eNewsletters, compared to the industry standard of 40% for the Non-Profit Sector and 37% for Health & Fitness .
Medical and Professional Staff
Volunteers
• Auxiliary - 280
• Foundation - 60
• PFAC - 8
• Spiritual Care - 5
• St . John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program - 5
Human Resources/NHH People Plan
• As of March 31, 2024, NHH’s nursing internship program had a 100% retention rate with 24 nurses (6 Registered Nurses and 18 Registered Practical Nurses) hired onto the NHH team
• With a 53% completion rate, 83% of respondents from NHH’s Employee Experience Survey—which gathers responses from staff, physicians and midwives—said that they would recommend NHH as a place to work
• In addition to several internal initiatives, NHH’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Advisory Committee (EDIAC) hosted 3 in-person lunch and learns with external guest speakers promoting inclusivity and diversity awareness across the hospital
• NHH’s Caring for the Carers Committee hosted 19 in-person, hospital-wide events promoting wellness and engagement for hospital teams and volunteer partners .
Financial Highlights
NHH finished the 2023-2024 fiscal year on March 31, 2024, in a deficit position. It was a year of financial pressures, and continued growth to meet rising patient volumes across many program areas.
Emergency Department (ED) visits, admissions, Community Mental Health visits and most departments overall at NHH experienced notable volume increases.
On top of this, revenues increased in the year because of an increase in growth funding and premiums paid for increased surgical volumes.
However, arbitration awards led to an unexpected increased expense of $7 6 million, for which NHH received $6 9 million in dedicated funding In addition to this, a pay equity settlement was completed resulting in an additional expense of $0 .6 million . These events led to an annual deficit of $4 .7 million
Even in the backdrop of an increase in the number of funded beds, bed occupancy remained high Patients awaiting placement in other care settings remain an ongoing factor to operating costs
Alternate Level of Care (ALC) patients, many of whom are waiting for placement in Long-Term Care (LTC), represented a larger number of inpatients at NHH in 2023-2024 than in the prior year
NHH celebrated year two of its new shared Clinical Information System (CIS) in December 2023.
With more experience using the new system, NHH continued to develop ways to optimize the value of this significant investment . A key part of NHH’s Strategic Plan Framework, the CIS is a vital system that allows NHH and all our Central East hospital partners to drive improvements in experience, efficiency, and outcomes
Looking forward to 2024-2025, NHH is in a strong position to lean into growth.
Planned significant investments in capital and infrastructure combined with ongoing collaboration with our community partners will ensure the hospital is able to successfully meet the growing needs of the community while maintaining quality care and experience for staff and patients
NHH Finance Team, (L-R, back row): James Huntley, Sung Lee, Andrew Smits, Carolyn Sanders, and Jane MacAulay (L-R front row): Melanie Gilliespie, Elyse McMaster, and Nicole Davis
Foundation Highlights
Exceptional Community, Exceptional Care Campaign Launch
and Dr Andrew Stratford Chief of Surgery
NHH Foundation officially launched the Exceptional Community, Exceptional Care Campaign—the largest fundraising campaign in Northumberland County’s history—in May 2023 With a goal to raise $25 million this campaign will fund redevelopment, new programs, and life-saving equipment and technology . The campaign launch, held at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope, shared the exciting news that $18 million had already been raised to help make these projects a reality Together, we will ensure our exceptional community continues to have access to exceptional care
McHappy Day®
Pictured: Owner/Operator
Lisa Wilson (centre), along with members of her team, presents cheque for $21,600 to representatives from NHH Foundation
For the second year in a row, NHH Foundation was the recipient of the annual McHappy Day® fundraiser on May 10, 2023 . Customers, staff, and community volunteers came together at the west Northumberland McDonald’s® restaurant locations to help raise $21,600 to purchase newborn bassinets for the Maternal Child Care Unit .
Pictured are Wine & Ale participants enjoying the sold out event under the Lions Club of Cobourg’s tent in Victoria Park
With more than $34,000 raised, 2023 marked NHH Foundation’s most successful Wine & Ale in the Park to date . This unofficial kick-off event to summer was once again generously sponsored by Tony Pulla, RE/ MAX Lakeshore Realty Inc
Pictured (from left): Becky, Shawn, Tim, and Kelly dining at The Gables in Brighton
Galalicious returned to Northumberland County with more than 500 guests dining throughout 13 restaurants More than $212,000 was raised during what was tagged as ‘A Night to Unite for NHH . ’
Pictured: Hank Vandermeer Campaign Chair, Susan Walsh NHH President and CEO, Rhonda Cunningham NHH Foundation CEO,
Wine & Ale
Gavin Ivory Message from
Board Chair, NHH Foundation
The NHH Foundation just celebrated a banner year— our best ever, raising an impressive $6 9 million, while controlling expenses to below budget
As a Foundation volunteer, I continue to be amazed at the level of support Northumberland County extends to our Hospital.
While benefitting from outsized donor generosity this past year, your Foundation faces numerous risk factors that could impact our efforts . The high cost of living, and turbulent financial markets come to mind, yet in spite of these pressures, the community continued to prioritize our hospital in its plans, and for this I thank you
Much of this success can be attributed to the ongoing efforts of the Exceptional Community, Exceptional Care Campaign I want to recognize and thank the Campaign Cabinet, under the leadership of Hank Vandermeer, who continue to work to bring the campaign to a successful
conclusion later this year . And I want to acknowledge every single person, business, and service organization that answered the call
While we have been busy raising money, the Hospital is now moving forward with plans for spending it . There are several large projects in the making, including a new MRI, CT Scanner, building a fourth Operating Room, and renovating the Medical Devices Reprocessing Department and Pharmacy Substantial planning precedes each of these initiatives, including site preparation and tendering for equipment, and this will take time to successfully conclude It is solely because of community donations we are in this fortunate place, enabling your Hospital to meet the needs of our patients
Seeing our community shine through in its support to NHH makes me proud to call Northumberland County home.
Pictured are some of the Lemon-Aid hosts from 2023 displaying some of the specialty items purchased with special guest, Kate Lennan a previous patient of the Lions and Lioness Cancer and Supportive Care Clinic
The Lemon-Aid initiative raised just over $6,000— thanks to the young and young-at-heart who stepped up to host stands all summer long Funds raised supported the purchase of specialty gloves, slippers, and beanies for patients receiving chemotherapy
Lemon-Aid for NHH
Auxiliary Highlights
Message from
Selena Forsyth
President, NHH Auxiliary
Having been without a Vice President for some time, our Director of Business Affairs, Rick Riley, stepped up to the plate and fit perfectly in his new role.
He also found a successor for his position, Derrick Cunningham, who has done an amazing job with his promotion of our two incredible retail operations: The Little Treasure Shop, located in the hospital, and Petticoat Lane, our offsite thrift store at 25 Munroe Street in Cobourg . Derrick has also contributed significantly to our expanding social media presence through the development of interesting and informative content, which has brought in more Facebook followers every day
This year, mostly as a result of the shops’ amazing contributions, the Auxiliary was pleased to announce its donation of $207,000, to support the purchase of four new neo-natal warmers for the NHH’s Maternal Child Care Unit This donation, reflecting dollars raised from the fiscal year just concluded, exceeded our target and marks the Auxiliary’s largest annual donation since 2017 and the third largest donation in its 100-year history!
Auxiliary Board
(L-R, back row):
Richard Holland, Susan Spicer, Selena Forsyth, Dale Hodge, Derrick Cunningham
(L-R, front row): Rick Riley, Keri Campbell (Interim Manager, Volunteers), Rita Law
We were also thrilled this year to honour two exceptional student volunteers, Tovan Lew and Sydney Fournier, by presenting them with the Dixie Mikel Award Dixie was the wife of a prominent local physician, Dr Don Mikel A long-time supporter of the Auxiliary at the former Cobourg hospital site, Dixie is credited with founding the Student Auxiliary Volunteer program, which continues to this day The $1,250 scholarships are awarded annually to successful applicants currently attending a university or college Applicants must have accumulated a minimum of 80 volunteer hours at NHH and be attending a post-secondary institution, taking courses that lead to degrees in health sciences, nursing, medical research, or biotechnology Applications for this annual award will be found under our Volunteer section of the hospital website
For details on roles and responsibilities
Pictured (L-R): Dale Hodge, Vera Wellman, and Marg Hilborn at the NHH Auxiliary’s 100th year celebration
Perhaps the most remarkable event of the past year was the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Auxiliary, which took place on November 20, 2023.
Our centennial milestone included a ceremonial cheque presentation to NHH for the sum of $5,005,018: the cumulative total that the Auxiliary has raised over the past century through donations and a broad range of fundraising efforts including, in most recent decades, the two thriving retail operations noted above The message sent to the Auxiliary from Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, explained everything:
“I am pleased to send greetings to everyone celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Northumberland Hills Hospital Auxiliary. Since the Ladies’ Auxiliary held their inaugural meeting in 1923, the NHH Auxiliary has grown into one of the most active hospital auxiliaries
Pictured L-R: Dale Hodge, Dr Erin Pepper, Tania Bird, Katelyn Laliberte, Marilyn Routly, Amy Miedema, Selena Forsyth, and Rachael Roach
Pictured: Laura McCracken Ebbrell with message from Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada
in the province today. Throughout its history, its members have upheld a spirit of community, investing their time, energy and kindness to support patients, their families and hospital staff. In recent years, the medical community has been at the forefront of the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the NHH Auxiliary for its role in providing care, comfort and healing to their fellow citizens during these uncertain times. Your commitment to helping others and to providing exceptional care is a source of inspiration. Congratulations to everyone involved in reaching this important milestone.”
Finally, I am extremely pleased to report the outcome of our recruitment campaign, launched last summer . As I write this, we have welcomed 97 new expressions of interest from volunteers in our community who have stepped up to our call to action At 280 volunteers strong we are now, happily, back to our pre-COVID complement, with more being welcomed every day It has been a remarkable year We are very proud of our accomplishments
Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) Highlights
Bonnie McKee Message from
Chair, PFAC
As a team and individually our PFAC partners have accomplished much in the past year!
As assignments of some working groups have concluded (Palliative Care Steering Committee, Integrated Stroke) others are quickly taking their place (the Falls Quality Aim working group, a new Integrated Quality, Practice and Risk Committee) to name a couple.
PFAC participation has been sparked in parts of the hospital we have not been directly active with in the past and I am pleased to report we are growing A call for interest has been issued for new volunteers interesting in bringing patient and caregiver voices to Surgical Services, Diagnostic Imaging, Laboratory Services, Pharmacy, Food Services and more . So, a larger PFAC team is in our future!
Moreover, our partners have been invited to do more within their existing committees Clinical care examples include role playing to support a mock Code White event, completion of March of Dimes training to support the introduction of peer mentors on the new integrated stroke unit and a deep dive into the policies guiding our Community Mental Health program . At a corporate level, PFAC contributed to NHH’s brand refresh and 20th Anniversary celebrations, and we have a welcome voice in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee activities Regionally we’re active on the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland and the Central East’s MyChart working group
Most recently the team has also been invited to contribute input into new delirium prevention tools and—very exciting—a study of current (and potential) services for women and infants . A constant has been the ongoing work to gather feedback on experience through NHH’s Interim Patient and Caregiver Experience Surveys
PFAC returns to in-person meetings
PFAC partners planned and hosted NHH’s first Patient Experience Week
participates in CMHA Mental Health Week
Santa and Mrs Claus (Program Manager Steven Forani and President and CEO Susan Walsh) made a cameo appearance at PFAC’s bi-monthly team meeting and holiday luncheon December 2023 They’re shown here with PFAC partners and their respective ‘buddies’ For more information on PFAC, please see the Partners tab on nhh.ca.
As Chair I’ve also witnessed our PFAC grow more interactive as a team, actively sharing news and community information, and links to insights collected from other hospitals and contacts Participation at hospital events has never been higher PFAC Partners all played a role in planning and then hosting NHH’s first Patient Experience Week information booth this spring (where some enjoyed the opportunity to meet the Minister of Health herself), promoting the role of PFAC and sparking discussion on the influence we all have in a fostering positive hospital experience
In total, I believe a stronger bond has been developed within the team—and their respective buddies There’s a new energy—perhaps in part fueled by our decision last spring to meet more frequently and in person
A major driver in the past year has been related to NHH’s journey to an integrated experience program This is a big leap forward With Senior Leadership support, we are now members in The Beryl Institute, a global leader committed to transforming the human experience in health care .
I had the privilege as PFAC chair of joining staff at The Beryl’s ELEVATE conference . Collectively, we participated in NHH’s first Experience Assessment and co-designed, with staff, physicians, and other volunteers, NHH’s new Experience Framework—anchored in a definition of the People First human experience we strive to deliver, together . As it states, ‘It’s about more than delivering exceptional care; it’s creating an environment where every interaction delivers meaningful value and extends toward a positive relationship with patients, families, staff, providers, volunteers and partners.’
We’ve had a hand in some big stuff! We’re proud to be welcomed and empowered to bring the patient and caregiver voice to planning and quality discussions resulting in leadership defining work—and we can’t wait to be part of what’s next! Come join us!
Co-designing NHH’s first Experience Framework
Ontario’s Minister of Health, Sylvia Jones (far left) and local MPP, David Piccini (third from left), visited with PFAC partners and staff during Patient Experience Week
Spiritual Care and Wellbeing
As an integral part of holistic patient and family care, and an important element of NHH’s ‘caring for the carer’ commitment to overall wellbeing, NHH is committed to ensuring all patients, staff, physicians, midwives and volunteers have access to spiritual care supports. This support is delivered through the work of a dedicated volunteer Spiritual Care Committee comprised today of a team of local chaplains, ministers and lay Spiritual Care Providers (SCPs) with appropriate training SCPs are available at NHH to support people of all faiths and those who consider themselves spiritual, but are not religious Volunteer SCPs provide on-call spiritual care throughout NHH in collaboration with local faith communities . NHH’s Manager of Volunteers serves as the team’s liaison with hospital staff, leadership and community partners, supporting the day-to-day operation of this important and growing volunteer service
St. John Ambulance’s Therapy Dog Program
Another important volunteer program supported by NHH’s Volunteer Manager is our growing St. John Ambulance’s Therapy Dog Program.
NHH staff, patients, caregivers, and volunteers are incredibly fortunate to be supported weekly by our four-legged friends from St John’s We are currently visited and supported by a golden retriever, a party doodle, a German Shepherd and other furry friends trained and actively volunteering through this popular program NHH patients, caregivers and staff continue to benefit from the therapeutic comfort and unconditional companionship found through interacting with these local therapy dogs as well as conversing with their skilled therapy dog handlers .
For information on these and more volunteer programs at NHH see the Volunteer tab of our website, or reach out to our Volunteer Manager directly at 905-372-6811, ext 4629
SJA Therapy Dog, Kobe and his handler, Pauline Bailey
Pictured from top: Ewen Butler, Margaret Scott, Sabine Fischer (Lead), Janice Buck, Douglas Coupar
People First
Here are selected photos taken from our social media posts over the past year celebrating the many different people, professions and teams across NHH *
For more please follow us (see our Stay Connected page for details).
* Please note, photos may not include all team members .
Occupational Therapy Assistants, Allied Health Team
Pharmacy Team
Respiratory Therapy Team
Oncology Nursing Team, Cancer & Supportive Care
Nursing Students
Laboratory Team
Sonography, Diagnostic Imaging Team
Food Services Team
Social Workers
Celebrating our 20th Anniversary
Sunday, October 22nd, 2023, marked the 20th anniversary of the day Northumberland Hills Hospital opened its doors to the very first patient.
As a growing organization with a dedicated team in an exceptionally generous community, NHH had a lot to celebrate as it entered its third decade. One of the ways the hospital chose to do this was with a refresh of its brand, a project that provided an opportunity to reflect on NHH’s rich past, while looking forward to its future.
A deliberative process that took place over the course of several months in the summer and early fall of 2023, the brand refresh involved research into evolving accessibility standards, as well as a series of internal focus groups led by NHH’s 20th Anniversary Working Group to identify the elements of the previous NHH brand that should be maintained
Comprised of a bright new colour palette, a more accessible sans serif font and a starburst icon that builds on the unique caring hands imagery long associated with NHH, NHH’s refreshed brand signals both the circle of care intrinsic to health care, and the team’s commitment to collaboration across professions and within the community .
The updated icon features eight hands, representing the communities served across west Northumberland County, namely the Town of Cobourg, the Municipality of Port Hope, Alderville First Nation and the townships of Hamilton, Cramahe and Alnwick/Haldimand, as well as the two largest bodies of water, Lake Ontario and Rice Lake, that frame the hospital’s unique rural and urban catchment area
In addition to the brand refresh launched in November 2023, NHH also announced the establishment of a new partnership with Northumberland County Archives and Museum (NCAM) to ensure the organization’s rich history is properly preserved for future generations.
NCAM’s Curator, Katie Kennedy, and Archivist, Abigail Miller began compiling historical documents and artifacts from NHH, NHH Auxiliary and NHH Foundation ahead of the hospital’s 20th anniversary The aim will be to add to associated records already in NCAM’s possession and, over time, to arrange, describe and photograph the collection to better support access by future researchers and residents alike interested in learning more about the history of the hospital and its volunteer partners in the region
NCAM Archivist Abigail Miller sorts NHH archival documents
Pictured:
Long Service Awards
On May 29, 2024, Northumberland Hills Hospital staff, physicians and midwives gathered for our annual Long Service Awards ceremony, which recognized recipients celebrating 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and even 45 years of service.
This year’s ceremony held special significance as it took place in our hospital’s 20th anniversary year. We were once again fortunate to celebrate together in-person. The largest ever group of honourees (94 in total, a reflection of the growth that supported and immediately followed the opening of NHH in October 2003) required a shift to an external venue from our traditional practice of the NHH Education Centre. With a meal, service pins, and moving tributes to the award recipients, it was a memorable evening, celebrating a combined total of over 1,745 years of dedicated service to the hospital.
Pictured from Top:
(L-R): Dr Frank Marrocco, Dr Jeffrey Knackstedt, Rebecca Rutherford, and Dr Paul Marrocco receive their long service pins for 30 years of service .
(L-R): Marlana Nelson hands Nicole Davis her 20-year long service pin
(L-R) Rhonda Lyttle, Dr Mark Azzopardi and Sandra Prentice receive their long service pins for 35 years of service
(L-R): Marlana Nelson hands Cyndee Kelsey her 20-year long service pin
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