Editor’s Note

COORDINATION OF EFFORTS

THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS continues to dominate the news cycle, with 67 COVID-19 presumed and confirmed cases in Canada (at time of writing). This number is expected to grow as more people are tested for the virus. As it does, there is the possibility of a pandemic. Canadian health officials continue to closely monitor the situation and plan for the potential of local spread, informed by lessons learned from 2003’s severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak and ongoing infectious diseases training. This brings me to Proof is in the Pudding. Though not the ‘feature’ story, this article is timely given the coronavirus spread. In an effort to reinforce the significance of proper infection prevention practices (particularly regular hand hygiene) in reducing the transmission of germs, St. Joseph’s Health Centre in Toronto developed an education session called the IPAC Olympics. ‘Played’ by staff on the hospital’s Morrow wing, it was so well-received that other units have requested to take part in the ‘games.’ You can read all about the fun initiative beginning on page 18.

Continuing with health and safety measures, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by healthcare staff reduces the risk of workplace exposure to highly infectious diseases and, subsequently, their spread. Recently, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare discovered its PPE storage did not facilitate best practices for donning or hand hygiene, so it embarked on an audit exercise to determine how to best remedy the situation. You can read about it and the results in It’s that Simple. Though the coronavirus is top of mind these days, sustainability and climate change are still major concerns for many. In an effort to reduce heat loss, energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions, New Brunswick’s Horizon Health Network has installed reusable blanket insulation on its steam system components at four of its hospital sites. You can read about the project in Wrapping Up Savings. Then, Journey to Net-Zero explores the transition to the low-carbon future and the impending shift away from steam to hot water heating and focus on heat recovery.

To begin, however, we delve into how collaborative design can help make health services work for Indigenous peoples, as seen in two recently completed hospitals, one in the Northwest Territories and the other in Saskatchewan.

Clare Tattersall claret@mediaedge.ca

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NATIONAL CONFERENCE | 2020 | SEPTEMBER 20-22 | HALIFAX CONVENTION CENTRE | HALIFAX, NS

SAVE THE DATE!

The 2020 CHES National Conference will be held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, at the Halifax Convention Centre, September 20-22, 2020. The Halifax Convention Centre is conveniently located in the downtown core and close to local amenities.

A block of rooms has been reserved at both the Cambridge Suite Hotel, starting at $199 plus applicable taxes for single/double occupancy, and the Prince George Hotel, starting at $239 plus applicable taxes for single/double occupancy.

The theme of the 2020 conference is “Enriching Patient Experiences by Optimizing the Environment”

The 2020 CHES Education Program is well underway and will once again feature dual tracks with talks on relevant industry topics from high-profile experts in the field. We have booked Alan Mallory as our Keynote Speaker. Alan is a dynamic keynote whose talk is built around the two years of planning and two months of climbing that went into making the goal of reaching the summit of Mount Everest a reality. Alan will discuss focusing on results rather than tasks, being agile so we can adapt to change, overcoming adversity through resilience, building trust in professional relationships and adopting an iterative approach.

The Great CHES Golf Tournament will be held at Glen Arbor Golf Course on Sunday, September 20, 2020.

Join us for the CHES President’s Reception and Gala Banquet at Pier 21. The banquet will celebrate the accomplishments of our peers with the 2020 Awards presentations, while enjoying great food and entertainment with friends.

See you in 2020 in Halifax!

For more info visit our website at www.ches.org

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