PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
EMBRACING THE NEW WORLD I ALWAYS START the process of writing my president’s message by reading the previous one. Even though it has only been about four months, the spring issue seems like forever ago. The world today, personally and professionally, bares a stark resemblance to early March. But with many of us starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel and experiencing some relief from the chaotic days of April, we now have the opportunity to reflect on the last 90 days or so. Certainly, everyone has endured hardship trying to keep our respective facilities up to the COVID-19 challenge. However, just like the phoenix rising from the ashes, I’ve seen numerous examples across Canada of CHES members, both individually and collectively, successfully meeting these challenges. I’ve always believed you only see someone’s true colours when things go to hell in a handbasket. Well, I think we’re there and all of you have reaffirmed to me and shown those you work with that CHES members have the knowledge and right attitude to help our healthcare facilities navigate these COVID waters. Well done, everyone. Despite all our efforts, we had no choice but to cancel all chapter conferences, including the 2020 CHES National Conference in Halifax this fall. These were tough (and disappointing) decisions. Fortunately, the financial fallout from the cancellations hasn’t been as bad as it could have been. From a CHES National perspective, our historically prudent monetary practices have set us up well to absorb this year’s cancellation with virtually no loss of services to members going forward. Work is already underway to rejig the next few national conferences in order to start planning for 2021. Internationally, CHES’s plans to promote the 2022 International Federation of Healthcare Engineering (IFHE) Congress in Toronto at this year’s event in Rome fell through as it was postponed to 2021. This is only a minor setback; we have always believed heavy promotion of the 2022 congress would begin mid-2021. On the positive side, there are a number of initiatives worth noting. Based on a somewhat impromptu COVID ‘shared experiences’ webinar, there is growing interest in continuing with a series of touchpoint webinars so CHES members can share and learn from each other during the pandemic. Discussions are underway to flesh out what this might look like. CSA medical gas training updates for both the general and ‘qualified operators’ courses are nearing completion. They are due for release this summer. CHES wants to enhance its CSA presence by increasing formal representation on technical subcommittees. Specifically, CHES will solicit members to ensure someone sits on the subcommittee for CSA Z317.1, Special Requirements for Plumbing Installations in Health Care Facilities. This is a great opportunity for those looking to have an impact on the healthcare environment. Look after yourself. Your families and facilities need you healthy.
Roger Holliss CHES National president
EARN CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS FROM CHES Members of the Canadian Healthcare Engineering Society can earn free continuing education units (CEU) by reading the Summer 2020 issue of Canadian Healthcare Facilities and passing a quiz based on articles in the issue. Once you’ve read the issue from cover to cover, simply go online to www.surveymonkey.com/r/5Z7QHNG to take the quiz. CHES members who pass the quiz will be able to claim one contact hour (0.1 CEU) on their CanHCC or CCHFM certificate renewals.
8 CANADIAN HEALTHCARE FACILITIES
