January 19, 2012 Our Promise in action •
Change update from Chris Power, president and CEO – On Jan. 18, Chris sent a message to the Capital Health community about the many types of change ahead of us in 2012. Visit the Intranet/Our News to read Chris’s message. •
Where did that tagline come from? A few weeks ago, we announced that new stationery was now available with Capital Health’s new tagline: A Different Today. A Better Tomorrow. This prompted a few people to ask, “Where did that tagline come from?” Read more. •
Know it. Live it. Your Health Matters – As health professionals, we’re really good at looking after the health needs of others. We’re not always as in tune with our own health needs. Know it. Live it. encourages us to take ownership of our health by identifying and addressing the risk factors that can lead to poor health. This means knowing your top 5 (blood pressure, blood sugar, HDL‐cholesterol, triglycerides and waist measurement), what they mean and what can be done to reduce your risks. Join Bonnie Conrad, Healthy Workplace, and Laurie Barker‐Jackman, Sobeys dietitian, to learn more. Visit the Intranet/Our News for session details. •
Add your voice to an important conversation – Capital Health and the IWK Health Centre want to hear what prideHealth means to you and how it can grow to better serve the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex (GLBTI) communities. All members of the GLBTIQ community are invited to be part of a dynamic conversation about the future of prideHealth on Feb. 2 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Veith House, 3115 Veith St., Halifax. Registration is not required but is helpful for planning purposes. Please contact Cybelle Rieber at [email protected] or 473‐1433. •
Saving money by reducing biomedical waste – Housekeeping Services is pleased to announce that ongoing efforts to reduce bio‐medical waste generated in our facilities are reaping results. In the 2011 calendar year Capital Health spent $211,000 less than in the previous year. This is a great achievement; however additional help is required as we continue to rely on staff/departments to help us champion this cause. Read more. Quality and patient safety •
Quality Award winners announced – Each year, Capital Health invites submissions for the Quality Awards competition, recognizing excellence in innovation, quality and teamwork. This year there were a record number of 15 Quality Award submissions from teams all across the District. The Gold and Silver Award submissions will now be submitted to the National 3M Health Care Quality Team Awards. Read more about our award‐winning teams. Payroll and Benefits • Benefits plan renewal and rate changes – The annual review of Capital Health’s benefits program has been completed. Note changes to your Feb. 23 pay. Learning and development opportunities •
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WHMIS train‐the‐trainer course – A Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) train‐the‐trainer course will be held Feb. 16 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Education Room 1 and 2, Basement, Rehab Centre, VG site, QEII. The course is mandatory for WHMIS trainers/representatives who have not taken the course, and is optional for existing trainers if they achieve an 80 per cent pass on the exemption quiz. Read more. Diving into Clinical Trials? Sink or Swim. This two‐day workshop takes place Feb. 16 and 17 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in room 114, Centre for Clinical Research. View details. To register, please contact Janet Gallant at 473‐2118 or [email protected]. Want to know how one drug impacts another? The library has an online subscription to the “blue book” – the Compendium of Pharmaceuticals and Specialties (CPS). It also has the “super duper” version called e‐therapeutics, which includes the CPS, patient information, and a drug interactions lookup. Read more. Perioperative Nursing Program – The Registered Nurses Professional Development Centre is offering a part‐time Perioperative Nursing Program for registered nurses. Program dates are April 16 to Nov. 30 and the application deadline is Feb. 13. For more information please contact Trudy Hebb at 473‐8454 or Jocelyne Granger at 473‐8732. Upcoming events •
It Gets Better video launch this Friday – You are invited to the premiere of prideHealth’s It Gets Better video Jan. 20 at noon in the O.E. Smith Auditorium at the IWK Health Centre. Read more. •
Hold the Hidden Salt – Restaurant Services teams up with registered dietitian Maureen Tilley Jan. 20 and Feb. 17 at the VG and Feb. 3 at the Halifax Infirmary to show you how to reduce the sodium in your diet. Drop by the Scotia Room (VG) or Summer Savoury (HI) between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Foundation news •
Join Chris Power and Bust a Move! On March 24, president and CEO Chris Power and her team, Breast of Fresh Air, will be Busting a Move for Breast Health™. Chris invites you to join her team March 24, and also attend the upcoming Bust a Move Rally on Jan. 19. Visit the Intranet/Our News to read more. Lottery winners – The winner of the QEII Foundation Grand‐a‐Week Lottery for Jan. 13 was Tina Bartlett. •
Grammar Geek •
Exclamation points – go easy. Exclamation points are like tinsel on a Christmas tree – they should be used sparingly. It’s tempting to use exclamation points when we really want the reader to understand that what we’re saying is important. The reality is, if we overuse exclamation points, they lose their oomph, and can even be distracting. If you save exclamation points for those times they’re really needed (and only use one at a time, please), they’ll pack a punch. Announcements and events •
To find out about upcoming events at Capital Health, visit the Announcements and Events section of the Intranet or public website. Submissions and feedback •
If you have a submission for Capital Health This Week, please send your item (100 words maximum) to [email protected] by Tuesday at noon. •
If you have feedback about Capital Health This Week, please email [email protected] or call Margaret Angus at 473‐2726.