INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Information systems is designed to provide technical support to hospital staff as well as the indirect communication with patients. Five full time employees including a manager, Meditech analyst, and technicians work to provide service for hardware (PC, printers, servers, etc..), software (Meditech, windows, firewall, antivirus/spam, security updates), as well as the interconnected network and wifi.

 

Information Systems is a shared I.T department with Espanola and Manitoulin Health Center, as well as the Family Health Team and clinics. This department also has ties with other Meditech groups in order to provide support.

Since 2010, there has been over 12,500 successfully completed work orders for all sites (BRDHC, EGH, MHC).

 

* Hours of Operation:     Monday – Friday8:30 am – 4:30 pm, 4:30 pm – 10:00 pm (on call)

                                         Saturday – Sunday8:30 am – 10:00 pm (on call)

GOLDEN BIRCHES

Golden Birches is a home away from home for those looking to settle down in a long term care residence. Residents vary in age with the majority being over 65 years old who require extra care in everyday life.

Our department is equipped with 40 employees (including Behavioral Support Ontario) who take pride in top of the line treatment and care of the residents 24 hours, 7 days a week. Here residents feel as though they can move freely and carry out daily activities while still receiving proper medical attention. Medical services include: administering medications, IV therapy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy available whenever it is needed. Our department works closely with others such as food services, pharmacy, social services, and community support services to ensure all needs of the clients are being met.

Employees work to organize fun events for the residents in order to help them develop social relationships and provide a day of fun! Past events including horse races, musical entertainment, breakfast clubs for both men and women, and fishing help to keep the residents interacted with the community that they are a part of.

Visiting hours for friends and family are flexible, however, after 11:00 am works best for the routine ofstaff and the residents. If visiting extends past 8:30 pm, please inform the nurse of your arrival and departure.

During a flu outbreak visitors to the affected Unit will be restricted. Information to that effect will be available to you by calling ahead. If you are experiencing cold or flu like symptoms, please no not visit as you are at risk of spreading the illness to residents.

FOOD SERVICES

Food services provide fresh made meals, from the kitchen just off the cafeteria, with a total of 14 full-time and part-time staff.  We work to feed a wide variety of people including: acute care patients, long term care residents, Meals on Wheels clients, staff, visitors, as well as congregate dining clients. To do this, we offer multiple services to meet the needs of each individual. Meals are tailored to specific diets like low sodium, low cholesterol, or diabetic to ensure that everyone is receiving their proper dietary intake. This is a large task as 80,000 meals are prepared every single year! In addition, we offer the residents the ability to choose their desired meal from a menu prepared in house and with patient, resident and staff preferences considered.

We work regularly with the community and other departments within the hospital as we are just one part of an interconnected system working as a team. These relationships include:

  • Renting out our equipment for large dinner parties or luncheons
  • Working with volunteers who deliver Meals on Wheels
  • Working with managers to set up catered events
  • Working with the Public Health Unit to ensure proper sanitation
  • Ensuring proper food deliveries and quality of food supplies
  • Stocking vending machines with snacks, meals and beverages

* Hours of Operation: 6:15 am – 6:30 pm

* For more information regarding food services contact: Don Cook dcook@brdhc.on.ca

EDUCATION

The education department here at Blind River District Health Centre provides health and wellness programs and knowledge to health care professionals. This environment encourages personal growth by learning new concepts, practices, and skills while additionally ensuring certification requirements are met. Other services provided by the education department are:

  • Developing, implementing and evaluating education programs based on identified learning needs for all staff
  • Developing and delivering orientation for all new employees, volunteers and students
  • Implementing new nursing practices and evaluating validity and relevancy for these practices
  • Provides managerial replacements for Nurse Managers
  • Assists with developing proposals intended for educational funding
  • Provides career planning guidance for interested staff
  • Provides a Skills Fair to review high risk safety topics

An important aspect of this department is the partnerships it shares with other institutions. Our education service is closely linked with the Sault Area Hospital by sharing educational resources, Huron Shores Family Health Team to provide CPR training to staff, as well as the Neo-Trauma Services to act as a contact for associated funding. The commitment of our staff makes these connections possible resulting in quality patient/resident care.

* Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday 7:00 am – 3:00 pm

FINANCE

The financial department of the Blind River District Health Centre is in charge of all internal payment information within the hospital including: payroll to all employees, preparing and analyzing financial statements, recording all revenue and expenses, and monitoring statistical and financial accounts. This is done by two full time and two part time employees. Externally, we deal with clients such as MOHLTC (Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care), stakeholders, and other hospitals such as Manitoulin and Espanola to strengthen our partnerships with local actors.

If you are not a Canadian citizen please be prepared to pay for your visit to the Emergency, Laboratory, Radiology departments, In-Patient Admission, or other services. We do not do third billings for non-residents of Canada, however we do take cash, cheques, Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Interact. A receipt will be issued so you can make a claim to your insurance company. This also applies to Canadian residents who do not have an active Ontario Health Card number or active Health Card number from any other province.

* Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday8:30 am – 4:30 pm

MATERIALS MANAGEMENT

Materials management is in charge of all supplies for the Blind River District Heath Centre including Matthews Memorial and Thessalon Sites. Two full time employees work to complete the following services on a daily basis:

  • Ordering and receiving equipment and supplies
  • Contacting suppliers for quotes
  • Track and deliver supplies to other departments
  • Maintain and evaluate contracts
  • Meet with suppliers and managers
  • Replenishing fast moving supplies

Our clients include all managers, employees, suppliers, and patients who receive or use any materials (equipment, office supplies, bedding). This department is critical to the functioning of other units as our job is to ensure that they receive the proper equipment they need to complete their day to day work. We do our best to get materials to the hospital on a timely manner as transportation of these items is a long process. On average, items are handled five times before reaching its final destination!   

* Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday8:00 am – 4:00 pm

DECISION SUPPORT

The decision support department works to support decision making while also monitoring of performance. The analyst works closely with finance and health information services to provide staff, patients and managers with services such as:

  • Providing reports and information on efficiencies
  • Providing accurate data on key measures
  • Assist in implementing QBPs (Quality Based Procedures)
  • Assist in maintaining QIPs (Quality Improvement Program) reporting and creating more efficient reports
  • Determine Data Quality and determine if improvements need to be made

Although this is a relatively new department, we have already made changes to programs and are working towards creating reports that pull data right from the source, making them more useful to the health centre.

* Hours of Operation:  Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm (Located at the Blind River Site Mondays and Tuesdays)

HUMAN RESOURCES

The Human Resources department of the Blind River District Health Centre advocates for both the hospital, as well as the employees in order to maintain a balance to meet both needs equally. Although, clients extend beyond management and employees as human resources also deals with the general public. Services provided by this department include:

  • Labour relations
  • Employee benefit administration and compensation
  • Recruitment/Retention
  • Employment services
  • Employee orientation
  • Planning, implementing, evaluation of employee relations
  • Implement necessary changes

Human resources maintains many partnerships within the community such as Employment Solutions, Dibrinasure Group, Health Force Ontario, Ontario Hospital Association, and Claimsecure. These relations help to keep BRDHC a safe and enjoyable place to work.

* Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

MEDICAL DEVICES REPROCESSING

The medical devices reprocessing department is in charge of the disinfection and sterilization of reusable medical devices for the Blind River District Health as well as Matthews Memorial and Thessalon sites. Two part time employees are present at the BRDHC Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8 am – 1 pm to maintain a clean environment in which health professionals work. Our department is important for the fight against germs that lead to the spread of illnesses around the health centre.  Our department is shared with materials management as well as services provided to the foot clinic.

 

HEALTH INFORMATION SERVICES

Health Information Services (HIS) deals with a wide variety of procedures with regards to the history of a patient and their chart. This includes: chart maintenance, assembly, quality assurance, destruction, transcription, coding, scanning and archiving. Charts are shared between departments (depending on where the patient is located) before it finally ends up in the hands of the manager and technicians of HIS. Here charts are analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively and transmitted into corresponding diagnoses and procedure codes created by the Canadian Institute for Health Information.

We maintain a very strict privacy policy under The Personal Health Information Act and The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act for all three of our sites (Blind River, Thessalon, Matthews Memorial Site) to ensure compete confidentiality for our patients and employees/affiliate data.

Our department works closely with other departments such as:

  • Finance – collecting statistical data
  • Medical Imaging department – transcribing dictated reports
  • Physicians – patient chart completion and transcribing dictated reports
  • Admitting- assisting with registration processes, chart delivery
  • IT department- assist with maintaining Meditech and WinRecs databases and dictation program
  • Physiotherapy- complete all requests for release of information

* Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday8:00 am – 4:00 pm

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

The Environmental Services Department is often an unseen member of the health care team. Working behind the scenes, we ensure that the Blind River District Health Centre is a safe and clean working environment for all employees, patients and visitors.


The Housekeeping staff is responsible for the frequent and thorough cleaning of all patient, public and staff areas. They are also responsible for the collection and disposal of all waste (regular and biochemical), and all recycling materials. Additionally, the Maintenance staff ensures that the integrity of the facility is maintained by providing proper upkeep of equipment and repairs.

Linen staff handles the delivery and upkeep of clean linen as required by the Health Centre.

LINKS

Algoma EMS:

http://www.adsab.on.ca/Algoma_District_Paramedic_Services_Algoma_District_Paramedic_Services.aspx

 

Canadian Diabetes Association

http://www.diabetes.ca/

 

Canadian Health Network

http://www.canadianhealthcarenetwork.ca/

 

Canadian Institute for Health Information

http://www.cihi.ca/CIHI-ext-portal/internet/EN/Home/home/cihi000001

 

Cancer Care Ontario

https://www.cancercare.on.ca/

 

College of Dietitians of Ontario

http://www.collegeofdietitians.org/

 

Dietitians of Canada

http://www.dietitians.ca/

 

French Language Health Services

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/programs/flhs/

 

Health Canada

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index-eng.php

 

Northeastern Ontario Regional Cancer Centre

http://www.hsnsudbury.ca/PortalEn/rcp/Home/tabid/84/Default.aspx

 

Ontario Community Support Association

http://www.ocsa.on.ca/

 

Seniors’ Information

http://www.seniors.gc.ca/eng/sb/ie/on.shtml

 

Telehealth North Network

https://otn.ca/en

 

The Gift Connection

Gift connection3.jpg

The gift shop is located in the main lobby of the NSHN Blind River Site.  The hospital Auxiliary volunteer running the Gift Connection to raise money with the goal of keeping our healthcare local and at our convenience.

Hours of operation:

Monday - Friday:  10:00 AM to 3:00 PM

(closed on Wednesday during the lunch hour)

Tuesday evening from 6:30 PM to 8:15 PM

Parking Tokens available

 

 

 

2017/2018 Corporate Memberships are available for purchase 

Deadline:  12:00 PM Friday May 12, 2017.  The Membership fee is $1.00. 

Click here for the application.

A person is eligible to be an annual member when at the time of payment the person must:

  • Be at least eighteen (18) years of age;

  • Have been a resident of the greater area which is served by the North Shore Health Network from and including Spanish to the east and including the Township of Macdonald, Meredith & Aberdeen to the west for a continuous period of at least three months immediately prior thereto, or

  • Be employed or carry on business in the area described.

 

The Annual General Meeting is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, June 13, 2017.

For additional information please contact 705-356-2265 ext. 2601.

 

 

 Geriatric Emergency Management (GEM)

Creating a senior friendly emergency department department in the North Shore

What is a Senior Friendly Emergency?

One of the places where older adults may receive health care is the emergency department (ED) at a hospital.

ED visits can be confusing and intimidating for anyone. This is especially true for older adults and caregivers. The ED is often loud and can seem chaotic. Busy health professionals may conduct very quick initial evaluations. However, the evaluation may likely be too brief to effectively cover an older person’s chronic medical problems and medications. Long waits and a confusing environment can also make it more likely for older adults in the ED to develop a delirium.

How Do I Find a GEM Nurse?

Call the Geriatric Office located the the North Shore Health Network - Blind River Site: (705) 356-2265 ext. 2740

or go to the Emergency Department at the hospital and ask for the “GEM Nurse”

What can we do for you in the Emergency Department?

Create a senior comfortable environment (ie. efforts at noise reduction)

  • Access to prompt assessment and potential services for a safe plan for discharge home

  • Follow up calls

  • Surveys indicate that seeing a GEM nurse does not increase emergency wait times, but does decrease admission rates by lessening unnecessary return visits. A GEM Nurse intervention can significantly improve both flow and patient satisfaction.

What can I expect during my meeting with the GEM Nurse?

The GEM nurse will ask for your consent to do an assessment. If you agree, the nurse may also speak with your family/caregivers to help with the assessment. During the assessment, the GEM nurse will ask about your physical and mental health, and your ability to manage at home. We may also ask other team members to assist, including social workers, physiotherapists, or mental health nurses.

 Geriatric Assessors

Coming soon

Nurse Practitioner

Carol Ann Agnihotri

 

Hospice and Palliative Care

 

Service Overview

Palliative Care is an approach to care that supports people with life threatening and terminal illness to live as comfortably and as fully as possible. The North Shore Health Network Hospice Palliative Care Volunteer Program supports both the client and their loved ones and can provide, mental, social and spiritual support at any time during the illness.

Who can benefit?

Anyone who has been diagnosed with a life limiting or terminal illness

You do not need a doctor or other Health Care Professional to make a referral. Self referrals welcome.

Service Details

Hospice Palliative care Volunteers can:

  • Visit a client at home, in hospital or Long-Term Care Facility.

  • Provide Respite for care givers, allowing then to do other things, go out etc

    • This can often mean relieving family during a hospital stay.

During a visit a volunteer might:

  • read with the client

  • play a game

  • watch tv

  • help with a craft

  • provide safe environment to talk

  • provide spiritual support if both are comfortable

  • take the client for a walk

Eligibility / Service Fee

  • There is no cost to the client or family for this service

Confidentiality

  • All volunteers are required to sign a ‘Privacy and Confidentiality’ document and adhere to The NSHN’s confidentiality policies

Application Form

Please fill in your contact information if you or someone you know would like to join our program. Alternatively, you may call us at (705) 356 - 2265 ext. 2657 and a Care Coordinator will get back to you within 2 business days.

Interested in becoming a Hospice and Palliative Care volunteer?

Life can be challenging at times. At Community Support Services we help make things a little easier by providing services to lighten the load for clients and their caregivers. Your involvement means we can continue to be a lifeline to our community.

Hospice and Palliative Care

Anyone who has been diagnosed with a life limiting or terminal illness can receive support from a Volunteer.

Our dedicated team of 11 Hospice and Palliative Care Volunteers can visit a Client at home, in hospital, or in Long Term Care to provide respite for caregivers. During a visit the Volunteer could read with the Client, play a game together, help with a craft, provide a safe environment to talk, and so much more.

Our experienced Hospice and Palliative Care Volunteer Coordinator works closely with Clients, their families, and Volunteers to schedule visits on an on-going basis. It is our goal to support Clients early in their illness trajectory to improve their journey. 

If you or someone you know would like to learn more, please contact us at 705-356-2265 ext. 2657 or cssclient@nshn.care.

 

Meals on Wheels

 

Service Overview

Let us do the cooking! Receive the comfort of a hot homestyle meal, prepared by our Food Services Department in a professional kitchen at the North Shore Health Network, delivered by a friendly volunteer. Or, enjoy frozen meals, delivered in bulk to give you greater flexibility.

Volunteer Recruitment Campaign recorded August 2022

Who can benefit?

People who enjoy fresh meals and are interested in maintaining or increasing their nutrition and healthy eating habits.

Available to older adults, frail elderly, people convalescing from hospital, terminally ill, chronically ill, people with a mental health or developmental disability, new mothers and caregivers.

Service Details

Meals are delivered Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays over lunch by a trained volunteer who also provides a safety check. To start your meal deliveries, simply call our office to arrange a convenient intake appointment. We will set you up on a delivery schedule based on your needs, taking into account your dietary restrictions and preferences. Our menu, which follows Canada’s Food Guide, includes a soup, entrée, and dessert. Customizations are available.

Hot Meals

  • Prepared fresh

  • Rotating seasonal menu ensures variety

Frozen Meals

  • Can be ordered and delivered in bulk quantities to provide for evenings and weekends

Price

The cost is $8.00 per meal*

*For eligible clients $6.00 with a subsidy.

FAQs

  • Can be ordered and delivered in bulk quantities to provide for evenings and weekend?

    Answer

  • How do I choose which meal I will receive?

    Answer

  • How do I pay for the meals?

    Answer

Application Form

Please fill in your contact information if you or someone you know would like to apply for Meals on Wheels. Alternatively you may call us at (705) 356 - 2265 ext. 2455, our office hours are Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and closed during holidays.

A Care Coordinator will get back to you within 2 business days.

Life can be challenging at times. At Community Support Services we help make things a little easier by providing services to lighten the load for clients and their caregivers. Your involvement means we can continue to be a lifeline to our community.

Interested in becoming a Meals on Wheels volunteer?

Medical Transportation

Need a ride to your out-of-town medical appointment?

Our Volunteers are here to help!

Service Overview

Let us know when you book an appointment, and we’ll do the driving! Our friendly volunteers will pick you up, ensure you make it to your appointment, and take you home again. Available transportation options include dialysis appointments at St. Josephs (Elliot Lake), diagnostic imaging appointments at Sault Area Hospital, chemotherapy treatments at Health Sciences North (Sudbury), and many more.

Did You Know?

Our 9 dedicated Volunteers drive Clients to over 60 out-of-town medical appointments each month?

Service Details

Once the Volunteer Coordinator in CSS confirms your application is complete, you may simply call our office whenever you need a ride and we will arrange a time with one of our dedicated volunteer drivers.

  • There is a per km cost to this service that covers gas and maintenance of the volunteer’s vehicle. It is updated regularly.

  • Application for Northern Health Travel Grant: Click Here

  • If you require assistance beyond the door of your destination, we encourage you to ask a family member, friend, or support worker to go to the appointment with you as an escort.

FAQs

  • Will the driver wait for me while I’m at my appointment?

    It depends. Our drivers are scheduled to either provide transportation with both ways or may be scheduled to drive one leg of the trip.

  • Scheduled both ways

    The driver may wait in the parking lot until you are done.

    1. If your appointment is scheduled for one hour, the driver might have a 30-minute lunch break scheduled during this time. They may drive somewhere else during this time or eat while waiting in the parking lot.

  • Will the driver be able to come into my appointment with me or pick me up from inside my destination?

    No, our drivers will only provide door-to-door service, which means that they can accompany you to the door, but they cannot come in with you.

    1. If you require assistance beyond the door of your destination, we encourage you to ask a family member, friend, or support worker to go to the appointment with you as an escort.

    2. There is no service charge for an escort.

  • I received a call letting me know you couldn’t provide me with my requested ride. What do I do now?

    It’s important to have a backup plan in case we are not able to fill your ride request.

    1. A family member, neighbour, friend, or taxi would be your next attempt.

    2. If a cancellation occurs that allows your request to be filled, we would connect with you.

    3. Some clients choose to re-schedule the appointment.

    4. Our rides are filled based on volunteer and vehicle availability. Rides are not guaranteed.

Application Form

Please fill in your contact information if you or someone you know would like to apply for Medical Transportation. Alternatively you may call us at (705) 356 - 2265 ext. 2455, our office hours are Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and closed during holidays.

A Care Coordinator will get back to you within 2 business days.

Life can be challenging at times. At Community Support Services we help make things a little easier by providing services to lighten the load for clients and their caregivers. Your involvement means we can continue to be a lifeline to our community.

Interested in becoming a Medical Transportation volunteer?

 

Seated Exercise Class

With the goal of increasing physical activity and decreasing the risk of falls, the ‘Just Move It’ Seated Exercise Class is a FREE activity in Blind River for anyone 65+.

Our fun-loving team of PSWs guide participants through 30-45 minutes of seated exercises aimed at maintaining range of motion, balance, and strength, followed by 15-30 minutes of socialization with coffee & tea.

If you or someone you know is interested in attending, please contact us at 705-356-2265 ext. 2450 or cssclient@nshn.care

 Peer-To-Peer Greif Support Group

In the fall of 2022 we were pleased to offer our first Peer-to-Peer Grief Support Group for adults 18+ grieving the loss an adult called ‘Mourning Chats’. Guided by the Ten Essential Touchstones of Alan D. Wolfelt, this group is facilitated by our wonderful Hospice and Palliative Care Coordinator and experienced Volunteers. Upon completion of the 8-week program, participants are encouraged to attend our ‘Graduates Sessions’, which are monthly chats to stay connected to those with similar experiences.

Our next session will begin on October 24th 2023. It’s not too late to register! Please contact us at 705-356-2265 ext. 2657 or cssclient@nshn.care

CONGREGATE DINING

For over a decade, NSHN’s Community Support Services Department has been hosting a bi-monthly luncheon for those aged 65+ in Blind River.

With the amazing help of the Food Services Department, the hard working PSW’s and Administrative Staff in Community Support Services plan & host a social dining experience at Immanuel Baptist Church. Each event has a theme with a delicious meal to match, prizes to be won, and occasionally live music! The cost is just $5.00 per person.

Would you or someone you know like to be added to our Invitation List? Contact us at 705-356-2265 ext. 2450 or cssclient@nshn.care

We host 50 seniors at each event – so reserve your spot today!