From the operating room to client care: helping halt the spread of COVID-19 and protecting those who are most vulnerable

During the first wave of the pandemic, members of the operating room (OR) team were reassigned to other program areas at Misericordia, including Colleen Kunderman, registered nurse (RN), who spent two months answering calls on the Health Links – Info Santé COVID-19 line.

“During the second wave, I assumed I might be redeployed to another site,” said Colleen over the phone after working the night shift on Cornish 6, a transitional care unit at MHC. “It was nice to stay on-site at MHC – it’s familiar.”

Yvonne Mendoza, RN, is an OR team member who in mid-November, like Colleen, was reassigned to transitional care.

“At first I was scared. I thought the change would be overwhelming,” said Yvonne candidly. She continued: “But I remembered that I would bloom where I was planted, because I was there for a reason.”

Colleen and Yvonne both spent some time over at Misericordia Place, but primarily worked on Cornish 6 (C6) and Cornish 5 (C5) transitional care units, respectively, for the past two months.

With their reassignment came big changes both professionally and personally. Both RNs were accustomed to working eight-hour shifts, Monday to Friday, as well as being on call, and had to adjust to working 12-hour shifts, days, evenings as well as sometimes working seven days on. However, the biggest changes came with the new roles themselves.

“In the OR, my interactions with patients were limited to usually five minutes or less. On C6, it’s continual patient care, so my duties included: assessment and taking vitals, administering meds, assisting with feeding and transfers, helping clients FaceTime their families, really everything but admin,” said Colleen.

Yvonne, who was reassigned to entrance screening during the first wave of the pandemic, expressed that in moving from the OR to C5, the systems and processes are different, incomparable.

“At the end of the day, it was very satisfying working on C5. I learned so many new things with the help of the C5 team – they’re amazing and very supportive,” said Yvonne.

With visitation restrictions in place in order to protect clients and help halt the spread of COVID-19, health-care providers are important sources of support and meaningful interaction for clients and residents.

“We all have had our difficult moments during COVID. But nothing compares to the experience that some clients have had. They’ve lost spouses and couldn’t attend funerals. They haven’t seen family members in person for months on end. Throughout my experience on C6, it made me see that there was a real need and purpose for me – and my colleagues – in being reassigned.”

Colleen and Yvonne have now returned to their usual roles in the OR. To both of these health-care heroes and their colleagues, thank you for helping where needed most at MHC.

From the MHC Family to all reassigned and redeployed MHC staff: we are grateful for your dedication and service to clients, residents and patients. Thank you for living our Mission.

Keep COVID-19 informed by visiting: covid19manitoba.ca

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From sleep studies to resident care: an invaluable contribution to Misericordia Place

Throughout the pandemic, health-care programs and services in the province have been temporarily suspended to help flatten the curve. One of many areas at MHC that has been impacted is the Sleep Disorder Centre. The SDC is a provincial program unique to MHC, helping more than 10,000 Manitobans sleep better every year.

In mid-November, select services were put on pause, including outpatient sleep studies. With 90 per cent of sleep studies temporarily suspended in order to ensure safe patient care, SDC staff were redeployed to other areas on-site at MHC. Two of the 16 redeployed SDC team members are Kathy Gjema (far left) and Seng Yi (far right), both polysomnographers, or informally known as “sleep techs.”

Kathy and Seng have been working alongside the extended Misericordia Place team for the last two months, on MP2 and MP3, respectively.

Change is never easy, especially when it means going into a new, unfamiliar role. Both Kathy and Seng have taken the change in stride. And like their fellow SDC colleagues, they were also redeployed previously this spring to help field COVID-19 screening calls at Health Links – Info Santé.

“I don’t like too much change, but this has been an important change. To be effective and helpful, you have to adapt,” said Seng, who currently works primarily night shifts at Misericordia Place.

While the average night shift at MP looks quite different than at the Sleep Disorder Centre, there are parallels between the two.

“Some of the residents have trouble sleeping and they’re up during the night. I try to help them however I can, by sitting and talking with them or bringing them some ice cream.” said Seng.

Sleep tech Kathy says her normal shift at the SDC involves monitoring patients while they sleep for respiratory issues. While monitoring patients, she documents findings for a physician, who’ll then determine the mode of therapy required.

Now at MP, Kathy’s role includes, but isn’t limited to, assisting with duties such as sanitizing high-touch surfaces, stocking linen and supply carts as well as helping transport residents.

“At our MP orientation, once I saw how everything and everyone worked together, I was really happy to be there,” said Kathy.

Both Kathy and Seng expressed being proud to assist the health-care aides, nurses and MP team any way they could. Together, the MP team with the help of SDC staff, continue to provide quality, compassionate care to residents.

“I’ve enjoyed spending time with the residents and getting to know them,” said Kathy.

As directives change and suspended health-care programs start running again, Kathy and Seng will head back to the Sleep Disorder Centre. They, along with their SDC colleagues, have been an invaluable asset to the MP team.

Keep COVID-19 informed by visiting: covid19manitoba.ca

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Karen Loughlin, Operating Room

The COVID-19 pandemic is changing our world and health-care professionals are on the front lines.

“We’re a close group, a family,” says Karen Loughlin, clinical resource nurse (CRN) on the operating room (OR) team at Misericordia.

Karen has had many roles within the OR team, starting as an ophthalmic sedation practitioner, nurse and now her current role, CRN. As the CRN her duties on the average day include: setting up rooms, checking supplies and staffing, look for any changes from the previous day as well as helping relieve staff breaks.

With the onset of the pandemic, the OR shut down and things looked a lot different on the fourth floor of the Cornish building.

“COVID-19 brought constant change. What we did one day we couldn’t do the next day,” says Karen.

The OR went down to one room and three nurses, with many team members being deployed to other areas at MHC, including Karen, who helped with entrance screening.

As slates re-open as per Provincial directives, OR staff are adjusting to the new normal. Recently the pediatric dental surgery program started back up.

“Nurses have to wear a half respirator and full PPE. It’s hard on your face, but the nurses are complete rock stars.”

Karen is looking forward to getting the waitlist down and having patients in for eye surgeries.

“Things have been challenging both personally and professionally, but throughout this whole time my kids have been home and we’ve all been healthy.”

Keep COVID-19 informed by visiting: covid19manitoba.ca

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Dr. Oluwadara Onasanya, Eye Care Centre of Excellence

Resident ophthalmologist Dr. Oluwadara (Dara) Onasanya always knew he wanted to perform surgeries, but he was unsure of what his area of specialty would be. By the end of first year medical school at the University of Saskatchewan, he decided on ophthalmology. He landed on this decision after shadowing surgeons and talking with his father, a doctor of obstetrics and gynecology.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how this year of residency has looked for Dr. Onasanya at the Eye Care Centre of Excellence. For example, elective surgeries were temporarily suspended, so every day was an eye emergency clinic. Anyone who had urgent eye issues was sent to the Blue Desk at MHC, rather than to individual ophthalmologists’ offices.

“Eight-to-five, we’d see whatever eye emergencies came through our doors. It was a great opportunity to learn,” says Dr. Onasanya.

For eye emergencies, patients are first assessed by the critical response team (CRT) at MHC. If the CRT can manage the concern, they’ll do so, and if not, the patient will see the ophthalmologist on call.

“It’s our job to educate and reassure patients as doctors and health-care professionals,” says Dr. Onasanya on addressing patients’ worries and concerns about eye conditions.

Now that things have calmed down after the height of COVID-19, Dr. Onasanya spends his mornings seeing patients who have been referred to the Eye Centre by a family doctor or optometrist. He first sees patients one-on-one, then in consultation with a staff ophthalmologist. His afternoons are spent at private clinics throughout the city.

When he’s not seeing patients at the Eye Centre, you can find Dr. Onasanya on the court, shooting hoops, hitting the gym or gaming.

Keep COVID-19 informed by visiting: covid19manitoba.ca

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Saada Awad, Misericordia Place

The COVID-19 pandemic is changing our world and health-care professionals are on the front lines.

“The one thing I really don’t like about the PPE is that I can’t share my smiles,” laments Saada Awad, a health-care aide at Misericordia Place, pointing to her mask.

Saada understands the importance of wearing Personal Protective Equipment, a crucial COVID-19 precaution, but spends much of her day explaining to residents why she is wearing it.

“They keeping asking me if I’m sick,” she says, “I explain I’m wearing it to protect them. Many residents forget and I have to explain again.”

Saada is also finding it tough not being able to hug the residents she cares for: “I now touch their arms, rather than hugging.”

A new aspect of Saada’s position is helping residents with FaceTime, an activity she finds very rewarding.

“I felt so bad residents couldn’t have visitors, keeping in touch is so important.”

She’s extremely happy families are now allowed to visit in person with residents again, for everyone’s sake.

“The residents are very excited about the visits,” she says, “When you say family is coming, they really perk up.”

COVID-19 has also brought “single-site staffing” to all personal care homes in Manitoba, meaning staff can only work at one personal care home so as to reduce the risk of spreading the virus. Saada thinks this was an excellent development as “it’s much safer for our residents, and my co-workers.”

If there is a silver lining to COVID-19, it’s that it has brought Saada’s children all under one roof again. “My daughter is studying at U of M and has now come back home to live. I’m very happy we’re all together.”

Keep COVID-19 informed by visiting: covid19manitoba.ca

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Y Lam, Laundry and Linen

The COVID-19 pandemic is changing our world and health-care professionals are on the front lines.

Tuyet Lam has been at Misericordia for 40 years, first working in housekeeping and now with laundry and linen.

Tuyet – known as “Y” for short – launders linen and clothing for Misericordia Place and the Transitional Care Units. She then preps everything for the porters to deliver to residents’ rooms.

“It’s always busy and more busy now since COVID-19,” says Y.

Y and the laundry department don personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks, eye shields, gowns and gloves. In addition to their usual loads of laundry, the team has been washing handmade masks donated by Face Masks for Manitoba, which are used for staff PPE training.

COVID-19 has brought many changes both professionally and personally for many. While Y notes that the laundry and linen staff have remained calm throughout the pandemic so far, she’s had to make adjustments in her personal life.

“I hadn’t seen my daughter who lives in Morden from March until May. We talked on FaceTime every night,” she says.

Two of Y’s three daughters also work in health care, so things have been quite busy for everyone in her family.

“For Father’s Day we had a barbecue and we had everyone together – the whole family – for the first time since the beginning of COVID.”

Keep COVID-19 informed by visiting: covid19manitoba.ca

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Angela Harrysingh, Social Work

The COVID-19 pandemic is changing our world and health-care professionals are on the front lines.

Angela Harrysingh joined the MHC social work department in late 2019, returning to the workforce in a completely new role after maternity leave with her second child.

“I went from an office job to a health-centre setting – it was quite a change of pace,” says Angela.

Formerly working at employment and income assistance, Angela now spends the majority of her days discharge planning for Transitional Care clients at Misericordia.

“When COVID-19 first hit, it was a big shock. I was scared,” she says noting that because she’d never experienced anything like the current pandemic and there were many unknowns at first.

Due to the pandemic, Angela’s day-to-day duties have come with added challenges.

“All meetings with clients’ families are now by phone. I like to touch base with families right from the beginning in person, so it’s been challenging to ensure the family feels involved.”

Whether clients are going from transitional care at MHC to long-term care, independent living or supportive housing, due to COVID-19, family members or loved ones aren’t always able to see apartments or housing in advance. Sometimes there was an option for virtual or iPad tours.

“I had a client who was set to move to assisted living, but they decided to move in with loved ones instead, so they would be able to have family and friends visit.”

For some clients COVID-19 has been an extremely stressful and anxiety-inducing time, which can impact overall mental health.

“I’ve tried to remain as calm as possible. At the end of the day, I get to go home to my family. I can’t imagine what it’s like to not be with loved ones right now.”

Keep COVID-19 informed by visiting: covid19manitoba.ca

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Sylvia Chidlow, Focus on Falls Prevention Vision Screening to Patient Escort and Entrance Screening

The COVID-19 pandemic is changing our world and health-care professionals are on the front lines.

With the onset of COVID-19 in Manitoba, Sylvia Chidlow’s job has completely changed. Before the pandemic she was working as the program assistant and arranging optometry clinics for the Focus on Falls Prevention Vision Screening program.

“Pre-COVID I’d travel to personal-care homes with one of our two optometrists and our mobile eye clinic,” says Sylvia. “The idea for a mobile eye clinic started as a Misericordia project and now Focus on Falls has grown to traveling throughout Manitoba.”

As of April 21, Sylvia has traded in her eye kit for personal protective equipment. The vision-screening clinics have temporarily been suspended, so she’s been spending her days on-site at MHC as a patient escort and entrance screener.

“My step count has really increased – up to 16,000 steps during my shift alone – since I’ve been taking patients to and from their appointments,” she says as she drinks some orange juice to re-hydrate after a morning shift.

Sylvia notes that a major part of her new role includes reassuring patients and their loved ones: “I’m here to help when families can’t come in. It’s especially hard when they’re elderly patients. I show everyone that everything is in control and safety measures are in place.”

As elective surgeries at Misericordia ramp back up, Sylvia jokes that her step count will be ramping up, too.

“I’m excited to get back to traveling and doing optometry clinics. An optometry appointment can be a social event for many older adults.”

Keep COVID-19 informed by visiting: covid19manitoba.ca

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Peggy Mayham, Clinical Resource Team

The COVID-19 pandemic is changing our world and health-care professionals are on the front lines.

Peggy Mayham, a Clinical Resource Team (CRT) nurse, has many stories to tell about the last three months since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared.

Right away, she put her name forward to assist the Health Links – Info Santé team with their COVID-19 screening calls.

“It’s hard to describe what it was like,” says Peggy. “There was a 2-hour wait time and the call volumes kept increasing. There was a lot of fear and uncertainty in the voices of the Manitobans calling in.”

The CRT practices changed immediately as well. This 24/7 unique team at Misericordia has a variety of roles, including handling emergency eye intake patients and responding  to codes such as a Code Blue, which necessitates face-to-face patient care. 

“We wore PPE right away,” says Peggy, “and did a lot of preparation work to ensure safety, like preparing patients rooms and setting up an isolated waiting room.”

A lot of Peggy’s role was easing patients’ fears and offering calm reassurance to accompanying family members – and often to other staff.

“We’re all in the same boat,” she says matter-of-factly.

One exciting element COVID-19 brought to MHC was an enhanced collaboration between the CRT, the University of Manitoba Ophthalmology Residency Clinic, and the ophthalmology on-call team.

“Typically we’re more separated,” explains Peggy, “with most ophthalmologists at outside offices.

“One day, we had a patient present with a retinal detachment. The CRT referred him to the resident on call. The patient was then seen by two other specialists at MHC and had surgery the same day – saving his sight.

“I’m proud of how our entire team here at MHC came together and adapted to all the challenges within this unique fluid environment of COVID-19. We worked exceptionally well together to protect our patients and the public while simultaneously working to ensure our own safety by following policies and procedures.”

On a more personal note, Peggy hails from Split Lake Tataskweyak Cree Nation in northern Manitoba. She moved to Winnipeg for her daughter to attend high school. While her daughter was in high school, Peggy completed her nursing degree, graduating in 2005.

“I thought I would stay five years at most at Misericordia,” she says with a smile. “It’s been 15. I worked for 12 years in Urgent Care before moving to the CRT. I enjoyed working with my colleagues in Urgent Care. They became my work family, so the decision to stay long term was an easy one.

“I’m also a night person, so I adapted to shift work well!”

Keep COVID-19 informed by visiting: covid19manitoba.ca

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Muriel Torrato, Health Information Services

The COVID-19 pandemic is changing our world and health-care professionals are on the front lines.

Muriel Torrato, Health Information Analyst, is part of the Health Information Services (HIS) department responsible for providing accurate data for research, reporting and helping support quality patient care at MHC. COVID-19 has presented some new challenges for the HIS team, including new guidelines for coding.

“COVID-19 presented a lot of new information. The Canadian Institute for Health Information provided international coding direction via World Health Organization for confirmed Coronavirus cases,” says Muriel. “It’s all been interesting for my job.”

Part of the HIS department’s COVID-19 planning was moving Ophthalmology Assessment Unit to the fourth floor and adding beds into the ADT system, where numbers are extracted for reports. Respite Care beds were also converted to Transitional Care Unit beds. Muriel says: “This was actually the biggest challenge for me as an analyst. It’s been challenging to keep up with all the changes.”

Another area that has changed in Muriel’s department is requests for health information. People can still request their health information – whether for personal interest or medical/legal correspondence – but in-person pick-up has been suspended due to visitor restrictions.

Throughout COVID-19 the HIS team has been diligent about keeping their work spaces and high-touch areas clean.

“Even before area cleaning time was enacted, we created a daily checklist to ensure our space was sanitized regularly,” she says.

On a more personal note, Muriel mentions that her husband moved to Winnipeg from the Philippines around this time last year: “It’s a good thing we got all the paperwork done earlier, rather than later.”

When possible, Muriel hopes to travel, noting that right now it’s important to stay optimistic.

“I’m excited to go on a road trip and experience more of Canada with my husband!”

Keep COVID-19 informed by visiting: covid19manitoba.ca

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