Chero Belle Laqui, Mailroom & Environmental Services

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

“Positivity is also contagious,” says Chero Belle Laqui, discussing COVID-19. “This is a serious matter, but it’s important to stay positive.”

The mailroom clerk and environmental steward is taking the COVID-19 precautions seriously – at work, and at home: her husband works in Misericordia’s Sleep Disorder Centre and their daughter who lives with them works at HSC. They all follow the same disinfection protocols at home that they do at work.

Chero Belle understands the necessity of social distancing, just seeing her other daughter, a freelance make-up artist, through windows and FaceTiming. Lots of FaceTiming.

Chero Belle is missing working together in their lash extension business but, following her own advice, remains positive.

“Being well-educated is better than fear,” says Chero Belle. “This too shall pass. I’m thankful everyone in my family is healthy.”

For now, she keeps her followers up-to-date as @CutiePork on Instagram and often tags Misericordia Health Centre.

“Most people just call me cute, even at work. ‘Hey, cute!’ they say.”

Keep COVID-19 informed by visiting: covid19manitoba.ca

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Brenda Wong, Diagnostic Imaging

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

Brenda Wong is doing her best to stay physically distanced from others, but it’s not always possible.

As a senior technologist in MHC’s diagnostic imaging department she sometimes has to get close to patients, like when IVs are administered for an infused CT-scan.

“The only way to see blood vessels is to enhance them with what we call IV contrast,” says Brenda.

She and her coworkers in the department, which also performs X-rays and  ultrasound diagnostic imaging, take precautions with gloves, masks and face shields, and are maintaining as much physical distance as possible.

“It can be stressful, but we don’t show it. We all want to provide the same safe and comfortable patient experience (pre-COVID-19) for everyone involved.”

Changes in the department due to COVID-19 include the postponement of non-essential scans and reduced hours, including the suspension of walk-in CT-scans at the department’s outpatient centre, which was recognized last year by Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living with a Health Innovation Award for Patient-Centred Care.

Keep COVID-19 informed by visiting: covid19manitoba.ca

#mhcfamily #healthcareheroesMB #COVID19

Kristine Harbottle, Community IV Program

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

As a nurse working in the Community IV Program at MHC, Kristine Harbottle feels the threat of COVID-19 follows her home. Her strategy is to shower as soon as she gets there.

“Then I can go near my family,” she said.

“It’s stressful for the family, my kids and my husband…it’s scary for people.”

The Community IV Program is a service for people who require prescribed intravenous antibiotics in a clinical setting. Up to 70 people attend MHC for the treatment each day, and Kristine also does home visits for people too sick to attend the clinic. The treatments are for bodily infections requiring IV antibiotics—but not for COVID-19.

“We give the antibiotics and we’ll do the wound care,” Kristine said, adding an Infectious Disease doctor is also part of the patient care.

Patients and staff are now screened for signs of COVID-19 before entering the health centre, Kristine said.

Community IV Program staff have always been vigilant about hand washing and keeping spaces clean and equipment sterile, but now they’re being even more cautious and wearing masks and eye protection.

“Right now, I’m talking with my mask on,” Kristine said over the phone.

And of course, even though they are performing an essential service, they still have to eat. COVID-19 hasn’t spared that process either.

“We have a small lunchroom, so we have staggered all of our lunch breaks because we’re trying to keep six feet apart.”

Keep COVID-19 informed by visiting: covid19manitoba.ca

#mhcfamily #healthcareheroesMB #COVID19

Melissa Zepp, Infection Prevention & Control

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

Melissa Zepp’s job title at MHC depends on who you ask.

“Infection control professional,” says Melissa, “or you could just say ‘germ cop,’ that’s what my son calls me.”

Germ cop – and teacher. A lot of what Melissa is doing around the health centre these days, beyond infection control “surveillance,” includes education. And calming nerves.

“The majority of what I do when it comes to COVID-19 is dispelling some of the myths…reducing anxiety about how things are spread and talking about the evidence.”

It’s much the same as she did pre-COVID-19, but more of it.

“I’m a whole lot busier. My pager goes off like wildfire. I’m spending a significant more time doing education.”

One result of COVID-19 is people are more interested in what she has to say, and some of those people are learning basic facts—like, how the virus can spread.

“You can’t absorb the virus through your skin,” explains Melissa. The virus primarily enters through your eyes, nose and mouth.

“If you touch stuff other people have touched, wash your hands before touching your face.

“Really, don’t touch your face,” says Melissa. “And if you have to touch your face – wash your hands first.”

Everyone can protect each other by following COVID-19 precautions:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
• Social distancing (keep two metres apart)
• Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow (not your hands)
• Avoid greetings that involve touching, like handshakes

Keep COVID-19 informed by visiting: covid19manitoba.ca

#mhcfamily #healthcareheroesMB #COVID19

Vera Duncan, Nursing Services

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

“These days I’m basically running between three entrances, making sure people are entering Misericordia in the safest way,” says Vera Duncan, clinical nurse specialist.

Vera wears a lot of hats at MHC: she is the advanced wound-care clinician and also facilitates research and clinical education for staff to optimize patient care.

Pre-COVID-19, Vera was working on several projects across the health centre. Nowadays she is the clinical lead on the visitor screening at the three entrances at MHC.

At every entrance, visitors and staff are first asked to use hand sanitizer, then the door screener asks a series of questions before access is granted to the building.

“If anyone says ‘yes’ to screening questions, they’ll have to put on a mask and go to one of the isolation rooms,” says Vera. Door screeners call Vera and the clinical response team (CRT) for assessment.

Vera’s overall goal is to determine how everyone can enter safely – safe for them and safe for everyone on site.

“The protocols change daily, sometimes hourly,” she notes. Vera and her team, which includes nurses and non-clinical staff, have to stay on top of current procedures and best practices.

“More recently we are screening staff and taking temperatures. This has required new training for even more staff.”

Over the last two weeks, Vera has trained 25 nurses to help with door screening and dozens of screeners in the screening protocols, taking temperatures and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

“It’s not just about asking the screening questions, it’s about applying critical thinking.”

Keep COVID-19 informed by visiting: covid19manitoba.ca

#mhcfamily #healthcareheroesMB #COVID19

Stacey Morgan, Transitional Care 

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

Stacey Morgan manages about 40 health-care aides and nurses who care for 44 Transitional Care Unit (TCU) clients who come to MHC primarily from acute-care sites for some restorative care before transitioning to other places, which could include their homes or another facility. MHC has three TCUs.

Stacey says her staff are talking a lot about COVID-19, and they fear the unknown.

“I think it brings fear of one of the staff or patients getting ill (with COVID-19), and what that would mean.”

Stacey says a lot of education, reassurance, answering questions and making sure they have appropriate personal protection equipment helps. So far, the virus has not shown up at the health centre.

The biggest difference for the transitional care units is that no visitors are allowed.

But spirits are lifted by helping clients have special moments communicating with family with a video call on an iPad. The unit has just one iPad for 44 clients to share, Stacey says, and the Misericordia Health Centre Foundation is hoping generous donors will help them purchase more.

“We’re doing whatever we can to prevent social isolation,” says Stacey.

And her staff are taking extraordinary steps to help people connect.

“Last week one of our clients was turning 86,” Stacey recalls, “so our staff gave him a cell phone and brought him downstairs in front of the large windows overlooking the river.

“He was able to see his wife and daughter through the glass and speak to them: it was a wonderful thrill for him and his family.”

Keep COVID-19 informed by visiting: covid19manitoba.ca

#mhcfamily #healthcareheroesMB #COVID19

Candace Blundell, PRIME

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

PRIME case manager Candace Blundell is digging deeper during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure her clients are taken care of.

MHC’s PRIME program usually cares for 70 clients with complex needs, and sees up to 40 clients each day. Because of physical distancing requirements they’ve had to cut that number down to 10 and increase the after-hours outreach visits to make sure people are still being taken care of.

“Many clients have no family, so we look to see who might miss extra care if we don’t see them once a week,” said Candace.

The reduction in day clients means some of PRIME’s staff—including nurses, doctors, physiotherapists, health-care aides, dietitians and rehabilitation assistants—are helping in other areas of the health centre.

It’s been hard, Candace says, to continuously reassess and prioritize clients who need the most care—whether it’s care for wounds or their mental health—and determine the list of 10 who will come for care at MHC.

“COVID-19 is making that very challenging. It’s a constant reassessment, but so far, it’s worked well. There is always support available 24 hours a day if our clients need us.”

Families are grateful to PRIME staff for looking out for their loved ones—sometimes the only people who can during this time. And those loved ones are very appreciative of the support, which can include picking up groceries and delivering to clients’ homes.

“That’s what makes PRIME so different and unique. As a case manager, it’s whatever our clients need. Anything. And everybody really appreciates any sort of contact at this point.”

Keep COVID-19 informed by visiting: covid19manitoba.ca

#mhcfamily #healthcareheroesMB #COVID19

Joan Crabtree, Spiritual Health

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

There’s an increasing demand for spiritual health services amongst those who call Misericordia home.

“People are scared and uncertain,” says Joan Crabtree, lead spiritual-health provider at Misericordia Health Centre.

Very simply put, Joan describes spiritual health as: “How you find meaning and purpose in life.”

While COVID-19 has changed the offerings of the spiritual health department at Misericordia, Joan and her team are working tirelessly to meet the spiritual-health needs of residents and clients.

“We’re doing a lot more one-on-ones, acknowledging it’s normal to feel anxious, scared, lonely. And from there, we’re exploring where [residents] can find encouragement – whether it’s prayer, music or calling family.”

Alongside one-on-one meetings and discussions with residents, Nurturing the Spirit – a conversational group program – is still running. However, the capacity has been decreased and the room where it takes place has been spaced out, to ensure appropriate social distance measures.

Despite looming uncertainty, Joan notes there are some really positive things happening in the world right now including: “People are reaching out and talking on the phone with others they haven’t connected with in a long time.”

Connection and belonging are major parts of spirituality. “Everyone can discover their own sense of spirituality, regardless of religion, race, creed or otherwise,” says Joan. “It’s acknowledging there’s something bigger than us. That’s a powerful realization of COVID-19 – we’re all in this together.”

Keep COVID-19 informed by visiting: covid19manitoba.ca

#mhcfamily #healthcareheroesMB #COVID19

Robert Nyagudi, Supply Chain/Materiel Management

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

“The supply chain is abuzz,” says Robert Nyagudi, manager of supply chain and materiel management at Misericordia Health Centre on the COVID-19 situation.

As you may have noticed given empty grocery store shelves and all the memes floating around on social media – there’s a lot of panic buying these days. There’s a global shortage of items such as hand sanitizer and masks, which has had an impact on hospitals and health centres.

“Everyone has worked really collaboratively at Misericordia and within the province,” says Robert.

At one point, it looked as if Misericordia was almost out of toilet paper. He had to make a move on this – and quickly. 

“We wound up checking with housekeeping and all the units to re-distribute supplies.”

Things are running smoothly as the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, thanks to staff diligence and efforts to monitor and safely store supplies.

Robert has put in extra time to ensure critical supplies are available throughout the facility. In collaboration with the vendor community, the provincial supply chain has worked on a solution to remedy the hand sanitizer shortage. MHC Materiels Management continues to work on solutions for Misericordia.

“We’re working with businesses in Manitoba who have the ability to manufacture hand sanitizer,” he says.

Amongst the fear buying and supply shortages, there hasn’t been a shortage of team work at Misericordia.

Keep COVID-19 informed by visiting: covid19manitoba.ca

#mhcfamily #healthcareheroesMB #COVID19

Sharon Constant, Information Desk

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

Sharon Constant has been part of the Misericordia family for 39 years. Her duties used to include the mailroom and driving the hospital van, but today, as a communications clerk, it’s all switchboard.

The arrival of COVID-19 has brought new challenges in the communications area.

“The first week (of COVID-19), while Health Links – Info Santé was getting such an abundance of calls, my whole switchboard went down.”

Thankfully it was restored quickly, and these days she says “they’ve got all their ducks in a row.”

Everyone in the health centre is, “working as a team,” to face the COVID-19 crisis and keep patients and each other safe, Sharon says.

“Which is a big thing. We’re the Misericordia family.”

Keep COVID-19 informed by visiting: covid19manitoba.ca

#mhcfamily #healthcareheroesMB #COVID19