Engaging staff with SCARF

Cardiac surgery launches at IH

Change begins with you

A publication for Staff and Physicians of IH

Honouring Our

Employees

Did you or someone you know quit smoking this year? Take a photo, tell us your story, and win a prize! The IH Tobacco Reduction Team is launching the Give us your Best Shot photo contest on Jan. 21, during National Non-Smoking Week. The contest honours IH staff, family, and friends who have said good-bye to tobacco. Deadline for submissions is Feb. 15 and winners will be announced Mar. 15. To enter, email your photo with accompanying story to tobacco@interiorhealth.ca by Feb. 15. Three winners will be drawn from the top photos/stories. Please limit your story to 350 words or less. Extra points for creativity and flare! Please Note: All photos submitted must be accompanied by an Interior Health Photo Release Form signed by ALL people

appearing in the photo (no patients please).

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Happy New Year! Dr. Halpenny talks about our organization as he sees

it from his day-to-day.

Making engagement part of our everyday, we pose a new question...

Dr. Jeremy Etherington talks about how the using the acronym SCARF

can engage a workforce.

IH successfully launched the first cardiovascular surgery last month,

and it’s only the beginning.

!Thanks to the CONNEX initiative, Meditech 6.1 launched across IH.

The Long Term Service Awards and celebrations recognize those who

achieve 25, 30, 35, 40, and even 45 years of service with Interior Health.

The @InteriorHealth newsletter is a monthly publication created by the Communications Department of Interior Health. Past

issues of @InteriorHealth can be found on the Interior Health website under About Us/Media Centre/Publications & Newsletters.

If you have story ideas for future issues, please e-mail: IHAcommunications@interiorhealth.ca - deadline for submissions to the

February 2013 issue of the @InteriorHealth newsletter is January 21.

Editors: Amanda Fisher & Breanna Pickett

IH Communication Contributors:

Lisa Braman, Lesley Coates, Susan Duncan, Karl Hardt,

Megan Kavanagh, Erin Toews, Kara Visinski.

Using TeleHealth and TeleUltrasound helps the Donnelly family grow.

Jason Giesbrecht talks about the allied health restructure and how it

will support allied health clinicians throughout Interior Health.

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Happy 2013 to all! I hope you had a very happy (and healthy) holiday season. January marks three years for me as your CEO and I can honestly say I don’t know where the time has gone. Health care is an interesting and extremely complex business. This role gives me the opportunity to participate in many different aspects of it, some more challenging than others, but always rewarding.

As you can see, our Communications team has launched a great new look and feel for @IH to coincide with the New Year. To go along with that, they’ve asked me to take a new approach with my monthly CEO message; a more in-depth look at what my job entails, how I tackle the challenging issues, as well as celebrate the successes. So, here it goes … be sure to let us know what you think and if there are other things you would like to hear about. I thought I’d use highlights from my calendar each month to shape this message. That means I’m looking back at December and seeing that we had a lot happening right within IH, and also across the province. The new Influenza Control Policy took effect on Dec. 1, in all health authorities, and there have been challenges with implementation. In reflection, we could have done a better job of rolling this out from a provincial perspective by engaging our staff and our physicians further upstream. There’s no doubt that the policy is the right thing to do because the requirements help us to better protect the people in our care, ourselves, and our families. However, we need to put more focus on education and awareness and that is what we will be doing in the year ahead. On Dec.3, the first-ever open heart surgery to be performed outside of the Lower Mainland and Victoria was successfully completed at Kelowna General Hospital. I wasn’t there for the operation although I would have loved to be. I’ve always had a keen interest in cardiac care, especially since working as the Provincial Executive Director for Cardiac Services at the Provincial Health Services Authority before coming to IH. It was in that role that we approved the proposal to begin interventional cardiology and cardiac surgery in the Interior.

It’s wonderful to see that plan coming to fruition … congratulations to all involved in getting us to this point and moving us closer to the opening of the Interior Heart & Surgical Centre in 2015! In early December, we also put our essential services plans in place in many IH sites in response to job action by some of our union members. These are always difficult situations and also very sensitive. We respect that our contract staff have the right to take this kind of action and that is why we work closely with our union partners to have essential services plans ready to go in the event of a service withdrawal. To date, contract negotiations have been successful and agreements reached with several of the health-care unions. We hope there will be some resolution for the remaining contracts early in 2013. I was invited to join our IMIT staff to celebrate the wrap up of CONNEX on Dec. 10. It was amazing to see the number of people dedicated to this initiative over the last four years. This was the largest Meditech upgrade ever completed in North America. At the event, the Meditech representatives from Boston spoke about how great our people were to work with, especially during the more difficult times. It made me proud … of everyone involved, from IMIT to super users to clinicians now using the new system. Just before starting my own holidays, I held my final Leadership Link conference call of 2012. This is a call I have every few months with leaders across IH. It gives me an opportunity to share details about our strategic direction, key initiatives, and any important updates. It also includes some time for a Q&A where the managers have a chance to ask the difficult questions, let me know the issues they face, or what they are hearing from their own staff. Afterwards, they are given reference information and key messages so they can share relevant pieces with their own teams. To close, I want to remind you about a simple but powerful engagement campaign that kicked off on Dec. 21. It’s called “We Smile at IH” and it’s all about sharing your smiles … to brighten the day for you and everyone around you. Making eye contact and smiling at those we come in contact with on a daily basis can make a world of difference especially in our line of work. I hope you’ll participate!

Message

At Interior Health, we want to set

new standards of excellence in the

delivery of health services in B.C. and

to also promote healthy lifestyles and

provide needed health services in a

timely, caring, and efficient manner.

To achieve this, we are guided by the

following strategic goals:

Goal 1 Improve Health and

Wellness

Goal 2 Deliver High Quality Care

Goal 3 Ensure Sustainable

Healthcare by Improving

Innovation, Productivity,

and Efficiency

Goal 4 Cultivate an Engaged

Workforce and Healthy

Workplace

The articles featured in the @IH

newsletter are great examples of how

we’re achieving our goals … and

realizing our vision and mission.

Read on!

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President & CEO, Dr. Robert Halpenny and

VP Residential Services & CFO, Donna Lommer

share a smile after the Dec. 19 Leadership Link.

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In keeping with our commitment to make engagement part of our every day, each month we are posing a new topic for discussion that’s linked to the 12 Gallup engagement questions. Your Opinions Count @ IH is a way to keep engagement top of mind, and to let us know what it means to you. Here are a few excerpts from what we heard about the November/December topic:

“My colleagues and I always try for a giggle at work, try to see the lighter side of some depressing days! Try for more fun.”

“I hugged a colleague who was crying.”

“I smile. Smiles really are contagious.”

“Bought them a coffee. Listened. Told them.”

“… I would like to ask the higher ups what they have done to let their employee’s know they are doing a good job …”

“… I send out an inspirational e-mail, to my co-workers, as well as others I have worked with around IHA … when one that I send happens to hit a special cord with someone, knowing it brightens someone’s day makes it all worthwhile.”

Visit the Engagement web page on the InsideNet to view all the questions and answers posted since Your Opinions Count @IH started in January 2012.

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OPINION your

counts @ ih

What have you done to show someone at work that you care about them?

The new discussion topic is…

What’s your plan for a positive workplace in 2013?

Please send your feedback to YourOpinionsCount@interiorhealth.ca and we’ll share excerpts in the next @IH, along with a new topic for discussion.

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When Dr. Jeremy Etherington talks about engagement, he speaks from a lifetime of learning that includes English literature, music, medicine, leadership, and the toughest of life lessons. Interior Health’s Vice President of Medicine and Quality is passionate about the importance of engagement in any organization. “Engagement to me means bringing more of yourself to work every day. It’s the sense of being part of something that is bigger than yourself and that your contribution is valued and essential to the work that is happening.” Those are not just words to the man who started his working life as a high school English teacher. It is a philosophy that he has studied, demonstrated through his own actions, and passed along to his leadership team as a best method for engaging staff. While Gallup encompasses 12 points for engagement, Jeremy focuses on five points that form the acronym SCARF, which he believes should be the mantra of engaging a workforce.

Status, he says, is not about where a person fits on an organizational chart, but

how that person feels he or she is appreciated and respected as a key part of the team, and important to the team’s success.

Certainty describes a leader’s responsibility to create a stable environment in

an uncertain world so people know what is expected of them at work, what their roles are, and what they can count on. “In short it relates to the leader’s role to diminish uncertainty, anxiety, and stress in the workplace.”

Autonomy appreciates that a person’s sense of self worth comes from the faith

others have in him or her to make effective decisions. “The quickest way to disengage people is to micromanage them, or not give them appropriate decision-making powers.”

Relatedness is how individuals feel connected to their colleagues, to their

leaders, to organizational values, and to the bigger picture. “It’s about the knowledge that they are part of a team where they belong, and which would be diminished without them.”

Fairness is essential because people become disengaged when they feel they

are not being treated fairly and equitably. “We must look at the decisions we make as leaders and consider the fairness of those decisions.”

Dr. Jeremy Etherington, Vice President of

Medicine and Quality for Interior Health.

5 HOW

WORDS CAN ENGAGE STAFF

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Jeremy admits he can be a workaholic, but the loss of a son in 2005 was a defining moment that led him to think deeply about being engaged outside of work as well as on the job. “It was a wake up call for me to learn that my self worth has to come from more than just the work I do, but also from who I am as a member of any team, including my family, friends, and the larger community.” His passions are scuba diving, golf, his guitar collection, music, and literature. In everything he does, whether it’s playing golf or guitar, he tries to bring more of himself to the task and be the best he can at what he does. “Doing things with passion is important to me because when you bring passion to the table, it has a visceral impact on people, which makes it much easier to capture their hearts and minds.”

Dr. Jeremy Etherington has remained an avid guitarist and while he no longer

plays in a band, he stays connected. Pictured top right, he enjoys a reunion in

Mexico last year with his band mates.

On guitar is Jeremy Etherington, right, in a flash from the past.

Family Day in B.C. is February 11, 2013

B.C. residents have spoken!

Our province’s first Family Day will be

held on February 11th this year. In the

spring of 2012, B.C. residents were

invited to vote on their preferred

date for the new February holiday.

Based on more than 31,000 votes,

B.C.’s Family Day will now occur on

the second Monday in February.

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How the Cardiac Program Aims

to Improve Heart Health

Luke Brockholm, the

first patient to receive

cardiac surgery at KGH,

feels fortunate to have

had the opportunity to

have it done close to his

Penticton home.

Under Arrest

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An invitation to be the first-ever patient in the first-ever open heart surgery to be performed in the Southern Interior is a mixed blessing. Just ask Luke Brockholm. The 54-year-old maintenance and operations supervisor at Penticton Airport was given the chance be the first to receive the life-saving surgery at KGH. Being at the front of the line was a little nerve-wracking, he admits. But in the end, the offer to have his surgery done so close to home made the decision easy. “I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to have my surgery done at Kelowna General Hospital,” says Brockholm. “Being only an hour away from where I live in

Penticton, I was able to return home in less than a week, which has been a huge relief for me and my family.” Brockholm underwent the surgery on Dec. 3 and he was back home in four days. But a week later he made the return journey to KGH to publicly mark the milestone achievement, and to thank the surgeon who saved his life. Dr. Guy Fradet, Medical Director of the IH Cardiac Surgery Program, performed the procedure. All went as planned, he says. And by the time the program was officially launched at a news conference Dec. 12 by Minister of Health Dr. Margaret MacDiarmid, an additional 10 procedures had been completed, including the first emergency procedure. The program expects to complete about 150 surgeries by Mar. 31, 2013, and will do about 600 per year after that. “Having a cardiac surgery program in Interior Health means improved access to services for diagnosing and treating heart disease,” says Dr. Fradet. “This will improve the co-ordination of patient- and family-centred care within the Southern Interior.”

Dr. Guy Fradet, centre, and the cardiac surgery

team, perform a quadruple bypass on Luke

Brockholm, the first patient to receive cardiac

surgery in the Interior.

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Cardiac Services Update

With the growth of cardiac services within IH, and the successful launch of cardiovascular surgery last month, IH is moving from a network to a program model to better support all communities, sites, staff, and physicians in delivering

high quality care.

Currently, the accountability and oversight of direct patient care and support services rests within multiple portfolios. It’s important that we shift to a structured program model in order to define the leadership, responsibilities, and

accountabilities that should be in place across the health authority and across the care continuum. IH will then be better positioned to address care delivery, planning, quality improvement, and integration initiatives.

A Cardiac Program Redesign Team has been established to shepherd this project forward. Guided by Dr. Guy Fradet, Medical Director, Cardiac Program, and co-chaired by Susan Brown, VP Acute Services and Carol Laberge, Health

Services Director, KGH Cardiac Services, the team has finalized a project charter with clear goals and guiding principles.

Over the coming months, the redesign team will be consulting with clinical and administrative stakeholders who provide a wide variety of cardiac-related services across the care continuum. This collaboration will be critical to developing a

well-informed program model for presentation to IH Senior Executive in early 2013.

For more information, see the latest Cardiac Program Update.

Luke Brockholm, left, thanks Dr. Guy Fradet,

the cardiac surgeon who performed the Interior's

first open heart surgery on him Dec. 3.

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After four years of intensive work, Interior Health has successfully moved to Meditech 6.1 - a new and improved information system - thanks to the CONNEX initiative. CONNEX was the largest initiative undertaken by IH to date and the CONNEX team faced many challenges along the way. There were early issues related to system stability and performance, resource availability, and the sheer number of staff who needed training. Despite all of this, the team forged ahead and completed this massive undertaking on schedule. “I am extremely proud of the CONNEX team” says Mal Griffin, Corporate Director, Service Innovation and Chief Information Officer. “Over the past four years, they poured their heart and souls into this incredible journey. These people stand among a very few distinguished individuals who have completed an initiative of this magnitude and complexity. Their accomplishments took incredible leadership, courage, and tenacity.” In November 2012, the last Meditech 6.1 implementation took place in the Central Okanagan. In terms of the number of staff involved, this was the largest “go live” of the entire initiative. Building on lessons learned from earlier implementations, the Central Okanagan move to the new Meditech system was a great success and marked the completion of the CONNEX initiative. “None of this work would have been possible without the support and understanding of the onsite staff across Interior Health, particularly as we managed through some of the early issues and challenges,” says Pamela Reese, Project Manager – CONNEX.

“I am extremely proud of the CONNEX team” says Mal Griffin, Corporate Director, Service Innovation and Chief Information Officer.

“I’d also like to acknowledge the contribution made by our super users. Their commitment and enthusiasm was instrumental in making this transition a very smooth one.” CONNEX has brought many benefits to IH. Our clinical and business information systems are more user friendly and more consistent across the health authority. There is better support for clinical practices, and IH now has a platform that can be built on to meet future clinical and business needs.

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CONNEX Wraps Up! … and IH Completes a Massive Initiative to Introduce

an Improved Information System

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Key Milestones

NOV

2012

New clinical systems in COK

and Advanced Clinicals at SOGH.

NOV

2010

Converted all patient records and

configured new system.

New financial systems across IH.

New clinical systems in KB.

NOV

2011

New clinical systems in IH West.

MAY

2012

Major software update for KB, EK,

IH West and NOK.

SEPT

2009

Agreed and documented standard

nomenclature and processes for IH.

MAY

2011

New clinical systems in EK.

Software update for KB and EK.

MAR

2012

New clinical systems in NOK.

JUNE

2012

New clinical systems in SOK.

In Kamloops, Home and Community Care Super User and

Community Nurse Allison Leslie shows off her style.

Cindy Strasser, CONNEX Pharmacy Lead, supports the

EKRH pharmacy team as they familiarize themselves with

the new system.

Vernon Jubilee Hospital nurses Teresa Seward, Vera Conrad,

and Jackie Warawa on go-live day in North Okanagan.

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Katy and Chris Donnelly are expecting their fourth child.

“We always wanted a big family,” says Katy, mom to Wesley, 7; Maggie, 3½; and Joe, 20 months. “But we found out with the birth of Wesley that, because I have Rh-negative blood, a large family might not be in the cards for us. It was very upsetting.”

Rh disease (or erythroblastosis fetalis) occurs when a woman with Rh-negative blood conceives a child with Rh-positive blood.

“Antibodies in my blood may cross the placenta and attack the baby's red blood cells. This can lead to anemia and other symptoms in the baby. Wesley was born anemic and jaundice because of our Rh incompatibility,” explains Katy. While Rh incompatibility can often be treated through the use of immune globulin, it didn’t work for Katy.

Living in Kamloops at the time, Katy and Chris were told by physicians that any further pregnancies would require weekly ultrasounds at BC Children’s and Women’s Hospital (BCCW) in Vancouver for the last 20 weeks of the regnancy. Given the disruption and costs associated with travel, it looked like the couple’s dream of a big family was in question.

Four years later, and now in Vernon, Katy did become pregnant again. This time, she was able to have an amniocentesis (amino) and it determined early on that Katy and her new daughter were blood type compatible - things were looking up for the Donnelly’s.

Unfortunately with their third pregnancy, an amnio wasn’t an option. Without knowing if Katy and baby’s blood types were compatible, the pregnancy was considered high-risk and weekly ultrasounds with the Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) team at BCCW were necessary. Enter technology and TeleHealth.

The Donnelly’s, now living in Kelowna, learned that Katy’s ultrasounds could be done at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) using TeleUltrasound. Now in her fourth pregnancy, this technology is again being used to monitor the baby.

How does TeleUltrasound work? Every week Katy goes to KGH where Kim Statham, Ultrasound Supervisor, performs the ultrasound, and a TeleHealth analyst sets up and operates the link with BCCW. From BCCW, the MFM team can see and hear Katy, Kim, and the ultrasound images and vice versa.

Katy invited us to her last TeleUltrasound appointment for this pregnancy. She’s very in-tune with what’s happening, and knows before she arrives what the numbers are what she wants to see on the ultrasound.

“The weekly ultrasounds can become so routine that it’s possible to forget what can happen when the numbers aren’t where we want them, until it happens,” says Katy.

When it does happen, Katy and Chris are immediately off to BCCW. But today the numbers are good — Katy and baby are doing well.

TeleUltrasound is available at KGH, Royal Inland Hospital, Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital, and Penticton Regional Hospital.

“We’re currently working on expanding the service to more of our regional

hospitals,” says Don Fletcher, TeleHealth & Video Conferencing Analyst. “We’re also looking at ways to make the process simpler and get to a point where the TeleHealth equipment is permanently installed and the technologists are able to run it themselves without the analyst having to be at each appointment.”

And by the time you’re reading this article, the newest Donnelly should be at home in Kelowna with Katy, Chris, Wesley, Maggie, and Joe.

TeleHealth Helps Donnelly Family Grow PATIENT STORY

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Using TeleHealth, the Maternal Fetal Medicine team at BC Children’s and Women’s Hospital follows Katy Donnelly’s high-risk pregnancy in

Kelowna – without it Katy would need to travel to the Lower Mainland

every week for an ultrasound.

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When Jason Giesbrecht started his new role as Regional Director - Allied Health in November, work began immediately on designing a structure that would support allied health clinicians throughout Interior Health. As a licensed physiotherapist who started his health-care career as a front-line clinician, Jason understands the importance of a strong Allied Health program. “Allied Health clinicians provide services for patients in all of the operational portfolios right across the care continuum,” says Jason. “A strong Allied Health program will create a supportive environment for clinicians allowing them to do what they do best, whether it’s in the ICU, residential care, or the community. Allied health professionals have very specialized skills that are critical to the delivery of high quality care that our patients expect.”

A key principle in the Allied Health redesign work done to date is a strong commitment to collaboration between Allied Health and Acute Services, Community Integrated Health Services, and Residential Services. This concept remains at the heart of the redesign. Jason says the new structure is about supporting allied health clinicians to remain connected locally with their teams and, simultaneously, provide overarching governance and support at an IH-wide level. “The focus has to be on ensuring patients receive seamless care across the continuum.” Allied Health is currently in the process of filling leadership positions that will oversee services across Interior Health. Jason says the selection process for the Allied Health directors is going well and anticipates filling all three director roles – IH West, IH Central, and IH East – early in 2013. In keeping with the importance of maintaining close ties with other portfolios, each interview panel for the Allied Health director positions has representatives from Acute Services, Residential Services, and Community Integration. A transition team with diverse portfolio representation is also meeting every two weeks to advise the Allied Health leadership team on any issues related to implementation of the new structure and to act as a communication link between their respective portfolios and Allied Health. “We are going through a rigorous and thorough process to make sure we have a structure that works for our allied health professionals and for the other portfolios we support.” Jason says communication will be key as this process moves forward. A new Allied Health web page on the InsideNet will be launched early in the New Year where all Interior Health staff will be able to access information related to the redesign. Staff are also encouraged to send questions, thoughts, and comments to AlliedHealth@interiorhealth.ca.

Allied Health professionals include:

Audiologists

Audiometric Technicians

Dental Assistants

Dental Hygienists

Clinical Dietitians

Music Therapists

Neuropsychologists

Occupational Therapists

Orthotics Technicians

Orthotists

Physiotherapists

Prosthetists

Psychologists

Recreation Therapists

Rehabilitation Assistants

Rehabilitation Clerks

Respiratory Therapists

Social Workers

Speech Language Pathologists

Testing Technicians

Jason Giesbrecht,

Regional Director - Allied Health

Working Together for Quality Care

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Submit your photos of the beautiful places that make up IH: InsideNetWebmaster@interiorhealth.ca

Parsons - Columbia Valley Submitted by: Phyllis Wilson

Anstey Arm - Shuswap Lake Submitted by: Brady Magneson

Oliver Submitted by: Helen Heyes

Tiger Pass - Invermere Submitted by: David MacVicar

Our employees regularly share photos of the spectacular scenery that surrounds them wherever they are in the IH region. Majestic mountain ranges, pristine pine-fringed lakes, blossom-filled orchards, abundant vineyards, and thick forests alive with wildlife are just some of the beautiful things that make up these places we call home. Covering over 215,000 square kilometers, Interior Health is diverse in nature and composed of vibrant urban centres and unique rural communities. We’re using this new @IH feature to shine a spotlight on many of these places … and perhaps entice you to add them to your travel wish list. This month we feature photos from: the Columbia Valley, the Shuswap, Oliver, and Invermere. Enjoy!

Where We Live & Work ... A Spotlight on Our Communities

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Lifestyle

Trail is situated on the Columbia River in the West Kootenay region of British Columbia. It is a special place with affordable real estate,

outstanding recreational facilities and an abundance of outdoor activities.

Breathtaking vistas, an active arts and culture community, and a variety of service clubs and organizations make Trail one of the most desirable

communities in the Kootenay Boundary region.

Recreation and culture

Nestled in the Selkirk and Monashee mountain ranges; Greater Trail is a

four-season destination, offering an abundance of recreational activities. Conveniences like golfing, skiing, mountain biking, kayaking,

fishing, hiking and first-class recreational facilities make Trail “BC’s

Number One Sports Town”.

In our own words... "Trail has great opportunities for family recreational activities and the

slower pace and lower cost of living make it an ideal place to work, settle down and start a family. I love the wonderful array of beautiful scenery

and wildlife, and the small community atmosphere makes it feel like home!”

- Pamela Hanson, Pediatric/Maternity RN, KBRH

Population: 20,000

Health Services: Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital is

the full service regional hospital

serving 80,000 people in the Kootenay Boundary Health Service

Area. Trail is also host to many community and residential

programs and services.

Economy: Metal processing, tourism, education, health care,

manufacturing, and recycling.

At a glance

Trail

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25 year Service Award Recipients

Since the fall of 2012, there have been four Long Term Service Award celebrations. These awards recognize those who achieve 25, 30, 35, 40, and even 45 years of service with Interior Health.

Congratulations to everyone! The last of the 2012 Long Term Service Awards was held in Kelowna on Nov. 26. IH staff and physicians working in the Okanagan were acknowledged for their long term service. Pictured here are some of those recipients. Visit the Recognition web page on the InsideNet for a full listing of all 2012 recipients and to see more photos from the events.

LONG TERM service awards Honouring Our Employees Every Year

Donna Love, Surgical Booking Clerk at KGH; her supervisor, Louise Stafford; and long-time colleague, Brenda Walker

Dr. Glen Burgoyne celebrating 35 years and

Dr. Terry O’Farell

celebrating 40 years of service

Marie Filipenko, Freia Smith and Margaret McGowan celebrate their 35 years of service

Okanagan staff celebrating their

30 years of service

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Tiny Patient’s Care Team Recognized

The Royal Inland Hospital Foundation officially launched its Holiday Dedication Fundraising Campaign by sharing the story of NICU patient Adelle Devick and honouring members of her care team with a special tree ornament.

Adelle was born at BC Women’s Hospital three months early and weighed just 2 lbs 10 oz., She was later transferred to the NICU at RIH where she spent 100 days. She is now home and recently rung in the new year with mom Theresa, a nurse at RIH, and dad Steve.

“We want to say thank you for making the start of our family possible,” said the proud and grateful new father during the Foundation’s December event.

Learn more about little Adelle’s story and the Foundation’s campaign.

There Ought to be Clowns

The Caring Clowns of Central Okanagan visit patients at KGH throughout the year, but they make a special visit every Christmas to spread a little extra cheer.

This year, the clowns started out on the pediatric unit with 18-month-old Max who was recovering from an allergic reaction and was not too happy about his predicament. A visit from the Caring Clowns distracted him long enough to receive a new toy and he seemed to forget he wasn’t feeling well for a little while. Down the hall, the clowns visited 12-year-old MacKenzie who was feeling rather blue. The clowning around must have worked as MacKenzie reports, “They were really awesome!” Following their visit with the kids, the clowns split off in different directions to spread a little cheer to the adults in the hospital.

Caring Clowns are a special variety of clowns that receive special training to help them read a situation and know when it’s appropriate to bring a little cheer to people in need of compassion and understanding.

The Air’s Chilly, but the Therapy is Equine

F.W. Green resident Roy Pavlak was thrilled with a recent trip from the Cranbrook residential facility to activity worker Toni Wilhite’s farm and a visit with Diva the horse.

A total of 10 residents made the trip and, while snow prevented some of the residents from getting off the bus, staff like activity worker Brad Wood improvised and used the wheelchair lift to lower Roy and others to Diva’s level.

After the visit, the residents returned to the F.W. Green for hot chocolate and cookies.

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Send us an individual photo of your to engagement@interiorhealth.ca.

Take photos of your colleagues too! Photos will be shared on the

Interior Health Facebook album. The We Smile at IH Campaign runs

from Dec. 21 – Jan. 31. Photos will be anonymous unless otherwise

specified. We look forward to seeing the of IH!

Capture your smile and share with us!