During the winter months, walking is a great activity to keep you moving! Walking can help reduce your risk of falling by improving your strength, balance, and posture. 1 - Plan ahead. Tell someone where you are going and when you will be back. Take along a cell phone in case you run into difficulty.Choose a route that hasclear pathways and good lighting. Know where the washrooms are located if you know you will need a pit stop. 2 - Inside or outside? Check the forecast and if it is too icy or cold, plan to walk indoors. Local malls, arenas and apartment buildings can all be great places to get your walk in and stay safe. 3 - Dress for success. Dress in layers so that you can shed them as you warm up. Don’t forget a hat and gloves. Wear bright, reflective gear so that you can easily be seen. 4 - Find your sole-mate. Wear footwear that is stable, well insulated and has a non-slip sole. Visit www.ratemytreads.com to find a list of recommended winter boots that have been tested here in Canada for slip resistance. 5 - Stay alert. Clean your glasses and put in hearing aids. Be aware of your surroundings and scan for tripping hazards, black ice, and uneven surfaces. Most importantly, take your time and enjoy the walk!

Occupational therapist Robbie King knows about new beginnings. Sixteen years ago, Robbie made the decision to cross the country from Toronto. A native of Prince Edward Island, he was drawn west for the B.C. lifestyle. In Kamloops he became part of the care team at Royal Inland Hospital (RIH). “I love working at RIH,” says Robbie. “The move to Kamloops has been everything I hoped it would be. It’s a great area to live and to work. Being a part of the health-care team at RIH is very rewarding.” For Robbie, and the rest of the staff and physicians at RIH, change has been in the works since late 2018. That’s when construction began on the Phil & Jennie Gaglardi Tower at RIH, a nine-storey addition to the RIH campus that will open to patients in the summer of 2022. The tower has been steadily rising. This fall, the construction project achieved its Topping Off milestone as the tower reached its full nine-storey height. To celebrate, staff and physicians were invited to sign a construction beam that would be placed in the tower. For two days in September, more than 400 members of the RIH community signed the beam and received a keep-sake photograph.   One of those staffers was Robbie King, who said the event put a surge of positivity through the RIH campus. “I really felt like the beam was like a time capsule that symbolized new beginnings being built on a strong foundation,” says Robbie. “It was a beautiful sunny day. It was a real positive vibe and I felt it helped to unite a lot of the staff at RIH together.” The construction project has continued through the COVID-19 pandemic and the beam signing event was held with a COVID-19 safety plan in place with physical distancing and enhanced sanitizing of the area where staff gathered to sign. With health-care workers also continuing to work during the pandemic, Robbie says it was a positive event that lifted the collective mood of RIH workers. “I feel like it really brightened our day. It uplifted people’s moods. I could feel it throughout the whole hospital.” he says. “I felt the timing was really appropriate, especially in 2020.” The event was organized by the RIH Foundation, EllisDon, RIH leadership and Interior Health Capital Planning & Projects. Close to 400 staff and physicians, along with community partners from the Thompson Regional Hospital District, the RIH Foundation and Kamloops’ Aboriginal groups signed the beam. Once all of the signatures were in place, Secwépemc elders from Bonaparte and Tk'emlups smudged the beam before it was lifted to the roof of the tower, accompanied by traditional Secwépemc drumming and singing. "This ceremony took place to honour the new Patient Care Tower site with prayers from the Secwépemc Elders to protect and watch over the land and all who enter the site. It was a beautiful day in Tk’emlups te Secwépemc,” says Cara Basil of the Secwepemc Health Caucus. Featuring single-patient rooms with enhanced privacy and infection prevention and control measures and state-of-the-art equipment, the Phil & Jennie Gaglardi Tower at RIH will change the way health care is delivered in Kamloops. Work is continuing on the tower which will open to patients in the summer of 2022.

When I first began working as a technologist in breast cancer screening mammography, I was stunned to learn that one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. I was also surprised to discover how many women don't know the benefits of mammograms, or avoid them because they believe the procedure is painful. I really enjoy educating women on the importance of screening, whether they are family and friends, or women who come in for a mammogram.  Screening mammography saves lives. It has led to a 25 per cent reduction in deaths from breast cancer in Canada. The technology we use can detect breast cancer long before a woman is aware of anything going on in her breast. Detecting breast cancer at an early stage can make a big difference in a woman's diagnosis, breast surgery and treatment.  The part of my job I enjoy the most is making the screening experience as comfortable and easy as possible. I love it when a patient leaves saying, "wow, that was way easier than I expected and I am going to tell my friends to get their mammograms done, too."   As technologists we work hard to obtain good images to assess breast tissue but also to leave a positive impact on a patient so they will return for future mammograms.   Working in mammography has led me to be aware of changes within in my own body and to encourage the women around me to do the same.  B.C's screening mammography program is an excellent resource for all women and we need to take advantage of it. Interested in a career in mammography? Check us out!

We Are IH is a new recognition campaign to spotlight our people in a real way – through pictures and stories that allow their authenticity to shine through! Every week Interior Health employees or medical staff will be featured through our News@IH website and our weekly In the Loop Roundup email newsletter.  To help us celebrate National Respiratory Week, we are excited to feature Jacqueline Turvey, RRT, CRE, CTE, and the Coordinator at Integrated Primary and Community Care Program/Primary Care Respiratory Therapist at Interior Health in Kamloops for the past 13 years. Over her career, she has made an incredible impact working within her community of Kamloops and supporting the Primary Care offices in a variety of cases. As an educator, every day at work she pursues her passion for helping others in their homes, physician offices, or in her own office. One of her most satisfying projects was an Emergency Preparedness Class (specifically relating to forest fires) for her clients. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, as they shared how they felt safer and more aware of what they can do to help their breathing stay in control during forest fires. It’s moments like these that bring everyone together and help us support each other through tough times. “I love my job because it offers so much variety. Some days I feel like a detective trying to put together pieces of information to figure out how to best help one of my clients. There is so much job satisfaction in supporting a client and knowing that it is the support/information that we provided that is the thing that helps them feel better or improve their quality of life.” One of her proudest moments at IH was being recognized by Chris Mazurkewich, the past president and CEO, of Interior Health in September 2018 for her Emergency Preparedness work with her clients. Thank you for your phenomenal contribution, Jacqueline! Looking back through her career, Jacqueline reminiscences on opportunities she was able to experience as an RT. A highlight was participating as a volunteer for four years in an international project to Guyana called Global Access to Spirometry Project (GASP) led by Dr. Bob Levy, Respirologist, and Carmen Rempel, RRT, CRE, both from VCH. Working in such a collaborative environment, Jacqueline continues to inspire others and be inspired by the knowledge and professionalism of the different clinicians and Primary Care providers that she works alongside. Her clients continue to inspire her in her purpose to help people be their healthiest and best self, one breath at a time. Family is very important to Jacqueline. She is currently raising her family in her hometown of the Secwépemc / Kamloops territory balancing her professional and personal life. As a mother, wife, and person of First Nations heritage, she values having fun, laughing, and creating memories with her loved ones. In her downtime Jacqueline likes to express her creative side while playing the ukulele, making jewelry, painting, knitting/crocheting, gardening, and cooking (especially fresh from her own garden!). Jacqueline and her team, among our other frontline workers, have been working exceptionally hard during the COVID-19 pandemic and we are so proud of their tenancy, innovation, and contribution to keeping us safe. Thank you so much for all that you do, Jacqueline! Nominate a colleague or join in yourself with the We Are IH submission form. Check back each Friday for the next We Are IH feature. For more information contact EmployeeExperience@InteriorHealth.ca. Jacqueline's nomination of Lisa Mullen keeps the We Are IH loop going: Lisa has been with IH for over 15 years at the same site (KPCC) which is amazing. She is a talented baker and when we used to have staff parties everyone would look forward to her treats. Clinicians, Primary Care Providers, and other clerical staff look to her for her expertise and organization skills. She provides leadership and stability at our site and she models the values that create a wonderful workplace culture. Her wonderful personality, kind ways and her calm presence are lovely to be around. Congratulations Lisa on your 15-year long-term service pin at IH! "I would like to extend our appreciation for the amazing work you do. Your diligence, self-motivation, leadership, and dedications are an inspiration to the team and an important role in the clinic!" - Jodie Helm, Lisa's Manager

This year, more than ever before, our health care system is relying on the work of our Respiratory Therapists. The pandemic has brought a lot of uncertainty and challenging times, especially to our frontline workers who continue to navigate the COVID-19 crisis around the clock. Join us in celebrating National Respiratory Therapy Week from October 25th to October 31st, where we have the opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate our hard-working Respiratory Therapists across our organization. While providing exceptional health care, each and every one of them has proven to be innovative as they adapt to the "new normal", especially on the front lines. As an organization, we are so proud of the incredible work our team has accomplished as we come together to protect our community's health. What is Respiratory Therapist Week? The Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists (CSRT) celebrates Respiratory Therapy week annually to educate the public about the varied roles and responsibilities of respiratory therapists and to raise awareness of the significant contribution made by respiratory therapists across our healthcare system. September These highly trained health professionals dedicate themselves to providing the best possible cardio-respiratory care to patients of all ages by staying at the forefront of all available research and technology. Many City Councilor's and Mayor's have made proclamations for RT week to show their support. The Mayor Ken Christian of the City of Kamloops responded with a proclamation on behalf of the initiative of one of our leaders at IH, Jacqueline Turvey, RRT, CRE, CTE in Kamloops. Mayor "On behalf of Kamloops City Council, please accept our sincere thanks for the amazing work you perform daily. Your care and professionalism are greatly appreciated especially during this uncertain time." - Mayor Ken Christian, City of Kamloops Colin Basran of the City of Kelowna also made a proclamation for Respiratory Therapy Week, "Respiratory Therapists are committed to providing quality care for those suffering from respiratory illness and those in life-threatening situations and Respiratory Therapists educate the public about lung health, and work alongside a team of medical staff mak[ing] critical decisions, and support those with breathing difficulties..." - Mayor Colin Basran of the City of Kelowna  Andrea Bucyk, Respiratory Therapist at Kelowna General Hospital. Photo courtesy of Darren Hull Photography on behalf of the KGH Foundation Meet Our Respiratory Therapists We interviewed Respiratory Therapists across our organization to spotlight some of the incredible workers behind the masks. Many of our Respiratory Therapists found inspiration to pursue their careers to help others in a health care environment and be directly involved in the care of patients. Tracee Gallant, RRT in Kamloops reflects on what inspired her to start her career. "I really wanted to be a part of a multi-disciplinary health care team. The respiratory field is so diverse and we are able to work in many different areas such as acute care, long-term, home, diagnostic, and rehabilitation.  As a community RT, I love working with clients in a group setting to educate and help them to build skills to self-manage their disease." - Tracee Gallant, RRT, Kamloops   Tracee Gallant, RRT, Kamloops A common consensus among our RT's is the love of empowering others through education. By sharing their knowledge they can help others build skills to self-manage their disease, feel safer, and improve their quality of life. Supporting their community is a priority for most RT's and Tracee Gallant shares how her 8-week program, Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program, educates people with chronic lung conditions to manage their disease. "I love being involved in a program that helps people improve their quality of life.  It is so wonderful to hear client stories on how they have been able to reduce their shortness of breath and improve their quality of life.  Every day, I get to do something I love and have a positive impact on people’s lives." - Tracee Gallant, RRT, Kamloops  Shayla Sallis, Respiratory Therapist, Kamloops "I love my job because I know RTs are an integral part of the health care team. We participate in the first breath of our smallest patients, and we help our sickest patients take their last breath comfortably. I love that my colleagues take every situation in stride, no matter how emergent it is, and I love that most RTs have a sense of humour that propels us through the hard times. I feel that as a group, RTs stick together and weather the storm. I know that in the light of the global pandemic, respiratory staff around the globe are directly impacting the care and survival of our patients. " - Shayla Sallis, RRT, Kamloops Jacqueline Turvey, RRT, CRE, CTE, the Coordinator at Integrated Primary and Community Care Program/Primary Care Respiratory Therapist loves working within her community of Kamloops and supporting the Primary Care offices in a variety of cases. As an educator, every day at work she pursues her passion for helping others in their homes, physician offices, or in her own office. One of her most satisfying projects was an Emergency Preparedness Class (specifically relating to forest fires) for her clients. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, as they shared how they felt safer and more aware of what they can do to help their breathing stay in control during forest fires. It's moments like these that bring everyone together and help us support each other through tough times. "I love my job because it offers so much variety. Some days I feel like a detective trying to put together pieces of information to figure out how to best help one of my clients. There is so much job satisfaction in supporting a client and knowing that it is the support/information that we provided that is the thing that helps them feel better or improve their quality of life." - Jacqueline Turvey, RRT Looking back through her career Jacqueline reminiscences on opportunities she was able to experience as an RT. A highlight was participating as a volunteer for four years in an international project to Guyana called Global Access to Spirometry Project (GASP).  Jacqueline Turvey, Respiratory Therapist, Kamloops How To Become a Respiratory Therapist Ashlee Freeman is currently a student Respiratory Therapist in Kamloops working in the ICU. Her favourite thing has been managing ventilated patients and working within such a dynamic team to come together to provide exceptional care to the patient. Plus, the adrenaline rush when you sink the line and the blood flow in the arterial lines! "I chose Respiratory Therapy because I wanted a career in healthcare that would allow me to work hands-on with a variety of patients throughout the hospital. Since beginning the program, I have realized how integral Respiratory Therapists are to the healthcare team." - Ashlee Freeman, Student RT, Kamloops In British Columbia Thompson River University in Kamloops offers four programs to start your career as a Respiratory Therapist. The Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists has many resources on the schools and programs across Canada that also offer Respiratory Therapist schools. If you're looking to join Interior Health as a Respiratory Therapist please apply here. Thank you to our incredible team of Respiratory Therapists at Interior Health, we are so proud to have you a part of our team!  Ashley Freeman, Student Respiratory Therapist in Kamloops, BC. Follow Careers at Interior Health on Social Media facebook.com/IHJobs/@interiorhealthbc.careers

Nelson resident Paul Burgener has had plenty of experience with the health-care system, both as a patient and as an advocate for making improvements to the patient experience.   Diagnosed with prostate cancer, Paul had surgery to remove the cancer almost five years ago, when he travelled from Nelson to have the procedure done at Vancouver General Hospital. Driving to Vancouver from Nelson was a exhausting and costly adventure which included nearly 1,300 kilometres of driving through two mountain passes as well as two nights in a hotel room.  Paul Burgener   So when Paul’s PSA (prostate-specific antigen) levels were showing an increase last year, he was hopeful a follow up conversation with his physician could be done via the phone. At first he was requested to attend in person, however soon after the COVID-19 pandemic hit he was offered a virtual appointment. “I found it really beneficial,” says Paul who had a blood test in Nelson but received the results in a virtual appointment. “It preserved my health and it preserved my safety as I didn’t have to drive in snowy conditions. As it turned out, we were able to view the results and everything was stable so it was good news for me.” Paul’s appointment is a good example of how health care has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Statistics show that only 10 per cent of people in Canada have experience with virtual care while 41 per cent of patients would like to have virtual visits.   It certainly was the case with Paul, who avoided a costly journey to Vancouver to receive his test results.    “I thought it was about time. I’m 75-years-old so I’m not in the young generation that is all about social media, but myself, my wife and our friends, we all thought the virtual appointments were great. It was convenient. From my house in Nelson, it takes an hour to get to the hospital on public transit. On the virtual side of things, I have someone there that I can discuss it with and they can understand whether it’s serious or not and what the next steps are.”     How to prepare for a virtual appointment: Find the right location (private, comfortable, free of distractions, brightly lit) Earphones or headphones (for better audio quality and privacy) Glasses, hearing aids or other accessibility devices Your B.C. health insurance number Computer, smart phone or tablet (fully charged or plugged into a power source and connected to the Internet) Download software or an application (your healthcare provider may ask you to download software or an application for your visit) Test your equipment (make a practice call to ensure video/audio equipment and settings are working) Optional: a family member or friend to assist with translation or health knowledge Be ready to discuss: Symptoms (What are your symptoms? When did they start? How severe are they and how are you managing them?) Key health data (weight, temperature, home blood pressure and any other health data you monitor) Current medications, vitamins and allergies Current health prevention and treatment activities (relevant health history, functional issues, assistive devices, past traumas, past surgeries or hospitalizations, and immunizations) Immediate family history (parents and siblings) Your care team members

We Are IH is a new recognition campaign to spotlight our people in a real way – through pictures and stories that allow their authenticity to shine through! Every week Interior Health employees or medical staff will be featured through our News@IH website and our weekly In the Loop Roundup email newsletter.  As an Acute Care Social Worker at Vernon Jubilee Hospital over the past six years, Natalie is always looking for ways to further her education and career. As a recent graduate from the University of Waterloo’s Master of Social Work program, she continues to provide value to IH, her co-workers, and her patients. With a growth mindset, she continues to learn more each day, lately via podcasts. One of her proudest moments at IH was initiating a conversation with IH’s President and CEO Susan Brown regarding racism in our health-care system and having an opportunity to discuss the ways IH is working on acknowledging and improving Cultural Safety and Cultural Humility. This has certainly given her the confidence and drive to continue being a voice in that discussion. We are so proud of you, Natalie, and thankful to have you and your voice at IH. Born in Castlegar, her family moved shortly after to where she would grow up in Coquitlam and Vancouver. Looking for a change, she moved to Vernon 10 years ago and is very happy with her decision to plant roots and grow her career here. She is a member of the Wiikwemkoong First Nation situated on the northeastern part of Manitoulin Island in Ontario and a visitor to the Okanagan/Syilx territory where she lives in Vernon. Natalie feels extremely lucky to work with such an incredible team of social workers in the North Okanagan. The strength and professionalism that they share with their community members and teams inspire her to advocate against health inequities and to work towards demolishing power imbalances that are so often present in our health-care system. Her co-workers describe her as a hilarious, witty, charming, dependable, and authentic person with a great shoe collection. An outdoor adventurer at heart, she loves exploring the beautiful outdoors of the Okanagan road cycling or hiking with her dog, Jack. She is often looking forward to the weekend and spending quality time with Jack searching for the picturesque backdrop for her Dog, Jack’s Instagram account. Follow him on Instagram @cairnjack! Check back each Friday for the next We Are IH feature. For more information contact EmployeeExperience@InteriorHealth.ca. Natalie's nomination of Allison New keeps the We Are IH loop going: Palliative Care Coordinator of Shuswap Home Health. Allison is a great advocate for improving the lives and care of the community members she serves. She is a leader at Home Health and will go above and beyond to ensure the right care is offered to community members by a knowledgeable and engaged team.

One day on a walk with my daughter and our dog in my hometown of Princeton, we stopped to look at our local “Bridge of Dreams”. While standing there, my daughter pointed to graffiti done with a black sharpie on the bridge and asked me what it meant. There were racist, sexist and homophobic slurs as well as many symbols associated with Nazism. I felt shocked and responded hesitantly as I was forced to have a difficult  conversation right then and there with my girl around inequality in our society which included the concept of genocide.  This conversation was not easy as I tried to tone it to the innocence of my child.   I phoned the Town of Princeton in front of my daughter as soon as we got home and explained to the clerk what we had seen and how I was saddened and hoped for removal as soon as possible. The person taking my report said she would get right on it and asked if I would like a phone call back when the removal was done. I initually thought that was unnecessary, but she suggested it might be a good idea so I could take my daughter back to the bridge to demonstrate that our town and society takes action to remedy these situations as they are not tolerated. We went to see the cleaned-up bridge a few days later and it was very impressive how even the deep marks had been sanded off the wood. I felt really proud to be a Princeton resident that day. A few weeks later the news reported the death of Mr. George Floyd while in police custody. I was inspired by the global response and calls for social justice and I wanted to do something locally to help affect change. I realized I had a unique opportunity to share my message as the front fence of my home faces the highway and hundreds of locals and travellers use the route. So inspired,  I started to create a sign. My daughter and I talked about the sign and the message it sends. She connected our conversation to what she had learned in school about Orange Shirt Day and residential schools, and began to help decorate the sign. We attached our 37 ft. sign to the fence and the response from our community was very positive. I had colleagues texting me “I like the sign on your fence “ with heart emojis and I had people come off the highway and find our house in town and take photos in front of the sign.  I asked colleagues to come and have a photo together.  The message on this sign applies to so many historically marginalized groups in our world. I especially acknowledge our First Nations people and the unfathomable challenges they have suffered over generations of being targeted by legislative and systemic societal failures in Canada. I believe education is key to changing the world and organizations like Interior Health are very important in promoting such messaging. Here we make it a point to provide education to our staff about Aboriginal history so we can improve our awareness and incorporate a better understanding into our work.  It makes me proud to work here. I am so hopeful the next generation will take us forward in moving closer to equal justice for all and I hope to instill this power into my own little girl.

Farm work is essential to our food supply. Every year, hundreds of temporary agriculture workers from across the country travel to B.C. to help with harvest. This year was no different, with the big exception of COVID-19. Municipalities and regional districts in our region worked closely with the provincial government, Interior Health and many other organizations to keep farm workers and communities safe. When the Loose Bay campground outside Oliver was closed by it's management society due to the complexity of COVID-19 regulations, the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen stepped in and opened the site to accommodate agricultural workers. They did this without initial funding and worked tirelessly with IH to establish COVID protocols for the site. They even produced bilingual signage to accommodate the many French Canadians staying there. The District of Summerland identified a section of their local public campground to be used exclusively by domestic farmworkers. They even set up extra facilities and brought in an RV in case anyone needed self-isolation accommodation. The Regional District of Central Kootenay, in partnership with the Town of Creston, established an Economic Recovery Committee to help the agriculture industry adopt and communicate the necessary guidelines and orders from the federal and provincial government. This committee also arranged and managed an agricultural worker accommodation site to ensure the health and safety of employees and their community. Inside Interior Health we were also busy preparing for this important time in our communities. Many different teams came together to develop a plan that would help us prepare for all possibilities. This effective internal teamwork - in partnership with external stakeholders - was public health in action because it protected the health-care system and prevented domestic temporary agricultural COVID-19 cases. “Public health work done well is invisible because the outcome is what people would expect, no outbreaks among domestic farm workers” says Dr. Silvina Mema, Medical Health Officer. The efforts of those involved in the planning and implementation of safe accommodation hubs paid off and helped to keep all IH communities safe this harvest season.