It’s easy to “explore” content on our new person-centred website When you visit a website you can navigate to a page by clicking on a navigation bar or by navigating through options on the menu. But what about when you get to the page itself? One of the unique features of Interior Health’s new website is called Explore This Page, which allows you to navigate to any section on a particular page and access the information you are looking for.  How “Explore this page” works At the top of many content pages, you’ll notice the “Explore this page” drop-down menu: Clicking on this will open up a menu that lets you jump to certain sections of the page, helping you access the exact information you’re looking for. The great thing about this function is the accuracy of the in-page links. In addition, we often use expandable lines of text called accordions within sections so that you can quickly access the information you need within the section. From your mobile device you will be able to quickly scan through a section without having to scroll. Quick access to the information you need with “Explore this page” There are times where you will be directed to one of our webpages from a social media post, or even from hyperlinked text in another one of our webpages. With the “Explore this page” function you are directed right to the exact section of the page you need to get to. For example, check out these direct links to: Board profiles on our Board of Directors page Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT) information on our Overdose Prevention & Treatment page Food safety information on our Food Premises page Check out other great website features There are many enhanced features on our new website. Check out these posts highlighting some of them: Many easy ways to search on IH’s new person-centred public website  Find services & locations easily on new website

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: Nikole Johnson Job Title: Care Aide Years of Service: One year Worksite: Talarico Place Community: Castlegar Ancestral Territory: Ktunaxa (Tun-ah-hah)/Kootenay Ktunaxa Favourite Quote: "Be kind, always!" -Unknown With a year under her belt, Nikole Johnson has discovered that being a care aide is more than as depicted. Her favourite thing about the job is seeing residents' faces light up when they see her after a few weeks off. She loves spending downtime interacting with those in her care: "It's always my honour to be involved in the stories they share about their lives." "Working as a care aide while in nursing school has inspired me to continue practicing the fundamentals of health care, which always come back to compassion and kindness." Nikole's proudest moments happen when she's able to make connections with residents and other staff members. She admits to being a bit shy: "It takes a bit of time to come out of my shell." Nikole feels comfortable and supported at her workplace, which helps her form better relationships with those in her care. Nikole's favourite hike around the Kootenays - Kokanee Creek A fourth-year nursing student with the University of Victoria at Selkirk College, Nikole looks forward to continuing her position as a care aide while she finishes school and, hopefully, moves in to a new position with IH after graduation in 2022. Nikole would love to work in either community or maternity nursing. Who knows what the future will bring! To enjoy the beautiful landscapes around Castlegar, Nikole enjoys going on walks with her two small dogs and getting in exercise. She also loves art, and creates her own realistic portrait drawings and acrylic paintings. One of Nikole's favourite paintings, inspired by Bob Ross Nikole's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: Abby Murphy: “Abby will be starting her second year of nursing school at Selkirk College! She was so helpful when I first got hired, and really made me feel comfortable. She took the time to get to know me and made sure that no questions went unanswered." - Nikole Johnson Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook  |   Instagram  |   LinkedIn

Community members who use drugs continue to die from an increasingly toxic and unregulated drug supply. Even occasional users can – and do – experience fatal overdoses.  The City of Penticton has been one of the hardest hit communities in the Interior region, with a fatal overdose rate of 59.3 deaths for every 100,000 people (BC Coroner’s Service, January-August 2021). By comparison, the fatal overdose rate for the entire Interior Health region over the same period is 41.9 deaths for every 100,000 people. Fighting the stigma that surrounds the use of substances is one of the most important ways to combat the devastating reality of this poisoned drug crisis. The BC Coroners Service reports that many overdose deaths occur when people use substances alone. Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s Chief Medical Health Officer, states in her 2019 report about stigma that “Stigma can drive avoidance or delay of health care” and prevent people from seeking services or even disclosing their substance use – resulting in more people using drugs alone and dying from overdose. The report says: “People and institutions with resources and power … influence what is considered to be ‘normal’ and ‘acceptable.’ ” The City of Penticton recognizes the importance of anti-stigma education to help change the norm and has collaborated with Interior Health on a number of initiatives to help raise awareness in hopes of decreasing stigma within the community. In August 2021, the City introduced a new series of overdose prevention articles in its community newsletter; this newsletter is distributed alongside each resident’s monthly utility bill. On Aug. 31, Overdose Awareness Day was recognized, and opioid crisis education and Take-Home-Naloxone training was offered to the public at Penticton’s Gyro Park. This same day, the City launched three anti-stigma training modules, created by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, for all City employees. Monthly in-person harm reduction and Take-Home-Naloxone training sessions are also being offered for all City staff and Council. One staff member commented that the courses have made them realize how much language matters when talking about substance use disorders, and it has changed how they discuss the topic with others. “This is a complex issue and requires a community response. I work closely with City staff as well as community partners in my role and it is really encouraging to see this type of action taking place as we continue to see high rates of toxic drug deaths. Breaking down stigma helps remove barriers to care,” says Tanya Osborne, Interior Health Community Health Facilitator. Through collaboration with the health authority and other agencies, the City is working hard to increase overdose prevention awareness and decrease stigma in the community. If your community wants to take a similar approach, please reach out to your local Community Health Facilitator for support or send us an email at hbe@interiorhealth.ca. People who use drugs in Penticton are encouraged to have their drugs tested. Drop-off or in-person testing services are available at several locations.

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: Charles Wincott Job Title: Supervisor, Biomedical Engineering, IH West Years of Service: Three Worksite: Royal Inland Hospital Community: Kamloops Ancestral Territory: Secwépemc (She-whep-m) / Shuswap Interior Salish Favourite Motto: “Live life to the fullest at work and in play and be true to yourself so that you can be true to others.” At 23 years old, Charles Wincott joined the Navy. During a career spanning more than 20 years, he served as an electronics technician—repairing and maintaining radar, weapon control systems, countermeasures systems and periscopes.  Charles in Navy uniform “I served on every class warship in the Canadian Navy including destroyers escorts (DDE), destroyers (DDH), frigates (CPF), replenishment vessels (AOR) and two classes of submarines (SSK).” Charles had an affinity for photography and became an intelligence photographer on the ships during deployments. He also taught electronics at the Navel Fleet School in Esquimalt. “My travels have taken me to all the continents,” says Charles. Highlights included visits to Russia and China, serving for UN forces in Haiti during the embargo in 1993, and living in the United Kingdom for two years while refurbishing the HMCS Corner Brook (a long-range hunter-killer submarine of the Royal Canadian Navy). Charles’ Naval retirement package included two years of retraining. He chose Durham College in Ontario and completed the Biomedical Engineering Technologist program. “This trade was a natural progression from my military career—perfect for someone with a questioning mind,” he says. During a short hospital stay, Charles found himself asking, “How is that equipment looked after and repaired?’ His new career in biomedical engineering answers those questions. Charles has worked in Medicine Hat, Alta., several sites on Vancouver Island, and now for Interior Health. He has taken trade-specific training in respiratory, renal, anesthesia, and monitoring systems, among others. “One of the things that I like most about this trade is the ability to continually learn new things and be challenged with complex problems.” Last year, Charles took on the role of Supervisor for Biomedical Engineering in IH West—a role with its own set of challenges. “Like my military role serving in the silent service (submarines), I enjoy working behind the scenes in my current role—to improve the world around me.” In his free time, he enjoys doing home renovations and rebuilding a 1986 TVR 280i. Charles jokes that “neither seem to ever reach completion.” He also enjoys exploring the outdoors on a quad or side by side—but mostly spinning a good tale over a campfire. ​We would like to thank Charles, and every person who has served our country. Thank you for sharing your stories, and for all that you do for Interior Health and your communities. Read about other veterans working with Interior Health. Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook: Interior Health  |   Instagram: interiorhealthbc |   LinkedIn: Interior Health Authority

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: Ashley Latimer (she/her/hers) Job Title: Medical Radiation Technologist Years of Service: 11 Worksite: Cariboo Memorial Hospital Community: Williams Lake Ancestral Territory: Secwepemc (She-whep-m)/Shuswap Interior Salish Favourite Quote: "Remember then that there is only one important time, and that time is now. The most important one is always the one you are with. And the most important thing is to do good for the one who is standing at your side. This is why we are here." - Jon J Muth Growing up in Ontario, Ashley Latimer was always interested in anatomy and biomechanics. Her dad encouraged her to pursue a career in health care and after earning a Human Kinetics degree in Ottawa, Ashley decided that medical imaging would be a good fit for her interests and education. "I was living and training in Southern Ontario and there were no real options for a full time position straight out of school," Ashley explains. She moved to Williams Lake to begin her career at Cariboo Memorial Hospital. "I took a chance and 11 years later it seems to have worked out." Ashley is inspired by the people she works with and the patients they care for. "For all the difficult situations we encounter on the job there is so much effort and care put into easing these situations," she says. "It's uplifting to see." The dedication of her co-workers throughout the pandemic makes her proud to be a health-care worker. In her free time, Ashley enjoys a number of sports and outdoor activities. At the moment her favourite hobby is golf, but she used to compete in roller-derby under the stage name Kelly Ka-POW-ski. Ashley enjoys hiking around Whistler (Black Tusk in Garibaldi or Joffrey Lakes if you can catch it on a non-busy day). "I'd highly recommend camping at Cariboo Lake, hiking Farwell Canyon or anywhere in Wells Gray Provincial Park," she says. Post-pandemic, Ashley looks forward to traveling again. Ashley's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: “Medical Laboratory Technologist Anna Heppner works hard with a smile on her face everyday and does volunteer work with the community as well."- Ashley Latimer Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook: Interior Health  |   Instagram: interiorhealthbc |   LinkedIn: Interior Health Authority

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: Mandy Smith (she/her) Job Title: Registered Nurse, ICU Years of Service: 29 Worksite: Vernon Jubilee Hospital Community: Vernon Ancestral Territory: Syilx/Okanagan Favourite Quote: "Everything happens for a reason." -Unknown  Mandy at a Paint Nite event Originally hailing from Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, Mandy Smith has spent the majority of her 29 years with Interior Health as a nurse working in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Vernon Jubilee Hospital. But she still loves it after all this time. “I’ve seen people come and go, and many changes, and I’m still here. It’s an accomplishment to continue to do what I love in the same department so many years later.” Her self-described characteristics of friendly, approachable and dependable fit well with Mandy’s role. As her husband is now retired, Mandy is starting to eye the relaxed lifestyle herself in the next few years. But it’s her colleagues that still keep her inspired every day. “I work with an amazing bunch of people in ICU, from support workers and doctors to fellow nurses. I think we’re lucky to have the group we work with.” Outside of work, Mandy takes advantage of any time she can spend with her husband and adult children. Otherwise, you can find her snowboarding, hiking, camping and spending time with friends. A little known fact is that Mandy is a Persian cat fanatic. After being given her first Persian as a sweet 16 gift from her parents, Mandy’s never been without one since.  Mandy's Persian cats Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook  |   Instagram  |   LinkedIn  

As we lift restrictions and welcome visitors and others to our health-care facilities, it is important to do so safely. Did you know that hand washing is the single most effective means of preventing the spread of germs? Hand washing is an important safety practice–not only for for health-care staff, but for visitors, patients, people living in long-term care, and family members. Knowing the importance of hand hygiene, a focus group was formed made up of volunteers from the Patient Voices Network who are passionate about infection prevention. The group included five volunteers: two had experienced life-threatening illnesses with admissions to many different areas of the hospital, one had a chronic debilitating illness which needed a number of admissions to various facilities, and two were caregivers who supported their loved ones during hospitalizations for surgeries. The focus group posed the question: “How easy or difficult is it to clean your hands while a patient in care?” This led to intense discussion and the sharing of stories about difficulties that had been faced by patients, residents, and family members. Later, one of the volunteers attended a staff meeting and shared her experiences as a patient. Staff were grateful for the feedback and committed to prioritizing patient hand hygiene moving forward. Patient/resident hand hygiene is a Leading Practice with the Health Standard Organization, an affiliate of Accreditation Canada. (A Leading Practice is a practice carried out by a health organization that has demonstrated a positive change, is people centred, safe, and efficient.) Hand hygiene–not only for health-care teams but for patients, residents, family members and visitors–is an important part of keeping our patients and clients safe. Here are some ways you can Make Infection Prevention Your Intention while visiting health-care facilities: Hand Hygiene: Wash hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub before and after visiting. COVID Precautions: When visiting, wear a mask and practice social distancing. All visitors must provide proof of vaccination. Cleaning & Disinfecting: Cluttered rooms contribute to hospital-acquired infections. Encourage your loved one to keep their space free of clutter. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) & Precautions: Look for precautions signage on room doors. Follow instructions and use PPE accordingly. When putting on & taking off PPE be sure to wash your hands. Be sure to ask staff if you have questions about PPE!

Addictions medicine lead Dr. Leslie Lappalainen, one of a group of health professionals that have put together the prescribing service. It’s being called ground-breaking work that’s keeping people safer from harm. A small and mighty team of Interior Health physicians and nurse practitioners are supporting some of the region’s most vulnerable people during the COVID-19 pandemic. An initiative led by the Mental Health and Substance Use Network brought together the group of health-care professionals who are providing coverage seven days a week to ensure people with substance use disorders have access to prescribed safer supply while isolating due to a positive COVID-19 test. Dr. Megan Hill, a family doctor and addictions specialist who has been key in the prescribing initiative. It’s important work to stave off risk of dangerous withdrawal from alcohol, opioids, or other drugs, particularly in light of the ongoing toxic drug supply crisis. “It is clear by the increasing death rates across the province that the drug supply has become even more toxic,” says Corinne Dolman, Interior Health’s Manager of Substance Use Services. “This service is imperative not only to ensure people are able to isolate and reduce the transmission of COVID-19 but also to prevent high-risk withdrawal from substances.” Early indications show individuals being supported through the prescribing service are being linked in with other services and supports, and many are continuing on Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT) medications, such as methadone and Suboxone. “What I have seen repeatedly in working to manage COVID outbreaks in the Okanagan in people who use drugs over the past year is how much a prescription of safe supply combined with evidence-based treatment like OAT will not only keep the individual and the public safe through promoting successful isolation, but also engage the person in follow-up treatment for their substance use disorder after they leave,” says Dr. Megan Hill, an addictions specialist and one of the physicians leading this work. “This contact with health services is often a golden opportunity to connect with people for ongoing care.” Dr. Megan Hil The program has already helped people in Vernon, Penticton, Trail, Kamloops and other parts of the region who may be at increased risk of overdose, withdrawal, cravings and other harms related to substance use. “This vulnerable population has suffered increased isolation and stigma throughout the pandemic,” says Pam Ruby, Interior Health’s Regional Pandemic Health Coordinator. “The hard work and efforts to provide prescribed safer supply and other treatment medications has truly made all the difference. We have been able to reach this at-risk group and create connections for ongoing support that many did not have before.” “This is an innovative strategy that allows the vulnerable population to isolate with the added benefit of connecting them to addictions and harm reduction services across the entire region. This reduces barriers to care allowing the vulnerable population access to this much needed service,” says Brent Hobbs, Network Director for Patient Transportation and Pandemic Isolation Centres. “This is a ground-breaking innovation.”

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: Danniel Dickson (he/him/his) Job Title: Community Respiratory Therapist Years of Service: 32 Worksite: Shuswap Health Services Community: Salmon Arm and area Ancestral Territory: Secwepemc (She-whep-m)/Shuswap Interior Salish Favourite Quote: "Any job worth doing is worth doing well. But to be able to do that, you have to do it over and over again." - Thomas Keller Danniel Dickson is a Community Respiratory Therapist serving clients in the Salmon Arm and Shuswap area. A life-long career in health care gives Danniel decades of practice and many satisfying memories.  The pulmonary rehabilitation programs Danniel manages, alongside his physiotherapist colleague, is a particular source of pride.  "We find that improving the quality of life for most of our clients - through education, exercise and flexibility - to be a great source of pride and a feeling of contributing to the outcomes of the community care team in a small way." For Danniel, Respiratory Therapy is a profession that allows him autonomy in terms of practice. "Although the pace and challenges of acute and critical care are professionally satisfying, my current role in the community setting allows more time for therapy and client/patient education. We continue to make strides towards integration of care from acute to community and there is much more of a team approach in the community setting today." The world is also changing to be more virtual, and Danniel is excited about participating in virtual "tele-health" initiatives in the future. "Our pulmonary rehabilitation team participated in tele-rehab research and the data obtained should provide opportunities for better outcomes for our geographically isolated clients and patients." Danniel is proud of his his Aboriginal ancestry. His maternal grandmother was Cree and his maternal grandfather was Scottish. His Aboriginal heritage was never celebrated, in spite of many gatherings with his large family and he was puzzled as a child at the reluctance to embrace the Aboriginal identity in the family. This cycle is now being repaired Danniel, his siblings, and first cousins. They have joined the Metis Nation and display our Aboriginal heritage with pride and celebration. Danniel brings this evolution into his practice as a clinician and is looking forward to adapting and growing with Interior Health to improve outcomes for First Nations clients and patients.  Day-to-day, Danniel strives to focus on self care, as it allows him to have increased reserves to be applied in support of others. He is physically active and feels at home in nature. He enjoys activities like hiking, mountain biking, Nordic skiing and golf. "When home I enjoy spending time making fishing tackle and practicing guitar. I enjoy driving in the back country and am always amazed at the beauty of our province." Danniel is has also started learning about Astrology's effects on birth charts and ongoing traits and personalities, and experimenting with Tarot Card interpretation. "It is a nice balance when weighed against the challenges and stressors of being a health care professional in todays 'world.' "  Danniel's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: “I nominate Shelby Henry, Physiotherapist in Salmon Arm. She is always upbeat and ready to assist the clinicians with any task she is able to manage to make their work flow faster and more efficiently. She always takes an organizing leadership role for any situation involving staff, for both career milestones and personal issues, and has a card with well-wishes and donations to make these situations resonate. She is an asset to the SLGH Rehab and Respiratory team."- Danniel Dickson Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook: Interior Health  |   Instagram: interiorhealthbc |   LinkedIn: Interior Health Authority