We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: Kim Dedora Job Title: Manager, Employee Experience Years of Service: 13 Worksite: Polson Annex Community: Vernon Ancestral Territory: “Syilx” (Saay-ilks) / Okanagan Interior Salish Favourite Quote: "Don't judge a book by its cover and always choose kindness when you can!" Kim's outgoing personality and love of connecting with people drew her to pursue a career in Human Resources. Her kind demeanour, bright smile and optimistic outlook help her excel in her role as Manager of Employee Experience at Interior Health. Over the past 13 years, her proudest moment at IH was being promoted to Manager of Employee Experience. This unique opportunity to build a department from scratch included hiring an amazing team of staff who dedicate their energy to make workplaces and experiences at IH the best they can be. Kim shares her gratitude for her talented team and reflects on the incredible work accomplished since the inception of the department.  "Working in Human Resources inspires me every day. It's fascinating because it is all about people; their interests, passions, dynamics, personalities, all driving how they show up to work every day. Working in an organization the size of IH, it's easy to reduce the work to a to-do list. But if you put the person at the center of what you're doing, you can make a huge impact." - Kim Dedora, Manager, Employee Experience Employee Experience Team; Tracy Mooney, Anna Meyers, Kim Dedora, and Elisa Brown. Leading diversity and inclusion initiatives for IH is important to Kim because the work aligns with her personal values. From an early age, she has always had a passion for social justice, equity and fair treatment for all. She would like to express her gratitude to the entire Employee Experience team and the work they have accomplished this past year. Conducting Interior Health’s first-ever Employee Census, refreshing IH’s Diversity and Inclusion Plan, establishing the Employee Voices Advisory Group and developing the Anti-Racism Policy, were personal highlights for her. Kim was blown away that over 10,000 employees participated in the Employee Census, sharing their personal information, so that IH can focus D&I efforts where they are needed most - this was especially humbling. This month, Kim and her team are working to promote awareness campaigns to recognize Pride and National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21). Being an ally has never been more important. The recent and tragic news of the discovery of 215 children buried at the former Kamloops Residential School has been devastating for all staff, and especially Aboriginal staff. She considers working in Human Resources to be a privilege and an opportunity to support staff on behalf of the organization. She is proud to support the work under the Aboriginal HR Plan, and with the Aboriginal Employment team, accomplish to goals of increased Aboriginal recruitment and retention at IH. Left; Kim and Anna, Orange Shirt Day, 2019. Right; Kim with her children, Orange Shirt Day, 2020. Another proud moment for Kim at Interior Health was being trusted with the responsibility of designing, leading and emceeing the Linking Leaders event, with over 300 IH leaders in attendance. Kim shares how she felt an incredible sense of accomplishment for pushing herself out of her comfort zone trying something new. The success of this high-profile event did not go unnoticed and her involvement continued the following year.  Raised in the Okanagan close with her family, Kim returned from completing her undergrad degree in Victoria to raise her own family in Vernon. Year-round you can find Kim exploring the mountains spending time with family and friends, in the summer weekends at Shuswap Lake or Eagle Bay and up at Silver Star in the winter. An adventurer at heart, she looks forward to travelling with her family and exploring new places. Thank you, Kim, for all that you do! Kim's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: "I would like to nominate Jenna Dietz. Not only is Jenna a dedicated and inspiring manager, but she is also friendly, kind and genuinely cares about her staff. Jenna even completed her Master of Business Administration (MBA) while she was on maternity leave! Talk about raising the bar for new moms everywhere! She is just a gem!"- Kim Dedora   Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook: @IHJobs  |   Instagram: @InteriorHealthBC.Careers  |   LinkedIn: @InteriorHealthAuthority

The day starts at 8 a.m. as Dr. Jim Huang arrives for a morning shift amidst a flurry of activity. His day always begins with a meeting alongside a dozen or so fellow physicians at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH), as they make important decisions about patient care. Huang is what is known as a hospitalist; think of it as a quarterback with a stethoscope. “As a hospitalist, my role is that of the family physician, but in the hospital,” he explains. “I engage with, directly manage and treat patients as if they were my own in the community.” That means facilitating care between patients and specialists in the hospital, as well as communicating with family physicians about their patients’ future follow-up once discharged from KGH. Huang, who joined KGH in March 2019, deals with a wide scope of injuries and illnesses. He can list the type of patients he doesn’t treat on two fingers: pediatric and maternity cases. Huang’s hospitalist group takes care of about 200 to 250 patients every day at the 711-bed hospital. Each morning he gathers with his fellow physicians in the hospitalists’ room where the team — already dressed in blue scrubs or white coats — await instructions from the week’s rotating ‘leader.’ “We try to divvy up and even out the workload for everyone, and sort out emergent medical needs right away,” explains Huang. “Optimally, we’d like to see 18 to 20 patients a day, as patients can be quite sick and require coordination with specialists.” Like other KGH hospitalists, he’ll typically spend the entire week on one ward for better doctor-patient continuity of care. It’s busy, intense work, but just what Huang trained for as part of the first class of MDs to graduate from the Southern Medical Program (SMP) based at UBC Okanagan. Established in 2011, the SMP became the fourth distributed site in the province for UBC’s Faculty of Medicine. Each year the SMP admits 32 new students as part of the provincial cohort of 288. The program has a particular interest in supporting northern and rural medicine and provides up to 10 spots annually for qualified applicants. Huang and his classmates in that inaugural class were the first doctors to complete their medical training in the Interior Health region upon graduating in 2015. To date, the SMP has graduated 189 doctors who have entered careers in family medicine and the full range of medical specialties. Huang was five when his family moved from Taiwan to Maple Ridge, BC. He was the first in his immediate family to go to university, completing a Bachelor of Science in molecular biology and biochemistry at Simon Fraser University. Early in his university studies Huang had no idea what career he wanted to pursue, but decided to push towards medicine in his third year. “That’s quite late nowadays. You have to anticipate what’s required to get into medicine. You need a good combination of volunteer work, travel and life experiences,” he explains. That meant he had catch-up work to do to bolster his application to medical school. “It’s super competitive to get into UBC,” says Huang. The SMP, he adds — with its small classes, training opportunities at 30 medical sites in the BC interior and a buffet of recreational attractions in the Kelowna region — is especially popular among med students vying for those 32 seats. That posed a challenge for Huang, who had to work to pay for his education while at university. Before moving to Kelowna for the SMP, though, he managed to volunteer in Vancouver for an extended period at BC Children’s Hospital. At the hospital’s Sunny Hill Health Centre he worked with children with disabilities, helping in areas such as music and aquatic therapies. Huang’s hard work ultimately paid off and he was accepted into UBC’s Faculty of Medicine with a catch: he was asked whether he wanted to be one of the first students in the brand-new SMP program. “It piqued an interest in me because, one, the location. And two, joining that first class and being part of building a program and helping it grow was appealing.” The first graduating class of the Southern Medical Program. He began his medical studies in Kelowna in January 2012. By his second year of residency he was doing four-month stints in small rural locations like Grand Forks and Sechelt, learning about different specialties, how illnesses progress and functioning as a rookie family physician with his own roster of patients. “When you’re left alone with your own sick patients for the first time, it’s very daunting,” Huang recalls. “Your heart jumps out of your chest. But you remember you’re well-trained and get through, dealing with the anxiety and emotions.” Third-year students have the option to do an Integrated Community Clerkship, which Huang completed in nearby Vernon. “Going through the clerkship, I realized I wanted to do longitudinal care. I wanted to see patients over and over again during their experience in the community or hospital.” He adds that he enjoyed doing what he calls “lumps and bumps,” or minor surgeries like closing incisions, removing lesions and operating the camera during laparoscopic surgery. Those are things students in medical school at larger universities get fewer opportunities to do. “Surgeons in those smaller communities are quite happy to have you help them,” says Huang. “We get to try everything. That’s why I feel smaller programs are so beneficial.” Jim with his wife and young son. That first year, the tournament raised $1,000 for the Kelowna Hospital Auxiliary. The now-annual event continues to raise tens of thousands of dollars for various charities and is organized by subsequent cohorts of SMP students. In recognition of his efforts supporting the inaugural golf tournament and SMP community, Huang was a recipient of the 2020-2021 UBC Alumni Builder Award. One of the benefits of his role as a KGH hospitalist is that Huang often works with the doctors who once taught him in the SMP, which he relishes. As for his advice to students interested in attending the SMP, he says perseverance is key during the challenging program. “Sometimes it’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but it’s there. Keep striving for excellence. And don’t forget to enjoy the friendships made while in the SMP. Life only gets busier.”   This story was published as part of a larger collection of stories called In the Field - about UBC's faculty and students.  

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: Dr. Travis Allen Job Title: Family Physician/Hospitalist Years of Service: 5 Worksite: Vernon Jubilee Hospital Community: Vernon Ancestral Territory: “Syilx” (Saay-ilks) / Okanagan Interior Salish Favourite Quote: "I love lamp."- Brick Tamland, Anchorman In the vast world of medicine, there are many career paths to take to become a physician. For Dr. Travis Allen, his interest in medicine sparked during a first aid demonstration in third grade. From that moment on, it was clear he would pursue a lifelong journey of helping people. As a Family Physician and Hospitalist at Vernon Jubilee Hospital (VJH), he spends his days positively affecting the lives of many ranging from his patients, colleagues, to his greater community. When asked to describe himself in a few words, his sense of humour becomes apparent, as he self-describes as sarcastic, brilliant, hilarious, saintly and of course, humble. Raised in Prince George's supportive and tight-knit community by his single mother, Travis learned the importance of community at a young age. Beginning his career teaching first aid, he furthered his education through his undergrad followed by graduating from the newly developed Medical School Program in his hometown of Prince George.    Intrigued by the world of rural medicine and the variety of family medicine during medical school, Dr. Allen was eager to gain hands-on experience in an assortment of settings. Partaking in a rural medical program organized and led by Prince George physicians, he worked in many rural communities across British Columbia. As Dr. Allen reflects on his experiences serving rural communities throughout his career, his smile beams ear-to-ear, as he shares his passion for providing care to low-resource communities in need. Throughout his career, he has continued his rural locum work experiencing new places, work environments and meeting new people. These experiences helped shape the trajectory of his career and continues to be priority work. Pushing himself out of his comfort zone, he also worked in other countries in West Africa, such as Liberia, and Ghana. Working in unique situations such as helping villages battling tropical diseases continually challenged him to develop as a physician. These experiences quickly put the world of modern medicine he was accustomed to into perspective. Meeting new people, learning new skills and practicing medicine in a new environment contributed to growing Dr. Allen’s skill set and confidence as a practicing physician. Pursuing his passion for teaching others and giving back to his community, he sought teaching opportunities at the University of British Columbia. Thinking of his role as a preceptor, Dr. Allen happily shares how "[he] loves teaching and paying it forward and helping shape the doctors of tomorrow." Working within his community of Vernon at the Urgent and Primary Care Centre, Dr.Allen works with vulnerable populations who do not have a family doctor. This part-time role brings him closer to helping those in need and mentoring other doctors along the way. Dr. Allen reminisces on his journey to becoming a doctor, as he shares how, “with medicine, you get all sorts of opportunities to push yourself out of your comfort zone, to learn new skills, and grow as a person.” Approaching life with a growth mindset with abundant learning opportunities, he sees the daily diversity of work as an exciting problem to solve. Proud to be working alongside a diverse and talented team of health-care professionals, he expresses how grateful he is for his diligent and innovative team to navigate the pandemic together. His contagious sense of humour and optimistic outlook has been pivotal in creating a positive work environment for all. Career highlights at Interior Health over the past five years include designing a vision statement with fellow hospitalists to bring the team together and promote a positive work culture. The vision refresh continues to contribute to building a strong hospitalist team at VJH. Laying down roots to raise his own family with his wife in her home community of Vernon, they recently welcomed their baby girl to the world. Congratulations! His love of gardening yields home-cooked gourmet meals presented with love. Goofy at heart, he creatively names dishes adding to the fun of exploring new cuisines. Relaxing after a hard day's work, he spends most nights sipping his favourite drink, watching a movie paired with buttered popcorn. Early mornings before work, Dr. Allen spends time making memories with his family. Most recently, he has been learning to play the Muppet song on Ukulele for his daughter. Watch his performance below. Looking forward, he is excited for simple pleasures like watching the latest movie in theatres with popcorn layered in butter and in-person strategic planning sessions. Motivated to grow the hospitalist department at VJH and across Interior Health, his cohesive and high-performing team can provide more care further to vulnerable populations. Always looking to brighten someone’s day with a laugh, Dr. Allen continues to encourage others to make the most out of life and seek adventure and fun. Thank you for all that you do, Dr. Allen! Dr. Allen's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: "Susan Lawrey, a Unit Clerk at Vernon Jubilee Hospital, can naturally make everybody's day at the hospital brighter. She's always smiling and treats everyone like family, from patients and their families to all of her co-workers. She works hard to go above and beyond for patients yet still makes time to remind fellow staff of the big picture-to treat each other with kindness. If you are lucky she will even feed you!" - Dr. Travis Allen 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: Sharon Reisdorf Job Title: Speech Language Pathologist Years of Service: 21 Worksite: Kelowna General Hospital Community: Kelowna Ancestral Territory: Syilx (Saay-ilks) / Okanagan Interior Salish Favourite Quote: "With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts" -Eleanor Roosevelt Are you familiar with the work of Speech-Language Pathologists (S-LPs)? When hearing about Speech-Language Pathology as a profession, most people have limited perceptions of what it involves. However, it has a much broader scope than we imagine. At Interior Health, S-LPs work in both adult communication and swallowing services, voice and early childhood development programs, helping to prevent, assess, and treat speech and language, swallowing, and cognitive-communication disorders.   If you are considering a career in S-LP, know that it requires a high level of education, with a Masters degree being a minimum requirement. Take Sharon Reisdorf, S-LP at Interior Health for example. She always knew she wanted to be a therapist of some kind, and contemplated becoming a music therapist at one point; hence, her BA in music and psychology! But that’s not all. She also holds a specialization in linguistics and a Masters degree in Speech-Language Therapy, of course! Now that we know what it takes to be an S-LP, let’s learn more about Sharon’s journey as an S-LP. Her career began at a rehabilitation hospital in Florida. After working at Wascana Rehabilitation Hospital in Regina, she moved to Kelowna, relocating for her husband’s job. Sharon’s career at Kelowna General Hospital spans an extraordinary 21 years! Photo of Sharon Reisdorf, Speech-Language Pathologist at Kelowna General Hospital. Photo provided by the KGH Foundation. When asked about her proudest moments at IH, Sharon shares heartwarming and thought-provoking stories about her patients. During the early days of the pandemic, she recalls working with an acutely ill patient in rehab, who had recently transferred out of ICU. Sharon mentions she still remembers the day her patient walked out of rehab, after triumphing over a complicated hospital stay. Sharon feels it is a privilege to be part of a patient’s journey as they go from being fearful and non-verbal to advocating for themselves and making meaningful connections with friends and family. She also emphasized how, in terms of swallowing for example, how fulfilling it is to see patients transition from a tube feed to eating orally after intensive therapy.  Apart from her life-changing work, Sharon finds peace in playing music. The ongoing COVID-19 crisis helped her go back to playing the piano, which had been a big part of her life. Now, it helps to keep her grounded after a long day. Kelowna’s vibrant streets keep her exploring more parts of town on her bike and she has found a new love for pickleball.  Thank you Sharon for all that you do and for sharing your story with us. A special thank you to all Speech-Language Pathologists across Interior Health in celebration of S-LP month.  Sharon's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: "I would like to nominate Elisabeth Teasdale, an Inpatient Stroke Nurse who facilitates the care for all the stroke patients. She is incredible and I would love to see her featured." - Sharon Reisdorf Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook: @IHJobs  |   Instagram: @InteriorHealthBC.Careers  |   LinkedIn: @InteriorHealthAuthority

After 47 days in intensive care at Royal Inland Hospital, Ric Egan asked his care team to help him leave this world – with hope and in victory. Ric had been in and out of RIH since he became a quadriplegic 30 years ago in a dirt bike accident. Despite those enormous physical challenges, he maintained a zest for living. This year, however, his health took a rapid decline and he made a decision. He wanted to marry the love of his life and then he wanted to die at home. The man whom friends and family describe as having great respect for life, along with a quick wit, infectious laugh and a pinch of spicy temper, was ready. A duty to care The wedding ceremony in the hospital’s Sacred Space, led by RIH spiritual health lead Viktor Gundel, was organized despite the complexities of a pandemic. The second wish was a bigger challenge for the team of nurses, doctors, and allied health who had spent many years trying to keep Ric alive and on the road to recovery. But, as they reminded themselves, their first duty always is to the patient, respecting patient choices and supporting their wishes. “Isn’t this what we do? We care, we heal, we dream with our patients and we restore their hope amidst their brokenness. It helps us to heal in return,” said Viktor. Their story Ric and Helena might have had a storybook ending. Forty-two years ago, they were sweethearts and soulmates, but then life journeys took them in different directions. They both got married to other people and later divorced. Twelve years ago, they reconnected. “His devotion to Helena, his family and close friends was so evident in his struggles – all governed by an independent spirit and desire for dignity,” said Viktor. Helena said she is so grateful to the ICU team and Viktor for their support. Customizing his care was uncharted territory for them. For weeks, the full team had to break new ground to sustain his quality of life. “They were absolutely wonderful in what they did for him,” said Helena. “And when we went down to the Sacred Space, every single staff member came out of each room to applaud and cheer. They even held signs of best wishes and Ric told me he felt like a king.” Ric's care team During the wedding celebration, ICU nurse Cecilee Moray represented his core team of nurses, reading the words of Louise Desilets, another RN who had cared for him. “Ric, you are getting married, you are going home to Merritt and you are making the choices about your life. Your mind is clear and strong and independent, and this is why you have not lost. It is why you are winning in life to the end." As they lined the halls to bid him farewell for the last time, it was a bittersweet moment for the ICU care team who had all become family to him. “What people may not realize is how meeting our patients’ requests and care needs also inspires medical staff,” said ICU manager Matt Stubbings. His last wish RN Sean Adam from the High Acuity Response Team (HART) oversaw the complex needs required for the transfer to Merritt. Respiratory therapist Tannis Gilbert also travelled with Ric, ensuring his comfort on the hour-long journey. “Tannis was incredibly supportive and willing to do whatever was needed for him,” said Matt. He added that there was a united goal among all staff to help him go back home, to transition his life in peace and allow him to die with dignity and free of pain. For the ICU team, it was an honour to support his final wishes. Ric passed peacefully that evening with medical assistance. In Viktor’s words, “Ric’s journey was one of perseverance, gusto for life, and life with dignity.” I have lived to see a lot of a human journey, but I might add that this will stay with me and with many in ICU for years to come. Ric has left much more to us than we had to give him. His story and spirit reflects the paradoxes and complexities of a human life.” Spiritual Health Lead Viktor Gundel

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: Eric Tommasini Job Title: Physiotherapist Years of Service: 6 Worksite: Royal Inland Hospital Community: Kamloops Ancestral Territory: Secwépemc Favourite Quote: "Be a better version of yourself today than you were yesterday, aspire to be a better you tomorrow than you are today." Have you ever given much thought to value-based health-care services? Value-based health care isg the monetary amount we spend on health-care programs and services to get optimal results for our patients. The Canadian Physiotherapy Association did an evidence-based assessment of the value provided by physiotherapy services and found that it has significant benefits when utilized in our health-care system for cardiovascular rehabilitation, chronic lung disease, prevention and risk reduction of falls, strokes, musculoskeletal conditions and several other health issues that affect the lives of Canadians. Physiotherapists work autonomously and collaboratively alongside the collective health-care team within Interior Health to empower, and promote independence and quality of life for those in our care. Now that we have a better understanding of the role a physiotherapist plays, let’s follow Eric Tommasini’s journey to becoming a physiotherapist at Interior Health, and appreciate him for all his life-changing work! Eric was born and raised in Kamloops, located in the traditional and unceded territory of the Secwépemc, but left his hometown to pursue an undergraduate degree in Kinesiology from the University of Calgary, and later received his Masters of Physical Therapy at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Eventually, he returned to Kamloops to work at the Royal Inland Hospital – a purposeful move as Eric remarks: “It (Kamloops) embodies my core values and interests.” The people of Kamloops provide a sense of community, connection and belonging, they work hard and take advantage of the city’s active lifestyle and recreational opportunities – things that are important for Eric and his family. Eric and his wife, who works as a nurse at Royal Inland Hospital, are all smiles as they raise their daughters in Kamloops. The capabilities and resilience of the human body never cease to amaze Eric, which is why he pursued a career in physiotherapy. Eric not only understands this from his studies and work, but through the numerous activities he partakes in as well. He played several sports growing up and, although finding time is more difficult with three young children, Eric continues to exercise most notably by running. Eric jokes that his wife encourages him to exercise for the multitude of benefits it provides - she agrees that “it makes me a better husband, father, therapist, and co-worker”. Seeing the benefits firsthand, Eric feels fortunate to be in a position where he helps others take care and control of their health. As a physiotherapist, Eric gets a great deal of job satisfaction. He couldn’t imagine anything more fulfilling than helping a patient to return home to be with their spouse after a hip fracture, or helping someone who wants to walk their daughter down the aisle on their wedding day after having a stroke. Being a physiotherapist is serious and meaningful work, but it doesn’t take away from his humorous side. He admitted that when he is not working or running, he can usually be found eating excessive amounts of peanut butter, having dance parties with his daughters, and finding other ways to goof off. A beautiful newborn girl is welcomed to Eric's growing family. When asked about his proudest moment at Interior Health, Eric was kind enough to provide some insight into his way of thinking. “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change” he says. He notes that there can be frustrations when working in health care, working through a pandemic can be deflating, and that life can sometimes give you lemons: “I think it is important to have a positive, encouraging, and compassionate mindset for those we work for, those we work with, and for ourselves.” Eric prides himself on being a frontline leader who helps navigate others particularly during difficult times and thanks IH for providing him the tools to develop these skills. Eric put himself out there by requesting to take several leadership courses through IH, by advancing his career and overall job satisfaction through seeking mentorship, and by getting involved in wider initiatives aimed at progressing his workplace and organization. Eric believes that there are endless opportunities within IH and encourages anyone to explore their interests and aspirations. Thanks to Eric for sharing what it's like to be an Interior Health Physiotherapist! Visit this link to learn more about a career path in physiotherapy with Interior Health, including work environments, job duties and education requirements. Eric's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: "I recently took a Coaching Course (virtually) with Claudy Pastoor and it has opened my mind. I know nothing about her, but I appreciate the course and what she taught me. I feel like anyone and everyone would benefit from her coach approach - both in personal and professional situations. With that being said, let me and IH know more about her!" - Eric Tommasini Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook: Interior Health  |   Instagram: interiorhealthbc |   LinkedIn: Interior Health Authority

In the wake of a deadly rise in drug toxicity and overdoses, the care team at Vernon’s Downtown Mental Health and Substance Use Centre has been quietly saving lives. An invaluable support for more than 900 Vernon residents, the centre helps with *harm reduction, health services and social supports. Since opening on May 12, 2020, more than 3,500 people have visited, and over 400 drug consumption events have been safely supervised, with zero deaths. As part of the Vernon care team, Jennifer, Aleasha, and Adrian see the severity of the overdose crisis each day. Each month about 30 people visit the centre, where the team helps people use drugs more safely. About 88 per cent of visits are for harm reduction and approximately 11 per cent are for supervised consumption (in March there were 70 consumption visits). Thanks to tools that make drug use safer such as scales and drug testing, overdose events are not common at the site. Still, staff typically respond to about five each month   A toxic drug supply The overdose crisis continues. In B.C. last year there were 283 deaths – the highest number ever – and 2021 is tracking to be worse. In Vernon 28 people died last year. The evidence is clear – street drugs are more toxic than ever and overdose events are increasingly difficult to manage. In addition to fentanyl, many drug samples are now being found with other contaminants, particularly benzodiazepines (benzos), a form of tranquilizer that impacts the nervous system and causes drowsiness or even unconsciousness. The presences of benzos that are made and sold illegally mixed with other substances has rapidly increased from 15 per cent of provincial samples in July 2020 to over 50 per cent in March 2021. Benzos do not respond to Naloxone (a drug which is typically administered to reverse opioid overdose), and can slow or stop a person’s breathing. While there has never been a reported deaths at an overdose prevention site in B.C., overdose events that are becoming more difficult to manage. Recently, over the course of one week, the Vernon care team provided oxygen three times – something once considered rare.   Connections making a difference Still the team is optimistic. One of the major influences in the centre’s success is the role of Peers – community members with personal experience and training, who use their own unique knowledge and understanding to help others in whatever way they can. “It’s really exciting to see that individuals accessing our services are saying ‘this is really valuable, I want to be a part of this. I want to be a part of the solution too,” says Adrian. The team’s focus on building relationships in the community is working. As one client told them, “You guys have been the light of my day, you have treated us with such dignity and respected, thank you so much for all you do.’’ “We have one client, for example, who had burnt bridges at absolutely every community resource in town, who is now consistently accessing our site. He initially came in for harm reduction supplies, and then started connecting with the overdose prevention nurse, and slowly became more open to talking about his substance use and learning about what services we could offer,” says Jenn. “Finally, because of the trust we were able to establish, we were able to help connect him to **Opioid Agonist Treatment, and he has been able to maintain on that program for several months. Now we’ve seen him become increasingly stable. He’s connected with us and feels quite accepted here. That connection makes all the difference.” “When you’re in the room with someone who is using the overdose prevention service, it’s quite a long interaction and quite often you end up talking about all manner of subjects, to build relationships with people, and it’s natural for the conversation to cover substance use and harm reduction,” explains Adrian. “You can say ‘oh you were telling me the other day that your leg was hurting, did you want to follow-up on that, we can call primary care and get you in for a look.” “Our clients are so used to being rejected that they just shut down. In our waiting area we hear so many speak about how grateful they are. They are probably among the most grateful patients in health care.”     The Vernon Downtown Mental Health and Substance Use Centre includes one of four overdose prevention/supervised consumption sites in Interior Health. To learn more check out the supervised consumption services brochure. For help finding substance use treatment and supports visit our Substance Use Services page.     * Harm reduction is an evidence based practice that aims to keep people safe and minimize death, disease, and injury from behavior that involves risk such as substance use and sexual activity. **Opioid Agonist Treatment is the recommended treatment for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). OAT involves an opioid agonist medication prescribed and monitored by a health-care provider. The primary medications used are Suboxone and Methadone.  

COVID-19 has impacted each of us in many ways. One of the areas that we are monitoring closely is mental health. Mental health affects all of us. As we mark the 70th annual Mental Health Awareness Week I’d like to take this opportunity to recognize the toll that the ongoing pandemic is having on people’s feelings of stress, loneliness, and anxiety. After one year into this challenging pandemic, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health has reported about one in five Canadians is experiencing high levels of mental distress. But hope is not lost. While the pandemic initially impacted our ability to offer in-person counselling and other services, we quickly pivoted to provide counselling virtually, with great feedback from participants and clinicians. We are also making it easier to access services by launching the 310-MHSU phone number, which works across Interior Health and puts callers directly in touch with their local Mental Health and Substance Use centre. We know that involving family members can make a big difference in supporting the well-being of clients. Guided by people with first-hand experience, we developed a new family involvement approach for clinicians based on respect, sharing information, and working together so that people can include their loved ones in their journey and access to care. From prevention programs to intensive treatment and support, we are committed to strengthening care at all levels of the continuum. That’s why we continue to enhance mental health and substance use services throughout the Interior region. Integrated treatment teams are working to create multidisciplinary outreach for people who need flexible support that works for them; new treatment beds are coming this spring to serve youth experiencing substance use issues; and access to Opioid Agonist Treatment is expanding, with the first cohort of Interior Health’s nurse prescribers for Suboxone having just completed training. For many people, stigma related to mental illness continues to be a significant barrier to accessing help. This is why it is important to support efforts such as Mental Health Awareness Week’s #GetReal campaign, which encourages people to talk about how they feel, and to show support for each other through difficult times. They say there is no health without mental health and I believe this is true. We need to end the stigma, and continue to improve access. For more details regarding Mental Health & Substance Use services within Interior Health, visit www.interiorhealth.ca.

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: Amara Stangeland Job Title: Registered Nurse, Adolescent Psychiatry Years of Service: 2 Worksite: Kelowna General Hospital Community: Kelowna Ancestral Territory: Syilx (Saay-ilks) / Okanagan Interior Salish Favourite Quote: "In a world when you can be anything, be kind."       Amara’s kind demeanour, welcoming smile and caring approach allow her to excel in her role as a Registered Nurse in the Adolescent Psychiatry Department at Kelowna General Hospital. In the vast world of nursing, there are many career opportunities to explore. For Amara, it was the first day of nursing school when a spark ignited her interest in working with the youth. Intrigued by the opportunity as a nurse to support and guide youth at such an important point in their life, she knew she was on the right path. Seeing the resilience of adolescents first hand continues to motivate Amara in her work. Through providing care, she is able to guide them on the right path and teach them valuable life skills that can change their life trajectory. Born and raised in The Pas, Northern Manitoba, Amara grew up very close with her family. Her passion for helping others was evident at a young age. Eager to help those around her, Amara was always a supportive person people would lean on. Shortly after high school, Amara moved to Sylvan Lake, Alta., where she graduated with her nursing degree and gained work experience in hospitals for over a decade. Inspired by the opportunity to live the Okanagan outdoor adventurous lifestyle, Amara and her fiancée moved to Kelowna over two years ago. When Amara isn’t working you can find her exploring the mountains year-round, biking, snowboarding, or hiking. Passionate about living an active lifestyle, Amara loves to practice hot yoga, stand up paddleboard, dance, and try new outdoor activities with friends. Her love of travel has taken her across the world to many countries where she was able to experience different cultures, including hiking the Tour de Mont Blanc in Europe. After postponing her wedding multiple times due to the pandemic, Amara looks forward to marrying the love of her life this August. Congratulations! In celebration of Nurses Week, Interior Health sincerely thanks all of our nurses for their commitment and dedication to caring for our communities. Amara expresses her gratitude for her incredible team, for their continuous support, their strength and resilience, especially working through a pandemic. Additionally, she is proud of the way the community has shown up for their health-care workers, through words of encouragement, acts of kindness and spreading positivity. It all adds up and helps everyone feel supported. Thank you for sharing your story and for all that you do! Happy Nurses Week!   Amara's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: "Kalie has been working hard, long hours at Urgent Care COVID testing site. She is a kind and caring nurse, especially during these challenging times. She remains calm and positive throughout it all. She deserves to be recognized for the hard work she puts in along with the other essential workers. Happy Nurses Week!" - Amara Stangeland Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook: Interior Health  |   Instagram: interiorhealthbc |   LinkedIn: Interior Health Authority