We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: Tracey Thoss  Job Title: Administrative Services  Years of Service: 3 Years Worksite: Kamloops Mental Health and Substance Use Community: Kamloops Ancestral Territory: Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc (TteS) territory Favourite Quote: "In a world where you can be anything, be kind.”- Unknown The last three years working in mental health and substance use has been very rewarding for Tracey. She has found a great deal of fulfilment through helping people and has a strong belief that one small kind gesture can make a large difference in someone's life. Tracey is overwhelmed by the dedication of her co-workers throughout the pandemic and it has reinforced how proud she is to work with this team! “I receive tremendous job satisfaction when I see a client that has struggled in the past transition from crisis to living a purposeful, happy, and fulfilled life because of the support we have provided them.”  Tracey visiting her home country of South Africa. Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, her family soon moved across the ocean to Canada. Growing up in beautiful British Columbia, Tracey continues to call Kamloops home. She loves the outdoors and enjoys the unmatched scenery, plentiful lakes, and the abundance of hiking and biking trails. In the summer, you can find her paddle boarding with her husband or skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. Tracey and her husband travelling. She loves to express her creativity through mixed media paintings and collecting antique tin toys. We are so lucky to have Tracey’s loving, friendly and quirky personality as part of our team. Thank you for all that you do! Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook  |   Instagram  |   LinkedIn

After working for 40 years in health care, and volunteering for a number of health-related organizations, Maria Klement knows both sides of health-care delivery. “I remember what it’s like to be a health-care worker and trying to care for everyone – it can be hard to see the forest for the trees,” says Maria. “Meanwhile, patients and volunteers bring different ideas. They have a unique voice that complements the decision-making process.”

Charlotte is proud of her mixed heritage – her ancestors are Cree and Shuswap, as well as Japanese and Irish. As someone who is homeless herself, she is a fiery advocate for people without homes living in Kamloops. She is also passionate about her Indigenous culture and participates in traditional ceremonies with singing and dancing. As fiercely independent as Charlotte is, she also has chronic health conditions including depression, social anxiety and HIV, and her journey has not been easy.  That’s why her relationship with Tamyla Laing, a Life Skills Worker from Kamloops, is so important. Charlotte says she can’t imagine where she’d be without Tamyla, with whom she has worked for about three years as part of Interior Health’s Intensive Case Management team. “Tamyla has given me hope when I had none. She’s given me strength when I had none. She always makes me accountable, which is great. She is a remarkable worker. Really she is phenomenal,” Charlotte says.  Tamyla is quick to interject: “It’s Charlotte who has done all the work. It really is all about Charlotte and her commitment to recovery.” Life skills workers play a unique role in the mental health and substance use care continuum. They aren’t social workers, clinicians or counsellors. Rather, they work with individuals on developing day-to-day skills such as obtaining identification, opening bank accounts, doing taxes, and finding stable housing, food and clothing. They support people in managing interpersonal relationships, and in taking care of important medical and dental needs. For example, Tamyla will attend appointments with Charlotte to help her manage complex information and schedules related to her HIV treatment.  “Life skills workers often have a window into people’s lives in a way that other health-care workers don’t, and have the privilege of witnessing both the day-to-day struggles as well as growth and successes of the people they serve,” says Jessica Mensinger, manager of mental health and substance use services in Kamloops.  In addition, they provide harm reduction, support in accessing Opioid Agonist Treatment medications for opioid use disorder, and wound care. They do wellness checks and, when people are struggling, they reach out to help. “Tamyla comes to me, which is remarkable. Not a lot of professionals leave their office,” Charlotte says.  To learn more, check out Interior Health's substance use services.   

Behind the scenes at a busy Kamloops hospital, support people, clinicians and doctors continue to work on improving care for patients by participating in simulation training for major medical procedures.  This November, staff at Royal Inland Hospital spent a day in simulation training for systems improvement and training in the care of stroke patients. Participants included Emergency Department, Medical Imaging, switchboard, shift co-ordinators, physician leads and stroke patient care co-ordinators.  Dr. Aleks Tkach, a vascular neurologist and medical director of stroke services for Interior Health, congratulated all the participants for supporting and raising awareness of simulation training. He noted the excellent leadership of stroke patient care co-ordinator Lindsay Marriott who demonstrated improvement in organization, roles, flow, and communication to participants in new stroke protocol development. “I cannot over emphasize the importance of nursing leadership for systems improvement and change. Lindsay is a perfect example of this in action at Royal Inland Hospital at a time where everything is stretched thin,” said Dr. Tkach. Jaime Gallaher, regional knowledge co-ordinator, at the Rae Fawcett Simulation Centre, expressed her appreciation for the event with a tweet recognizing the “fabulous day” for developing a protocol that will make such a difference in recovery for stroke patients when they first arrive at the hospital. Lindsay praised the willingness of the Emergency Department team to participate in the stroke simulations, as well as their open-minded approach in implementing the new stroke protocol. “I am so thankful for their support and continued enthusiasm to use this new protocol and am eager to see first hand the benefits it provides for our stroke patient population,” said Lindsay.  Cory Bendall, Interior Health Stroke Network director, stressed the importance of practising these procedures that bring several teams and disciplines together for an urgent response. “With stroke, every moment matters,” she said.

Devon is a peer worker who provides overdose prevention and harm reduction supports to those living in shelters and supportive housing. As someone who had his own life saved at an overdose prevention site, he understands the value of these services and it’s important to him that others understand the facts.

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: Dr. Alan Ruddiman (He/Him) Job Title: Rural Generalist Physician (GP)  Years of Service: 25 Historical IH Worksite: South Okanagan General Hospital Community: Oliver Ancestral Territory: Syilx Nation Favourite Quote: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” - Anon (attributed as an African proverb). Dr. Alan Ruddiman is an internationally trained rural generalist physician, living and working in Oliver, on the traditional lands and territories of the Syilx Okanagan First Nations. He is a passionate advocate and voice on equity in health-care delivery, medical professionalism, governance, medical quality improvement, digital health and virtually enabled care.  “I was taught to value and embrace service,” says Alan. “Service to one's patients, to one's community, and within one's broader sphere of influence. Having had a full and rewarding career in rural medicine in Canada, with the last 25 of those years in the south Okanagan, I have made so many connections locally, regionally and provincially." "For me, it’s always been about the relationships – the opportunity to contribute towards meaningful local and system changes within health care in British Columbia.” Born in Scotland, Alan’s formative years were shaped in South Africa. He earned his medical degree, a Bachelors of Medicine & Surgery, at Witwatersrand University, Johannesburg, graduating in 1989. This valuable experience sparked within his career efforts championing on matters of social justice, advocating for vulnerable peoples, and seeking out equity within health-care delivery. Alan immigrated to Canada, first settling in Saskatchewan in 1991 to pursue service in rural generalist medicine, then later moving west to British Columbia, and Oliver, in 1996. He and his wife Christina raised two daughters in Oliver, the youngest of whom was born at the local community hospital. The bulk of Alan’s professional career has been dedicated to service as a rural GP, in the community and through a rewarding career on staff at the South Okanagan General Hospital (SOGH). He has served as president of SOGH Medical Staff, with two terms as Chief of Medical Staff.  One of Alan’s proudest moments at Interior Health was during his 2005 to 2010 tenure as Chief of Medical Staff. SOGH was the first Canadian hospital – and a rural hospital at that – to achieve Stage 6 Electronic Medical Record (EMR) Adoption recognition from HIMSS Analytics.  “This was a really significant accomplishment and recognition for an amazing and dedicated clinical team who I worked with and alongside,” says Alan.  In 2015, Alan was also elected by his 12,000 provincial peers and colleagues as the incoming President of Doctors of BC. “It was an amazing and most rewarding three-year appointment cycle,” he says. “It rolled over to current appointments and provincial lead roles I have today.” He transitioned away from full-time GP clinical practice in 2018, following his Doctors of BC presidency. Alan’s notable medical contributions within the South Okanagan community are now supplemented by his further responsibilities as a Director for the Rural Coordination Centre of BC (RCCbc), and, Provincial Co-Chair for the Joint Standing Committee on Rural Issues (the JSC). Alan has been very busy supporting Interior Health’s COVID-19 immunization program by providing active clinical support and in-clinic service across IH’s rural communities. Since March 2021 he has provided more than 3,000 unique COVID-19 immunizations to the public!  Today, Alan is a recognized physician leader, a health-care strategist, a health policy knowledge expert, and an active proponent for positive transformation within Canada’s publicly funded health-care system. He interacts regularly with teams and leaders from across B.C.’s health-care system including senior government members, the health authorities, Doctors of BC, UBC Faculty of Medicine, B.C.’s rural communities, and linked health-care sectors and partners. Dr. Alan Ruddiman and his family with their restored 1976 Volkswagen camper bus. In his personal time, Alan and his wife Christina are keen adventurous travellers. They have lovingly restored a 1976 Volkswagen camper bus in which they journey throughout B.C. They are also keen and very active sailors. “We love spending days and nights out on Lake Okanagan, finding a quiet anchorage to hunker down in, and enjoy amazing sunrises and sunsets.” Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook: Interior Health  |   Instagram: interiorhealthbc |   LinkedIn: Interior Health Authority

Audiologist Jowan Lee of St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver is working with Interior Health patients to adjust their cochlear implants with digital health technology.   Ponderosa Lodge social worker Shirley Shanks could not believe it when she got a call setting up a virtual audiology appointment for one of her long-term care clients with a malfunctioning cochlear implant. Rather than going to Vancouver, Cathy, who uses a wheelchair, was transported five minutes away to the virtual care clinic at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops.  By video, an audiologist, located 450 kilometres away at St. Paul’s Hospital, was able to make crucial adjustments to the cochlear implant, an electronic device that is situated under the skin behind the ear to help restore hearing.  The implants are a miracle for people with hearing impairments who need more than a hearing aid. However, for Cathy, her cochlear implant had not been adjusted since 2018 so she was back to reading notes from people trying to communicate with her. “I was so excited to get that call,” said Shirley. “I had been wracking my brain trying to figure out how to get Cathy to Vancouver. To be able to have this virtual care appointment is amazing.” Cathy, sitting, is ready for her virtual appointment with Vancouver audiologist Jowan Lee (on screen). In back is RIH virtual care coordinator Haillie McBoyle. When Cathy and Shirley arrived at the clinic on Dec. 1, virtual care co-ordinator Haillie McBoyle guided them into a room where audiologist Jowan Lee was smiling at them from a computer screen. Several Tupperware containers filled with programming pods completed the equipment needed for the video appointment, anticipated to last an hour and a half to two hours. She was the second patient of the day.  “Our other patient was so pleased at the end of his appointment. He actually cried happy tears that he didn’t have to travel to Vancouver for the adjustments,” said Haillie. During the appointment, the audiologist directs the patient on which pod to select and attach to his or her sound processor. By using remote access technology, the audiologist is able to take control of the programming software on the RIH laptop, enabling the patient’s sound processor settings to be optimized.  These Tupperware containers are filled with pods that the audiologist uses to adjust the patient’s cochlear implant. These local appointments are part of St. Paul’s Hospital’s Cochlear Implant Remote Mapping Service Pilot Project, which began in Island Health but recently expanded to Interior Health where the vast geography makes digital health care crucial technology. After being contacted by St. Paul’s to participate as a second proof site, Interior Health’s virtual care team chose RIH because of its proximity to northern B.C. and because RIH had staffing in place to support the clinic. “Kamloops was the best location for a wider range of patients who aren’t able to get to Vancouver. Patients from Prince George will also be able to come here,” said IH Virtual Care manager Shawn Berglund. Until the virtual option was introduced, the 181 patients in Interior Health and 30 in Northern Health were required to travel Vancouver at least once a year to have their cochlear implants adjusted by the specially trained audiologists. Cochlear implant testing is the newest addition to the rapidly expanding digital health programs in Interior Health and RIH Virtual Care analyst Bill Demuth is on the team overseeing it at RIH.  “Much of IT (information technology) is a supportive resource, but with virtual care, we impact patients in a positive way every day,” he said. “These programs that make a direct difference for patients are the ones I especially like.” At the moment, the appointments take place one day a month, but Bill hopes to see the appointments increase as more audiologists are trained to provide virtual care and patients experience the convenience and effectiveness of video sessions. Shawn said it’s also exciting to work on a program that is collaboration between several health organizations (IH, Providence and the Provincial Health Services Authority) and also multi-departmental.  “We are all working together on this supportive way for our clients to make their appointments. A lot of our patients weren’t getting it done for a variety of reasons – COVID-19, damaged highway system and also because they are too vulnerable to travel.” Cathy is one of those fragile patients who likely would not have been able to make it to Vancouver.  Instead, she left her virtual appointment with better access to sound then when she arrived – a win for digital health, but mostly a win for Cathy. Shirley said she also came away with a win as part of Cathy’s care team. “Dr. Lee was able to educate me on how to help Cathy through more effective speech approaches and by providing information on the static she hears on a regular basis that I was not aware of.” She added that he also gave her other ideas on apps to use for communication. “All these care plan needs are vital to Cathy’s daily living and I am truly grateful for that.”  

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: Tanya Zeron (she/her) Job Title: Rehabilitation Assistant Years of Service: 10 Worksite: Vernon Jubilee Hospital Community: Vernon Ancestral Territory: Syilx Okanagan Favourite Quote: “Ain't nothin' gonna to break my stride Nobody gonna slow me down, oh no I got to keep on movin'” – Matthew Wilder Tanya Zeron always tries to see the good in people and situations. Born and raised in Maple Ridge, Tanya moved to the Okanagan in 2004. As a rehabilitation assistant, Tanya’s inspiration are the people she cares for every day.  “No matter their ability, they continue to work towards their goals. And on the days they’re not strong, we can be strong for them.” Tanya loves working with older adults. “They have so much to share and I like to listen to their stories. They’ve usually already overcome so much in life.” Watching patients persevere through physical and emotional challenges makes Tanya proud of the work she and her team does.  “It’s nice to know we played a role in our patient’s rehabilitation, and are improving their quality of life.” The fresh air of fall, camping with her family and snowboard season are a few of Tanya’s favourite things. Tanya’s husband, Dallas, and two kids, Marty and Scottie, also enjoy hiking, canoeing, and mountain biking.  “Anything that gets my family and myself into nature,” she says. ________________________________________ Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook  |   Instagram  |   LinkedIn

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: (John) Derrick Leblanc (he/him) Job Title: Housekeeping Supervisor Years of Service: 8.5 Worksite: Royal Inland Hospital Community: Kamloops Ancestral Territory: Secwépemc Nation Favourite Quote: "Treat everyone how you want to be treated." -Unknown Thanks to a good friend who endorsed his resume, Derrick Leblanc has been with Interior Health for almost nine years. In that time, his proudest moment, aside from being hired on, was his promotion to Housekeeping Supervisor. Derrick's family in Nova Scotia “I’ve always enjoyed helping others, and take pride in knowing that the career I’ve chosen allows me to do just that.” At one point, Derrick was even helping a friend with special need clients outside of Interior Health, finding it rewarding work. After training, Derrick eventually received his own clients. But it’s his role at Royal Inland Hospital that made the cut when he had to pull back on commitments and narrow his three jobs down to one. Derrick hails from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, calling himself “a hopeless romantic and a Maritimer.” Unsurprisingly, his greatest dream is live a long life and to retire by the ocean (after winning the lottery, of course!). Derrick’s family means everything to him – it’s hard being so far away, as he doesn’t get to see them nearly as much as he’d like. Derrick's puppy, Wall-E “I’m the eighth child out of nine so it’s a large family. We certainly know how to cook and eat seafood, as well as rappi pie.” For those not "in the know," rappi pie is a well-loved traditional Acadian dish. It’s a delicious mix of potatoes and chicken. Living in the beautiful Interior meshes well with Derrick’s love of the outdoors and taking nature photography. He also hikes, gardens and relaxes on his deck with his dog. View of Kamloops from Derrick's morning walk Derrick's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: “I would nominate Narinder Pannu. She works at Royal Inland Hospital and is a cleaner on 7 South. I would like to nominate her because you can always ask her to help with shortfalls and or move to another position within the department... She is very accountable at her job and you can be assured she gets her work done to standard. " - Derrick Leblanc Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook: Interior Health  |   Instagram: interiorhealthbc |   LinkedIn: Interior Health Authority