Cornwall Community Hospital

Today is International Project Management Day! We would like to recognize our hospital’s Transformation and Project Management Team for their dedication and expertise in planning, executing, and overseeing various projects within the hospital to help us better meet the needs of our staff, physicians and patients. Their dedication consistently improves our operational efficiency and service delivery. This includes introducing state-of-the-art digital solutions and implementing innovative programs and processes. Thank you for your work towards bringing positive change to the hospital and our community! #ICARE #PeopleOfCCH #ProjectManagementDay #ExceptionalCareAlways

This week is Medical Radiation Technologists (MRT) Week, an annual celebration of the essential role that medical radiation technologists (MRTs) play in the healthcare system. Working independently and in collaboration with healthcare team members, MRTs analyze a variety of complex diagnostic images to assist physicians in the diagnosis and management of multiple system disorders. MRTs bridge the gap between sophisticated technology and patient care, delivering imaging and radiation-related treatment services with a caring touch. They use their expert knowledge of imaging and/or radiation therapy equipment, together with an extensive understanding of the principles of anatomy, physiology and pathology, image acquisition, treatment and radiation protection to deliver quality care to their patients. At CCH, MRTs work in various diagnostic departments including Nuclear Medicine, CT, X-Ray, Mammography and MRI. Nearly 100,000 Diagnostic Imaging tests are conducted every year in our Diagnostic Services Department with the help of our MRTs. We are proud to recognize our highly skilled and compassionate MRTs at CCH and the vital role that they play in delivering exceptional care in our community. Happy #MRTWeek and thank you for all that you do! #MRTWeek2024 #ICARE #PeopleOfCCH #ExceptionalCareAlways

Last week was Canadian Patient Safety Week 2024 and this year’s theme, set by HealthCare Excellence Canada, was “Healthcare Harm.” During the week at CCH we broadened our understanding of healthcare harm. The Quality & Risk Team hosted a setup on Level 1 throughout the week, inviting staff, physicians, caregivers, patients, and visitors to discuss healthcare harm and its impact. The goal was to create a safe space for open conversations about challenging topics surrounding healthcare harm. We encouraged participants to mark or comment on categories of harm they had witnessed, been involved in, or had awareness of. We also talked with staff about the emotional impact of healthcare harm and how it affects them personally. Additionally, we asked everyone to share what makes them feel safe—whether as employees, patients, caregivers, or visitors—and to write down their thoughts. It was a valuable week filled with information sharing and meaningful conversations to help advance our culture of quality and safety at CCH! Thank you to everyone who participated! #ExceptionalCareAlways #ICARE #CPSW2024 #QualityAndSafety

CCH has been recognized for its outstanding contributions to organ and tissue donation, receiving the Hospital Achievement Award – Provincial Eligible Approach Rate from Ontario Health (Trillium Gift of Life Network [TGLN]) for the fourth consecutive year. This award, presented to 27 hospitals in Ontario this year, recognizes CCH’s success in meeting and exceeding the 90% target set by Ontario Health (TGLN) for facilitating donation discussions with eligible patients or their families at the end of life during 2023-2024. CCH is also one of just 14 hospitals in the province to receive the Award of Excellence this year. This award recognizes hospitals for meeting or exceeding the provincial target for conversion rate and/or eligible approach rate for four or more consecutive years, demonstrating an outstanding commitment to the implementation of donation leading practices. This marks the first time CCH is presented with the Award of Excellence. “We are incredibly proud to be recognized for our ongoing commitment to organ and tissue donation,” said Jeanette Despatie, President and Chief Executive Officer of CCH. “This recognition highlights the compassion and dedication of our staff in ensuring that every eligible patient and their family has the opportunity for a meaningful discussion about organ and tissue donation, potentially helping to give the gift of life to those in need.” Read more: https://ow.ly/6iJu50TWIbZ

Today is #WorldStrokeDay! Did you know? CCH is a District Stroke Centre for the East Champlain Region. This means we lead the development and coordination of stroke care for our community, ensuring continuous support for local stroke patients at every step of their journey, from symptom onset to recovery and follow-up. Here’s how the CCH Stroke Program supports patients: 🔺 Tele-stroke Consultation: When it comes to stroke, every second counts. When a patient presents to our Emergency Department with signs a stroke, they are urgently triaged and receive a rapid tele-stroke consultation with a neurologist who reviews their CT scans and determines the best intervention, from clot-busting medicine to advanced Endovascular Therapy. 🔺 Acute Stroke Unit: Our Level 2 unit has 10 specialized beds, staffed by a multidisciplinary team, dedicated to patients with a stroke diagnosis requiring hospital admission. The unit’s staff and physicians provide expert, specialized stroke care and help plan the next steps in a patient’s recovery. 🔺 Stroke Prevention Clinic: Located on Level 3, our outpatient clinic, led by a Registered Nurse and Stroke Neurologist, helps prevent secondary strokes for patients who’ve previously experienced one. A stroke is a medical emergency. if you suspect that you or someone else is having a stroke, remember to act F.A.S.T. : Face (is it drooping?), Arms (can you raise both?), Speech (is it slurred or jumbled?), Time (to call 9-1-1). #ExceptionalCareAlways #ICARE #StrokeAwareness

This week is Health Information Professionals Week! It is a chance for us to celebrate members of our Health Information Services team for their role in maintaining the security, privacy, accuracy and quality of our patients’ medical records. The HIS team compiles, codes, and corrects patient data and provides reports, records, and information to appropriate departments, individuals, and agencies as needed. Our patients’ health records contain vital information that is essential to their care, and ensuring that their records are accurate and remain confidential is an important responsibility. Please join us in thanking them for their contributions to providing Exceptional Care. Always! #ExceptionalCareAlways #ICARE #PeopleOfCCH

This week is Respiratory Therapy Week! Respiratory Therapists are an integral part of the Canadian healthcare system; they are regulated healthcare professionals who monitor, assess and treat individuals who have difficulty breathing. They are highly trained in areas such as ventilation and airway management, CPR, and oxygen and aerosol therapy. Respiratory Therapists work with both critical and non-critical patients; provide advice on respiratory care; teach people how to use respiratory aids or other treatments; manage patients on ventilators; and assess patients’ blood-oxygen level. Our Respiratory Therapists are also trained in neonatal resuscitation, in the event there are any breathing complications with newborn babies during labour and delivery and up to the age of 28 days. Respiratory Therapists are on-site at CCH 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, always ready to answer the call. We thank them for the expertise and specialized care they provide to the patients in our community. Please join us in thanking our Respiratory Therapists for all they do! #RTWeek2024 #ICARE #PeopleOfCCH #ExceptionalCareAlways

This week is #CanadianIntensiveCareWeek. The Critical Care Unit (also known as an Intensive Care Unit) at CCH is home to a multi-disciplinary team of healthcare professionals who provide 24-hour care to patients who have life-threatening injuries and illnesses. Specially trained physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, dieticians, pharmacists, and other highly trained health professionals all work as a team in our Critical Care Unit to care for patients and families every second, every day. DYK: CCH is the only hospital in our area of Eastern Ontario with critical care and ventilator capacity? The total population served by our Critical Care Unit is approximately 110,000 people from throughout the City of Cornwall, Akwesasne and the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry. On average, over 550 patients are treated every year in our Critical Care Unit. Please join us this week in thanking our Critical Care teams for their hard work, dedication, and service to our community and being there for our patients and families when they need it most. #ICARE #PeopleOfCCH #ExceptionalCareAlways

October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to support and honour those affected by the disease. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Ontario women. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Regular screening can find breast cancer early, allowing for more effective intervention. CCH is proud to announce that we have expanded our breast cancer screening services following a recent change in provincial guidelines. The Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) now offers routine screenings to individuals aged 40 to 74 at average risk for breast cancer, lowering the starting age from 50 to 40. Those within this age range can now access screenings at OBSP locations, including CCH, without needing a doctor’s referral. Learn more: https://ow.ly/ksSb50TOAun #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth #ExceptionalCareAlways #ICARE

This week, we’re celebrating Medical Device Reprocessing Week and the incredible work of our dedicated Medical Device Reprocessing Technicians at CCH! Every day, this team ensures hundreds of medical devices are meticulously cleaned, sanitized, sterilized, and packaged, playing a vital role in patient safety and infection prevention. Without their expertise, life-saving surgeries and procedures couldn’t safely happen at CCH! Though their work often goes unseen, their commitment to quality and safety is at the core of everything we do. #MDRWeek #ICARE #PeopleOfCCH #ExceptionalCareAlways