EXCELERATOR

Issue 67,  June 2024

See you at the Toronto Pride Parade this weekend!

June is Pride Month in Toronto and our team has been celebrating all month long. VHA Home HealthCare (VHA) is looking forward to being part of the Toronto Pride Festival June 28-30 as an Official 2024 Sponsor of Pride Toronto!

All weekend, VHA volunteers and Personal Support Workers will be on-site at the festival to provide assistance to festival-goers who need support. VHA will also be marching in Sunday's Pride Parade alongside our Ontario Health Team partners. We look forward to seeing clients, colleagues and community members at the festival!

“Focus Lock” on the Ice: A Healthcare Leader’s Secret to Wellness

For VHA President & CEO Dr. Kathryn Nichol, a fun past time unexpectedly became central to her health and wellness, and even her professional success. In a piece written by Kathryn for Longwoods, she shares her experience. 

"I never imagined that a recreational hockey league would become central to my health and wellness or contribute significantly to my professional success. That hour or two on the ice is like the magic feeling in the middle of a vacation when you have left your work concerns behind and are fully embracing the moment. It is the break I need to keep my body strong, and my mood stable. And playing hockey keeps me sharp, makes me a better leader and introduces me to new ideas. In the midst of a fast-paced game, it is impossible to think of anything else," says Kathryn. 

A Day in the Life of a Speech-Language Pathologist with Annalisa William

At VHA, our team of 13 speech-language pathologists support people of all ages with swallowing and feeding challenges as well as language and speech difficulties.  

Many people do not fully understand the extent of life-altering support SLPs provide in the home and community care sector. To help build that understanding, Annalisa William, a VHA SLP in Toronto, took us along for a typical day in the community. Annalisa shares her experiences caring for a wide range of clients, the connections she makes and the impact that she sees on a daily basis.

Celebrating VHA Nurses: Changing Lives and Shaping Tomorrow

Held every May around the birthday of nursing pioneer Florence  Nightingale,  National Nursing Week falls on May 6-12 in 2024. This recognition week is an important opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge the countless contributions of registered nurses (RNs), registered practical nurses (RPNs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) across the country.

The 2024 theme, Changing Lives and Shaping Tomorrow, reflects on the profound impact nurses have on individuals, communities and the future of health care. Their compassion and expertise make a difference in the lives of their clients and caregivers, their advocacy ensures the best possible care, and as educators, they are influencing the next generation of healthcare professionals.

With this theme in mind, we want to recognize the tremendous role our nurses play in the lives of clients and families and the healthcare system as a whole. VHA nurses support clients in a variety of care settings and across the lifespan—from children with medical complexity to seniors experiencing challenges with aging. By providing specialized, quality care in a wide range of situations, VHA nurses make our clients’ lives safer and health challenges more manageable.

To help us celebrate Nursing Week, we connected with a few dedicated VHA nurses to learn more about why they work in home care and the most rewarding part of their jobs. Meet Dean, Adrian, Priscilla and Vilma.

East Toronto Health Partners  becomes one of the first OHTs to receive internationally recognized BPSO designation

East Toronto Health Partners (ETHP), the Ontario Health Team (OHT) serving East Toronto, has become one of the first OHTs to achieve a longstanding, internationally recognized designation from the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO).

“…we saw a valuable opportunity to leverage the BPSO OHT program to align patient education, practices and resources across hospital, primary, home and community care in East Toronto,” says Matt Wong, VHA’s Director of Professional Practice, Clinical Education & IPAC and co-chair of the ETHP BPSO Steering Committee.

VHA In the News

• University of Toronto Department of Physical Therapy: Alumni Spotlight - Courtney Bean is leading the way 
• Canada Business Wire: VHA Introduces Groundbreaking Pontosense AI Solution, Offering New Innovations for Aging in Place