THANKS … BUT NO THANKS FOR HOSPITAL GOODIES
MUSKOKA — It may be better to give than receive at this time of year.
But when it comes to share and share-alike, local hospitals say thanks … but no thanks.
Your “thoughtful gifts … also carry a level of risk to our staff and physicians that is not advisable,” says Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare CEO Natalie Bubela.
“And can ultimately potentially hinder our ability to provide high-quality care to you or your loved ones when needed.”
She says that gratitude toward hospital staff looks different this year.
Grateful patients and families who want to thank workers with a token gift of Christmas cheer are being asked to hold off — or do so in new way as
She says in a community blog that “thoughtful gifts to say thank you like boxes of chocolates or Christmas baking warm our hearts and mean a lot to our team members.
Gift baskets for example, similar to boxes of chocolates, typically contain items that are intended for sharing, which results in multiple sets of hands touching products.
But this has the potential to increase the risk of sharing germs that make people sick.
Bubela says “it’s not just the COVID-19 virus we have to worry about, but also seasonal influenza and gastrointestinal illness that can easily spread from person to person if we let our guard down to risk.
“The safety and wellbeing of our team members is a priority for our hospitals, and therefore we regret our staff is unable to accept homemade prepared food such as Christmas baking and shareable items in gift baskets this holiday season. We hope you can understand why this is necessary.
“We are truly touched that grateful patients and/or their caregivers want to show their appreciation this holiday season.
“Perhaps the best way you can show our team your love is to give the gift of better local health care by supporting our foundations that work tirelessly to raise money for our much-needed capital equipment and technology needs.
She suggests both foundations have specific giving programs that allow you to honour a hospital hero by making a tribute gift in their honour.
Consider the Huntsville Hospital Foundation “Hospital Heroes” giving program: https://huntsvillehospitalfoundation.ca/heroes/ or the South Muskoka Hospital Foundation “Health Care Heroes” giving program: www.healthmuskoka.ca/givetoday
Bubela adds that MAHC is doing likewise in thanking staff by foregoing their annual Christmas dinner and dance, and staff have organized the “12 Days of MAHC-Mas” events, including a $5 “downtown dollars” voucher for Huntsville or Bracebridge to support local business and encourage each team member to stay local, shop local.
NEW OB-GYN STAFF:
Meanwhile, MAHC recently welcomed three new obstetrical care providers — two family medicine providers and one midwife — who are offering community prenatal care in Muskoka and obstetrical care services at the local hospitals.
A welcome move after a few years where giving birth locally was under threat.
At MAHC, obstetrical services are now provided to low-risk women and their families at our Level I hospital sites in Bracebridge and Huntsville.
“Recruiting new providers with obstetrics focus helps to sustain our local obstetrical programs,” says Dr. Sheena Branigan, chief of Obstetrics at MAHC. “It is our goal to ensure families can continue to have their babies in their communities where they can receive safe, high-quality care centred on the needs of the parents to be. A strong medical community and team approach by all providers is key to the best birthing experience close to home. We are delighted to introduce new providers who have joined our team.”
Dr. Erin Fennell is a McMaster University medical grad and recently graduated from Family Medicine Residency at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.
She is a familiar face in Huntsville, having completed the majority of her training locally, and joins the Huntsville Maternity Care Clinic.
Dr. Christopher LaJeunesse graduated with a medical doctorate from Michigan’s Wayne State University School of Medicine in 2015. He completed a Family Medicine Residency at Beaumont Wayne Hospital followed by a Maternal and Newborn Health Fellowship.
He has joined the Cottage Country Family Health Team as a family doctor, and is also providing obstetrical services as a participating practitioner at the South Muskoka Prenatal Clinic located at the Family Doctors on Hiram (Archdekin building) in Bracebridge.
Registered midwife Jocelyn Latter joins the Midwives of Muskoka with hospital privileges at both sites. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Health Sciences/Midwifery from Ryerson University, 2018. She brings recent midwifery experience with prenatal, labour and delivery and postpartum care from Quinte Midwives, including hospital privileges at Quinte Health Care’s Belleville General Hospital and Northumberland Hills in Cobourg.
MAHC is proud to play a key role in delivering #Muskokaborn babies. More information about obstetrical services is available at www.mahc.ca/muskokaborn.
