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Mass Notifications from Southern Health-Santé Sud using Rave Alert

Southern Health-Santé Sud is now using a new mass notification system called RAVE Alert. This program will be used to notify staff of situations that may be dangerous in the area they live or work. It also has capabilities to ask staff to assist a site that needs assistance due to a mass casualty event or evacuations due to an emergency.

The emergency alerts would be sent from the following:

Any messages coming from these sources are not spam. They could be system tests or alerts notifying staff of an emergency situation.

The Rave Alert system uses QHR/QSS to determine the staff’s work location, location of residence, phone numbers and email addresses. Regional program staff and those who work at multiple sites may not have their work place reflected as a specific location.

Staff that are wanting to receive alerts for specific locations that are outside their work location and/or residence can opt in to receive alerts for any community you would like.

To receive alerts, ensure all contact information are correct in QHR/QSS and opt-in to any additional alerts by logging into Rave and selecting the communities you would like captured.

Access Directions on how to opt-in to additional alerts.

Submitted by: Jolene Dayholos, Emergency Preparedness Specialist
Contact Info: C 204-712-6009 | F 204-428-2779 | email

Virtual Emergency Care and Transfer Resource Service

Date effective: December 2, 2024

Please see memo and poster.

Submitted by: Tamara Burnham, Collaborative Practice Lead

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CLINICAL PRACTICE CHANGE: Hematology Body Fluids Testing

Date effective: December 2, 2024

Background Information: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and non-CSF body fluid testing for automated cell count have been validated and in use across Manitoba Hematology Laboratory sites beginning in November 2023 with the introduction of updated Sysmex CBC analyzers. Effective December 2 2024, the new middleware platform (CaresphereWS) will be fully integrated into body fluid processing.

Clinical Practice Change:

  • All Serous and Peritoneal Dialysate fluids for Cell Count will be performed only by automation.
    • Minimum Volume of 500uL (0.5mL)
  • Reporting units are standardized:
    • Automated WBC/TNC x 10^6/L
    • Manual WBC/RBC x 10^6/L
    • Automated RBC x 10^12/L
    • Note: x10^6/L is equivalent to #/uL
  • Absolute differential values will be included in the patient report and reported at x 10^6/L
  • Introduction of new Critical Values of non-CSF fluids recommended by the Emergency Room (ER) and Nephrology clinical user groups:
    • Synovial – Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) >50,000 x 10^6/L
    • Peritoneal – ANC >250 x 10^6/L
    • Peritoneal Dialysate (also known as Dialysis fluid, peritoneal dialysis effluent) –
      WBC >100 x 10^6/L together with Neutrophil % >50 %
  • CSF Critical Values remain unchanged.
  • Stability, sample requirements, and reference ranges remain unchanged.

References/Resources: Please refer to the Laboratory Information Manual (LIM)
CSF: Lab Information Manual Serous: Lab Information Manual Synovial: Lab Information Manual

Patient Impact:

  • Immediate alert of clinically defined critical results to ensure prompt recognition of possible septic peritonitis/arthritis.

System Improvements:

  • Standardization of lab processing through automation
  • Improved laboratory workflow with middleware integration and streamlined registration processes
  • Real time data review and interlaboratory support

Contact Information:

Andrew Hartel, Provincial Technical Director, Hematology, Shared Health
Email
204-599-3275

Dr. Ping Sun, Provincial Medical Director, Hematology, Shared Health
Email
204-787-4682

Submitte by: Tamara Burnham, Collaborative Practice Lead

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Kangaroo OMNI Virtual Education Session

This video is applicable to all nursing staff that will be using the Kangaroo OMNI Enteral feeding Pump. It is 37 minutes long and addresses how to program and load the feeding pump.

New Grad Day for Nurses March 14, 2025

Registration Now Open! New Grad Day for Nurses, March 14, 2025

Are you a nurse who graduated within the last 12-18 months? Are you doing your senior practicum?

Don’t miss this chance to learn tips, tools and techniques to successfully transition into the workplace during your independent practice.

Ask your manager about attending and join us for this inspiring and informative day.

Managers, supervisors and educators of new nursing grads are also welcome.

Poster

New Grad Day for Nurses 2025 – WRHA Professionals

Register

Submitted by: Debbie Rigaux, Director Health Services, Staff Development, Infection Prevention and Control

Purchased Agency Salaries Report – October 2024

The Purchased Agency Salaries Report for September 2024 is now available on the ‘Leadership – Regional Leadership Team and Managers’ CWS under Project Initiatives titled “Purchased Agency Salaries Report“. Only members with access to this Collaborative Worksite will be able to open this file.

Submitted by:  Danielle Dupuis, Director – Financial Reporting
For more info. contact:  T 204-424-6037 or email

Changes to Bell Mobility Daily Roaming Packages

Digital Shared Services is working with Bell Mobility on changes to our corporate cellular roaming package. In the coming weeks, we will be changing from a usage-based model to a flat daily roaming package. This offers staff more convenience and flexibility when roaming with corporate devices.

Our new roaming packages are $13/day when roaming in the United States, and $16/day when roaming in all other international destinations. The rate includes voice, text messaging and data usage.

No action is required by employees to enable travel plans on corporate devices – roaming rates are applied automatically as the device is used outside of Canada.

Bell Mobility expects all billing accounts to be transitioned to the daily roam package by January 1st, 2025. During the transition period, if you would like to confirm whether you have been migrated to the daily roam package, please submit a request via email prior to your travel.

Staff should only be using their corporate devices for roaming while travelling on official Shared Health or Health Authority business.

Submitted by: Finance

Important: All Staff Required to Complete Mandatory Accessibility Training by December 20, 2024

Just a reminder regarding the Mandatory Accessibility Training!!

Please see the poster regarding Mandatory Accessibility Training for All Staff. Posters can be added to billboards in your staff areas.

Access the training module.

Submitted by: Jennifer Frey, Regional Lead – Human Resources
Contact Info: Cell 204-371-1157 | Email

Purchased Agency Salaries Report – September 2024

The Purchased Agency Salaries Report for September 2024 is now available on the ‘Leadership – Regional Leadership Team and Managers’ CWS under Project Initiatives titled “Purchased Agency Salaries Report“. Only members with access to this Collaborative Worksite will be able to open this file.

Submitted by:  Danielle Dupuis, Director – Financial Reporting
For more info. contact:  T 204-424-6037 or email

Drug Shortage: hydrALAZINE 20 mg/mL (1mL) injection

TO: Physician, Nursing and Pharmacy Staff

hydrALAZINE 20 mg/ mL (1 mL) injection supply from the sole manufacturer is on back order; inventory will deplete prior to its return without conservation.

Effective immediately, restrict the use of hydrALAZINE injection for use in patients when there are no other therapeutic alternatives or when other alternatives have not been effective.

  • Oral hydrALAZINE is freely available and should be used in all situations when the patient can tolerate the oral route.
  • Potential formulary alternatives to hydrALAZINE injection that should be considered, if clinically appropriate for the patient and oral hydralazine is not an option, include:
    • Sublingual alternatives: captopril or clonidine (regular tablets will disperse within 1 minute in mouth – contact pharmacy for more information); nitroglycerin sublingual spray or tablets
    • Parenteral alternatives: labetalol, esmolol, or enalaprilat. In critical care, IV hydrALAZINE should only be used when other parenteral alternatives are contraindicated or when other alternatives have not been effective.

Should hydrALAZINE stock become depleted, each pharmacy department will circulate site specific communication.

Thank you for your support of the ongoing efforts to manage drug supply issues.

Submitte by: Regional Pharmacy
For more info. contact: your site pharmacy or Rizwan Ahmed or Libby Gair

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