As winter approaches, the occupational safety and health team wants to remind you to drive safe. Here are a few tips to prepare yourself this winter:

Prepare Your Vehicle

Driving in winter weather, snow, and ice creates a challenge for vehicles and drivers. Since there are a variety of hazards you could encounter while driving for work in the winter, you want to be well-prepared to deal with the unexpected.

• Every vehicle should have a well-stocked winter driving k​it
• Keep the gas tank full
• Keep your vehicle in good repair
• Before the first snowfall or when temperatures drop below 7 degrees Celsius, change over to winter tires

​​Preparing to Drive

Before you leave on your journey, plan your winter driving in advance, and take the time to make sure you and your vehicle are ready.

• Check that your tires are in good condition and your lights are working.
• Check weather conditions and plan your route before you begin driving.
• Inform someone of your route and planned arrival time.
• Avoid driving if you’re fatigued.
• Warm your vehicle before driving. It helps prevent moisture from condensing on the inside of the windows.
• Never warm your vehicle in a closed garage.
• Remove all snow or ice from your vehicle.
• Always wear a seatbelt. It’s designed to prevent injury in case of a collision or sudden change in movement or motion.
• Don’t forget to bring a cell phone; however, don’t leave it in your vehicle. The battery will freeze and it won’t be usable.​

Keys to Safe Driving

These keys to safe driving for work will help keep you safe in the winter months:

• It’s important to use your vehicle lights properly: for many of us, it’s dark when we are driving for work in the early morning and going home at the end of a work day.
• Avoid harsh accelerations and sudden stops to avoid slipping or spinning your tires and potentially losing control of your vehicle.
• Avoid using cruise control
• Leave more distance between you and the driver ahead of you. It’s best to use the 3-4 second rule in the city or the 6-second rule on highways in ideal conditions, which helps you maintain a safe following distance, especially in the winter. When the conditions are poor, leave more space and increase your following distance.
• Remember that posted speed limits are for ideal conditions only. Higher speeds make controlling your vehicle much more difficult.

Emergency Kits

Store the contents in a sturdy, waterproof container or a zippered gear bag for protection. Inspect kits every six months to confirm all the contents are there and check expiry dates on any perishable items to ensure they are still good to use.

Basic Vehicle Emergency Kit:

• high-visibility garment: vest, shirt or jacket with hi-vis trim
• reflective safety triangles or cones
• flashlight with extra batteries
• Basic First Aid Kit
• fire extinguisher
• booster cables
• survival blanket
• whistle
• HELP/OK sign
• warm clothing – hat and gloves
• bottled water
• small gasoline container
• non-perishable high-energy foods ( e.g., trail mix, granola bars)

Additional Contents for Winter or Remote Conditions:

• windshield scraper and snow brush
• gas line antifreeze, windshield de-icer
• candles, waterproof matches and tin for candle
• sand, kitty litter or traction mats
• tire chains
• maps/GPS system
• shovel
• tow strap
• sleeping bag/warm blankets
• winter clothing – gloves, toque, jacket, socks, slush pants
• wheel chocks, extra spare tire
• tools: tire wrench, screw drivers, adjustable wrench, pliers, multifunction knife

November 10-16 is a time to celebrate the vital role Nurse Practitioners (NPs) play in our health care system – especially within Southern Health-Santé Sud! Join us in thanking these dedicated individuals who provide high-quality, people-centred care and help to bridge gaps in access to health services in our communities and improve lives every day!

Please join us in thanking all of our incredible NPs!

Submitted by: Human Resources

A floor made of gym mats, some hoops, cones and a crawling tunnel combine to make the perfect obstacle course for Carla Peters’ pediatric physiotherapy session. With a few play-based materials, children complete the course, all while working on basic skills like balance, mobility and strength.

“Following a child’s lead means we have to be creative and spontaneous in finding ways that we can somehow fit a little bit of our agenda into the child’s needs while they lead us through play,” described Carla Peters, Pediatric Physiotherapist at Boundary Trails Health Centre.

With twenty-five years’ experience, Peters finds creative ways to provide patient-centered care daily to help her younger patients thrive and reach their full potential.

“You usually have to be one step ahead, or in my case, crawl on the floor or swing in swings,” explained Peters with a smile. “The more playful it is, the more willing they are to try and push themselves and that’s where the rehabilitation happens.”

As a pediatric physiotherapist, Peters assesses and treats young patients who live in Winkler, Morden and surrounding communities, from newborns to as old as twenty-one. Peters sees patients with a wide range of conditions, from developmental delays to neurological and musculoskeletal injuries and disorders. Working with the pediatric population, her role spans more than just the physical aspects of physiotherapy, they include supporting the child’s overall development including social and sensory needs.

“I’m continually inspired by the resilience and boundless potential of the children I work with,” shared Peters. “Being able to play a role in enhancing their quality of life and witnessing their joy as they achieve developmental milestones and participate in activities they love – is incredibly fulfilling.”

Peters adds that she too enjoys the games and obstacle courses she designs for her patients, exercising alongside them at work.

Peters’ passion for the job is fueled by the impact of her work. She has witnessed children’s determination first-hand, helping them achieve milestones like a first step after a lower body amputation or participate in extra-curricular activities.

“Everyone deserves the opportunity to lead a fulfilling and active life,” shared Peters. “I have a deeply rooted passion for helping people become the best version of themselves. I’ve always been an encourager and like to be active so this profession is the perfect fit for me.”

Peters works with a team of specialists, including speech language pathologists, audiologists, occupational therapists and rehabilitation assistants. This interdisciplinary team works very closely with families, child development workers, school staff and the rest of the child’s health care team to support them in their journey.

“Working together as a team has made this type of work extra rewarding,” shared Peters. “Especially when it comes to having the stamina and energy to work with kiddos, together we have come up with a library of creative ways to get them to do things they wouldn’t normally do but are beneficial for their progress.”

Peters’ impact extends beyond the walls of Boundary Trails Health Centre, with opportunities to travel and treat kids within their schools, homes and communities, including rural and First Nation communities.

“I’ve learned so much by travelling and meeting new people in different communities. I’ll never be finished learning because there’s always new information and research out there,” explained Peters, who is also part of a clinical best practice group where physiotherapists from across Manitoba meet monthly to exchange ideas and collaborate on innovative care. “You never really arrive. If you can continue to learn both professionally and personally, the rewards are immeasurable.”

Submitted by: Shared Health

EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 25, 2024

Southern Health-Santé Sud is moving to an Online Job Application System

• All candidates must apply online
• Candidates must create online job profiles
• Jobs will be posted Monday through Friday

To apply, visit our website.

Learn How to Create a Job Profile:

Submitted by: Human Resources
For more info. contact: 

October 25, 2024

Second PRI Evaluation Quarterly Report Released

The PRI team has completed and released their second evaluation report. to measure expected benefits associated with PRI. Thank you to the SDOs for your continued participation and support. As a reminder, we are measuring indicators related to:

• Permanent residency and retention
• New arrival’s satisfaction with the PRI processes
• Clinical orientation time-to-complete
• Nurse re-entry program and bridge education time-to-complete

The PRI team would like to remind all SDOs about the importance of submitting their quarterly data.

The overall goal of this ongoing evaluation is to enable informed decision making for future international professional health care provider recruitment, training, and retention initiatives.

Highlights from this quarter’s report:

Candidate Arrival Rates Continue to Grow

The PRI has now welcomed 134 new arrivals, all of which have started work with their SDO employers. We are planning for 18 more candidates to arrive.

Our PRI team is ensuring that all new arrivals are welcomed with open arms at the Winnipeg International Airport. When planning their arrival with the PRI settlement team, many candidates express excitement for beginning their new life in Manitoba.
Looking to earlier stages in the candidate journey, we continue to see progress:

Overall, the average immigration journey from immigration lawyer retainer signature to arrival is 180 days for HCAs and 211 days for IENs.

CCAs are Now Complete

All our IEN and SIEN candidates have completed their Clinical Competence Assessment (CCA). Success rates are 73% for SIENs and 72% for IENs.
University of Manitoba has supported PRI by hosting virtual reality CCA for both IEN and SIENs in Manila, Philippines. We are extremely grateful for their unwavering support thought this process.

Thank you, University of Manitoba!

The Power of Peer Support

Gwen Bico, an IEN/UNE who arrived in December 2023, is working at Health Sciences Centre, and recognizes the importance of providing informal peer support to other PRI new arrivals. She has met with several to share tips and provide words of encouragement about moving to Manitoba. She kindly leant her baby’s car seat so that a new arrival’s family can travel safely from the airport to their new apartment. Gwen has formed a support group with other PRI new arrivals (Sam, Rcae, Raquel, Germaine, and Gillian) to help upcoming arrivals in their own special way. Gwen reflected on how she received support when she arrived and truly believes that “one simple act of kindness creates an endless ripple”, and that paying it forward will help change the way we see things.

At a Glance

• Second PRI Evaluation Quarterly Report Released
• Candidate Arrivals Rates Continue to Grow
• CCAs now Complete
• The Power of Peer Support

Inquiries

Questions on specific activities? Contact the workstream leads:

Clinical Competence Assessment (RN, LPN)
Lisa Merrill

Bridge Education (RN, LPN)
Lisa Merrill

Hiring and Shared Health Immigration Activities
Shelby Turman

Settlement, Onboarding, and Orientation Community Settlement & HR
Shelby Turman

Clinical Onboarding
Lisa Merrill

Communications
Olivia Baldwin or

GoM Intergovernmental Affairs
Sean Hogan
John Simba

GoM Immigration (RN, LN, HCA)
Natalia Hnydyuk
Crystal Everett

Submitted by: Erin Lussier, Shared Health