Visit https://engagemb.ca/health-cards to vote for your preferred design. Act soon as the poll closes Sunday, Sept. 29.

Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority (RHA) hosted the 2024 Family Medicine Resident Retreat in Gimli September 20 to 22 to showcase the region’s many practice and lifestyle opportunities.

In total, 110 first- and second-year family medicine physician residents attended the event planed by their colleagues to participate in education presentations, explore the area with their families and rekindle relationships with their classmates.

“The weekend would not be a success without the help of our local communities who understand the value of investing in this retreat to help with physician recruitment in our rural communities. Thank you for your sponsorship,” says Interlake-Eastern RHA chief medical officer Dr. Charles Penner. “A special thank you to the individuals who represented their communities, who handed out the welcome baskets and who extended a warm welcome to these young doctors to start their weekend off right.”

The weekend included a variety of tourist, social and educational events with a focus on rural practice and rural living. Among educational sessions offered were family practice, physician wellness, suturing, rural emergency medicine and Indigenous health. A special thank you to physicians practicing in Interlake-Eastern RHA who took time to speak to residents and attend the job fair. Hosting the resident retreat rotates among rural regional health authorities. The last time Interlake-Eastern RHA hosted the was in September 2019. As a result of the overwhelmingly warm welcome young physicians receive from communities as well as physicians practising in the health region who offer training opportunities combined with the work of the RHA, 14 former University of Manitoba family medicine residents have started practising in the region. That’s more than the region has been able to attract in the past. These doctors could have started their practices anywhere in Canada or abroad but they chose Interlake-Eastern RHA.

Thank you to the following communities who supported the event:

• Lake Manitoba First Nation
• Local Government District of Pinawa
• Rural Municipality of Alexander
• Rural Municipality of Arborg
• Rural Municipality of Coldwell
• Rural Municipality of Fisher
• Rural Municipality of Gimli
• Rural Municipality of Reynolds
• Rural Municipality of Rosser
• Rural Municipality of St. Clements
• Rural Municipality of St. Laurent
• Rural Municipality of Springfield
• Rural Municipality of West Interlake
• Rural Municipality of Whitemouth
• Town of Arborg
• Town of Lac du Bonnet
• Town of Powerview-Pine Falls
• Town of Stonewall
• Town of Teulon
• Town of Winnipeg Beach

Eighteen inpatient beds are now open at Selkirk Regional Health Centre’s new inpatient unit with 12 more beds to open by November. Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority (IERHA) staff, community members and construction partners joined to celebrate the formal opening of the 30 bed inpatient expansion on September 13.

“After years of cuts, our government understood adding beds and staff to the health care system was the first priority. ​These beds will free up space in Selkirk’s wards and reduce access blocks in the emergency department, which will in turn reduce wait times for families,” said Minister of Health, Seniors and Long Term Care Uzoma Asagwara. “Funding a bed is only part of the solution, we have to staff it as well. I want to thank the front line workers and IERHA staff who helped us open this new unit and welcome the patients.” 

IERHA CEO Marion Ellis acknowledged the people who worked to bring this project to fruition.

“Completed ahead of schedule, this inpatient expansion project is a credit to everyone involved from planning through to completion,” said Ellis. “Expansion of Selkirk Regional Health Centre will help us better meet the needs of residents across the health region and health system.”

Ellis acknowledged Interlake Eastern Health Foundation and Selkirk gift shop volunteers for their ongoing contributions to supporting patient care.

“It’s our collective privilege to be in a position to offer care to people when it’s needed. We remain grateful for the community support that we receive,” Ellis said.

In addition to the 28,627 square foot inpatient expansion, the project also included enlargement of the health centre’s emergency department waiting room.

BACKGROUND

Selkirk Regional Health Centre Inpatient Unit Addition

The new 30 bed inpatient unit and emergency department expansion are improving Interlake-Eastern RHA’s ability to care for patients across the region and health system.

Inpatient Addition

• 28,627 sq. ft. single storey addition
• Two new wings (medicine 3 and 4) comprising 30 new inpatient rooms in total
  • private rooms with washrooms
  • two bariatric isolation rooms
  • therapy tub room
  • central care stations with satellite workstations for staff
  • increased support services and physician space
• Medicine 3 opened September 3
• Medicine 4 scheduled to open in November

Emergency department waiting room expansion

• Two new treatment rooms and one new treatment station have been created
• Waiting room has been expanded

Manitobans will see cost savings with the introduction of no-cost coverage of prescription birth control, beginning Tuesday, Oct. 1, Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara announced today.

Read the provincial news release

Hot weather has arrived in Manitoba. Individuals who are elderly, living alone or with compromised health will benefit from a regular check-in during times of high heat.  

All Manitobans can take care to prevent heat illness by:

• drinking plenty of liquids, especially water, before feeling thirsty;
• avoiding prolonged sun exposure;
• cancelling outdoor activities or rescheduling them to cooler times of the day;
• taking more breaks and staying well hydrated if working outdoors;
• wearing loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing and a wide-brimmed hat;
• limiting alcohol consumption;
• blocking sun out at home during the day by closing awnings, curtains or blinds;
• taking a cool shower or bath; or 
• going to a cool place such as a mall, community centre, public library or place of worship. 

Read more

Enjoy the outdoors safely this summer:

Water safety

Always wear a life jacket when boating. Some beaches have life jacket loaner stations and three provincial parks: Birds Hill, Grand Beach (West Beach) and Winnipeg Beach have beach safety officers. Read more: Province of Manitoba | News Releases | Manitoba Government Supports Beach Safety Officers, Encourages Manitobans to Stay Safe This Summer

Heat and Your Health

During hot weather, be sure to monitor yourself and others for heat related illness: Heat and Your Health | Health | Province of Manitoba (gov.mb.ca)

Know where to go when injury or illness hits:

Emergency Care

In the event of emergency, always call 911.

Looking for emergency department near you? Check the schedules:

Clinics are open extended hours

QuickCare Clinic in Selkirk

Located at:
Selkirk Crossing
Across from Boston Pizza
#3-1020 Manitoba Avenue

The Selkirk QuickCare Clinic provides same day services by appointment. You can call for an appointment starting at 9:30 am. To book your same day appointment, call  204-482-4399.

Hours: Open everyday including weekends.*
More information: QuickCare Clinic (ierha.ca)

Winnipeg Beach Primary Care Clinic

Located at: 54-60 Main St, Unit J, Winnipeg Beach

Hours: Monday – Friday 9:00am – 4:00pm*

(closed for lunch, Noon – 1:00pm)

9:30am – 4:30pm, weekends and holidays (closed for lunch, Noon – 1:00pm)*

Phone: 204-389-3649 to make an appointment.

Grand Marais Primary Health Care Clinic

Located at: Grand Marais Community Central & RV Park (36058, PTH 12)

EXTENDED HOURS:

9:00am to 4:00pm on weekends and holidays. Walk-ins welcome during extended hours. On weekends and holidays only call 204-754-8372 (phones not monitored on weekdays)*

*Hours are subject to change. For the latest hours, please visit: Find Us and select “Clinics.”

The construction of the new state of the art Ashern Lakeshore General Hospital 26 private room inpatient unit expansion is on track for targeted completion at the end of the year with the first patients seen in the new wing sometime in February 2025.

As part of this expansion project, a new room for patients and visitors to gather called “All Are Relations” is being added. This room has a wall for a mural that will provide a welcoming environment for patients and their families.

“One of the ways people can feel at ease in health care facilities is through surroundings that represent who they are,” says Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority Indigenous health lead Adam Sanderson. “It is hoped that the feature wall at Ashern’s Lakeshore General Hospital will reflect local communities, the place of spirituality in the healing journey and be inclusive in its presentation.”

The artwork would need to be approximately 7’ high by 18’ wide and should reflect one or more of the following themes:

• Health, Healing and Wellness
• Nature
• Indigenous culture/history
• Local culture/history of surrounding communities
• Truth and Reconciliation
  
  

Interested indigenous artists who would like to be considered to commission the mural are invited to submit an application at https://www.ierha.ca/about-us/community-involvement/indigenous-health/truth-and-reconciliation-day/ashern-lakeshore-general-hospital-indigenous-mural-submission/

Deadline for applications is August 30, 2024.

Reduce your risk of tick bites and disease exposure by:

• applying an appropriate tick repellent on exposed skin and clothing, following label directions;
• wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts;
• tucking in clothing to create a barrier;
• staying to the centre of walking trails;
• inspecting yourself, children and pets after spending time outdoors;
• removing ticks as soon as possible from people and pets, using tweezers; and
• keeping grass and shrubs around homes cut short to create drier environments that are less suitable for tick survival.

Read more: Province of Manitoba | News Releases | Manitobans Urged to be Vigilant During Tick Season (gov.mb.ca)

The 24-hour crisis line (204-482-5419 and  1-866-427-8628) will be out of service (for a short period up to 30 minutes) at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 29 while MTS moves the 24 hour crisis line phones to their new location. Users will hear a dial tone, busy signal, or “phone not in service.” This is a result of the move of mental health services from 446 Main St. location to the second floor of the Selkirk Community Health Office at 237 Manitoba Ave, in Selkirk. If you need to access a crisis line during this time, please contact Klinic’s 24-hour crisis line at 1-888-322-3019. We apologize for the inconvenience.

June is here, and it’s time to celebrate love, acceptance, and the beautiful diversity of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community. The acronym 2SLGBTQQIA+ represents those who are two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, and all other sexual orientations and genders.

These terms and acronyms may be used differently by individuals in various ways depending on how they identify and the context. People will also have different understandings of their identity and it is up to individuals to decide what their identity means to them. If you are unsure of how someone identifies, asking which pronouns they use is respectful and good practice.

Pride Month is not just a time for parades and parties—it’s a powerful reminder of the ongoing fight for equality and recognition.

Want to learn how you can support diversity and inclusivity?

Check out these resources from Shared Health:

Becoming an Ally – HM (sharedhealthmb.ca)

Pronouns, 2SLGBTQQIA+ & Health Care Leading Practice Guide

Genderdiversity poster (8.5 × 11 in) (sharedhealthmb.ca)

Pronoun Poster (sharedhealthmb.ca)

Becoming an ally (sharedhealthmb.ca)

May 19-25 is Paramedic Services Week. IERHA acknowledges the paramedics and their team members who are providing life-saving care during medical emergencies every day in our region. Thank you for your service!

On May 15, the Manitoba government proclaimed May 19-25 Paramedic Services Week

Read more about this week on sharedhealthmb.ca

On Friday, May 3, Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority (IERHA) welcomed 23 medical students from the University of Manitoba with a meal at Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site. 

Interlake-Eastern RHA based physicians, Dr. Ian Alexander (family physician and IERHA’s Regional Family Medicine Specialty Lead), Dr. Stewart Nadurak (IERHA family medicine resident) and Dr. Jade Young (family physician), spoke with students about their respective practices and answered questions with the intent of sparking interest in family practice in Interlake-Eastern RHA.

The students were part of Rural Interest Group (RIG) – a gathering of first and second year medical students who have a specific interest in learning more about rural medicine and rural lifestyles. RIG is supported by the university and two to three times a year, students travel to IERHA to meet rural physicians and experience rural Manitoba. RIG trips are among Interlake-Eastern’s recruitment initiatives as these encounters promote rural practice options among upcoming doctors.

Following dinner, students checked into the hotel in Selkirk and prepared for an early start on Saturday morning at Selkirk Regional Health Centre. Students were split into groups to rotate through four clinical interactive stations. Dr. Phoebe Thiessen (family physician and the IERHA’s Regional Medical Obstetrics Lead) walked students through the obstetrical and gynecology station; Dr. Nadurak showed students the ultrasound station; Dr. Alexander the intubation/airway station; and Dr. Rita Costa (IERHA family medicine resident), the suturing station. Following the rotations, students joined the physicians for an engaging question and answer period. The day wrapped up with a tour of Selkirk Regional Health Centre hosted by Dr. Ian Alexander.

Students expressed appreciation for the opportunity to interact with experienced physicians and for the learning opportunities. A few indicated they would have liked to have had more time exploring Selkirk. According to Pamela Robertson, IERHA’s physician recruiter, the feedback is heartening for physicians who invest in making RIG a worthwhile venture for students.

“Our sincere thanks to Dr. Costa, Dr. Nadurak and Dr. Alexander and his team for spending time with the students,” says Robertson. “Dr. Young travelled from Eriksdale to have dinner with this group and Dr. Phoebe Thiessen provided support throughout the day. We look forward to next year’s RIG trip!”

Community members who want to get involved in rural physician recruitment and who have suggestions on destinations or events for students or residents, please contact Pamela Robertson, physician recruitment at [email protected]

Allied health teams support care in every corner of Manitoba and touch the lives of nearly every Manitoba family. The unique skills and diverse roles of allied health professionals cover the full range of preventive, diagnostic, treatment, and technical services, supporting Manitobans at every stage of their care journey.

Audiologist in Beausejour serves Interlake-Eastern communities

Read the full article on sharedhealthmb.ca