Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority, in partnership with Manitoba Healthcare Providers Network, is hosting a rotating recruitment roadshow in communities across the region to showcase different health-care professions and job opportunities to students and the public.

Julene Sawatzky, human resources lead with Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority, says the 2023 Discover Health Career Expo gets prospective employees interested in a rewarding career in health care.

 “The goal of the expos are to give the attendees a better understanding of different health professions and connect them with staff working in the field,” says Sawatzky. “Eventually, when these students and members of the public are ready to look for a position, we hope that they consider Interlake-Eastern RHA as an option close to home where they can potentially serve the community they are from.”

The career expo has staff representatives from nursing, paramedics, pharmacy, home care, long term care, diagnostic imaging, occupational therapy and physical therapy. These professionals will talk to attendees about their career choices, how they got there and the benefits to working in their field.

The events are planned between the months of April and June at venues across the region. In addition to these career expos, Interlake-Eastern RHA staff are also attending other community-hosted career events across the region.

Anyone interested in learning about a career in healthcare can attend an expo. High schools have also been invited so students can learn about different health-care professions, what studies they need to take while in high school, employment opportunities available while in school, the schools that offer education programs and the number of years of schooling until people are ready for work.

Interlake-Eastern RHA staff on site at career expos will be able to accept resumés and assist members of the public with applications.

For more information on the career fairs schedule, follow IERHA on Facebook at “Interlake-Eastern Health,” Twitter “Interlake-Eastern RHA,” visit our website at www.ierha.ca/carers/career-fairs or sign up for our careers newsletter by emailing Kathryn Lapenskie, community relations coordinator, at [email protected].

People experiencing difficult or challenging times as a hospital patient or resident of personal care home, or anyone living with serious medical issues can really use compassionate, relationship–based care on their healing journey. In these instances, spiritual care is often seen as an effective means to help in times of illness and vulnerability. To meet the ongoing need for spiritual care throughout the region, Interlake–Eastern Regional Health Authority (IERHA) is offering its Spirit of Caring course this spring to people who are interested in volunteering with the program.

The nine–week program will be offered virtually so registrants will be trained from the comfort of their home. Training will be offered once a week and it covers areas such as understanding suffering and compassion, trauma and crisis, communication and spiritual development. Participants will be able to interact with the program leader, Ferdinand Funk, who is IERHA’s regional spiritual health services coordinator.

“This is a course that will build the capacity and increase self–awareness of the participants to engage in the practice of spiritual care, particularly in changing situations such as might occur in a health-care setting,” says Funk. “We welcome those interested in the spiritual aspect of life in general, and in health care particularly, and with the goal of becoming a spiritual care volunteer with the IERHA. This course prepares volunteers to accompany and support people in a health-care setting in a respectful, caring and compassionate way.”

Prior to joining IERHA, Funk had been a pastor for more than 20 years. He has served as a board member with Bethania Group for four years and for 13 years he was the organization’s director of spiritual care and chaplain.

In addition to helping patients find their peace, inner strength and courage, Funk says training participants often take many other positives away from the experience.

“They gain insight and expand their ability to care for themselves, their colleagues, and the patients and families they serve,” Funk says. “They experience a renewed sense of being part of a health-care community called to care for those in their greatest times of need. We invite all who are interested to learn to walk alongside and support these many patients and residents.”

For more information or to register, please call or email Ferdinand Funk, 204-461-3414 or [email protected]. Please advise if you would like to participate but don’t have the means to connect virtually. Efforts will be made to accommodate all interested participants where possible. Registration deadline is Friday, April 14 with the course to begin on Wednesday, April 19.

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Phone surveyors misrepresenting as Interlake-Eastern RHA affiliates

Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority (RHA) has learned that a resident in the region has received a phone call from an individual misrepresenting himself as a surveyor working on behalf of the Regional Health Authority. The caller had a Vancouver 604 area code. 

The resident said the caller asked for a personal information such as how many times he runs per week and gets exercise, etc. 

Interlake-Eastern RHA does not undertake phone surveys of the public to seek personal health information or details on health conditions and/or exercise.

Members of the public are advised that personal health information should only be discussed with trusted family members and known care providers. Divulging personal health information over the phone to unknown callers is not advised at any time. This includes providing information about health conditions, providing Manitoba Health card information and offering any details about medications being taken.

If you should receive any calls from individuals identifying they are from or working with Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority, or from any other organization/company, and if that call leads to requests to divulge personal health information, please hang up immediately.

You can advise the RCMP of this fraudulent activity by calling the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or visiting www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca and clicking on the tab “Report fraud”.

Those experiencing difficult and challenging times as a hospital patient, resident of personal care home, and  other serious medical issues can really use compassionate, relationship–based care on their healing journey.

In these instances, spiritual care is often seen as an effective means to help those in times of illness and vulnerability. To meet the ongoing need for spiritual care throughout the region, Interlake–Eastern Regional Health Authority (IERHA) is offering its Spirit of Caring course this spring.

The virtual nine–week program, that runs once a week, covers areas such as  understanding suffering and compassion, trauma and crisis, communication and spiritual development.

“This is a course that will build the capacity and increase self–awareness of the participants to engage in the practice of spiritual care, particularly in changing situations such as might occur in a health–care setting,” says Ferdinand Funk, regional spiritual health services coordinator of the Interlake–Eastern RHA. “We welcome those interested in the spiritual aspect of life in general, and in health care particularly, and with the goal of becoming a spiritual care volunteer with the IERHA.”

In addition to helping patients find their peace, inner strength and courage, participants often take many other positives away from the experience.

“They gain insight and expand their ability to care for themselves, their colleagues, and the patients and families they serve,” Funk says. “They experience a renewed sense of being part of a health–care community called to care for those in their greatest times of need.”

For more information or to register, please call or email Ferdinand Funk, regional spiritual health services coordinator at Ph. 204-461-3414 or Email: [email protected]

Registration deadline is April 5, 2023.

“It is a course that prepares volunteers to accompany and support people in a health care setting in a respectful, caring and compassionate way,” Funk adds. “We invite all who are interested to learn to walk alongside and support these many patients and residents.”

Camp Stepping Stones will be back in person from June 2 to 4 and is looking for volunteers and campers! This camp is geared for kids aged seven to 17 who have recently lost a parent or somebody close to them.

Volunteers create a safe environment for kids to explore their grief alongside other youth who are also grieving.

“I have been volunteering at camp nine years. It is very rewarding seeing the kids push through such adversity that realistically most adults haven’t even experienced,” says Terry Burgoyne who has volunteered for over nine years at Camp Stepping Stones. He is a manager of learning and development at a grain company and will be volunteering again this year.

“When I first started volunteering I lost three of my grandparents in one-year period. It was comforting to be with people who were experiencing something similar to what I was going through,”

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer can fill out an application form that is available at https://www.ierha.ca/programs-services/palliative-care/camp-stepping-stones/

Different volunteer options are available, such as serving as cabin leaders and helping with activities.

In addition to volunteers, Camp is also still accepting applications for campers are also available at https://www.ierha.ca/programs-services/palliative-care/camp-stepping-stones/

“Volunteers are welcome to come for the weekend or for a few hours,” said Barb Ramsay, Palliative Care Volunteer Coordinator. “We are especially looking for volunteers to do sewing of pillows for a few hours on Saturday, June 3.”

For more information, contact Barb at [email protected], 1-855-494-7369 or 204-785-7542 or visit: https://www.ierha.ca/programs-services/palliative-care/camp-stepping-stones/

Workers are onsite now preparing the land for construction of the new addition.

During the project, delivery of health services will not be impacted. We are now starting the phase of construction that affects parking.

The west parking lot will be unavailable for the duration of the project.

A limited number of priority parking spots will be available at the southern part of the clinic, accessible off of Steenson Ave. We will be constructing a new parking lot to the south of the facility. Clearing on this site for the new parking lot will begin next week. This will require removal of trees from the vacant lot. Our landscape plans will see us planting more trees on hospital grounds.

Over the next few weeks we anticipate increased street parking. Once complete, the additional parking lot will accommodate more parking on hospital grounds.

We appreciate your cooperation and understanding during the construction period while we work to expand the hospital’s services. If you have questions or concerns, please contact us at [email protected].

An early morning drive from Arborg area to Selkirk through thick ice fog has ended with the first birth of the year at Selkirk Regional Health Centre in Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority.

Wanda and Samuel Wipf welcomed their fifth child, Zachary Don, at 9:05 a.m. on Wednesday, January 4.

He weighed 6 lbs,, 11 oz and is 21.5” long.

“He’s the smallest one yet,” said Wanda, comparing him to his siblings Noah, 9; Logan, 7; Lindsay, 6; and Jackson, 3.

Zachary will be welcomed with open arms by his brothers and sister who are at home with their grandma at Broad Valley Colony.

“We sent them a picture this morning and apparently they are hitting the ceiling,” said Samuel.

The birth was attended by Dr. Margaret Speer. This was Wanda’s fourth birth at Selkirk Regional Health Centre where she says she has always been treated very good. The couple said everyone is very helpful and they have always been  welcomed at the health centre.

During their stay in the obstetrics unit, Betty Milkowski, president of the Selkirk Regional Health Centre’s Ladies Auxiliary, visited the Wipf family to celebrate Zachary’s arrival. She presented them with a new play pen, diapers, sleepers and toys on behalf of the auxiliary.

“This is such a wonderful way for us to start the year,” said Milkowski.

Clinical team manager for the obstetrics unit, Jamie Brown, said they are pleased that the Wipf family has made Selkirk Regional Health Centre their preferred location for their deliveries.

“We are very proud of our obstetrics unit and the team that works to provide care. It is our pleasure to help families get off to a great start! For those who are interested, we do offer epidurals. We encourage anyone interested in delivering with us to call the health centre at 204-482-5800 to learn more and arrange a tour of the unit,” said Brown.

In 2022, there were 397 births at Selkirk Regional Health Centre which is Interlake-Eastern RHA’s birthing centre.

Hunters Reminded of Mandatory Sampling Requirements

Manitoba Natural Resources and Northern Development advises two additional cases of deer infected with chronic wasting disease (CWD) have been detected in Manitoba. Read more: Province of Manitoba | News Releases | Province Advises Of Additional Actions to Help Prevent Spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (gov.mb.ca)

Eriksdale hospital open for admissions, ED services slated to resume next month

Interlake-Eastern RHA reminds residents that Eriksdale’s 13-bed E.M. Crowe Hospital remains open for inpatient admissions, the community’s two physicians continue to see patients five days per week at Eriksdale Clinic and plans are on track to reopen the community’s emergency department next month.

Read more from Shared Health here: Eriksdale hospital open for admissions, emergency department services slated to resume next month – Shared Health (sharedhealthmb.ca)

Pine Falls Primary Care Clinic CLOSED Sun., Dec. 4 due to unexpected illness.

Please call Selkirk’s Quick Care Clinic for a same day appointment.
Phones answered at 9:30 a.m.
204-482-4399
In the event of a medical emergency, call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number.
We apologize for this inconvenience.

Virtual memory trees offer a place to mourn loss of loved ones

This year, Interlake-Eastern RHA’s palliative care program is providing a number of ways to honour people who have passed away.

To submit your virtual memory tree submission, click here.

Messages submitted will be posted on the virtual memory tree webpage.