PRHC Emergency Department Pressured With Max Bed Capacity and Staffing Shortages; Urge Patients to See Other Clinics If Possible

The Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) is experiencing heavy pressure having to operate with staff shortages, deal with constant maximum in-patient capacity and have COVID-19 outbreaks announced in a Zoom conference on Thursday morning.

There were 191 patients admitted to PRHC on July 17 which is considered a high number. Photo by Luke Best.

Dr. Lynn Mikula, chief medical executive and chief of staff issued says the pressure has been ongoing for a number of months that preceded the pandemic but COVID-19 has made the situation more serious.

“We are seeing higher patient acuity meaning that more people who come to the emergency department (ED) are sick enough to need admission to the hospital,” she said.

On July 17, PRHC reported that 191 patients needed to be admitted which is a high number according to Dr. Mikula. She continued saying last month would on average take a person eight hours from entering the ED to departure.

Dr. Mikula urges incoming patients to seek other forms of medical attention that can be treated outside the ED if possible but PRHC will not redirect patients if they deem an ED trip is not necessary.

She suggests using Telehealth Ontario to triage the severity of a condition to go to the emergency room or seek an alternative form such as a family doctor, walk-in clinic or virtual clinic.

“As a general rule of thumb, I think people know if they’re really ill,” she said. “If it’s a more mild condition that you would see your family doctor for, even if you can’t reach your family doctor, explore some of those other options.”

When questioned if Monkeypox has played a role in the contributing pressure, Dr. Mikula said it was an ‘evolving situation,’ they are not yet affected but will notify the public if and when it does.

PRHC has been dealing with staff shortages, especially in the nursing department but is also hiring ‘basically everybody’ according to Dr. Mikula. Roles include technologists, allied health staff and environmental and accountants.

As of June 2022, PRHC had a total of 275 vacancies with a 9.25 per cent vacancy rate for all hospital positions according to Michelene Ough, PRHC director of communications.

“Like other hospitals, we also have ongoing staffing shortages, said Dr. Mikula. “This has required us to focus our limited ED resources where they are most needed. The hospital is very full, operating at or above 100 per cent of its in-patient bed capacity.

On June 5, 2019, the provincial government imposed Bill 124 that wage-suppressed healthcare workers to only a one percent increase over three years. Dr. Mikula suggests that the bill partially affected the shortage but says they need a whole “coordinated system response” to help rectify the problem.

COVID-19 has been a contributing factor to the occupied bed capacity. PRHC reported an outbreak from two patients as of Wednesday and holds 18 people total who are infected with the infamous virus.

Dr. Mukula assured the public that PRHC is prepared in case of another COVID-19 wave or strain hits Peterborough.

“We continue to have our incident management system monitor COVID-19, meet regularly, look at the infection control measures and the other measures that we have in place. We’re ready to scale them up if needed,” she said. “I would say if that’s one thing the last two years have taught us, it’s that we need to be prepared to manage another wave at any time and there are a lot of people who are predicting another wave in the fall so ready and we’re waiting.”

PRHC stated they have explored several recruitment avenues such as the international nurse graduate program to help fill the void. They have been actively recruiting nurses during their pressured months.

“The problem is that every other hospital in Ontario is doing exactly the same thing so we’re all basically competing now for a limited pool but not only nurses but technologists and all the other support staff,” said Dr. Mukula.

Last fall, the federal government imposed mandatory vaccines for healthcare workers at the risk of losing their jobs for anyone failing to comply.

Mukula estimated over 95 per cent of healthcare workers were vaccinated at the time of the mandate and PRHC enforces a policy where all current employees are vaccinated.

“That is not one of the factors that have landed us in the staffing shortages situation we are facing today,” said Dr. Mukula.

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Peterborough Public Health Holds First Monkeypox Vaccine Clinic

Beginning Aug. 5, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Peterborough Public Health (PPH) is hosting the first Monkeypox vaccine clinic at the Sexual Health Clinic announced on Wednesday.

Stock photo.

Eligible residents will be provided with a single dose of Imvamune as a Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). The clinic is not intended for close contact with a confirmed or probable case of monkeypox according to PPH. Residents who think they might be a close contact are advised to immediately call their health care provider or Peterborough Public Health to report their status and receive guidance.

Appointments can be booked by calling the Sexual Health Clinic at 705-748-2021 on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Walk-ins are not accepted at this time.

“The World Health Organization now describes Monkeypox as a public health emergency of international concern,” said Dr. Thomas Piggott, Medical Officer of Health. “Peterborough Public Health encourages all eligible members of the gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men community who are at high receive protection through vaccination before exposure.”

There have been 326 confirmed cases of monkeypox in Ontario since Monday according to PPH. Peterborough Public Health has had two confirmed cases during that time.

The vaccine may prevent monkeypox infection or prevent the development of severe symptoms as stated in the press release. Currently, there is a limited supply of Imvamune® in Ontario.

Eligibility:

Anyone over 18 who meets the requirements, has not received a COVID-19 vaccine within the past four weeks and at least one of the following is eligible for the vaccine:

• Have received a diagnosis of bacterial STI (i.e., chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis) in the past two months

• Have had two or more sexual partners within the past 21 days or may be planning to

• Have attended venues for sexual contact within the past 21 days (i.e., bath houses, sex clubs) or may be planning to or who work/volunteer in these settings

• Have had anonymous sex in the past 21 days (e.g., using hookup apps) or may be planning to

• Engage in sex work or may be planning to and their sexual contacts

Residents who are immunocompromised, pregnant, or breastfeeding may be at higher risk for severe illness from a Monkeypox infection. These residents should contact a Public Health Nurse at 705-743-1000, ext. 131 for consideration of PrEP if they are at risk of contracting Monkeypox.

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COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics For Children Aged 6 Months To 5 Years Will Be Available By July 28

Starting July 28, the provincial booking system will have appointments available for children aged 6 months to 5 years, enabling parents and caregivers to book a local appointment for their children’s first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

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On July 21 the province announced that administration of the Moderna Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine will be available in Ontario for all children aged 6 months to 5 years.

Residents are encouraged to review the PPH immunization schedule and clinic calendar for updates on eligibility and appointment availability at peterboroughpublichealth.ca/vaccineclinics. Residents can book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment:

• Online at covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine/ OR

• Over the phone by calling the provincial vaccine booking call centre at 1-833-943-3900

Dedicated “family-friendly” vaccination clinics for children aged 6 months to 5 years will be offered at Peterborough Square (340 George St. N. in Units 36 and 37). Free two-hour underground parking is available for residents attending the clinic.

Residents over the age of 5 will not be able to receive a COVID-19 vaccine during designated paediatric clinics. Two doses separated by 8 weeks for each dose is recommended, unless children have immunocompromising conditions in which case three doses is recommended.

PPH recommends this group begin their vaccination series as soon as possible to have higher protection heading into the fall. At this time for 6 month to 5 years it is recommended that no other vaccine, unless urgently required should be given within 14 days of receiving a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

For more information about the youth COVID-19 vaccine, please visit the Peterborough Public Health youth and COVID19 vaccine webpage.

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Peterborough Public Health Says Receiving A Fourth Dose Of COVID-19 Vaccine Is A Personal Choice

Amid the 7th wave of COVID, Dr. Thomas Piggott with Peterborough Pubic Health, has issued a statement noting young and healthy individuals have a personal decision to make about receiving their 4th dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

On Wednesday the Ontario Government announced that eligibility for COVID-19 second booster doses now applied to anyone over 18.

In a press conference on Thursday Dr. Piggott announced that while fourth doses are most critical for older adults or those with medical conditions, those who are younger (18-59) and healthy now have a personal decision to make about receiving their fourth dose.

“We are yet again into a new COVID-19 wave in this continued pandemic,” said Dr. Piggott. “We know that staying up-to-date with your COVID-19 vaccines is the best tool for protecting yourself and those around you from the COVID-19 virus. If you are 12 or older and haven’t had your third dose, it is strongly recommended for you.”

Dr. Piggott noted that in addition to vaccines, other preventions include continuing to wear a tightly fitting (KN95/N95 style) mask, staying home when sick and gathering in well ventilated indoor air spaces or outdoors. He also encouraged residents to check the Local COVID-19 Risk Index weekly.

For more information about COVID-19 vaccine eligibility, upcoming vaccine clinics, and booking a vaccine appointment visit www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca/vaccineclinics.

To see the Peterborough Public Health Local COVID-19 Risk Index: https://www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca/covid-19-risk-index/

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Ontarians Aged 18+ Eligible for Second Booster Shot

The Ontario government is expanding eligibility for second booster doses to Ontarians aged 18 and over, announced on Wednesday.

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Beginning on Thursday at 8 a.m., eligible individuals can book an appointment through the COVID-19 vaccination portal or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900.

Eligible individuals can also book an appointment directly through public health units that use their own booking systems, through Indigenous-led vaccination clinics and participating pharmacies. Appointments are based on availability, which may vary by region.

Second booster doses are being offered at an interval of five months after an individual receives their first booster dose.

In a press release, the Ontario Government stated that while most individuals aged 18 to 59 years old will continue to have strong protection more than six months after their first booster dose, expanding second booster dose eligibility will ensure that Ontarians can make an informed decision based on their personal circumstances.

A new bivalent COVID-19 vaccine is anticipated to be approved by Health Canada this fall, which may offer more targeted protection against the Omicron variants. Ontarians are encouraged to speak with their health care provider about whether getting a second booster dose now is right for them.

As part of the province’s plan to stay open, Ontario is expanding Ontario’s health care workforce, shoring-up domestic production of critical supplies and investing more than $40 billion for over 50 major hospital projects that will bring over 3,000 new hospital beds. Since the start of the pandemic, the province has added over 8,600 health care professionals to the health care system with programs in place to recruit thousands more.

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Campbellford Memorial Hospital Welcomes Two New Members To Leadership Team

Campbellford Memorial Hospital (CMH) has announced the addition of two new members of the leadership team, Nicole Wood and Megan McCarrell.

Photo’s courtesy of Campbellford Memorial Hospital.

Wood, previously the Manager of the Inpatient Unit at CMH, will be assuming the role of Vice President of Patient Care and Chief Nursing Officer while McCarrell will take on the role of Emergency Department Manager.

Wood comes to CMH having previously worked at Lakeridge Health in Durham region as well as Northumberland Hills Hospital in Cobourg. She has a wealth of clinical management experience in a variety of settings, including the Emergency Department, Critical Care, Respiratory Therapy, and Inpatient Care. Wood is also a course facilitator at Loyalist College.

“Over the past six months Nicole has demonstrated her unwavering dedication to patient care,” said Interim President/CEO Eric Hanna, “She has been instrumental in the development and implementation of a new set of corporate goals focusing upon quality of care and patient experience. I am thrilled that she has accepted a senior position here at CMH.”

McCarrell also arrives at CMH having previously worked in the GTA where she held management positions in acute care in both obstetrics and the ICU at Markham Stouffville Hospital. In addition to her role as the new Emergency and Operating Room Department Manager, she also assumes leadership of Respiratory Therapy and Professional Practice. McCarrell is also a registered midwife and holds a Master’s Degree in Healthcare Management from the Schulich School of Business.

“We have been seeing unpreceded volumes in our Emergency Department lately, and our physicians and staff have been doing an exemplary job in responding to the needs of our community,” explained CEO Eric Hanna, “Megan’s experience and skill set make her the perfect fit here at CMH and she has already shown herself to be an asset to our team.”

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Campbellford Memorial Hospital No Longer Screening Visitors For COVID-19

Visitors and patients to Campbellford Memorial Hospital (CMH) will no longer need to actively screen for COVID-19 upon entry, as of Thursday.

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Visitors and patients, excluding those seeking care in the Emergency Department, will still need to self-screen prior to entering the hospital and are asked not to attend if they are feeling unwell or experiencing any COVID-19 like symptoms.

Universal masking will still be required in all areas of the hospital, and surgical grade masks will be available upon entry.  Cloth masks are not sufficient. 

While proof of COVID-19 vaccination will no longer be required for visitors, it is still strongly encouraged.

Patients and visitors can enter the hospital through the accessible entrance beside the emergency department, or through the main entrance, which has been closed to the public throughout the pandemic, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday to Friday.  Access to the hospital outside of these hours, including on weekends and holidays, must be made through the Emergency Department.   

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Peterborough Public Health Reminds Residents Of Prohibited Public Smoking and Vaping in City Outdoor Public Spaces

Peterborough Public Health (PPH) has reminded residents and visitors that smoking and vaping are prohibited in area parks, playgrounds, beaches and sports fields announced on Monday.

Photo by Luke Best.

“Everyone deserves to enjoy these beautiful spaces free from exposure to secondhand smoke and vape products,” said Dr. Thomas Piggott, Medical Officer of Health. “Active enforcement of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act and the current bylaw will protect people from being exposed and support anyone who is trying to quit using cannabis and tobacco.”

Smoking or vaping in Peterborough at a park, playground, sports field or beach could result in a fine of up to $305. This includes anyone attending a Peterborough Musicfest concert at Del Crary Park.

“Our partnership with the health unit has been ongoing for several years and is quite successful,” said Tracey Randall, General Manager, Peterborough Musicfest. “We are excited to be back this season offering our concert series throughout July and August once again. As in years past, we want to make sure that the event is safe and enjoyable for everyone, which includes ensuring a smoke and vape-free experience at the park.”

Peterborough Police and Public Health Tobacco Enforcement Officers are enforcing the rules in local parks this summer according to PPH.

PPH says keeping parks smoke and vape-free keep children safe from the harmful effects of tobacco and help denormalize tobacco use. They also help protect the environment from toxic cigarette butts.

Anyone who is exposed to secondhand smoke is encouraged to report the exposure to Peterborough Public Health by calling 705-743-1000 or using the online report form available at PPH’s website and searching for “secondhand smoke.”

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First Case Of Monkeypox Confirmed In Peterborough Area

Peterborough Public Health was notified of a confirmed case of Monkeypox in the region on Wednesday.

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Those who have been in contact with the case have been notified. Contacts of the case are being offered a vaccine as a form of post-exposure prophylaxis.

Monkey pox is a virus that can be spread between animals and humans through close prolonged contact. While monkeypox is in the same family as smallpox, monkeypox presents with much milder symptoms and is less contagious. Symptoms can present within 5-21 days of exposure to someone who has the virus.

Symptoms can include:

- Rash or blister in mouth and around genital areas

- Swollen lymph nodes

- Fever and chills

- Muscle aches

- Headaches

- Exhaustion

Residents who experience symptoms should seek medical attention immediately. While there is no treatment for the virus, symptoms can be managed and individuals typically recover within 2-4 weeks.

“Monkeypox virus has been circulating in Ontario for a few weeks now. We did anticipate it would arrive in our region and we are prepared to support case and contact efforts,” said Dr. Thomas Piggott, Medical Officer of Health. “Monkeypox is not easily spread between people, however, we do recommend that everyone be aware of the signs and symptoms of the virus and seek immediate medical attention if symptoms present.”

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