KT Timmermans (00:00):
Well, good day, everybody. It's KT and very excited to have Dr. Simone Meikleham in studio with me. And thank you for taking the time for us. I know it, you have been super, super busy. How are you?

Dr. Simone Meikleham (00:10):
I'm very well, KT, thank you for inviting me. Oh

KT Timmermans (00:12):
My gosh. You know what Dr. Meikleham brand new Chief of Staff for the Manitoulin Health Centre, Little Current and Mindemoya locations. And what an opportunity that the changing of the guard in the hospital. And are you feeling like you've got some big shoes to fill?

Dr. Simone Meikleham (00:26):
Absolutely. Dr. Cooper was Chief of Staff for 15 years before deciding that it was time to move on to other ventures. And usually the Chief of Staff position is a three-year term. So he needed to help out for a long time. So definitely big shoes to fill, especially as we go into some interesting times ahead.

KT Timmermans (00:44):
As you mentioned, interesting times, I mean, global pandemic who would have ever thought in March that we would still be having this conversation in October. I have to say, I am so proud of the people of our community and, you know, certainly within our region, we have done a great job, but second wave is really upon us or a lot of concerned folks out there.

Dr. Simone Meikleham (01:02):
Absolutely. I think Manitoulin has done a wonderful job following the public health guidance around hand washing and mask wearing, social distancing. And I think we're seeing the benefits of that here on the Island. A lot of the cases in places where there are a lot of surges are related to people not following that guidance. So I think we've done a great job here.

KT Timmermans (01:21):
And pretty basic. I mean, it's not rocket science folks and, and we have done a great job here and I would like to see us continue to do a great job because wouldn't it be nice if we could gather at Christmas with the people that we love, for sure. Lots of things happening at the hospital. Of course, obviously global pandemic on its own is a big piece, but there's a real big push right now. I know for, for staffing. Staffing certainly is always a challenge. And especially under the times do you want to speak a little bit about that?

Dr. Simone Meikleham (01:48):
I'm sure the hospital is actively recruiting for nurses and RPNs and PSWs. Like many of the other facilities across the province we're short on, on nursing staff, especially. And so a number of initiatives have been put in place to to try to recruit nursing to come to Manitoulin so that we are at full capacity. MHC has also been asked to assist long-term care homes, should they have shortfalls in their nursing staff. And so it's even more important for our staff numbers to be up at targets so that if the nursing home require our assistance, we're able to dispatch some of our staff there to be of support to them as well.

KT Timmermans (02:28):
And to be prepared, you know. If we are in that really difficult position where in fact we are sitting in with some numbers in terms of COVID, you know, I mean, you guys have done a great job at MHC in terms of keeping the front line and, and making sure that your staff are healthy and strong. And you're working long hours under some very difficult circumstances sometimes. And so for you guys to be prepared and have that arsenal of competent staff in your kitbag is pretty important,

Dr. Simone Meikleham (02:56):
Especially since we've also through generous donations of the community have a fully functional field hospital ready to go with 27 beds and operational in 48 hours as well as eight extra beds in the Little Current site and two extra beds in the Mindemoya site. If we are in the unfortunate circumstance of having to fill those beds with sick patients, we will need nursing staff and medical staff to to support those patients. And so the recruitment effort towards both nursing staff and physicians across the Island is really important. Gore Bay is recruiting physicians as has been Mindemoya as well. So we're in full out recruitment mode. So if you know, anyone

KT Timmermans (03:35):
Nudge, nudge, wink, wink. You know, and it certainly can always go to the website it's mhc.on.ca, and you can get all the information there as it relates to any kind of initiatives for career placement, that sort of thing. The other cool thing that's happening for the hospital is some shovels hitting the ground in April in Mindemoya of course, a new emergency department Oh, exciting for the team.

Dr. Simone Meikleham (03:58):
Absolutely. The emergency reno in Mindemoya was conceived before COVID, but work towards that renovation and expansion has been ongoing very quietly in the background. The project is pegged out a $5 million project, and there's a fundraising goal of $2.5 million. The Smith family generously came forward with a $1 million donation and it was very warmly received by MHC. And we thank them very much for their support. So if anyone wants to help with fundraising or wants to donate towards this project, please call MHC and you will be directed to the correct people, we we appreciate all of the support we can from the community.

KT Timmermans (04:36):
For sure. I mean, that is a, that is a big goal, 2.5 million in certainly sounds very intimidating, but when you get a million dollar donation from the Smith family foundation to kickstart, that should have, that is pretty amazing for sure. You know, as you move forward in this next sort of phase of, of where things are at, are you, how are you feeling about kind of where the world is at right now, Dr. Meikleham in terms of Manitoulin and our hospitals and our staffing, I'm sure you're feeling quite positive.

Dr. Simone Meikleham (05:04):
Yes. Overall, I think we are in a great position going into this wave two. From the very beginning, everyone on the Island has come together, community leaders, primary care, the hospital, working together to make sure that we're ready. And with the field hospital, with the UV sanitizing filters that have come in once, come in, once coming shortly, that can disinfect and sanitize areas. And with the ventilator campaign, I think we're really well positioned to deal with a surge on Manitoulin Island. Of course, our deepest wish would be not to have a surge on Manitoulin Island and so that everyone can stay healthy. But if a surge comes we want to be ready for it. We want to have the beds to look after our patients. We want to have the ventilators if patients require them on their way to Sudbury.

Dr. Simone Meikleham (05:54):
So I feel very confident actually in in the position that all the hard work that everyone on the Island has put towards this has placed us in a really good position looking into the fall and winter. I also want to put a plug out for flu shots. Of course, there's a great deal of work going on now in terms of organizing for flu shot clinics. Because of course, usually flu shot clinics would be come on in with 10 of your closest friends and get your flu shot and have a chat in the waiting room. And of course that can't be the way it goes down this year. But there's a lot of great work being done that way, so please stay tuned. It will be well advertised. The pharmacies are partnering with the family health teams and the other primary care agencies on the Island to make sure that everyone who needs a flu shot gets one and I strongly encourage people to do so.

KT Timmermans (06:44):
And there's been a lot of confusion. I think we could safely call it confusion about testing, and there's a lot of changes that happen. I mean, this, this is always an ever evolving ball and it's moving at a pretty rapid pace on most days. So there is an extensive amount of information as it relates to testing. And what's asymptomatic. What's not, who's being tested who isn't, maybe we could sort of quickly kind of encapsulate that as best we can. And then further, what I would encourage people to do is go to the Manitoulin Health Centre Facebook page, or go to the website at mhc.on.ca, but testing, where have we landed currently on testing.

Dr. Simone Meikleham (07:24):
Last week Public Health Ontario put out new guidance around testing. And so basically what's happening is they're receiving more tests than they can actually handle and process. And there's been word of some tests actually spoiling before they're able to be run. So Public Health Ontario put out some guidance around reducing the amount of asymptomatic worried, well testing that was going on in the province and trying to really target and focus the testing, those that they perceive as high risk. And so people of course, who have symptoms should be calling their assessment centres and coming in for a swab, but also the procedure pre-surgery swabs are going on still visitors to long-term care our priority group. And there's a number of priority groups and they change all of the times. So I strongly agree with your advice that if you're not sure if you're in a priority group, go to the website, have a look and we're going to be updating it regularly.

Dr. Simone Meikleham (08:21):
It's a moving target two weeks from now, the ability to test may go up again and they'll reopen all of the testing. The Island is unique because we have a number of groups on the Island that are considered priority groups. And and so we are looking to to get permission to swab perhaps a lot more than perhaps what the provincial guidelines would recommend. And so more to follow about that. But the best place to go for information is the website and the Facebook. And if you have symptoms, stay home, call the AC, get tested so we can be be safe. Early detection works. So if you can find that first case we can stop it from turning into 20 or 50.

KT Timmermans (09:04):
Absolutely. Absolutely. So again, testing is not being provided for everybody these days, but again, as Dr. Meikleham has mentioned that can and probably will change. So again, go to the Facebook page at Manitoulin Health Centre, or go to the website at mhc.on.ca. A complete listing of all of the assessment Centres available on Manitoulin are listed on that website together with the hours and recommendations as to how to get in touch with them. Should you be concerned and perhaps be one of those people that could look at getting some testing done. Again, I really appreciate you taking the time today to, for us, and certainly to provide us with some information in these very difficult times and important to have the correct information versus a lot of misinformation that tends to go around these days. Thank you so much. And again, congrats on the new big role.

Dr. Simone Meikleham (09:53):
Thank you very much. I just wish everyone a very safe and healthy Fall.

KT Timmermans (09:57):
Yes. Well, thank you very much again, folks. That's Dr. Simone Meikleham, the Chief of Staff for Manitoulin Health Centre. I would highly encourage everybody to check out the website at mhc.on.ca or the Facebook page at Manitoulin Health Centre for current and up-to-date information.