NHL Healthcare Heroes - Southern Health-Sante Sud Healthy Living Team

"Southern Health-Santé Sud is committed to improving the patient experience for everyone," is the first sentence you'll read when you visit the patient values page on Southern Health-Santé Sud's website.
That's a big commitment at any time, no less during a worldwide pandemic that has put endless pressure on Manitoba's healthcare system. Still, the region's Public Health-Healthy Living (PH-HL) team has done everything in its power to provide patients with quality care during this challenging time.
That's all been a result of dedication to much more fundamental values by healthcare workers in the region. When asked what some of those key values have been throughout the pandemic, what immediately came to mind was how much they care about their community members.
"Integrity, excellence, communication, and kindness," said one dedicated team member.
"Do your best with the situation at hand. Try to maintain connection to families you serve to support them as much as possible," added another.
"Empathy for what everyone is going through, colleagues and communities alike. Respect for each other's points of view and positions, and integrity within our work."

This region has seen first-hand just how much COVID-19 has impacted the lives of community members, dealing with everything from having to break the news of a positive test to a patient, to witnessing community members lose family members to the virus. As if those aren't difficult enough situations, the virus has also handcuffed healthcare workers in some situations and left them feeling helpless in their offerings of virtual support - a mode of communication no healthcare worker would choose to use during such difficult circumstances.
As one healthcare worker put it, providing care amid COVID-19 has made them "feel like a salmon trying to swim upstream against the current." Despite the frustrations and challenges, healthcare workers in Southern Health-Santé Sud have fought to provide that same quality patient experience.
Their efforts haven't gone unnoticed, as evidenced through a note one patient sent to Southern Health-Santé Sud.
"I wanted to send you something in writing about my recent experiences with our public health nurse," the note begins. "I received a call from her about the positive test results that came back for my wife. Our public health nurse was very calm, helpful, and knowledgeable. All the questions I asked were answered without hesitation and in a way that was not stressful for me. She called every day and took my calls when I felt the need to call her.So, I would like to be able to say thank you especially to her for her help, patience, and understanding. I feel our public health nurse went over and above for both my wife and I. If that is the way she treats all her patients, then this woman deserves a medal for being so strong and having that great of a willingness to help others."
That's only one example out of undoubtedly countless more within Southern Health-Santé Sud's PH-HL team. Their strong team of healthcare workers doesn't only enable them to provide quality care through patient interaction, but by supporting and encouraging one another to do their best for their community.
Some of the greatest positives for the PH-HL team have been from exactly those kinds of interactions with colleagues.
"We've encouraged each other and used the 'we're in this together' mentality with positivity and honesty. Phrases like, 'I know, it's OK to feel discouraged,' 'it's been tough the last few days,' and 'it's hard' have been used regularly to provide genuine support," said one healthcare worker.
"We've had public health nurses working many extra hours to get the work done together, there's been support for each other emotionally, and management has offered structured and unstructured supports - validating and identifying feelings of work overload and worry during this difficult time," said another healthcare worker.
Offering that kind of support to employees is instinctual for management, who are greatly appreciative of their team. In addition to managing the day-to-day fight against COVID, the team has successfully launched a vaccine supersite in Morden. The team also met with several community organizations such as newcomer agencies and shelters, to share information about best practices to keep all of their community members safe.
Southern Health-Santé Sud CEO Jane Curtis had only commendations of praise to share about the PH-HL team but struggled to find the words regarding the monumentally positive impact this team has and continues to manifest throughout the pandemic. Curtis said her thoughts might best be represented in sharing an experience that recently took place at a vaccination clinic.
At the end of the vaccine administrations, PH-HL staff were packing up, at which point they were suddenly distracted by group applause. The remaining people waiting for their post-vaccine care were literally standing up, applauding and saying "thank you." The outpouring of public gratitude caused the staff to be overcome with emotion.
In addition to this very touching moment, equally moving was the reaction this brought to public health nurse Michèle Martel who shared how she felt humbled to the core.
"It is a moment in my career that I will never forget. Many team members have been working hard towards positive outcomes during this pandemic - all the while knowing that some staff have other things going on such as sick family members, other jobs, or other commitments. In the context of being a public health staff member, we are always 'on,' always teaching, contextualizing, and explaining, which I love to do and will continue to do. What this did was reset in me a certain faith that we are moving forward and making a difference. It was uplifting - a refreshing and strong confirmation of our endless efforts and dedication to this beast we are facing."
Curtis shares that Martel's response to this event is so telling of the kind hearts and excellence within the Southern Health-Santé Sud's PH-HL team.
"Thank you and congratulations on being our healthcare heroes every day," remarked Curtis.
Indeed, thank you members of the Southern Health-Santé Sud PH-HL team, and healthcare workers across Manitoba, for your dedication to the health of our province. Each and every one of you deserves a standing ovation.