Scheif's Healthcare Heroes - Caroline Le Clair

Hockey coaches tend to rave about coachable players - those who are enthusiastic to develop their skills and willing to try new things in order to improve not only their own skills, but to contribute to the success of the team. A positive attitude and team-oriented mindset are common characteristics of a coachable player.
They're also common characteristics among Manitoba healthcare workers throughout the pandemic, including many who have had to learn new skills or adapt to new environments as part of COVID-19 response. One such healthcare professional is Caroline Le Clair, the Health Promotion Facilitator for the Interlake Eastern Regional Health Authority's Community Wellness Team. In this role, Caroline's "normal" duties would see her linking individuals with appropriate health resources within the region and working with community partners to access, plan, implement and evaluate health promotion.

The position is broad, giving Caroline a wide scope of responsibility and a long list of specialized skills, but during the pandemic that list has had to grow and change as Caroline took on responsibilities as varied as daily phone monitoring of positive COVID cases, contract tracing, and point of entry screening at the Stonewall Hospital.
With the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines, Caroline's duties changed again, pivoting to support the community as an Immunization Clinic Navigator, ensuring plans were in place to continue health groups for babies amid restrictions, and connecting with community members and other agencies to address any food insecurity concerns - just to name a few. Through it all, Claire's attitude has remained positive, open to change and flexible to supporting whatever new task or team needed her support.
"When I look at all the positions I have done or am currently doing during the pandemic that are outside my regular job, I am thankful for all the skills and experience I have gained. The Public Health and Community Wellness Teams that I work directly with have demonstrated what a true team is really about - working together to offer each other support to be able to give community members the best care we can." - Caroline Le Clair, Health Promotion Facilitator, Interlake Eastern RHA Community Wellness Team