Out of the 3,100 employees of the Prairie North Health Region, a large number were recently recognized by a variety of organizations for their accomplishments.
Receiving accolades were the PNHR's outpatient stroke rehabilitation clinics, which received a Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations' Green Ribbon Award, Leeanne Koshykowski, who received a WorkSafe Saskatchewan's Safe Worker Award, Dianne Lauritzen, a social worker with Child and Youth Services, who was named Social Worker of the Year - Battlefords Branch and Candace Brown, who completed the Saskatchewan Institute of Health Leaders program.
The PNHR's outpatient stroke rehabilitation clinic was created to address gaps that stroke patients had identified in their care. The clinic works in a variety of fields including speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, chronic disease management nursing, acquired brain injury c-oordination and social work. The team ensures stroke patients report back to physicians regularly and provides weekly stroke rehabilitation clinics.
Accepting the award for the OSRC were Betsy Brown, regional acquired brain injury co-ordinator, Debra Baldinus, chronic disease clinical educator and Kim Larsson, physiotherapy lead. A total of 14 Green Ribbon applications were submitted this year, and four Green Ribbons were awarded.
Receiving the Safe Worker award was Koshykowski, who created a program to get power cords and call bell chords out of the way and secured to walls. Her program was described as "cost effective, quickly implemented and [having] a big impact on slip, trip and fall injuries." Her advocacy is further described as having a pronounced effect on the environment around the workplace, and the commendation states that workers "talk safety and are encouraged to suggest new safety ideas."
Lauritzen, who earned the Social Worker of the Year award for the Battlefords, is the current president of the local branch of the Saskatchewan Association of Social Workers. In her nomination, Lauritzen was described as "very compassionate, caring, and a true advocate."
Brown, a licensed practical nurse in Cut Knife, just completed the Saskatchewan Institute of Health leaders program. Her group project focused on an interdisciplinary approach to achieving healthy weight. The program is the first of its kind in Canada, and is co-ordinated by the Centre for Continuing Education at the University of Regina.
David Fan, CEO of the PNHR explained that these accomplishments are but single examples from a generally excellent health region.
"With more than 3,100 people working for Prairie North, I know these accolades and achievements are the tip of the iceberg," Fan explained.
"So much good work is done every day because of the many employees who do their best for each patient they see and each job they set out to do."
