Your Stories

FreshFlex™ Impact

Freshflex™ is an innovative menu system, built on the belief that fresh, flavourful, nutritious meals are an important part of everyone’s healthcare journey.

Within the program, patients choose from a 7-day menu that includes choices for starters, entrees and desserts, with more than 70 restaurant-quality dishes to explore.  The menu changes with the seasons, using locally-sourced ingredients where possible, and refined based on food trends, insights and patient feedback.

In May 2022, the food services team at GBGH began transforming their work spaces and processes to implement this amazing program. 

Because of you, our hospital was able to invest in specialized ovens, a blast chiller, new production line and dishes!  These key elements are making this transformation possible, and allowing us to provide better meals to our patients.

New equipment​

The key to the program is the equipment!  The Freshflex™ system includes two specialized ovens, which have the ability to steam, roast, bake and cook.

Ingredients

Fresh, local ingredients are brought in and prepared (peeled, cut, portioned) by the Food Services Team.

Chef-Inspired Recipes

Prepared ingredients are used in chef-inspired recipes, and cooked one day prior to serving (flash frozen in a new blast chiller, then heated to serve).

Presentation

Meals are plated on real (unbreakable) dishes, with restaurant-quality presentation.

Having more variety & visually appealing meals can improve intake in hospital!  This is vital as an estimated 45% of patients admitted to hospital are malnourished, which results in a longer stay and more difficult recovery.
Better intake = better nutrition = better healing!

Our patients thank you!

“Quality was good and my food was always hot.”

“Very enjoyable and tasty.”

 

Care Close to Home

When Jenna Lorette took her 2-year-old son, Heddwyn, to Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) to get a few stitches after a fall, she had no idea that they would spend the next three days in hospital.

In November 2021, Heddwyn was sick with a cold that just wouldn’t go away. One night, before bed, the busy toddler fell and hit his chin, and Jenna and her husband Andrew determined that he probably needed stitches. So, while Andrew stayed home with their older daughter Anna, Jenna took Heddwyn to GBGH.

It was during triage that the nurse noticed Heddwyn’s oxygen levels were dangerously low. She quickly took Jenna & Heddwyn to a treatment room and Emergency Physician Dr. Vikram Ralhan was called in.

“Within a few minutes we were into a room, my son was on oxygen and there were four nurses and doctors there working on our case,” shares Jenna. “The staff were so helpful and kind to my son, who was struggling to keep the oxygen mask on, and Dr. Ralhan was so incredible. He was on the phone with respiratory specialists from SickKids Hospital throughout the night. I could tell he was at the end of his shift, but he reassured me that he was not leaving until he knew my son was taken care of.“

The next morning, Heddwyn was transferred to the pediatric unit at RVH, where he stayed for a few days before being diagnosed with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and asthma.

“Heddwyn was only a couple years younger than my own kid when he arrived at GBGH,” said Dr. Ralhan. “Despite looking relatively well, his low oxygen saturation was of concern, so I knew quick action was needed to stabilize his vital signs and prevent a rapid decline. We reviewed the case with the respiratory therapist at GBGH, consulted with the Sick Kids Bridge Team and our local on-call pediatrician before making the transfer to the pediatric program at Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH) in Barrie.”

Jenna and her family are incredibly grateful to the entire team at GBGH for their professionalism and swift action which led to Heddwyn’s diagnosis.

“The staff at GBGH made me feel at ease in a very overwhelming situation, and I knew that I was in the right place with the best care,” says Jenna. “We are so thankful that we have such an amazing hospital in our community. We will continue in our support for GBGH in the years to come, both our family personally, and through my business, The Mortgage Centre. We truly understand the need for the community to come together to care for our loved ones, friends and family who may need the services of our amazing local hospital.“

If you would like to share your GBGH story with us, please contact Jen Russell (russellj@gbgh.on.ca).