Page 8 - GBGH Foundation Newsletter - Winter 2024

TEAM SPOTLIGHT

SAMANTHA TOWNES

What is your role at GBGH?
As Manager of Critical Care & Allied Health, my role is to support my
teams in day-to-day operations, as well as lead any projects or quality
initiatives that we identify both as a group and corporately. We are
regularly evaluating that the care we provide is of the upmost quality
and that our actions are aligned with our strategic goals and values.

Samantha Townes What is one thing you love about your role?
Manager of ICU, Critical The team! I have worked very closely with the Critical Care team since
Care & Allied Health
I started at GBGH, and they continue to impress me with their passion,
dedication and resilience. All of my team members are so dedicated to
their respectful professions, and it is really a privilege to be able to work
alongside them.

Tell us a bit about our ICU?
Our ICU is designated a Level 3 Basic ICU, is the second highest designation an ICU can receive in Ontario with the
exception of specialty units. Our team cares for some of the most complex and acutely ill patients in our region in
our 6-bed unit, as well up to 10 medical/surgical patient’s cardiac activity through our telemetry monitoring system.
While we have invested in the technology to ensure excellent care for our patients, the patient rooms haven’t been
updated since the hospital was built in 1976. One of the biggest challenges we face are the clunky, outdated doors
to each room, which get stuck, have broken blinds and do not give the team full visibility to those in our care.

Sounds like you need new doors! How would this investment support
excellent care in the ICU?
Modern ICU doors offer complete visibility from floor to ceiling, so
that a nurse/team member can check on patients at a glance. Our
nurses can identify a change in a patient’s condition based on many
factors, whether it be through the bedside monitoring system, physical
appearance, medications infusing, right down to making sure tubes
and lines are in place. Having the room in full visibility is critical, while
supporting their privacy and space when appropriate.

When doors are stuck or defective, it can be very challenging to move the patient bed or gain access to the room in
a hurry. New doors will slide much more effectively, protecting our nurses from injury and ensuring their focus is on
caring for patients.

How can the community help?
We have approval from leadership to install new ICU
doors, but we need the funding to pay for them. We have For those wishing to help transform the
seven doors to replace, at a cost of approximately $10,000 ICU, donations can be made by visiting
each. The new doors will help our team care for you, and gbghf.ca/donate-now or calling
bring our ICU rooms from the 70s into the 21st century! 705-526-GIVE (4483).

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