Toronto, Ont. ─ Brampton Civic Hospital personal support worker Carolynne Haynes has been awarded Personal Support Worker of the Year by the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU)/CUPE. A ceremony to present Carolynne with her award is scheduled for Personal Support Worker Day, Thursday, May 19 (2016) at 2 p.m. the Brampton Civic Hospital, North Building, 6th Floor, Room 067.
Carolynne was nominated for the award in glowing terms by co-workers who included nursing staff, physiotherapists and recreational therapists at the Brampton Civic Hospital. They describe Carolynne as a “passionate and loving care provider with an infectious and warm personality. She goes that extra mile on a daily basis and patients trust Carolynne say her co-workers. They also commend Carolynne for being a strong leader on the care team who believes in continuing education to augment her skills. Carolynne they say motivates patients to take part in programs such as therapeutic music and other activities that benefit patient’s wellbeing.
“The work that Carolynne undertakes each and every day is inspiring and makes a significant contribution in helping us to realize our vision of patient-inspired health care without boundaries,” said Joanne Flewwelling, Executive Vice President, Clinical Services and Chief Nursing Executive. “We congratulate her on this tremendous honour, awarded on Personal Support Worker Day, and feel extremely fortunate to count her as a member of the Osler family.”
It’s not just co-workers who have high regard for Carolynne. One patient wrote in a note on her discharge from hospital: “Perfect days would start with Ms. Carolynne Haynes who strolls confidently into the room each morning, letting us know that a new day is here and it is time for a wash or shower or sunshine. She calls my name in a way that is music to my ears.”
Personal support workers complete a 1-year program at community college, covering anatomy, physiology, psychology, end of life care and other areas. There are tens of thousands of personal support workers in Ontario providing daily care to patients in hospital and at their home and to nearly 80,000 Ontarians residing in long-term care homes, “who deserve recognition and thank you today and every day,” says OCHU president Michael Hurley. “We are immensely proud of Carolynne. She exemplifies compassion in care and her positive attitude and cheerfulness and high level of interpersonal skills help her patients to heal and mend.”
Recent studies show lower mortality rates, fewer falls, fewer bedsores, greater patient satisfaction and shorter lengths of stay on acute care hospital units with a diversified and collaborative nursing team that includes personal support workers where appropriate.
For more information please contact:
Michael Hurley
President, OCHU
416-884-0770
Stella Yeadon
CUPE Communications
416-559-9300
