Premier Wab Kinew and Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara announced the upcoming provincial budget will include funding to build a new personal care home in Lac du Bonnet. Read more about this commitment to build

Watch a recording of the announcement

There has been a significant rise in measles cases in many parts of the world, with several cases recently detected in Canada. Immunization is the best way to protect against measles. Protection against measles is especially important for people planning travel. Check your immunization status, especially if you are travelling outside of Canada, to ensure you are protected. Individuals are encouraged to be alert for measles symptoms, especially if you have recently travelled. Read more about measles symptoms and vaccine recommendations.

Health care service delivery resumes in Whitemouth at Community Club

Following a water line break at Whitemouth Health Centre, health care service delivery is resuming at Whitemouth Community Club, 61 First St., on an interim basis:

• Diagnostics – Urinalysis and some blood sample collections
  Hours:
  Mon., 8:15 am to 2 pm
  Tues. to Thurs., 8 am to 2 pm
  Fri., 8 am to 10:30 am
  Closed: 9:30 to 9:45 am, and noon to 12:30 pm 204-348-4607 Fax: 204-348-7142
• Primary Care – Appointments with Derek Edwards, nurse practitioner, and Dr. Mark Davidson can be made by calling 204-348-2291. The chronic disease nurse and dietitian will also be accessible at this location.
• Whitemouth Teen Clinic – operating Feb. 28 (and every second Wednesday) from Noon to 4 pm. Call 204-348-2291 for an appointment. Walk-ins welcome.
• Public Health – Please call 204-348-4613 or 204-345-3859 for an appointment with the public health nurse 
• Home Care – Case Coordinator: 204-268-6720 / Direct Service Nurse: 204-904-7433 / Resource Coordinator: 204-268-6732 / Fax: 204-268-6727
• Services to Seniors – now located at the RM of Whitemouth office, 49 Railway Ave.

The Manitoba government is investing more than $15 million to reduce patient wait times by adding two new CT scanners at Selkirk Regional Health Centre and doubling CT scan capacity for Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority, Health Minister Audrey Gordon announced today. Read more

Masking requirements across Manitoba’s health-care system will be lifted next week in most acute, long-term and community settings, Shared Health announced today.

The change, which applies to most visitors and patients entering health-care facilities across the province, will occur May 10 as the health system continues its gradual return to pre-pandemic practices. Individuals who are ill will still be asked to wear a mask when seeking care and should refrain from visiting or accompanying a loved one receiving care. Read more

Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority has achieved SAFE Work certification, making it the first of Manitoba’s health regions to achieve this distinction.

“SAFE Work certification acknowledges Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority’s staff and leadership have successfully implemented a health and safety program that meets the standards of the Manitoba Association for Safety in Healthcare program and Manitoba’s SAFE Work Certification,” said Marion Ellis, CEO of Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority (RHA). “We’ve illustrated our commitment to continuous improvement and a safe work environment. We’re delighted to achieve this certification.”

It’s recognition that identifies Interlake-Eastern RHA as a leader in ensuring safe work environments, according to Jamie Hall, vice-president of SAFE Work Manitoba, which is a division of the Workers Compensation Board.

“SAFE Work Certified is built around the safety essentials of leadership commitment, hazard identification and risk control, and employee participation to develop or improve an occupational safety and health program,” said Hall. “Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority is now at the forefront of Manitoba’s health-care sector when it comes to an industry-based approach to preventing injury and illness.”

Interlake-Eastern RHA signed an agreement with SAFE Work Manitoba in 2020 identifying its desire to pursue certification. To demonstrate the effectiveness of a robust safety management system for staff, the RHA participated in a pilot project with SAFE Work Manitoba and the Manitoba Association for Safety in Healthcare (MASH). MASH is the industry-based service program for Manitoba’s health-care industry under SAFE Work Manitoba.

From February 13 to March 10, three auditors from SAFE Work Manitoba visited Interlake-Eastern RHA facilities. During their visits, they spoke with staff to learn about their safe work procedures and gain a better appreciation of staff’s understanding  and adoption of these work processes.

According Ron Van Denakker, executive director of MASH, Interlake-Eastern RHA’s work will benefit health-care certification across the province. 

“I am thrilled and very proud of Interlake-Eastern for their strategic leadership and overall teamwork across all levels of the organization in their safety certification,” Van Denakker said. “This is instrumental to paving the way for the rest of the provincial health-care system.”

To maintain its certification, Interlake-Eastern RHA will continue to conduct internal audits and host an external audit again in 2026.

People experiencing difficult or challenging times as a hospital patient or resident of personal care home, or anyone living with serious medical issues can really use compassionate, relationship–based care on their healing journey. In these instances, spiritual care is often seen as an effective means to help in times of illness and vulnerability. To meet the ongoing need for spiritual care throughout the region, Interlake–Eastern Regional Health Authority (IERHA) is offering its Spirit of Caring course this spring to people who are interested in volunteering with the program.

The nine–week program will be offered virtually so registrants will be trained from the comfort of their home. Training will be offered once a week and it covers areas such as understanding suffering and compassion, trauma and crisis, communication and spiritual development. Participants will be able to interact with the program leader, Ferdinand Funk, who is IERHA’s regional spiritual health services coordinator.

“This is a course that will build the capacity and increase self–awareness of the participants to engage in the practice of spiritual care, particularly in changing situations such as might occur in a health-care setting,” says Funk. “We welcome those interested in the spiritual aspect of life in general, and in health care particularly, and with the goal of becoming a spiritual care volunteer with the IERHA. This course prepares volunteers to accompany and support people in a health-care setting in a respectful, caring and compassionate way.”

Prior to joining IERHA, Funk had been a pastor for more than 20 years. He has served as a board member with Bethania Group for four years and for 13 years he was the organization’s director of spiritual care and chaplain.

In addition to helping patients find their peace, inner strength and courage, Funk says training participants often take many other positives away from the experience.

“They gain insight and expand their ability to care for themselves, their colleagues, and the patients and families they serve,” Funk says. “They experience a renewed sense of being part of a health-care community called to care for those in their greatest times of need. We invite all who are interested to learn to walk alongside and support these many patients and residents.”

For more information or to register, please call or email Ferdinand Funk, 204-461-3414 or [email protected]. Please advise if you would like to participate but don’t have the means to connect virtually. Efforts will be made to accommodate all interested participants where possible. Registration deadline is Friday, April 14 with the course to begin on Wednesday, April 19.

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An early morning drive from Arborg area to Selkirk through thick ice fog has ended with the first birth of the year at Selkirk Regional Health Centre in Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority.

Wanda and Samuel Wipf welcomed their fifth child, Zachary Don, at 9:05 a.m. on Wednesday, January 4.

He weighed 6 lbs,, 11 oz and is 21.5” long.

“He’s the smallest one yet,” said Wanda, comparing him to his siblings Noah, 9; Logan, 7; Lindsay, 6; and Jackson, 3.

Zachary will be welcomed with open arms by his brothers and sister who are at home with their grandma at Broad Valley Colony.

“We sent them a picture this morning and apparently they are hitting the ceiling,” said Samuel.

The birth was attended by Dr. Margaret Speer. This was Wanda’s fourth birth at Selkirk Regional Health Centre where she says she has always been treated very good. The couple said everyone is very helpful and they have always been  welcomed at the health centre.

During their stay in the obstetrics unit, Betty Milkowski, president of the Selkirk Regional Health Centre’s Ladies Auxiliary, visited the Wipf family to celebrate Zachary’s arrival. She presented them with a new play pen, diapers, sleepers and toys on behalf of the auxiliary.

“This is such a wonderful way for us to start the year,” said Milkowski.

Clinical team manager for the obstetrics unit, Jamie Brown, said they are pleased that the Wipf family has made Selkirk Regional Health Centre their preferred location for their deliveries.

“We are very proud of our obstetrics unit and the team that works to provide care. It is our pleasure to help families get off to a great start! For those who are interested, we do offer epidurals. We encourage anyone interested in delivering with us to call the health centre at 204-482-5800 to learn more and arrange a tour of the unit,” said Brown.

In 2022, there were 397 births at Selkirk Regional Health Centre which is Interlake-Eastern RHA’s birthing centre.