The panelists at our health and wellness during a pandemic panel discussion represented various areas of the healthcare system:
- Dr. Mark Broussenko, ’07 MD-Family Physician, Hospitalist, CAMH
- Janet Randie, RN, MPH, CIC-Co-Founder, Thomas and Randle IPAC Consulting
- Eslyn Thomas, RN, BScN, CIC-Co-Founder, Thomas and Randle IPAC Consulting
- Elissa Kline-Beber, MSW, RSW-Director of Student Wellness at The York School
- Kelly Sylva, RN, BScN-Cardiac and Vascular Surgery, St. Michael’s Hospital
Dr. Mark Broussenko is a hospitalist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. He holds a faculty appointment at U of T and is currently a covering physician for the inpatient COVID Cohorting Units and on rotation caring for COVID patients. He shared his experience with his patients, the future of COVID-19, his thoughts on travel, community spread and vaccinations.
Janet Randie and Eslyn Thomas, both nurses with certification in infection, prevention and control (IPAC) talked about the importance of continuing to use safety protocols such as hand hygiene, masks, social distancing and eye protection. They also highlighted that health equity is the opportunity for everyone to lead a healthy life regardless of social, economic and demographic circumstances.
Elissa Kline-Beber, a registered social worker, shared her experience on the effects of COVID-19 on the mental health of children and adults. Impact on learning and coping strategies for stress and anxiety were also discussed. Challenging your thoughts, choosing where to focus, making spaces between parents and children are some ways to combat stress and anxiety. Preparing children for the possibility of returning to school and then returning to a lock down scenario was also addressed.
Kelly Sylva, a registered nurse on the Cardiac and Vascular Surgery unit, talked about her experience as a frontline worker and the impact COVID-19 has had on patients and staff. She described how the hospital implemented best practices to combat COVID-19, and developed initiatives that would help patients cope with limited access to family and friends while in hospital.
NISPA would like to express our deepest gratitude to the panelists, Dr. Broussenko, Janet Randie, Eslyn Thomas, Elissa Kline-Beber and Kelly Sylva for sharing their knowledge and expertise with our members. We would also like to thank all of you for attending this session. We hope you found it to be informative and insightful