2022 Health Check-Up!

Administrative Services

Goal: To provide effective and efficient support to all DRHD divisions, programs and services that help to enhance the delivery of the Ontario Public Health Standards and to meet all requirements of internal and external customers.

Accomplishments:

• Ensured timely hiring, onboarding, and training of Administrative Staff to support restoration and continuity of DRHD programing.
• Supported DRHD as programs were restoring with changing capital and operating needs.
• Filled and distributed 3,477 vaccine orders from the Regional Headquarters building.
• Filled and distributed 190 vaccine orders from DRHD’s Health Protection Division to community health care providers. 
• Received and processed 67,151 labs for follow-up. 

Community & Resource Development

Goal: To provide support to all DRHD divisions, programs, and services, helping to enhance compliance with the Ontario Public Health Standards.

Accomplishments:

Oversaw 100 per cent of DRHD's media relations, social media accounts and advertising to promote Regional programs/services and increase awareness on issues of public health importance.

Privacy & Information Security

Goal: To provide effective and efficient privacy and information security support to all DRHD divisions, programs and services that helps to enhance compliance with applicable privacy and public health related legislation, information security standards and information management best practices.

Accomplishments:

• Received and responded to 14 access requests under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, which provides individuals the right to request access to municipal government information and records containing their own personal information.
• Received and responded to 110 access and disclosure requests under the Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004.
• Investigated and closed 16 privacy incidents.
• Provided 66 DRHD staff members with access to a health information system that provides real-time access to digital health records from health care providers across Ontario.
• Facilitated 97 per cent of DRHD staff completing privacy training and 95 per cent of DRHD staff completing cyber security training. 

Health Analytics & Research Team (HART)

Population Health Assessment

Goal: Public health practice responds effectively to current and evolving conditions and contributes to the public’s health and well-being with programs and services that are informed by the population’s health status, including social determinants of health and health inequities.

Effective Public Health Practice

Goal: Public health practice is transparent, responsive to current and emerging evidence, and emphasizes continuous quality improvement.

Accomplishments:

• Posted Health Neighbourhoods Release 4 (durham.ca/neighbourhoods).
• Released two new interactive health surveillance dashboards: the Population Data Tracker and the Cancer Data Tracker, available online at durham.ca/population and durham.ca/cancerstats.
• Provided an update on local cancer statistics and an overview of the new Cancer Data Tracker to the Durham Nuclear Health Committee.
• Released 13 infographics for diseases of public health significance, available online at durham.ca/healthstats.
• In collaboration with Population Health Division, HART launched a new client experience survey to gather feedback from the public about their experience with DRHD’s programs and services, available online at durham.ca/healthsurvey.

Health Policy & Equity Team

Health Equity

Goal: To provide support across public health programs so that public health practice decreases health inequities such that everyone has equal opportunities for optimal health and can attain their full health potential without disadvantage due to social position or other socially determined circumstances.

Health Policy

Goal: To provide policy expertise, advice and support across public health programs to meet Regional and Provincial reporting requirements and develop policy initiatives.

Accomplishments:

• Developed 18 Council Information Reports on behalf of the Commissioner & Medical Officer of Health for Durham Regional Council.
• Developed three reports on behalf of the Commissioner & Medical Officer of Health for Council’s Health & Social Services Committee.
• Conducted a comprehensive literature review on sociodemographic variables and ethical considerations to identify and monitor differences in health among Durham Region population groups. This literature review will inform data practices at the Region of Durham and enhance equity in DRHD data, information, and surveillance systems.
• Continued to engage with partners on issues related to the social determinants of health by participating on five committees and working groups.

Goal: To ensure Durham Region residents have access to health information and counselling and referral to appropriate resources on health issues as outlined in the Ontario Public Health Standards.

Accomplishments:

Received and responded to 7,212 public inquiries through DHCL in the Health Protection Division.

Goal: To enable consistent and effective management of emergency situations.

Accomplishments:

• Developed and maintained a network of community partners to improve effectiveness of a coordinated inter-agency response to public health emergencies.
• Developed and launched three potassium iodide (KI) tablet campaigns to promote awareness of the availability of KI to all residents and businesses within 50 kilometres of Pickering and Darlington nuclear generating stations through preparetobesafe.ca.  

Goal: To prevent or reduce the burden of food-borne illness and support the enforcement of the Healthy Menu Choices Act, 2015.

Accomplishments:

• Completed 3,773 food safety compliance inspections, re-inspections, and complaint investigations of food premises in accordance with the Ontario Public Health Standards and the Healthy Menu Choices Act, 2015.
• Investigated 137 suspect food-borne illness complaints.
• Issued 30 Section 13 Orders under the Health Protection and Promotion Act and 27 legal charges under the Ontario Regulation 493/17 to food premises.
• Increased public awareness of home-based food premises by executing a media campaign at the end of 2022 that consisted of social media messaging and newspaper and radio advertisements, encouraging the public to check www.durham.ca/dinesafe  prior to ordering from a home-based food premises.
• Amalgamated the special event and farmers’ market application into one fillable document, streamlining both the information and process for operators. Additionally, created a farmers’ market FAQ resource for market operators.

Goal: To prevent or reduce the burden of illness from health hazards in the physical environment.

Accomplishments:

• Attended consultation meetings and participated in climate risk assessment and adaptation planning stakeholder sessions for the Town of Ajax and City of Pickering to address local impacts of climate change and reduce exposure to environmental health hazards.
• Hosted the Durham Climate and Health Scenario Planning Workshop on June 22 in collaboration with the Toronto Region Conservation Authority and Great Lakes Integrated Sciences + Assessments and developed a white paper titled Applying Climate Information to Build Resilience: Translating Technical Results into Practical Tools for Community Decision Makers.
• Hosted a virtual Cold Warning and Information System information and engagement session with community partners in November to provide an overview of the program, inform partners of the harms associated with extreme cold, and discuss challenges faced by agencies and the clients they serve.
• Issued 19 cold warnings to help prevent cold-related illness during periods of cold weather.  Cold warnings are issued daily when threshold criteria are met.
• Issued five heat warnings and one extended heat warning to help prevent heat-related illness during heat waves. Heat warnings are two-day heat events and extended heat warnings are three-plus days when threshold criteria are met.
• Completed 245 compliance inspections of international agricultural worker (IAW) housing accommodations in accordance with the Health Hazard Protocol and Foreign Agricultural Resource Management Services housing guidelines.
• Investigated and followed up on 221 health hazard related complaints.
• Hosted a virtual information session for IAW employers in February to inform them of COVID-19 related housing/outbreak requirements.

Goal: To prevent diseases in humans and contamination of the physical environment due to on-site private sewage systems.

Accomplishments:

• Completed 605 private sewage system inspections to reduce incidents of human disease and environmental contamination in accordance with Part 8 of the Building Code.
• Responded to 19 complaints, issued 267 building permits and five Orders, and approved 67additions, in accordance with Part 8 of the Building Code.
• Reviewed and commented on 81 planning applications, 37 land severance applications, 13 minor variance applications, eight official plan amendments, seven subdivision approvals and 16 zoning by-law amendments.
• Attended and/or provided written comments for 67 planning pre-consultation meetings.
• Completed 217 septic record searches.

Safe Water

Goal: To prevent or reduce the burden of water-borne illness related to drinking water and to prevent or reduce the burden of water-borne illness and injury related to recreational water use.

Accomplishments:

• Responded to 105 reports of adverse water quality incidents and issued five Boil-Water Advisories/Orders and eight Drinking Water Advisories to mitigate risks of water-borne illnesses.
• Conducted 299 inspections of all year-round and seasonal recreational water facilities (e.g., pools, spas, and wading pools) in accordance with the Ontario Public Health Standards to reduce the risk of water-related illness and injury.
• Completed 74 Small Drinking Water Systems inspections; issued 20 warning notices; registered three convictions (resulting in compliance); and issued five offence notices to protect the public from exposure to unsafe drinking water.
• Monitored14 beaches in Durham Region weekly from June to August.

Goal: To ensure Durham Region residents have access to health information and counselling and referral to appropriate resources on health issues as outlined in the Ontario Public Health Standards.

Accomplishments:

Responded to inquiries from the community through 6,827 telephone contacts.

Goal: To achieve optimal preconception, pregnancy, newborn, child, youth, parental and family health.

Accomplishments:

• Provided 933 virtual and in-home breastfeeding visits and 776 breastfeeding clinic consultations.
• Facilitated six Food 4 Thought nutrition sessions to at-risk young expectant mothers on topics to increase the number of babies born at a healthy weight, improve the health of both infant and mother and promote and support breastfeeding.
• Facilitated 11 health education sessions for parents to support growth and development milestones including emotional maturity and social competence related to school readiness.
• Provided four Supporting Mother and Infant Learning Experience prenatal classes for young expectant mothers on topics including pregnancy, labour and delivery, and early parenthood.
• Screened 3,743 prenatal, postpartum, and early childhood families using the Healthy Babies Healthy Children tool to identify any risks to children.
• Supported 562 at-risk families through home visiting services, which resulted in most participants (i.e., 93 per cent) reporting that they were able to either partially or fully achieve their family service plan goals.

Goal: To enhance the growth and development of children, including those with a developmental disability and/or risk of developmental delay by partnering with families to provide support, information, and early intervention services.

Accomplishments:

• Provided 3,446 in person, virtual or telephone consultations to 617 children from birth to school entry with a developmental disability or at risk for developmental delay.
• Developed 61 transition plans for children with a developmental disability or delay transitioning into kindergarten. 
• Supported the transition of 32 children with a developmental disability or delay entering licensed early learning and childcare programs through consultation. 
• Completed 56 Sensory Functional Assessments for children with autism enrolled in the Play Project program.

Prevention of Injury and Substance Misuse

Goal: To reduce the burden of preventable injuries and substance use.

Accomplishments:

• Worked with 23 community agencies/stakeholders to re-orient harm reduction services to improve client access and address identified service gaps by leveraging and coordinating current services.
• Distributed 3,214 naloxone kits and completed 621 refills to eligible organizations to reduce accidental opioid-related deaths. 

School Health

Goal: To achieve optimal health of children and youth in schools through partnership and collaboration with school boards and schools.

Accomplishments:

Provided 412 school consultations from September to December, including 381 mental health consultations.

Oral Health

Goal: To enable all children in Durham Region to attain and sustain optimal oral health and development potential, and to support children and youth enrolled in Healthy Smiles Ontario (HSO), seniors enrolled in the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program (OSDCP), and residents in Durham Region’s Long-Term Care Homes (LTCHs) who require assistance in accessing oral health information and dental care services.

Accomplishments:

• Moved operations to the new clinic location at 200 John St. West in July 2022. The clinic has seven dental treatment rooms and is located in a high priority neighborhood in South Oshawa.
• Added denture care services to existing services.
• Provided 14,925 oral health screenings of children and youth, including 14,333 screenings at schools, 161 screenings at community vaccination clinics and 410 screenings in the fixed dental clinic and 21 screenings to children in various community settings.
• Identified 1,277 children as requiring urgent dental care and 1,025 children with non-urgent dental needs.
• Provided services to 775 HSO clients and 74 Ontario Works program (OWP) clients at the DRHD Dental Clinic.
• Provided services to 1,460 OSDCP clients through 4,869 appointments by DRHD clinical dentists and dental hygienists.
• Provided an oral health assessment for 671 residents in Durham Region’s LTCHs.
• Provided oral health education to 872 students at nine high-risk schools.
• Provided oral health promotion to 7,355 children and families at 92 events.
• Utilized social media to promote and share oral health information and program updates via 203 posts, resulting in: 65,659 impressions through Twitter; 121,106 impressions through Facebook; and 65,460 impressions through Instagram (impressions are the number of times a user was served a post or photo).
• Provided oral health education and assessments to 80 recipients of OWP in collaboration with Social Services.
• Provided navigation support to 221 clients to access dental care via application to HSO.
• Processed 3,969 dental benefits claims amounting to $978,544 in fees paid.
• Conducted two public health education sessions/lectures to 94 Durham College (DC) Dental Assistant students and 40 DC Dental Hygiene students.
• Provided one day student placement to 40 DC Dental Hygiene students.

Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017

Goal: To ensure that tobacco, e-cigarette vendors, and other organizations that are subject to the Smoke Free Ontario Act, 2017 (SFOA) comply with the Act and to restrict youth access to tobacco products and e-cigarettes.

Accomplishments:

• Conducted 610 display and promotion inspections and reinspections of all known tobacco retailers.
• Conducted 599 display and promotion inspections and reinspections of all known vapour product retailers.
• Completed 360 vapour youth access inspections, which resulted in 43 sales to minors and 55 charges issued to owners/clerks. Non-compliance rate for vapour sales to minors has more than doubled since 2019. Approximately 11 per cent of vendors are non-compliant with respect to sales to minors.
• Completed 353 tobacco youth access inspections which resulted in 17 sales to minors and 30 charges issued to owners/clerks.
• Issued 131 charges and 162 warnings under the Act for various violations.
• Received 128 complaints for students smoking/vaping on school property. 

Goal: To reduce or eliminate the burden of vaccine preventable diseases through immunization.

Accomplishments:

• Assessed and sent 3,777 immunization notices to children with incomplete immunization records enrolled in licensed childcare settings in Durham Region to support the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014.
• Assessed and sent 37,953 immunization notices to school-aged children with incomplete immunization records enrolled in Durham Region schools to support the Immunization of School Pupils Act.
• Held immunization clinics at 192 schools for all grade seven and eight students, with 9,500 students initiating their hepatitis B immunization series; 10,579 students initiating their HPV immunization series and 10,312 students receiving the meningococcal vaccine.
• Held 79 community clinics from April 2022 to August 2022 with 4,230 students initiating their hepatitis B immunization series; 5,344 students initiating their HPV immunization series, 3,361 students receiving the meningococcal vaccine, and 730 students receiving their tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis booster. 

Infectious Diseases Prevention & Control - Health Protection

Goal: To reduce the burden of communicable diseases and other infectious diseases of public health importance.

Accomplishments:

• Created and distributed weekly outbreak summaries for long-term care homes, retirement homes and acute care facilities, and created ten FAX Abouts for community partners to communicate new and relevant information about diseases of public health significance and emerging trends.
• Conducted 1,324 infectious disease investigations (confirmed diseases include: influenza, salmonellosis, campylobacter, Lyme disease, giardiasis, legionellosis, cyclosporiasis, cryptosporidiosis, shigellosis, typhoid fever, verotoxin-producing E. coli including hemolytic uremic syndrome, West Nile virus illness, yersiniosis, amebiasis, blastomycosis, brucellosis, carbapenamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae, Creutzfeldt-jakob disease, and listeriosis).
• Investigated 404 gastrointestinal and respiratory outbreaks in institutions and hospitals.
• Conducted 370 infection prevention and control inspections at licensed childcare centres, one funeral home, and three homes for special care.
• Ensured 24/7 availability to receive and respond to potential disease exposures of public health significance in accordance with the Health Protection and Promotion Act and Ontario Public Health Standards (OPHS).
• Investigated 1,348 animal bite cases with potential rabies exposures and 99.9 per cent of investigations were initiated within 24-hours of notification.
• Zero of the 53 animals submitted to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency lab in Ottawa tested positive for rabies and 156 individuals received rabies post-exposure prophylaxes.
• Held one low-cost rabies vaccination clinic and vaccinated 118 animals.

Infectious Diseases Prevention & Control - Population Health

Goal: To reduce the burden of communicable diseases and other infectious diseases of public health importance.

Accomplishments:

• Managed 553 sporadic infectious disease suspect and confirmed cases and contacts in accordance with the OPHS.
• Managed 2,748 suspect and confirmed sexually transmitted cases and contacts in accordance with the OPHS.
• Managed 41 tuberculosis investigations in accordance with relevant protocols and guidelines.
• Provided 7,918 sexual health clinic appointments.
• Treated 442 sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI).

Goal: To deliver a quality Paramedic Services system that is responsive to client needs and to reduce mortality and morbidity related to illness and injury through the provision of pre-hospital advanced life support procedures. Primary program delivery is through Region of Durham Paramedic Services (RDPS) with assistance from the Central Ambulance Communications Centre and local fire department tiered response programs.

Accomplishments:

• Responded to 147,671 calls for emergency paramedic services. COVID-19 screenings were completed for 64,359 patients, of which 9,871 tested positive.
• Provided 251,660 staffing hours of ambulance emergency response.
• Transported 60,245 patients to the hospital.
• Monitored response time performance and adjusted deployment plans and resource utilization as necessary, meeting three out of six performance targets, due to challenges experienced with staffing, and extra time required to don personal protective equipment.
• As a part of the Primary Care Outreach Program (PCOP), had 263 clinical interactions and supported 2,952 clients with referrals to housing, counselling, and other services. The PCOP team provides specialized primary care to vulnerable populations in Oshawa (e.g., those experiencing homelessness, addiction, or mental illness).
• Clinically, PCOP expanded with anti-psychotic injections, med assist, med prompt and additional IV/IM antibiotics for wound care. RDPS also expanded the team as of May 7 to two trucks consisting of one paramedic and one social worker seven days a week, providing service from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

Goal: To ensure that programs and services meet requirements as articulated in policies, standards and legislation and to continuously improve the efficiency and effectiveness of services provided to Durham Region clients.

Accomplishments:

Verified publicly disclosed inspection summary signs and geolocation on the Hedgehog 5 disclosure portal with 600 disclosure checks.