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Kailo Sister Programs

HALTON HEALTHCARE SERVICES
3 locations
Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Milton, Ontario, Canada
Georgetown, Ontario, Canada
Sister Program since: September 22, 2005

Imagine our delight when we got the call from a healthcare system in Canada who was interested in becoming a Sister Program! Working with HHS has been an absolute dream. Together we wrote for a grant from Health Canada to pilot Kailo in two of the three (Oakville and Milton) HHS hospitals. Our international partnership has reminded all of us on both sides of the border of the universal importance of support, compassion, and human connection in the pursuit of living well. Here’s to Kailo, eh? – K. Putnam, Kailo creator

Organization Profile
Sister Program Story
HHS Kailo Programs/Services
Customization
Future Plans for Growth
Testimonials
Contact Information

Organization Profile:

Halton Healthcare Services is a multi-site healthcare organization providing access to
three of the best community hospitals in the province. HHS’s service area includes the growing communities of Milton, Oakville, Georgetown, Clarkson and Halton Hills, in the region of Halton, just west of Toronto in southwestern Ontario. HHS serves over 200,000 residents, with 313 acute care, 39 rehab and 61 complex continuing care beds.

Locations:    Oakville Trafalagar Memorial Hospital,    Milton District Hospital,    Georgetown Hospital. Total number of employees: 2348 CEO: John Oliver Website address: www.haltonhealthcare.com Awards: Healthy Hospital Innovators Award from the Ontario Hospital Association, October 2005. National Quality Institute Organizational Quality and Wellness Criteria: Health Care Sector Level 1, October 2005 Level 2, October 2007

John Oliver, HHS CEO

Sister Program Story:

HHS VP of Human Resources and Support Services, Director of Human Resources and
Manager of Health Promotion attended a presentation by Kelly Putnam, creator of the
Kailo program at Mercy Medical Centre, at the Healthy Hospital Symposium hosted by the Ontario Hospital Association in 2004. Inspired by Kelly’s presentation, these HHS leaders subsequently applied for and received a 2-year grant from Health Canada to establish the Kailo model under the Healthy Workplace Initiative.

HHS Kailo staff

Programs/Services:

• Kailo Breaks
• Kailo Kraft Klub
• Kailo Lunch’n Learns
• Yoga, tai chi, belly dancing
• Kailo for One
• Mini-massage
• Wellness library
• Kailo to Go and Games to Grow By

Customization:

Although the Kailo Sister Program package provided us with a framework from which to build our wellness effort, we have had a lot of fun customizing our program to meet the unique needs of our organization and creating our own version of the Kailo culture. Some of our favorite examples:

Future Plans for Growth:

• offer more variety and frequency in hospital-wide programming to reach out to staff who have not yet taken advantage of Kailo programs.
• increase membership to at least 50% of total staff.
• more actively market and deliver the Kailo to Go programs.
• extend programming to our new sister hospital in Georgetown.

Testimonials:

 

"It's not about getting your business done; it's how you get it done. Managers are responsible and should be held accountable for creating positive work environments as part of good management practices."

Bonnie Harrow, HHS Vice President HR and Support Services.

The great thing about Kailo is that it operates from the heart. We do whatever it takes to feel healthier and happier, as long as it’s moral, legal and affordable! And the staff are loving it. They’re telling us in so many ways “We feel cared for!

Anna Rizzotto, Kailo Coordinator

Just wanted to say that today's session "Psychology of Doing Too Much" was so therapeutic. It could have turned out to be a b----- session, but it was real women talking about real issues with real ideas to make life easier.
So....thanks.

HHS employee

HHS employee receives a Reiki treatment
at a recent Kailo wellness event.

Following a Mind/Body/Spirit Renewal event…
Just wanted to thank you again for yet another chance to renew. Friday's activity was wonderful! The atmosphere alone was enough to transport me to another world almost immediately. Calmness, serenity and peace resided there for me. It's amazing to think that lighting and music can have such an effect on our mood. Thanks again - you and your staff are doing a great job.

HHS employee

I want to thank you for the fantastic Kailo First Aid basket that you provided for the dialysis staff. It was really great to see the staff respond so positively. As you know things have been very busy for them so gestures like this really mean a lot.

HHS manager

I was walking around today wearing my Kailo T-shirt (having just gotten a massage) and somebody who passed me, saw the shirt, and went, in a kind of singsong way, "Kailo Kailo Kailo. Thanks for bein' here, Kailo!" I just thought I should pass that on!

HHS employee

HHS staff relax and get to know each other over a session of scrapbooking.

More articles on the HHS Kailo program:

“Halton Healthcare’s Holistic Approach to Workplace Wellness,” Health Human Resource Connection, Summer 2006. English or French

“Kailo: An Award Winning Approach to Workplace Wellness,” Hospital News, January 2006. (English)

Contact Information:

Name: Anna Rizzotto, BA, BSW, MEd
Kailo Coordinator
327 Reynolds Street
Oakville, Ontario, Canada L6J 3L7
Phone: 905.338.4690 ext 6436
Fax: 905.338.4137
E-mail: arizzotto@haltonhealthcare.on.ca

Anna Rizzotto,
Kailo Coordinator