Canadian-Independent Group of Funeral Homes ELECT Tom Creen As president

The Canadian-Independent Group of Funeral Homes is pleased to announce the election of their new President, Mr. Thomas P.J. Crean.

Thomas Crean (Tom) joined the Board of Canadian-Independent Group of Funeral Homes (C-IGFH) in 2009, last serving as Vice-President. In a recent interview Tom was asked what he felt the first priority needed to be: “Our Board is now in universal agreement that our organization needs a major update and refocus. We are family businesses but until we put the word ‘Family’ in our name the public can’t distinguish us as being unique from the corporate side of funeral service. Our Board has now approved this and we are working towards formalizing the name change. The most meaningful contribution family firms can make in their communities and within the end-of-life care sector pertains to ethics. I am proud to say that the C-IGFH has agreed to endorse the Code of Ethical Funeral and Cemetery Practice, as proposed by the Partners in Care Alliance (PICA) out of Vancouver. The next step will be to ensure that all of the members of our organization are willing to adhere to this code, and recognize the importance of ethics within our profession. We will be addressing this in the New Year through a Canada-wide survey of independent, family owned funeral homes.”

Crean hopes that C-IGFH’s endorsement of PICA’s Code signifies the start of a long-lasting cooperation between the Vancouver-based organization and C-IGFH. PICA, a not-for-profit society comprised of end-of-life-care activists, both volunteer and professional, has long since been concerned with the potentially monopolistic practices of big-funeral-business in Vancouver. This society brought 75 church and ethnic groups to City Hall in May 1996 to successfully oppose an attempt to privatize operations of Vancouver’s only cemetery, Mountain View.

“PICA, which has now helped us Vancouver family funeral homes win four out of our five funeral conglomerate challenges, is now interviewing candidates for Advisory Boards to help form PICA Chapters in both Toronto and Seattle. PICA is asking C-IGFH and existing provincial independent groups to step forward and support their call for ethics in our part of end-of-life-care. PICA’s Ethical Code is now also being submitted to the rest of the Canadian end-of-life-care community through seniors groups, healthcare and residential facilities (both workers and volunteers), churches, ethnic groups and provincial Ombudsmen (asking for reviews of current legislation)” said Crean.

Tom is thrilled to have also received Board approval for the Canadian-Independent Group of Funeral Homes to have their newly designed booth reflecting C-IGFH’s new focus at the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association Convention starting October 31st, in Ottawa. Alan Kay told us “The best way to predict the future is to invent it”. Tom is inviting provinces with independent groups to appoint their representative to the national Board, and hopes to develop an ‘Under Forty’ committee from which C-IGFH can hopefully recruit a new Board and Executive members for the future of a profession rightly led again by family funeral firms. !

Infection Control
MacKinnon & Bowes Hosts Educational Awareness Opportunity

MacKinnon & Bowes has strived to remain on the cutting edge of industry advancement, education and worker knowledge, and the understanding of the importance of safely dealing with infectious disease. This firm has the proud distinction of being the first firm in Canada providing full services and embalming to those that died with HIV - 1983. Since then we have been challenged with various strains of hepatitis & meningitis, Tuberculosis, Legionnaires Disease, SARS, West Nile, VRE - MRSA, C-Difficille Flesh eating disease, Mers, and the list goes on. We need to reach out to learn the true impact of these diseases on what we do. To that end, MacKinnon & Bowe was proud to host an educational opportunity on “Infection Control” for Canadian funeral service possessionals this past October.

Presenting at the educational opportunity was Dr. Allison McGeer, Ms. Christine Moore, & Mr. Wayne Lee who addressed 22 funeral homes represented by embalmers and Funeral Director Assistants that assembled at MacKinnon & Bowes for a seminar on Infectious Disease & the funeral worker. All 3 speakers are experts in Infection Control at Mount Sinai Hospital, 600 University Ave., Toronto Ontario. Allison, Christine, and Wayne lead an excellent information seminar. All of the funeral professionals in attendance gained meaningful insight into the importance of awareness regarding infectious disease and post mortem considerations.

It was frankly amazing that this discussion resulted in identifying the lack of protocol for needle stick injuries on our profession. It was extremely gratifying to be a part of such a remarkable event. Allan Cole said "My firm has been fortunate to have the opportunity to work with infection control practitioners in the past to gain necessary insight to work safely in this every changing workplace".

A donation was made to the Donald Lowe Foundation in consideration of your enormous contribution to this very successful event. Several former employees of MacKinnon & Bowes, Funeral home representatives from throughout the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area we in attendance. In addition Representatives from the Department of Anatomy - University of Toronto & representatives of the Toronto Public Health office.

C.V. Information: Dr. McGeer completed an undergraduate and master's degree in biochemistry, then her medical degree at the University of Toronto. She specialized in internal medicine and infectious diseases followed by a fellowship in hospital epidemiology at Yale New Haven Hospital. She returned to Mount Sinai Hospital in 1989 as microbiologist and director of infection control. Her major research interests are in the prevention of infection in hospitals and nursing homes, and the use of surveillance to advance the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases. She is the principal investigator of the Toronto Invasive Bacterial Diseases Network and the Ontario Group A Streptococcal Study, two collaborative surveillance networks studying the epidemiology of severe community-acquired infections. I would offer that she is probably Canada's preeminent authority on infectious and emerging diseases.

Christine Moore, Christine Moore trained as a Medical laboratory technologist at Red River Community College and Health Sciences Center Hospital in Winnipeg. She then completed a Bachelor of Science Degree at the University of Winnipeg. Christine joined Mount Sinai in 1986 as a microbiology laboratory technologist. Along with laboratory work she was involved in developing and implementing the laboratory teaching program for technicians, technologists and residents of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Christine is presently the Infection Control educator for Mount Sinai hospital.

Wayne Lee is a certified Public Health Inspector and the former Manager for the city of North York Communicable Disease Control Unit. Wayne is currently an Infection Control Practitioner with Mount Sinai Hospital's Department of Microbiology acting as a consultant for hospital redevelopment, equipment procurement, satellite facility services, and community stakeholders delivering patient care. It was a tremendous presentation that touched on cross contamination, the importance of Universal precautions, and appropriate protocols when dealing with known infections.

Discussion started with a review of inoculations and vaccines for such things as tetanus, hepatitis, and meningitis. How long does a Hep B vaccine last, do you need a booster and how do you determine if you have the antibodies? Flew shots were discussed and recommended as a healthy regimen to get into. Of course any discussion on infection control would entail a strong message about hand washing and the use of alcohol based hand cleaners in situations where hand washing was not convenient such as transfers from a residence.

Next specific illnesses and infections were individually addressed starting with Tuberculosis followed by necrotizing fasciitis and then the Antibiotic resistant conditions like MRSA, VRE, and others. C Diff or Clostridium difficile is a species of bacteria that causes severe diarrhea in the hosts that it infects. Embalmers or transfer personnel are at limited risk but should employ standard precautions and wash equipment thoroughly after contact. Necrotizing fasciitis, or flesh-eating disease, is caused by a bacterial infection and presents limited if any risk to the embalmer or transfer staff. The disease occurs infrequently, but it can occur in almost any area of the body.

Although many cases have been caused by group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (Streptococcus pyogenes). MRSA infections are transmitted from person to person by direct contact with the skin, clothing, or area (for example, sink, bench, bed, and utensil) that had recent physical contact with a MRSA-infected person. Prevention of MRSA is possible by excellent hygiene practices, avoiding skin contact with infected people or items they have touched, and by wearing disposable gloves, gowns, and masks when treating or visiting hospitalized MRSA patients. Covering skin abrasions and minor lacerations immediately may also help prevent MRSA infections.

Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes (called meninges) that surround the brain and spinal cord. Some strains of Meningitis pose significant risk to the embalmer if exposed to cerebral spinal fluids such as after autopsy. Some time was spent on the difference between and virulence of the various strains of Meningitis. There are vaccines available to prevent N. meningitides infections. Some forms of bacterial meningitis are contagious. Sometimes the bacteria that cause meningitis can spread to other people who have had close or prolonged contact with a patient with meningitis. Meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis (also called meningococcal meningitis) is the most important example. An embalmer that prepares or embalms a remains that has died as a result of meningococcal meningitis would be considered at increased risk of acquiring the infection. The embalmer should receive antibiotics to prevent them from getting the disease.

All in attendance were very grateful for the time that was devoted to this discussion.

Dr. Donald Low, who became a trusted face and voice of the SARS response effort, died Wednesday September 18. Low, 68, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in early 2013. Many would know of him because of his recent appeal for assisted suicide prior to his death however he leaves a remarkable legacy for advancing the practice of microbiology and infectious diseases across Canada. Our three speakers were very close to Dr. Lowe and respected him tremendously. They have asked that any remuneration that they may have received be donated to the "The Donald E. Low Bursary" in his honour. In recognition of Dr. Low's outstanding contributions to medical microbiology and infectious diseases and to continue with his legacy, we have established a scholarship - "The Donald E. Low Bursary" This scholarship will provide funding to help support fellows, residents, trainees and technologists to spend time in a microbiology laboratory as part of an observership or to carry out collaborative research. .