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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1979-06-13, Page 34with over South Huronof Takes many skills to run hospital Modern x-ray equipment in the new facilities in SouthSHOWING OFF — / r ____ _ _ Huron Hospital are technicians Yvonne Benninger and Margaret Niblock. Thousands of patients will be x-rayed here this year. MEDICAL STAFF — Seated from left, Dr. W. O'Connor, Dr. Chas. Wallace, Dr. W. Reid. Standing, Dr. D. Ecker, Dr. J. Agnos, Dr. G. Horner, Dr. W. Steciuk. Missing: Dr. M. Gans and Dr. V. Gulens. Page 2 & The hospital, one of the com­ munity’s most important in­ stitutions, is where life usually begins and often ends. In the interim, it has always been the place to go when you’re sick, a place where the staff is oriented toward getting you well as quickly as possible. However, in more recent years as times and mores change, when doctor’s house calls have become less frequent, medical staff and patients, alike, are increasingly looking to the hospital as a treatment centre. Last year, 5,190 outpatients were treated at South Huron’s Hospital emergency department. Due to Exeter’s proximity to an ever-growing tourist industry along Lake Huron, the demand on the emergency facilities is expected to increase yearly. Hence, the newly installed equipment in the expanded, modern addition, and the updating of the laboratory and therapy depart­ ment are of the utmost importance. Major industry to community By Harold Gunn South Huron Hospital supports the community as a major industry. A hospital is generally conceived as a public institution, in a charitable sense, serving humanity as ef­ ficiently and variable as its facilities permit. In a broader sense of evaluation, a hospital is much more; being an employer, a customer, a client, and a consumer. To substantiate this claim, a payroll of close to $900,000. annually supports a work force of 48 fulltime employees, and an additional 39 part time persons. It is interesting to compare these figures with those of 1953, at the first year of operation. At that time there were thirty employees, with a yearly payroll of $44,000. The hospital purchases supplies such as food, fuel utilities, medical and surgical supplies, drugs, housekeeping and maintenance supplies, amounting to ap­ proximately $125,000. As much of this is purchased locally as possible to benefit local concerns. In providing the broadest range of available service, the hospital spends a considerable amount for external professional and consulting services amounting to $100,000. Therefore, in totalling these amounts our hospital generates $1,125,000 as an industry to’ the community annually. The presence Many specialized skills are required in the efficient workings of South Huron Hospital. There are the doctors, the registered nurses, the RNA’s, the technicians and office personnel. Then there are the maintainence and housekeeping staff who keep things running and building looking beautiful inside and out. To see that the whole establish­ ment moves smoothly is the job of the administrator. South Huron has been fortunate to have had three dedicated and qualified people to fill this post. The first was Miss Alice Claypole who remained in that position until the end of 1974. Then came Elmer Taylor to November, 1978 when the present administrator, Tom Hudson, took over. Behind it all, is the hospital board which sets the policies and which has the final word in decision making. Again , the local hospital has been fortunate in always having committed men and women foresight and ability. NEW EMERGENCY ENTRANCE — greatly improves the condition of ad­ mitting patients arriving by ambulance. HEADS OF STAFF — Seated, Jean Mair, business manager; Audrey Bentley RN, laboratory and pharmacy; Audrey Pooley RN, director of nursing; Alisa Frayne, physio-therapy; Mary Higgs, medical records; Standing, Alex Meikle, maintenance; Lila Smith, dietary; Margaret Miners, housekeeping; Dorothy Waun, laundry; Diane Delbridge, secretary; Tom Bowen, x-ray. Hospital in this area, adds con­ siderable prestige to the worth of the environment, both physically and in the moral sense. To have built and to have maintained the facilities must surely impress and convince future development of the area that South Huron is alive and well.