HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1999-05-05, Page 7THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 1999. PAGE 7.
Enthusiasm over health care in evidence at forum
By Margaret Stapleton
Wingham Advance Tinies
The enthusiasm and energy
centred around health care in
Wingham and area were evident at
a community forum held on April
27 in the Wingham Town Hall
Heritage Theatre.
This was the third such health
forum for Wingham and area and
topics discussed included the eight
hospital Huron-Perth partnership,
future plans for Wingham and
District Hospital, the new medical
clinic and physician recruitment.
Sponsored by the Wingham and
Area Chamber of Commerce,
Verna Steffler was moderator of
the forum. Steffler gained renown
as chairman of the action
committee formed to save the
hospital close to three years ago.
She also is a member of the
hospital's board of governors and
the physician recruitment
committee.
Much has happened since the fall
of 1996 when the very existence of
the local hospital was threatened.
Since then, the eight hospitals in
Huron and Perth have formed a
partnership network, overseen by a
new management team and a 24-
member joint executive committee
consisting of the eight hospitals.
At the local level, a new medical
clinic is finally underway adjacent
to Wingham and District Hospital.
The physician recruitment
committee has successfully
recruited a doctor, who comes to
the area this summer. As well,
several other doctors have
expressed an interest in coming to
Wingham and will visit the hospital
and the community this month.
NEW CEO
Bonnie Adamson, chief
executive officer of the Huron-
Perth hospital partnership, said
over the past 20 years, linkages
were built among the hospitals in
Huron and Perth Counties, as well
as with tertiary care centres in
London and Stratford.
However, two - three years ago,
because of rising anxiety about the
direction health care was taking the
leadership of the hospitals'
governing bodies, the communities
those hospitals serve and medical
leaders came together to put
forward a proposal to form a
partnership to deal with future
health care needs in the two
counties.
"It takes strong foresight to
change the way we do things," said
Adamson, who said the innovative
model formed in these two counties
is being watched by health care
providers not just in Ontario, but
across the country.
At the head of the partnership, is
a senior management team, headed
by Adamson, and including five
vice-presidents, three of whom
double as site administrators of
hospitals in the various "clusters"
making up Huron and Perth
Counties.
"Our model of governance is
unique," she continued. Each of the
.eight communities has retained its
own hospital board. Each hospital
is still funded by the government.
The joint executive committee, or
JEC, of the partnership consists of
24 members - three representatives
from each hospital board. The JEC
is in charge of clinical services,
planning, integrated management,
budget, human resources and
strategic planning for the
partnership as.a whole.
"The purpose of the partnership
is to maintain and improve the
quality of health care. It's all about
patient care," stressed Adamson.
"Any dollars saved (through the
partnership) will go toward patient
care," she pledged.
MEDICAL CLINIC
George Underwood, chairman of
the hospitals board of governors,
spoke about the medical clinic and
plans to relocate all therapies on the
hospital's first floor.
The foundation for the new clinic
has been poured. At $1,140,000 it
will accommodate five doctors and
two visiting specialists. The
completion date for the clinic is
mid-August to September, added
Underwood.
"There have been some questions
about why not use the first floor of
the hospital for the medical clinic,"
said Underwood.
However, Wingham hospital has
been designated a rehabilitation
centre, with all services and
patients to be relocated onto the
hospital's first floor. Part of the
proposal includes a parking lot at
the hospital's north end to
accommodate the busy rehab unit,
as well as an elevator.
When we purchased that property
Sniffing nature
It was a beautiful afternoon for outdoor activities when
Grey Central Public School students, including Dakota
Adams and Krystle Zeigler, undertook Earth Day fun, April
29. Aside from checking out the aroma of cedar, they
went on scavenger hunts to explore the ecosystems,
classified trees, heard fishy stories, played predator and
prey and learned survival techniques for deer.
CranbrookThe news from
Compiled by Peter Hagedoorn Phone 887-6935
Former store owner vists
Having read in the Cranbrook
News that the store building in
Cranbrook was repaired and
restored, Lloyd Michel and Karen
and George Michel came to see the
improvements.
Lloyd used to own the property
and ran the store for many years.
He was responsible for building the
egg grading station next to the store
in 1948.
He was shown the improvements
inside and outside the store
building and he signed the
"Cranbrook Diary" a book that is
kept of "events" in the hamlet since
1982.
It was nice to have Lloyd Michel
as a visitor and to see him still take
(immediately to the north of the
hospital), we had a plan,"
Underwood assured.
There is a new vision at the
Wingham and District Hospital, he
said, part of it includes "a 180-
degree turn with our doctors. I have
to say it publicly, I'm so excited
Margret Comack, new site
administrator at Wingham hospital,
promised her door is always open.
She paid tribute to the hospital staff
and the many auxiliary volunteers
who annually log 3,000 volunteer
hours at the hospital.
Dr. Sean Sleeth, who currently
works two days a week in the walk-
in medical clinic on the hospital's
first floor, said he is excited that a
new doctor will be coming this
summer to practise in Wingham.
Other doctors*also have shown
interest in coming to Wingham.
The area was considered
underserviced by two physicians,
but with the retirement of Dr. Brian
Hanlon, that number has gone up to
three.
QUESTIONS
A number of people posed
an interest in the place where he
spent (as he said) many happy
years with his parents.
Barbara George from Vancouver
visited Marion Hagedoorn and
Theresa D’Aoust. It was a lightning
visit as Barbara is a woman on the
go-
Former resident and sister of
David and Karen Smith of
Cranbrook, Paula Smith was
married on May 1 to Stephen
Silcock. The wedding was held at
the Wingham Pentecostal Church.
Jennifer Vanass from Windsor,
Jolanda Vanass from Samia and Ed
Saxon from Scarborough were
among the out-of-town guests who
attended the wedding.
questions of the panelists. Clayton
Baird asked Adamson if savings in
administration will be realized
through the new management
structure.
Adamson said the partnership is
looking at the total man hours
within the eight hospitals and
identifying them within the budget.
However, she pledged the
partnership will meet the reduction
of $10.3 million targeted by the
district health council.
Roily Kaufman asked if local
boards will maintain their same
function.
Adamson said local boards will
remain strong, although their roles
may change slightly. Their most
important role, as a community
liaison, will not change, she said.
Underwood defended the size of
the local board, saying each
member represents a certain
geographic area.
Jim Currie asked if some services
provided by the local hospital may
change under the partnership, for
example, obstetrics. He also asked
for a comment on nurse
practitioners.
Comack explained that currently
there are not enough physicians
who want to practise obstetrics.
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The words "Thank You" seem very inadequate to express our
greatest appreciation to EVERYONE who supported The Brussels
Legion Silent and Live Auction. To everyone who came and
participated at the auction by generously bidding on the outstanding
array of items. To those members of Branch 218 who donated so
willingly to support their branch. A special thank you to the
businesses who supported the auction by a donation of merchandise
or by monetary support for the advertising. We also like to express
our deepest appreciation to other members of the community who
donated items to the legion. Thank you to the Ladies Auxiliary for
having lunch available for all those who attended. Thanks to Kevin
McArter for being our guest auctioneer for the live portion of the
auction.
Congratulations to the committee in charge of the auction for an
outstanding job. Your efforts and hard work have proved a successful
event for everyone.
Thank You.
Brussels Legion Branch 218A
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However, with the addition of Dr.
Alenia Kysela this summer, she
hopes that may change.
"We need to look at our
population and its base needs,"
added Comack, promising more
information will be forthcoming in
the next two to three months.
"With the small number of
deliveries, it is difficult for doctors
to maintain skills," added Sleeth.
"We need to get the number of
deliveries increasing and get those
women back (who have gone
elsewhere for obstetrical care)."
As for nurse practitioners,
Comack said there is concern about
what role they will play in a
hospital setting. However, the
partnership will continue to explore
the possibility of hiring nurse
practitioners to work in concert
with physicians.
Sleeth admitted he does not know
very much about nurse practitioners
and their role.
While there may be some
duplication of services, Underwood
said, "the more services delivered
here, that's the dream I have.
Wouldn't it be exciting to have a
Cat scan done in Walkerton? I feel
that health care is coming to the
people."
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