HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-07-08, Page 5Orphan patients have access
signal -star staff
'The orphan patient lint for Goderich and
area will be replaced this month in favour of
a specialized tool aimed at matching patients
to area doctors.
According to the records at the Maitland
Valley Medical Clinic (MVMC), 2,100 ama
patients remain without a family physician.
The process of matching patients with avail-
able practitioners locally has been improved
thanks to a program launched in February
called Health Care Connect (HCC).
"We aren't meeting the needs of the patients
with the way we handle the list," said Execu-
tive Director of the Maitland Valley Medi-
cal Centre, Lorri Lowe. "We've linked with
another resource that we feel will offer area
residents more options."
Health Care Connect is a provincial regis-
try launched by the Ministry of Health and
Long -Term Care to help Oniuiau without
Cane Ontarians without
a family health care provider find one. As of
July 15, the MVMC will no longer maintain
its orphan patient list, and instead encourages
residents to register with the provincial ser-
vice.
"Health Care Connect includes informa-
tion on physicians across the province who
are registering patients, and will give people
the opportunity to connect with physicians
who are in or close to the community," Lowe
said.
Residents in need of primary care must in-
dividually register with the HCC service and
complete a questionnaire that will help match
them with a qualified practitioner.
A nurse - called a Care Connector - will be
assigned to help each individual find a health
care provider in their area. The Care Connec-
tor will be the main point of contact with the
program. All registrants must have a valid
Bear spotted along shoreline
A lone male bear has been patrolling the
Lake Huron shoreline the past month and
wildlife officials have had 30 reported sight-
ings of the animal since June 1.
Ministry of Natural Resources officials
suspect that a lone bear is the same animal
reported in all the sightings and caution cot-
tagers and people living along the lakeshore to
keep their garbage picked up and locked up.
And the message is consistent: Don't feed the
bears.
"We think the sightings are of the same
bear, a medium-sized male about two to three
years -old," Senior Fish and Wildlife special-
ist, Bev Stevenson of the MNR Clinton office
said. "People have not seen more than one
bear and there have been no problems re-
ported other than with bird feeders and other
food sources such as garbage. If people come
in contact with the bear they should slowly
back away and be sure not to corner the ani-
mal. Remember, the bear is more afraid than
you are"
Residents and cottagers should keep gar-
bage in locked containers, remove bird feed-
ers from their property and remove food
remnants from their
barbecue grill, an aro-
matic attraction.
Unless the bear
causes problems, the
ministry will continue
to monitor sightings
and educate the pub-
lic on how to best deal
with the situation to
keep bears off their
property.
If an animal breaks
into a property 'or
Causes a serious threat
or problem, Steven-
son advises contacting
911.
Judy and Bob Odbert have had the bear on
their property four times lately and have had
to remove bird feeders and other food sources
from their Golf Course Road residence.
"We have had to remove all die bird feeders
and he especially likes sunflower seeds. He
came back for the hummingbird feeder," Od-
bert said. "We've seen deer, raccoons, fox and
heard coyotes but have never seen a bear here
before. It is unsettling and I'm concerned he
might go to tents in the area campgrounds."
Like other residents who phone in the sight-
ings,
ightings, the Odberts have been advised to keep
their property clean and put away sources of
food.
Anyone experiencing bear problems can
report the sighting to the ministry's Bear Wise
Line at 1-866-514-2327 and speak to a minis-
try official. It is not unusual to have bear sight-
ings in Huron County and Stevenson said that
there have been sightings within the last five
years. Bears are mainly vegetarian and three-
quarters of their diet is restricted to vegetation
but would also include bird feeders and com-
post heaps.
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Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, July 8, 2009 - PA5
to new
toof
OFIB card to be part of the program, be of program, and can-
not be attached to a primary healthcare pro-
vider.
"I know that some people may feel they
have been waiting all this time on the list just
to have to start again, but [we] think this is
the best solution," Lowe said. "We do it ran-
domly, but through the questionnaire process
the HCC can match on both a need -of -care
and a first -come -first -serve basis."
Those without a family health care provid-
er can call 1-800-445-1822 to register for the
Health Care Connect patient database. An on-
line registry is also available at www.ontario.
ca/healthcareoptions.
Other community resources for residents
without a family practitioner are still avail-
able. The Emergency Department at Alexan-
dra Marine and General Hospital (AMGH)
is staffed at all times by a physician, and the
Family Practice Clinic also provides service
to unattached patients by appointment.
The Town of Goderich was asked to help
with the creation of the orphan patient list by
the doctors at the Maitland Valley Medical
Centre in 2004. Names were compiled and as
new doctors arrived and set up practice pa-
tients were randomly selected by town staff.
In March 2006, the orphan patient list, con-
taining more than 6,500 names, was turned
over to the MVMC has since been managed
onsite.
The MVMC has released an information
package to all residents listed in need of a
primary care practitioner which includes an
HCC brochure.
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