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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2002-01-02, Page 3News THE HURON EXPOSITOR, January 3, 2001-3 Geriatric centre ofexcelience inworks for Seaforth Community Hospital Meanwhile, specialits offering services so patients don't need to leave town for care By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Staff A seniors' wellness centre, which could include an indoor swimming pool, is being planned for Seaforth Community Hospital as each of the eight Huron -Perth hospitals plan their own centre of excellence. Because Huron County has the greatest senior population in Canada and Seaforth has the highest number of seniors over 75, Seaforth's hospital was identified as the site for a geriatric centre of excellence. "It seemed a natural progression for us," says Mary Cardinal, clinical leader of the seniors' wellness centre. After being given the go- ahead recently by the local hospital board to plan the centre, Cardinal says the local committee will be inviting input this mdnth from Community dare Access, longterm care facilities and regional geriatric programs. "We will be starting to look at our plans in earnest in the new year," she says. One of the areas to be developed will be an assessment unit for the elderly to enhance the current nursing and rehabilitation services at the hospital with social work and speech therapy services. Cardinal says the assessment unit could increase the number of acute care beds from the current 23. As well, the seniors wellness centre would improve the outpatient services with the addition of osteoarthritis, nutrition and fitness services for seniors. "We want to try and keep the elderly well and at Quoted 'I don't want the community to think we re building a recreation complex. It's too preliminary to say' -- Dr. Carolin Shepherd on a seniors' wellness centre that Could include an indoor pool. home. And, our population is aging so we have to careful we have good programs in place," says Dr. Carolin Shepherd, chief of staff at Seaforth Community Hospital. Shepherd says a swimming pool, similar to one at Spruce Lodge in Stratford, would be used for exercise, physiotherapy and arthritis treatment. "Seaforth is a good location and we have a lot of land," says Cardinal of the potential for a pool at the hospital. However, she says it's too early in the planning stages to tell if the pool will be intended for anything more than therapeutic purposes. "I don't want the community to think we're building a recreation complex. It's too preliminary to say," she says. Participating in research at t h e University of Western Ontario, Shepherd says the seniors' wellness centre could offer step tests which would determine how well a senior's heart is able to deliver oxygen to his or her muscles and then work from there to improve fitness levels. Because similar equipment is used in both seniors' care and sports medicine, Cardinal .says sports medicine could also be offered at the seniors' wellness centre. "We are going to be looking at developing a proposal and a business plan," she says. "We're still in the idea stage but money is out there for new projects," says Shepherd. Seaforth Community Hospital is also looking at ways to offer programs that local people must seek outside the area, such as ophthalmology (eye problems) and urology (men's urogenital problems). "Traditionally, we haven't ever been able to offer urology or ophthalmology but we've been noticing from studies that large numbers of local people are going to London for those services where the system is overrun," says Shepherd. "If we can offer those programs closer to home we can repatriate those patients and it helps our population get better," she says. Shepherd says the Ministry of Health has recently announced that $2 million in longterm funding dollars are being made available to Southwestern Ontario. The Seaforth hospital has made application to the province for some of that funding. Shepherd says seven specialists who visit Seaforth at least once a month already help local patients get the care they need without leaving town. "They're generally extremely well used. We book them solidly," she says of the visiting specialists. Specialists visiting once a month include Dr. Scott, an ear, nose and throat specialist, who comes to Seaforth on Thursdays, Dr. Crilly, of London, who runs a geriatric clinic once a month on Fridays, pediatrician Dr. Shamim Tejpar, who comes to Seaforth on Tuesdays, internist Dr. Van Walraven, who comes from Stratford once a month on Wednesdays and orthopedic surgeon Dr. Chris Archszewski, who comes to Seaforth once a month on Tuesdays. Gynecologist Dr. New council to clear up issues such as OPP policing contract From Po9e 1 meetings but said the big issue facing council right now is water quality and ensuring the new municipality works well with Azurix North America, the company the transition board hired in December to handle Huron East's water and sewer systems following the sale of Seaforth and Brussels Public Utilities Commissions. Steffler said hiring the firm was a good move that not only led to an expected $100,000 annual savings but an assurance that the people handling the water system arc qualified to ensure the water is safe. w "These guys arc up to speed on thc issues and standards," said Steffler. Following thc recent water crisis in Walkerton, the province has issued strict new water quality control standards. Something else Steffler hopes the new council will work toward is maintaining the identities of thc smaller communities that make up Huron East from Cranbrook to Egmondville. For example, she hopes separate signage will remain identifying thc communities for what they are as part of Huron East. "There's lots of pride in these communities and we don?t want people to lost that just because their governance has changed," she said. But deputy mayor Bernie MacLellan said they have to start working together right away as Huron East. "As far as I'm concerned, we arc now one municipality," he said, adding that despite that, it remains important the each ward be treated fairly. He said and understanding is needed that just because one region might see a particular project completed one year, another ward will receive attention another time as they try to make the most economical decisions when it comes to making improvements across Huron East. One upcoming issue MacLellan sees on the table by spring is the need to expand the Seaforth water system. "The bottom line is, it is now going to be more economical to get rid of the smaller water services and operate them out of one big water system," he said. One of the first issues he expects to see on the table this month surrounds snow removal. He said there has been lots of concern already about the level of service being received but reminds people that this is shaping up to be a more traditional winter with lots of snow. The quality of service has never changed but removal has happened more quickly in the past simply because there has been less snow to challenge the previous municipalities' staff. However, he said council needs to be sure the level of service is maintained as Huron East takes over. Also up soon on the agendas is OPP policing. The new municipality is trying to obtain a larger OPP contract rather than separate ones for the former municipalities and is hoping the larger contract can save some money. This is a leftover issue from the transition board which couldn't be worked out before the new council took over this month. "It's something we plan to have dealt with in the month • anuary," said MacLellan. • are looking forward to w. , ing with the new council. MacLellan is impressed with the group already that have shown a keen interest in their jobs as councilors by being willing to come together for the informal meetings. He's impressed that they were all willing to give up their own time, unpaid as councilors, to get together and start discussing how Huron East will take shape. She also said she firmly "I'm very comfortable believes in an open door with the newly elected policy and is glad to hear council," he said. from anyone on the street if "I'm impressed with the they want to talk to her and comments and input from the express concerns. people around the table." "If there are concerns out He said the voters in there, I don't want people to November's election picked be talking about it in the the right people for the job. coffee shops," she said. "I think there is a lot of hoping people will see her dedication on the new and the new council as council." willing to try to address "I've got an excellent concerns as they come up. council to work with," said "I want the council to be as Steffler. "They're very open and accountable 10 its committed to working ratepayers as it possihly can together. 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