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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2006-03-08, Page 8Page 8 March 8, 2006, • The Huron Expositor News Internet kiosks could be installed at hospitals Susan H u n d e r t m a r k 11111111.11111111111 An internet kiosk, `'khat for $3 for each 10 -minute block will provide access to email and internet ser- vices, could be offered at each of the four Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance hospitals. The Bell kiosks, which look like automated bank machines with an attached telephone, were: approved by the Seaforth Local Advisory Committee (LAC) at its meeting last Monday. Russell Dick, the Alliance's direc- tor for information technology, made I McTaggart Wettlaufer INSURANCE BROKERS INC. • AUTO ` HOME • FARM • TRAVEL • COMMERCIAL • LIFE INSURANCE BROKERS Paul Wettlaufer • Amy Siemon Suzanne Zehr • Leigh Crawford Ken Hutchison • Bill Siemon 68 Ontario Rd. 348-9150 Mitchell 1-800-561-0183 10uit Smoking3 � REE March 15,22, 29, Aprid 6:00-8:00 pm Call to Register the first of four presentations to each LAC on the kiosks in Seaforth. "This is a good community piece. As patients are here and families are visiting, it gives them an oppor- tunity to catch up on email or keep children entertained," said Dick. He said the least amount the Alliance could make on the kiosks is $130 a month on each kiosk. While Bell will install and repair the kiosks for free, it will generate income by selling digital advertising and charging for internet use. "They'd like 300 people a day to walk past it. That the only specifica- tion from Bell," -said Dick. The kiosk will take up a 16 x 24 inch space and require a 15 -amp receptacle, hardwired into Bell highspeed internet so that there is no access to the hospital's internet service. Seaforth LAC's chair Arend Streutker wondered if the hospital really needed such a service. "I love this stuff but if I had to visit someone in the hospital, I wouldn't look at it. And, a lot of the older people don't know how to han- dle it," he said. "People from out of town will appreciate them," said LAC member Kay Mailloux. Site administrator Mary Cardinal said she liked the idea that there is a fee to use the service. - "Otherwise, it would have line-ups and would have kids playing on it incessantly and that's annoying to people," she said. She said determining the best location would need some thought since the emergency waiting room is a good distance away from the patients' rooms. LAC member Sheila Morton asked if the hospital could approve a trial basis of three to six months and then evaluate it at the end of that time. Dick Burgess, one of Seaforth's Alliance board members, said he was very much in favour of any- thing that added to the Alliance's revenue. "It's very close to crunch time and we've been mandated to seek every opportunity to generate additional revenue. This would be demonstrat- ing again that we're seeking addi- tional source of revenue," he said. Williams assures Alliance board LHINs must make integration decisions public Jeff H-enehert Huron -Perth Healthcare Alliance CEO Andrew Williams -took some time during the Alliance's recent board of directors meeting in Clinton to address the new Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs). Bill 36 passed third reading in the provincial legislature March 1 and is pending royal assent. Williams said the issue that is causing the most stress for the public is that the LHINs can issue integration decisions to hospitals. The LHINs could choose to move an entire, or part of a service, to any hospi- tal within the South West LHIN. "The LHINs do have a lot of latitude in the deci- sions they make," Williams said. "No one Request :for Public Opinion on the Proposed NursingHome Annual Licence Renewal of Seaforth Manor, Seaforth In accordance with the Nursing Homes Act, public opinion is being requested prior to a final decision being made on the above. If you have comments or opinions and wish to bring them to the attention of the Ministry of Health and Long -Tem Care, you may submit them by April 10, 2006 to: Director under the Nursing Homes Act Ontario Ministry of Health and Long -Term Care Long -Term Care Homes Branch c/o 5700 Yonge Street, 4th Floor North York, Ontario M2M 4K5 Phone: 416-327-7345 Fax: 416-326-3142 Please include the name of the nursing home and quote Project #329-06 on all written submissions. The Director will consider all submissions before making a final decision. Ontario knows how this will translate into each com- munity." However, according to Williams, that's not to say the individual ser- vice providers will not have the opportunity to make recommen- dations. He said the LHINs and ser- vice providers will each sepa- rately identify opportunities to integrate ser- vices. Williams said any time the LHIN wants to introduce an integration decision, it must make public, at least 30 days in advance, a written pro- posal. "A LHIN has an oblig- ation to spec- ify exactly what they want to do," he said. In that time, any person can make a written tions to the Ministry. "Saying that, they (LHIN) do con- trol our fund- ing. They can influence the operation of a provider," said Williams. Another uncertainty was raised by Seaforth's Alliance rep- resentative Dicli Burgess. He brought up the recent announcement from Huron East council that they would withhold an -annual donation of $2,000 to the Seaforth Community Hospital, in fear that the money would be used elsewhere. "It is definitely some- thing that could happen. We cannot lose sight of this issue. We have a sig- nificant dependence on our donations," Williams replied. One last comment on the issue came from Chair Ron Bolton, saying that Ontario is the last region to move towards a region- alized system, and those that already have, "none have gone back." 'A LHIN has an obligation to specify exactly what. they want to do,' -- Alliance CEO Andrew Williams submission if they do not support the LHIN's deci- sion, which must also be made public. Williams said, "A final (integration) decision can be different than the pro- posal." Williams added that when an integration deci- sion has been made, the service providers that will be effected, will be respon- sible for developing a human resources adjust- ment plan. "We will need to have a stable system," he said. Williams also made clear that a LHIN does not have the power to either amal- gamate or close any ser- vice providers. He said the LHIN can only make recommenda-