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Home My WebLink AboutLucknow Sentinel, 2009-05-13, Page 7Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, May 13, 2009 - Page 7 HIN1 influenza virus isn't as daunting as SARS outbreak BY LINDSAY KUGLIN Special to the Sentinel Dealing with the Swine Flu, or H1N1 influenza virus, is not as daunting as the SARS outbreak, said Listowel Wingham Hospitals Alliance chief executive offi- cer Margret Comack. In a report to the LWHA board, May 7, Coma& said that's because the disease doesn't seem to be as severe as SARS was, and they know how it's transmitted. "The management of this situation is made easier because of the years of plan- ning and mock exercises we have been involved in across the counties. As well, the communication from the Ministry`, of. Health is more' consistent and not as chaotic and random as it was during thy- SARS outbreak," she said. At the time of Comack's report, the hospitals were on a World Health Organization Phase 5, which is the stage before declaring a pandemic. Comack said there has been sus- pected ected cases of the H1N1 virus in both the Listowel and Wingham hospital sites, but none have been confirmed. Comack said she wasn't surprised, given the volume of traffic this spring to and from Mexico - where the disease is believed to have originated. The hospitals are in con- ference calls daily with the amily Health Teams, physicians' offices, and Public Health Units, Measures are in place to ensure hospi- tal staff is following ever-changing pro- tocol, Comack said, and a comprehen- sive pandemic plan is in order in case of a crisis situation. At the time of the report, there were.49 confirmed cases in Ontario. Information system A file server that creates a virtual con- nection between Listowel Memorial and Wingham & District hospitals, as well as with other hospitals is in southwestern Ontario. The 'Cerner' system is capable of send- ing patients' records, charts, x-ray films, et cetera to other hospitals through a secure uplink, which is beneficial when patients are transferred to another hospi- tal for further treatment. The system will also allow the LWHA to implement the Open Source Order Sets program, developed by a Toronto doctor, and now used internationally, which is a network of thousands of order sets . and care plans that can. be accessed through a computer. "This should help to standardize and simplify the process of • care manage- ment," Comack said. The Listowel and Wingham hospitals received a grant from the Southwest Local Integrated Health Network • to implement OSOS. Similarly, the hospitals are working on implementing the Ontario Laboratory Information . System - a provincial database for lab information accessible by physicians. "Any bold work that is done across the province will be accessible through local systems to help with diagnosis and care planning:: said Comack. More renovating at Listowel Memorial Y• There will be.more moving of walls at the Listowel hospital to try to deal with space restraints. Comack said that physi- cians and the leadership team are getting the short end of the stick when it comes to office space, and as a result, a review of the space available to ambulatory care will take place in the summer to see how the processes and use .of the . existing. space can be improved. Comack said the Family Health Network and family Health Team are also "significantly challenged with scheduling" because of space shortages. And because of the increase in use of the services, they've also had to add admin- istration staff to help with registration and booking appointments) But despite the challenges, Comack said this is welcome. "(It's) all good news, as it indicates an increased scope of service to the community," she said. , Wingham redevelopment project A proposal to completely rebuild the Wingham, hospital in four phases has gained the support of Huron -Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell. The project, which hasn't won MOH approval yet, will cost approximately $13-15 million. Mitchell has written letters -of support for the proposal to Premier Dalton. McGuinty, Minister of Health and Long- term Care David Caplan and Minister of Infrastructure Renewal George Smitherman. "We will continue to follow up with her mound advocacy for this project," Comack said, adding they'll also keep in contact with the MOH Health Reform Implementation_ Team,.which is now the deciding , party for the . management of capital projects. NOTICE 4F WA . G REGULATIONS Correction Trish*Scott's contact number was incorrect for the May 6 Cops for Cancer article. The number is 528-2534. This Week's Specials ----TOWNSHIP QF - .'6txin4 • COL/$011.s4 - The Council of the Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh passed By -Law . No. 56-2002, being a By -Law to regulate the . use of water for ardening and lawn maintenance and other purposes in the Township of hfield- olborne-Wawanosh. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE of the following water restrictions which: are in effect from May 15th, 2009 to August 31, 2009 inclusive: Watering may be used for lawful purposes according to the schedule below: The follow s i di Sion In the Township: of AAs teld Colborne-Wa nosh: . . (a) Century He #s/Maitlandvietv, F.sta#es/8altfard Water Systems (b) Heller Estates Water Systems (e) Dungannon Water System and (d) Huron Sands Water System. • Municipal addresses with even numbers shall be permitted to water on even numbered days, but only during the hours of 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., and 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. both.local time. • • Municipal addresses with odd numbers shall be permitted to water on odd numbered. days, but only during the hours of 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., and .6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. both local time. Use of water from the municipal: water system, . for all. otherwise lawful purposes, shall be approved by way : of a special permit obtained .from the Township id Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh.. Mark Becker Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosb Experience the warm' comfort and elegance of... vokum DuraCeramic New Store Hours Effective May rt North of Hanover mon-Wed. S:OOam - S;30pm on Marie Lake Road Thurs. B:OOam - S:oOpm Friday 8:O0am - 5:34pm Mayl3to2O. 5200 BTU Air Conditioner Energy Star $128 6'x8' Lattice Top Fencing Assembled $89 Pie Shape Fire Pit Slabs 24" $10.99 each (8 to do circle) 3x5-8' PT Mini Ties $5.29 each Bagged Concrete Mix 30 kg bag $3.99 . HENDERSON 782 Havelock Mon. - 8 - 4 RONA St., Lucknow 519-528-3118 - Fri. 7:30 - 5:30; Sat. ----TOWNSHIP QF - .'6txin4 • COL/$011.s4 - The Council of the Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh passed By -Law . No. 56-2002, being a By -Law to regulate the . use of water for ardening and lawn maintenance and other purposes in the Township of hfield- olborne-Wawanosh. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE of the following water restrictions which: are in effect from May 15th, 2009 to August 31, 2009 inclusive: Watering may be used for lawful purposes according to the schedule below: The follow s i di Sion In the Township: of AAs teld Colborne-Wa nosh: . . (a) Century He #s/Maitlandvietv, F.sta#es/8altfard Water Systems (b) Heller Estates Water Systems (e) Dungannon Water System and (d) Huron Sands Water System. • Municipal addresses with even numbers shall be permitted to water on even numbered days, but only during the hours of 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., and 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. both.local time. • • Municipal addresses with odd numbers shall be permitted to water on odd numbered. days, but only during the hours of 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., and .6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. both local time. Use of water from the municipal: water system, . for all. otherwise lawful purposes, shall be approved by way : of a special permit obtained .from the Township id Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh.. Mark Becker Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosb Experience the warm' comfort and elegance of... vokum DuraCeramic New Store Hours Effective May rt North of Hanover mon-Wed. S:OOam - S;30pm on Marie Lake Road Thurs. B:OOam - S:oOpm Friday 8:O0am - 5:34pm