Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1999-05-12, Page 28s28 Exeter Times -Advocate a • Wednesday, May 124 1999 Future plans discussed atWin By Margaret Stapleton SPECIAL TO THE TIMES ADVOCATE WINGHAM - 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 & Area Chamber of Commerce, Verna Steffler was moderator of the forum. Sterner 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 hos- pital'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 manage- ment team and a 24 -member "Joint Executive Committe" consisting of representatives from each of the eight hopsitals. 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 coun- ties, as well as with tertiary care centres in London and Stratford. However, two to three years ago, because of rising anxiety about the direction health care was taking, the leadership of the hospitals' govern- ing bodies, the communities those hospitals serve and medical leaders came together to put forward a pro- posal 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 inch 'ung five vice presidents, three of ' n double as site administrator ,spitals in the various "clusters" 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, plan- ning, integrated management, bud- get, human resources and strategic planning for the partnership as a whole. "Thepurpose of the partnership is maintain and improve the quality of health care...It's all about patient care," stressed Adamson. "Any dol- lars saved (through the partnership) will go toward patient care," she pledged. Medical Clinic George Underwood, chairman of the hospital's 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 comple- tion date for the clinic is mid-August to September, added Underwood. am's health forum "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 cen- tre, 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 (immediately to the north of the hos- pital), we had a plan," Underwood assured. There is a new vision at the Wingham and District I-iknspital, he said, part of it includes "a 180 - degree turn with our doctors...I have to say it publicly, I'm so excited about it." Margret Comack, new site adminis- trator 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 sum- mer 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 ques- tions of the panelists. Clayton Baird led off the question period by asking 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 identify them within the budget. However, she pledged the partnership will meet the reduction of $10.3 million target- ed 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 liai- son, 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 practition- ers. Comack explained that currently there are not enough physicians who want to practise obstetrics. 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 deliver- ies, it is difficult for doctors to main- tain 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 con- tinue to explore the possibility of hir- ing 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 duplica- tion 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 excited that health care is coming to the people." Huron County decreases levy for taxpayers GODERICI1 - Huron County ,taxpayers will be .paying less to the county to in 1999. The province has supplied final estimates for the 1998 Local Services Realignment/Who Does What download- ing costs, updating those estimates. According to the county's administration, finance and personnel committee, the final 1998 estimates have changed significantly. For example, social assistance has increased by $155,000, social housing has decreased by $62,000 and the final estimates for land ambulance have decreased by $753,000. The province will provide more details to the changes in the final estimates for these services. In August of last year, Ontario Treasurer Ernie Eves indicated no municipality would be required to return any surplus from the Community Reinvestment Fund. As a result of significant changes in the 1998 final estimates for the downloading costs, the county's draft surplus has increased from $384,606 to slightly less then $1.05 million. The county passed its tax rate for 1999 at the March 25 meeting, knowing new information regarding the local services realignment was coming and that this new information would possibly require an adjustment to the county levy and tax rate. The levy was based on the provincial government's promise of revenue neutrality. County council also assumed the province will provide the required revenue to allow the county to pay for the downloaded services. To maintain revenue neutrality throughout the county, the levy needs to be adjusted for the loss of tax room and adjustments to the managed forests and farm tax rebate totals. These impacts total $779,000 and reduce the county levy required for 1999 to just over $17.2 million from slightly under $18 million. The county has also received a one-time Community Reinvestment Fund bonus of $200,000 for 1999. The levy for residential ratepayers in the county will be just over .0056 per cent. The multi -residential, com- mercial and industrial rate is slightly over .0062 percent and rate for farmlands and managed forests is slightly more than .0014 per cent. County to sign country -wide OPP agreement GODERICH - Huron County will be signing a county- wide policing agreement with the Ontario Provincial Police. . ' The county will also be meeting with Wingham Town Council and the Wingham Police Service Board to dis- cuss the implementation of Bylaw 9. It was reported at the county council meetinig on April 29 that 19 of the 26 municipalities in the county have consented to Bylaw 9. The Town of Goderich is one of three municipalities which has denied consent to the bylaw while Howick Township has decided not to deal with the bylaw at this time. The remaining three municipalities have not replied. Although two contradictory statements were made in letters received from the Ministry of the Solicitor General in March, the ministry has indicated the county could enter into a contract with the OPP to provide policing for 25 of the 26 municipalities. The reason for this indication from the ministry is that the bylaw determines, each municipality knows which police service it wants. The bylaw also recognizes that the municipalities are involved in on-going restructuring discussions. These ,l} plans should be in place for the next term of council which is concurrent with the hnplement$ioui time ;__ line for the new policing adequacy standards. However, county council will continue to work with Wingham to make sure the town's policing needs are met. Interviewed after last week's county council meeting, Wingham Police Chief Jim Dore stated tht because the bylaw has passed, disbandment proceedings for the Wingham Police Service will get under way. Disbandment proceedings will include a hearing by the Ontario Civilian Commission on Police Services (OCCPS). Dore said an OCCPS hearing usually takes place within four to six weeks, but because of the backlog it could be nine to 12 months before a hearing takes place in Wingham. According to the chief, there are some great implications over this bylaw, and they concern more than Wingham. "We were told by two advisors from the Solicitor General's office, we will be disbanded if this bylaw passes," said Dore. He added the county's policing committee was appar- ently told the same thing by three advisors.