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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1979-11-29, Page 3AM & G briefs BY SHIRLEY J.KIELLER Dr. Ken Lambert who is retiring as chief of Staff for Alexandra Marine and General Hospital, and subsequently is retiring from the hospital board, urged the board Monday evening to continue to keep patient care uppermost in its mind. He told them to listen to their medical staff, to fight against bureaucracy and to co-operate with the press. He said the hospital had made a great deal of • progress in recent months and that changes that have been made are for the better. "We have a first class -facility and a most competent medical staff," Dr. Lambert told the board. + +-l- Mrs. Jo Berry, former chairman of Alexandra Marine and General Hospital board, received the congratulations of her colleagues Monday evening. Mrs. Berry has, recently been appointed by the Ontario Hospital Association to a new committee' for small hospitals. -1- -i- -l- _+ Dr. Michael Conlon has been named the new Chief of Staff for AM&G and has also been selected as the board's new vice-chairman. Dr. Conlon fills the postion left vacant when Gord Crabb moved into the chairman's post after Chairman Jim McCaul resigned from the board. McCaul's position plus one more left vacant when Gerry Zurbrigg resigned from the board, has not been filled. Administrator Elmer Taylor said this week that if the board doesn't fill those posts before the annual meeting in 1980, they will be filled then. The medical staff at AM&G offers "strong support" for the board's intention to ask the Ontario Ministry of• Health to recognize the hospital's Intensive Care Unit (ICU) as a formal Critical Care Unit (CCU). Dr. Jim Rourke presented figures to show that over 10 ,percent of all the patients who are ad- mitted to AM&G go through the ICU. So far, while the Ministry is aware the ICU is _ functioning at AM&G, there is no'funding for the unit. Staffing has been a problem in the past. However, the recent study by Woods, Gordon consultants at AM&G recommended additional staff for first floor so that adequate nursing staff could be available for ICU which must be at- tended at all times when there are patients in care. Administrator Elmer Taylor said he had asked. the Ministry for its guidelines governing the formal ICU, but hasn't received them. He said Hospital Information Services show• that some hospitals of comparable size to AM&G do have funded ICUs. He suggested the Ministry may be reluctant to grant AM&G's ICU formal status because it is "probably going to cost them some money". The • board is presently looking-•• into some suggestions for improvements in the ICU which have been made by the nursing staff. It appears the chajges. will not be costly, but__ since rt°rs'-w' k thatWillgave tore carried out by the hospital's own maintenance staff, it may take some time to complete since that staff already has so many projects ahead. Dr. Louis Watts has been granted privileges to work in the emergency department at AM&G on a parttime basis. Dr. Watts is a fully licenced physician who is taking a year of advanced family practice studies in London. He was described by"Dr: Jim Rourke as a well qualified, motivated doctor. The board wanted to know what would happen in the event winter weather would prevent Dr. Watts or other doctors who work at the hospital on a parttime basis, from getting to work. Dr. Rourke explained that a regular staff doctor is on call every weekend, and would of course, fill in in the event the travelling resident was delayed by weather conditions. Dr. Rourke praised the system of using doctors from the nearby medical centres in London as relief physicians. And, he said, it provides young doctors with an opportunity to see this area and to perhaps, decide at some future time, to set up practice here. "That's how you came to us, wasn't it?" commented Dr.Ken Lambert. Dr. Rourke admitted it was. GODERICH SI AL -STAR, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, I979,—PAGE 3 Willbuy feta1monitor dor obstetrics cs BY SHIRLEY J.KELLER Alexandra Marine and General Hospital is going to add a fetal monitor to its inventory of medical equipment, but it still isn't quite clear how it will be financed. At Monday evening's meeting of the board of AM&G, Dr. Jim Rourke and Dr. Ken Lambert pleaded with the board to consider immediate purchase of this piece,of equipment which has been on the medical staff's list of capital priorities for a full year. "About two weeks ago, we damn nearly lost a baby," Dr. Lambert told the board, "and the reason we damn nearly lost the baby was because we didn't have a fetal monitor." Dr. Rourke said he'd identified at least 12 times during the last year when a fetal monitor would have been an asset to doctors in the ob- stetrics department at AM&G. He said it would have been useful several times this year during a total of 79 deliveries in a busy obstetrics depar- tment at AM&G between January and June. The fetal monitor is used to monitor the baby's heartbeat during labor and delivery, and is very helpful in deter- mining the state of the baby's health during the birth process. Many. times, some types of mental retardation and a condition known as cerebral palsy can be prevented if the doctor knows in time the baby is experiencing unusual - difficulty during delivery. Occasionally, --death—wi-1-1—res ul rL lire baby is in serious distress without the doctor's knowledge. NEW EQUIPMENT While this piece of equipment is relatively new to medicine -none of the hospitals in Huron have a fetal monitor, Dr. Rourke told the board - it is considered, vital. in..a modern, safe.. obstetrics department. When the equipment is needed, there is not time to transport it to' Goderich from a centre like Stratford where a fetal monitor is available. And in the majority of cases, it isn't wise to transport the mother during that stage of delivery to another location. While board members were unanimously agreed that a fetal monitor was a necessary purchase, it was abun- dantly clear that money just wasn't readily -available to purchase the $12,000 piece of equip- ment. It was recommended by the finance committee that the board defer all capital purchases ,until the total financial of the hospital is determined. The finance committee ANNOUNCEMENT Speidel, A Division of Textron Canada Limited, manufacturer of high quality expandable watchbands & jewellery, is pleased to announce the appointment of MR. JOHN JACKSON to the position .of Plant Manager in charge of all Canadian Jewellery operations. Mr. Jackson comes to Speidel with extensive experience in the manufacturing field. reported that the hospital is presently running over budget, because -of in., creased patient days requiring additional nursing staff, large payouts of cumulative sick leave to employees, funds for- ma-na-gemerrt consultants and most recently, a new salary settlement with the hospital's nurses. It was felt by the finance committee that capital expenditures should be curtailed for the time being, in the event that some of the capital funds would be required for operating expenses. ' However, it was pointed ,out to the board Monday evening that the hospital has been granted an additional $56,000 to offset a deficit that is exepcted to reach $91,000. And, according to Administrator Elmer Taylor, the Ministry has not entirely shut the door on the provision of some additonal funds should the hospital experience any more serious financial difficulty Inc -au -se of-u-nexpected budget alterations. REWORK BUDGET Taylor indicated that before the board would authorize the expenditure for a fetal monitor, it should wait for him to work the budget over again to determine the hospital's new and up- todate financial picture. Taylor also reminded the board that the Goderich Lions Club had been approached con- cerning a donation toward the. purchase of necessary equipment for the `'hospital, and in • - dicated that Lions et Oat RICK WHETSTONE representatives are now considering a project of this kind at AM&G. There was a suggestion from board member Don Wheeler that the Goderich Rotary Club may also wish to par ticipate-m-st h a project. The board agreed to consult the community service clubs 'about this. matter, but that if financial assistance was not forthcoming from the Lions or the Rotary Club, or both, that the board should go ahead and purchase the fetal monitor, , Isobel Sully, a new member of the' board, said she'd read of the hundreds and thousands of dollars that must be spent in the care and education 6f just one retarded child. "If you can save just one baby, it is worth $12,000," said Mrs. Sully. I suppose I'm being emotional about this, but it seems to me that $12,000 is very little to spend if it means making or breaking a person's entire life." One board member, Ken Scott, volunteered $1,000 from . his own . pocket to "start the ball rolling". He said , the hospital should buy the fetal monitor eve if it did put the hospital further in the red. "I don't see any point ip all this talk and no ac- tion," said Scott. Chairman Gordon Crabb was quick to disregard Scott's generosity, He said avenues of alternate financing should be ex- plored and exhausted first. Bill Alcock, chairman Turn to page 18 • °•ron°„is° NOTICE TOA L I-NTERESTED CITIZENS OF THE TOWN OF GODERICH The Town Council would be pleased to receive applications for appointments to various Boards and Committees. If you are interested in serving on one of these Boards of the Corporation of the Town of Goderich, please submit your name to the under- signed on or before' Wednesday, December 5th, 1979 tit 12:00 Noon. Larry J. McCabe Clerk -Treasurer Town of Goderich 57 West Street Goderich, Ontario N7A 2K5 WATCHMAKER/JEWELLER SALE DAYS THURSDAY, NOV. 29 TO SATURDAY, DEC. 8, 1979 _..M,LSD. You will get $20.00 or more, for any watch, in any condition, as trade-in allowance towards the purchase quality RODANIA watch. h. RODANIA • - Mary show you Drop in and leo Rick, Judy or WgtcheS the extensive collection of fur selection in their showcase from which to make y SLY e • STYLES TO SUIT THE WHOLE FAM 1.1 ie - ONE WATCH PER PURCHASE HURRY! SALE ENDS DEC. 8, 1079 Q®i �/tel Nopimift RICK WIIETSTONE WATCHMAKER AND JEWELLER 166 THE SQUARE, GODERICH PH. 524-6572 Please Come In., ° We'Il take care of you!