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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2007-08-22, Page 22 Times–Advocate Wednesday, August 22, 2007 Renovations planned for Zurich rest home Continued from front page said. After visiting Blue Water in February, Smitherman said he wanted to make the rest home "a model" for the rest of the province. While he said there was a desire to improve the physical parts of the home, the province simply wasn't giving enough money to make that pos- sible. Smitherman thanked Blue Water, its staff and residents for their patience. He said the new program will improve care and result in an increase in quality space. Smitherman said he looks forward to getting on with the con- struction phase and the redevel- opment of the rest home. Mitchell said Monday ' s announcement of* morT was "very George important" to Smitherman her. "The shovel is going in the ground," she said. "Capital redevelopment is hap- pening." Mitchell added Blue Water "is Martha Craig first out of the gate" in the new program, which she described as a "tremendous project," one that recognizes rural sites. A press release from the province points out the new pilot project "will bring together both health and social services in a rural set- ting. "We are throwing away the cookie cutter approach to rede- veloping long-term care homes in Ontario," Smitherman said. "Our goal is to be more responsive and flexible so that all homes in the province that need to be upgrad- ed have that opportunity — Blue Water Rest Home is the first step in that direction." "This announcement will end the uncertainty for small, rural homes like Blue Water Rest Home," Mitchell added. Smitherman added starting Sept. 1 there will be additional funding for food in rest homes. There will also be funding announced to bring additional RPNs to rest homes, including Blue Water. School board funding announced Continued from front page He offered less clarity, meanwhile, regard- ing the new "rural" funding. A part of it will be allocated based on a revised defin- ition of "rural," based on decreasing the required distance between qualifying ele- mentary schools from 30 km to 20 km. The distance between secondary schools that qualify for "rural" funding will change, meanwhile, from at least 50 km to at least 45 km. Even under the old formula, a small number of elementary schools in the Huron -Perth Catholic District School Board qualified as "rural." Under the new formula, that list is expected to increase, and possibly include the board's two sec- ondary schools in Clinton and Stratford. REGIONAL WRAP UP Crops still in trouble HURON —Despite the recent rain, OMAFRA crop specialist Brian Hall says it didn't come soon enough, explaining although the showers may help reduce the number of crop insurance claims, most areas are still down. "The rain has been very spotty. Some areas still haven't received rain and it has certainly taken a toll on yields." Another area of concern is insects, particu- larly aphids, according to The Citizen. Bugs leave a sticky honey -type dew on the soy- beans, turning into mold. "There are some fields where you can actually see where the beans have turned black. That's an indicator of the tremendous pressure they've experienced from aphids," says Hall. Beans and corn also suffered from the intense heat this summer. "Some soybeans have started shutting down. They've quit flowering. They've done all they can to produce," adding, "We really needed moisture for the corn. It has been under a lot of drought stress. It's certainly not like last year as far as corn yields." Hall says the only ray of sunshine after the rain could be the third cut of hay, explaining the first cut was 60 per cent of the normal yield. But all and all, says Hall, "Unfortunately, it's not a good news story. The rain just came too late." Truscott decision expected soon GODERICH — After a 48 -year wait, Guelph Steven Truscott could have an answer from the Ontario Court of Appeal this month, reports the Clinton News -Record. Truscott's Association in Defence of the Wrongfully Convicted (AIDWYC) lawyers say they're hoping for the decision this month, since chief justice Roy McMurty who is on the five -member court of appeal panel is retiring from the bench. McMurty has only 90 days post-retirement to have his name included on the panel's decision. Truscott is seeking vindication after being wrongfully convicted in the 1959 rape and murder of classmate Lynne Harper. Parrish and Heimbecker supports health care close to home Close to a million — The fundraising thermometer for the $1.6 mil- lion South Huron Hospital fundraising campaign sits at just below $1 million, at $995,000.Above, agriculture company Parrish and Heimbecker recently donated $10,000. From left are campaign manager Bob Gehan, Parrish and Heimbecker administrative manager Bevan Shapton and Lori Baker and Bill Haskett of the campaign team. Parrish & Heimbecker, Limited Parrish and Heimbecker, Limited is an independently owned Canadian Agriculture Company formed in 1909. The company was founded and continues to be owned by the Parrishes from Manitoba and the Heimbeckers from Ontario. The Parrish and Heimbecker Grain Division supplies both domestic and global export markets with crop inputs, feed and food grains from a num- ber of locations across Canada. Parrish and Heimbecker recognizes the importance of having quality health care accessible in local rural areas and this is the primary reason of supporting the South Huron Hospital Foundation's Capital Campaign. In keeping with past Parrish & Heimbecker contributions on a local geo- graphic region perspective, this donation is made on behalf of the four P&H locations closest to South Huron Hospital; Kirkton, Hensall, Centralia Plant and the Centralia Administration Office. 11 IP me fir The Little Hospital That Does I� Patient information —Above left, Leigh Maertens, Judy Grenier and Tiffanie Baker work with the new Computer on Wheels (COW), which allows medical staff to access patient information in patient's room. Leigh Maertens, RPN Recently I received my five-year service award and am "one of two" male nurses on staff at SHHA. Before I became employed, I knew I wanted to work in a rural community hospital. I discovered there is a great degree of team work existing in a smaller environ- ment, which ultimately results in a greater focus on patient care. I am happy to work with such a com- mitted team. Knowing my local community is making a profound difference by supporting our hospital's capital campaign affirms my belief that we provide excellent care for our patients. The community response makes us "walk a little taller and smile a little brighter." Contact us South Huron Hospital Foundation 24 Huron St.W. Exeter, Ont., NOM 1 S2 235-2700, ext. 5133 shha. foundation@shha.on .ca Judy Grenier, RPN, Ward clerk I have worked here at SHHA for 28 years, the last six years as ward clerk. As ward clerk I keep our inpatients records up to date, process doctor's orders, make appointments for patients and anything necessary to help the depart- ment run smoothly. January 22, South Huron Hospital went "live" with a new electronic patient record. This has been very ben- eficial to the hospital care givers as it allows up to the minute lab and test results to be accessed by medical staff. It has also allowed for a better flow of continuity of care between sites since we are now linked to London hospitals through this new computer system. Throughout all the advancement in the electronic patient record privacy continues to be maintained for all patients. I work with a dedicated team of nurses and doctors who have genuine concern for patients and I am proud to work where patient care and providing current technology for the benefit of patients is a priority.