HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 2016-06-01, Page 9Wednesday, June 1, 2016 • Lucknow Sentinel 9
New Grey -Bruce medical officer of health seeks innovation
Scott Dunn
Owen Sound Sun Times
Dr. Christine Kennedy will
assume the duties of the medical
officer of health at the Grey Bruce
Health Unit starting July 1, 2016.
She started working as the asso-
ciate medical officer of health in
September, 2014, and will succeed
Dr. Hazel Lynn, who held the top
job at the health unit since 2000.
Kennedy told the board of health
she was thrilled to have the opportu-
nity "and will endeavour to continue
the amazing legacy that Dr. (Hazel)
Lynn has done over the last few
years. And to work with the team of
amazing public health professionals
that we have working in this building
and for the health unit."
In an interview afterward, Ken-
nedy told reporters she looked for-
ward to identifying areas to inno-
vate the delivery of public health
services in rural Grey -Bruce.
She said efforts currently are
being made to improve how the
public health is assessed and com-
municated concerning beaches, in
terms of water quality testing and
drowning prevention.
Kennedy said she looks forward
to making a difference at the
ground level, after years spent in
the halls of academia. She spent
five extra years after medical school
studying public health and preven-
tive medicine and became a fellow
a the Royal College of Physicians of
Canada in that specialty.
"So I received all that extra train-
ing to work as a medical officer of
health in public health. And I am
very, very much dedicated to work-
ing
orking at a local level in public health.
And this has been an amazing com-
munity to learn and to meet and to
become a part of and I'm so glad I
get to continue to be a part of it."
Information distributed by the
health unit after her appointment
was made public says Kennedy has
extensive experience in public
health as a researcher, teacher, sen-
ior public health economist and
consultant, medical officer of
health and as a regional commu-
nity medicine specialist for First
Nations and Inuit Health Branch of
Health Canada in Alberta and
Ontario regions.
"She continues to do research in
applied public health economics
and holds adjunct academic posi-
tions in both medical sciences and
clinical sciences with Northern
Ontario School of Medicine."
There are plans to fill the associ-
ate medical officer of health role
which will become open when
Kennedy assumes her new role.
The board voted to create a search
committee.
Meanwhile, the board voted to
recommend Lynn, who retires June
30, as a candidate to sit on an
expert panel to be established by
provincial Health Minister Eric
Hoskins. If she's selected, she'll be
in a position to advocate for a pub-
lic-health style of policy making
which stresses prevention of
disease.
Lynn said in an interview that
she looks forward if selected to the
James Masters/Owen
Sound Sun Times
Dr. Christine
Kennedy, right, the
associate medical
officer of health, was
named to succeed
medical officer of
health Dr. Hazel Lynn
at the Grey Bruce
Health Unit on May
27, 2016.
panel to having policy input.
The expert panel idea was con-
ceived as a way to ensure the role of
public health, with its programs
which may take a long time to
demonstrate success, isn't dimin-
ished in an environment where
acute-care needs maybe given pri-
ority funding by Local Health Inte-
gration networks, public heath
spokesman Drew Ferguson said.
South Bruce Grey Health Centre introduces PSWs to seniors during stays
South Bruce Grey Health Centre
(SBGHC) has introduced Personal
Support Workers (PSWs) into the
acute care team model, in an effort
to reduce functional decline for
seniors while in hospital.
Research shows that seniors
experience dramatic functional
decline, the loss of independence in
mobility and performing activities
of daily living, during hospitaliza-
tion due to factors such as pro-
longed bed rest and reduced mobil-
ity, SBGHC said in a media release.
"For patients over 65, functional
decline can result in falls, longer
length of stay in hospital, and
increased readmission rates." the
release reads.
In February 2016, SBGHC intro-
duced PSWs into the acute care
team model at the Kincardine and
Walkerton sites on a trial basis,
having one PSW available five days
per week to assist patients with
performing activities of daily living,
such as getting out of bed for
meals, opening food containers,
and increasing mobilization.
The trial was funded by the
South West Local Health Integra-
tion Network (LHIN) Senior
Friendly Hospitals initiative, and is
modelled on the Restorative Care
Unit at SBGHC's Chesley site.
That location focuses on helping
patients regain their independence
after the acute phase of an illness,
with the expectation that they will
be able to return home.
During this trial, a significant
decrease in functional decline was
observed, and the occurrence of
falls dropped 66% during the peri-
ods of time the PSW was on the
patient unit. Patients are screened
on admission for risk of functional
decline and again upon discharge.
"Introducing PSWs into the acute
care setting has been a positive
addition for the patient
experience and also for support-
ing nursing staff," said Maureen
Rydall, chief nursing officer for
SBGHC. "It is a busy environment,
and this ensures that patients are
getting all of their needs met"
The project has now been imple-
mented at all SBGHC sites, and con-
tinues to reduce functional decline
for seniors in hospital and provide a
more positive patient experience.
For more information visit www.
sbghc.on.ca
11. South Bruce OPP
Teens With No
Safety Equipment
Helped Ashore
On May 20, 2016 at 7:38 p.m., the
South Bruce OPP received a report
of two teens using kayaks on the
waters of Lake Huron that appeared
to need help off Huron -Kinloss.
Officers arrived to find that they had
already been helped ashore, but
neither had a personal floatation
device (PFD). Two 19 -year-old males
from London, Ontario were charged
under the Canada Shipping Act for
the safety equipment violation.
The South Bruce OPP is sending a
reminder to ensure you have the
proper safety equipment on board
before you go out on the water.
Anyone interested in more infor-
mation on boating safety can
check the Transport Canada Safe
Boating Guide online at: www.
tc.gc.ca/media/documents/
marinesafety/TP-511 e.pdf.
Submitted
South Bruce Grey Health Centre's new 'Acute Care Team
Model' introduces personal support workers (PSWs)
to seniors while at the hospital sites. Pictured: Eunice
Emmerton, a patient at SBGHC's Kincardine site, and
PSW Julie Burrows. L -R: Maureen Rydall - SBGHC Chief
Nursing Executive, Ed McGillivray - family member),
Eunice Emmerton - patient), and Julie Burrows - PSW.
e s •c) our ' ar I ease rec c •
Patient Appreciation Day
Friday, June 3rd 11:00 am- 2:00 pm
BBQ, Bouncy Castle & Face Painting
Everyone Welcome!
Hanover - 399 18th Avenue 1 226.277.0745