The Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-11-18, Page 9Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, November 18, 2009 - Page 9
Matching tool shows high success rate
D _Mlluna
signal -star staff
Since hooking up with a provincial tool
that matches orphan patients to physicians,
Goderich has seen an almost 90 per cent suc-
cess rate.
The down side, however, is that just 15 per
cent of the area's defunct orphan patient list
have enrolled in the service.
The Maitland Valley Medical Clinic
(MVMC) replaced its list of approximately
2,100 orphan patients in mid July in favor
of Health Care Connect, a specialized tool
aimed at matching patients to area doctors.
Since that time, 323 Goderich-area patients
have registered with the service, and 288 of
those have been matched.
Health Care Connect is a provincial regis-
try launched by the Ministry of Health and
Long Term Care (MOHLTC) to help Ontar-
ians find a family healthcare provider.
So far, it seems to be working. A quick
numbers check on October 30 revealed 219
doctor -patient match -ups. As of this Mon-
day, the number had risen to 288.
"The time it takes to match a patient with
a family health care provider is dependent
upon local circumstances such as the capaci-
ty for local providers to accept new patients,"
said MOHLTC spokesperson David Jensen.
"Health Care Connect is designed to refer
those patients most in need of care first."
When registering for the program, callers
will be asked a number of questions about
their health needs. A nurse from a local
Community Care Access Centre, known as
a Care Connector, will then review the in-
formation.
The Care Connector works with local fam-
ily health care providers in the community
to determine what providers may be accept-
ing new patients. After referring a patient to
a family health care provider, Health Care
Connect will provide any needed informa-
tion to schedule an appointment.
Though Care Connectors will work hard
to find a family health care provider for the
caller, Jensen says there's no guarantee that
they will find a successful match.
"As a result, people who sign up for Health
Care Connect will also be encouraged to
continue their own efforts to find a family
health care provider," he said.
Community resources for residents with-
out a family practitioner are still available
in Goderich. The Emergency Department
at Alexandra Marine and General Hospital
(AMGH) is staffed at all times by a physi-
cian, and the Family Practice Clinic also
provides service to unattached patients by
appointment.
Those without a family health care pro-
vider can call 1-800-445-1822 to register for
the Health Care Connect patient database.
An online registry is also available at www.
ontario.ca/healthcareoptions.
The Town of Goderich was asked to help
with the creation of the orphan patient list by
the doctors at the Maitland Valley Medical
Centre in 2004. Names were compiled, and
as new doctors arrived and set up practice,
patients were randomly selected by town
staff. In March 2006, the orphan patient
list, containing more than 6,500 names, was
turned over to the MVMC and managed on-
site. As of July 15, 2009, the list was no lon-
ger maintained.
Corporate traffic down at municipal airport
Gerard Crces_.__.___
signal -star staff
The landscape around Sky
Harbour Airport will look a bit
barren in the coming weeks, as
trees obstructing the runway
will be put to the chainsaw.
About 50 trees will be felled
on airport property - work Sky
Harbour manager Ken Bogie
said is just part of running an
airport.
"We're cutting some trees
on the side of the runway," he
said. "They are in airspace. It's
just ongoing maintenence."
Tenders were
opened for the work
at the November 9
meeting of Goderich
Town Council, with
Martin's Cutting
and Skidding out
of Belgrave being
awarded the contract
for $2,050 - less than
half of the $5,000
budgeted.
Meanwhile, Bogie
said traffic at the air-
port is similar to the
same time last year,
however they type of
traffic is changing.
There is less cor-
porate traffic. We've
had fewer jets here,"
he said. "But there
are more small air-
craft."
The latter, he said, are large-
ly due to flight classes that are
once again being offered at the
airport.
Consequently, jet fuel sales
are down and regular aviation
gas is up.
Fuel tanks for maintenence
equipment were recenity ap-
proved for purchase at Goder-
ich council, though Bogie said
the issue of permanent airplane
fuel tanks still needs to be ad-
dressed.
"We have to do something on
the aircraft fuel here," he said.
"We're hoping to put tanks in
the future. We're running with
rented equipment right now."
Renting fuel tanks costs
the airport $20,000 annually.
Bogie said a permanent tank
would run about $160,000, or
eight year's rental fees.
The total movement (take-
off and landing) at the airport
is on the rise, though Bogie
said this is almost entirely due
to the flight school.
"I know our movements are
up this year because of the
school," he said. "We're about
1,000 movements over last
year."
Meanwhile, Bogie said the
need to start replacing equip-
ment at the airport will be
dependent on government
funding becoming available.
However, he said with so many
projects on the go municipally,
there is no definite answer for
the airport.
"There's lots of work to be
done, it's just finding the mon-
ey to do it," he said. "So many
places to spend money and not
much money to go around."
Beauty that is blinding
Buy Three
2" Faux Woods
& Get the 4th FREE!
Good Economical Way to Furnish a
Full Cottage or New Home or Renovation,
The Stylish 2" Faux Wood gives you
a Crisp Clear New Look & Viewl
Offer expires Sat., November 211 CaII us for complete details.
Blissful Blinds is the Only Certified Installer for Hunter Douglas Products.
For your
complimentary
In-home •
consultation
Paul & Flnola MacGinfy
519-524-5773
HunterDouglas
§IN9E 2094
WEEKLY
SPECIALS
MONDAY
WING NIGHT
45¢ Wings
TUESDAY
11 Selected Appetisers
For Only $2?2
1/2 PRICE
PIZZA
After 9pm
THURSDAY
ALL YOU CAN EAT
FIBS
Spm -bpm $1 2.99
FRIDAY
ALL YOU CAN EAT
KING CRAB LEGS
Spm-tOpm1 495
LIVE
ENTERTAINMENT
Saturday Dec 12th
Bearcats
wewOP% LIOASi•wwwAft
$5.00 Advance 57:00 at Door
Limited Number Available
All Specials Eat -In Only
92 The Square Goderich