Huron Expositor, 2006-07-19, Page 18Page 18 The Huron Expositor • July 19, 2006
News
•
Strong medical vision addressing seniors, the
key to economic development, says Laviolette
Susan Hundertmark
The Bridges of Seaforth is only
the first of many developments that
will centre around Seaforth's best
chance for economic development -
looking after the seniors' population
- predicts Huron East economic
development officer Ralph
Laviolette.
And, a developing medical
campus with an increasing number
of services for seniors could be the
magnet to attract that development,
he says.
"What is the magnet to attract
people here? There is no high school
anymore and we're not going to
have the big box stores or university
extension projects. One of the best
ways the town can develop is
around seniors' wellness," he says.
The vision of Seaforth as a centre
of excellence for the care of seniors
is an idea that has never gone away,
adds Gwen Devereaux, physician
recruiter for Goderich's hospital and
the Huron -Perth Healthcare
Alliance and a member of the
Huron East economic development
committee.
"Huron County has the third
highest population of seniors in the
country so why don't we capitalize
on the natural market that we
have?" she says.
"Rather than fighting it, we
should work with it," she says.
And, while discussion about
Seaforth's hospital becoming a
senior's centre of excellence for
wellness was discussed under the
former Huron Perth Hospital
Partnership, Devereaux says it's
that vision she hoped to capture
while writing the proposal for both
the Seaforth family health team
and the accompanying SHARP
proposal whichbecame the
$595,000 provincially -funded
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Healthkick project.
With most of the orphan patients
in Huron' bounty in the seniors' age
bracket, Laviolette says a Seaforth
FHT -family - whose business, plan
was recently submitted to the
province - will be a great benefit to
( )uotc(I
`Huron County
has the third
highest
population of
seniors in the
country, so why
don't we
capitalize on the
natural market
that we have?,' --
Physician recruiter
Gwen Devereaux
seniors.
"We're not going to solve the
problem (of orphan patients) by
getting more doctors. We're getting
older faster than they can get
doctors trained," he says.
The FHT proposal in conjunction
with Healthkick is getting notice
across the province, says
Devereaux.
While the local proposal for a
FHT proposed setting up a FHT in
Seaforth with satellite offices
throughout Huron County,
for /4ormativic
ti Gn
the vuffi,
caff
11 Main St., Seaforth
519 527-0240
or fax us at...519-527-2858
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Healthkick augmented the plan
with a six -pronged two -and -a -half-
year project to encourage high
school students to consider a..
healthcare career, provide
experience for youth at local health
facilities, provide nursing training
for the local workforce, create
temporary work placements for
recent health graduates, make the
area attractive to international
medical grads and create
community ambassador teams to
promote the area.
After making several
presentations at medical
conferences across Ontario,
Devereaux says she's heard positive
comments from health professionals
in Collingwood, Guelph and from
the Ontario Rural Council.
"We're the first in Ontario to
really show an innovative concept of
retaining healthcare, assisting
recruitment and encouragingyouth
to enter healthcare. And the beauty.
is, it can hook onto any family
health team," she says.
Many other ideas are purcolating
around the Seaforth medical
campus, as well.
Laviolette says a study is
currently being done to look at a
subdivision behind the hospital,
medical clinic and Community Care
Access Centre building to determine
which population might suit the
area.
Another project would connect
Huron County pharmacists
electronically to the FHT's medical
services.
"Because of the large number of
orphan patients, pharmacists are
becoming frontline healthcare
providers," says Laviolette.
A diabetes project would work at
preventative measures and
education surrounding the disease
while a project screening patients
for eye disorders is also being
discussed.
Clinical trials with the SPARC
(Stroke Preven ion and
Atherosclerosis Centre). Institute in
London are being discussed that
would centre around coronary
artery disease studies and seniors.
Other ideas include a farm
family stress centre and a
psychology project.
"Close to half a million dollars
have been invested so far in the
Seaforth medical campus so it's
likely to be the focus of a lot of
things to come. The municipality
has spent a lot of time setting the
groundwork," says Laviolette.