The Wingham Advance Times, 1995-04-12, Page 3Sixth annual community forum
Hospital CEO talks about future of ER payments
CAMERON J WOOD
The Advance -Times
The sixth annual community for-
um was held recently with only a
small segment of the Wingham
population turning up to hear how
the Wingham Economic Develop-
ment Committee was doing with its
mandate; and the future of health
care in Ontario.
Lloyd Koch, Chief Executive Of-
fice of the Wingham and District
Hospital made a presentation on the
local health care facility and shared
some of his thoughts on the direc-
tion hospitals would take in the fu-
ture. The most interesting segment
discussed by Koch was that of
emergency room coverage and fee-
for-service billing for physicians.
Koch explained that a recent pro-
vincial fact finder's report recom-
mended rural doctors receive $70
per hour for each 12 -hour overnight
on-call duty in the ER and for each
hour of on-call duty over week-
ends. Doctors would be required to
close their offices to practice until
2:00 p.m. the day following over-
night ER service. This recommen-
dation would allow for the physi-
cian to have adequate rest time
following their shift. The fee-for-
service (FFS) proness has an in-
come augmentation for doctors of
five per cent. Those who opt out of
the on-call service would lose the
augmentation.
Hospitals in the United States are
FFS driven and paid per day where-
as Canadian hospitals are budgeted
annually. Koch explained that in
the U.S. hospitals are moving to a
"capitation" process. This is where
the government/insurance compa-
nies pay so much per person in a re-
gion. The WDH administrator said
the plan turns the incentive for a
doctor around to a more preventa-
tive based method of treatment as
opposed to the growing "specialist"
services in Canada.
"The doctor would try to keep
the patient healthy instead of rec-
ommending unnecessary and costly
services," he said. Under this plan,
the money going to doctors would
increase and funds to hospitals de-
crease. However, demand for hos-
pital service would also decrease.
"It would certainly increase the
number of primary care doctors.
This means more work for General
Practitioners and less need for spe-
cialists due to less surgical work
and references. The number of hos-
pital beds would decline due to an
increase in outpatient services."
Overall, the capitation process
saves money on Hospital budgets.
Koch said hospital expenditures in
the U.S. dropped by one third in ar-
eas where capitation was intro-
duced. He explained it is also one
of the prime reasons doctors are be-
ing lured to the U.S. from Canada.
He told those in attendance he
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Koch...supports capitation
hoped Canada would look at a simi-
lar set up.
Some parts of Ontario have ex-
perimented with capitation, but it is
not yet widespread. In Huron
County, discussions are underway
with physicians to see if they would
support such a system.
In terms of the Local facility,
Koch said they continue to operate
with 68 of 86 beds. Employing 104
full time, 126 part time and six doc-
system for hospitals
tors makes the hospital the second
largest employer in Wingham be-
hind Wescast Industries.
Most recently the hospital re
ceived a three-year accreditation
and implemented the social con-
tract without forced days off. Koch
also spoke about the development
of the Heliport, which he said is
getting too much use but is thankful
it is there, and the recently opened
Terrace Room for patients.
Vendome owner says he's `behind eight ball'
Continued from front page
closure has cost him $30,000 over
the past 52 weeks.
"The Bottomline is there are not
enough bodies to go around. I
thought when I bought the hotel
three years ago it would be differ-
. ent," he said. "I'm losing money
hand over fist. I've lost well over
$100,000 since I hit Teeswater and
I don't have the resources to keep it
up. Over the winter my ability to
pay bills was limited to heatinlf,
keeping up the insurance and some,
but not all, of the utilities. Right
now I'm behind the eight ball and I
owe taxes and I don't know where
the money is going to come from."
It currently costs the owner
$10.000 per year to heat and $7-
8,000 in utilities.
Emerson told council his biggest
problem is that the holding tank
septic system in place at the hotel
costs approximately $6,000 annual-
ly to be pumped and cleaned. In or-
der for him to develop the second
and third floors of the building, he
must install a new system at a cost
of.$30,000. By doing so would also
limit his parking to a maximum of
ten spots.
Emerson said he hoped council
would open discussions in town on
sewage systems. He said such sys-
tems would be necessary if the
community hoped to maintain its
business sector.
The hotel owner explained there
are three options available to him:
sell the hotel. close it and tear it
down, or get help with it. He
was hoping council would consider
the third option. Closing the hotel
would certainly kill any chance of
another opening on the site and
selling it in the current financial sit-
uation would take a "fool", he said.
Emerson wants to develop the
upper portion of the building into
eight large apartments — four per
6,000 square foot floor. He said
such renovations would easily
bring approximately $4,000 per
month income to the building,
which would go towards paying a
$10,000 per year tax bill. The prob-
tent with such a plan is that lenders
are not willing to provide support
with the current septa tem in
place. He figures it would cost an
estimated $100,000 capital. invest-
ment to develop the two storeys,
plus $10-20,000 on fire code up-
grades. Close to $80,000 has al-
ready been spent on some renov--
tftlhs. including $25,000 on a new
roof.
"I'm in a catch-22 and I've no
time left to experiment. Unless the
building can be developed, it's use-
less. I'm worn out and out of per-
sonal resources. I . don't want to
give up my retirement for a hotel in
Teeswater. I don't think any of you
would either," he said. "I came here
to say that's my situation. I need
the help of the community. I'm not
making threats. I want to preserve
the historical aspect of this. I don't
want the hotel to meet the doom of
so many buildings in small commu-
nities around Ontario."
Emerson said if the hotel was to
close it would certainly be an "ab-
solute death -blow to the communi-
ty."
1
"I'm asking the village to give
me some relief on my taxes and
support for the assessment office so
I can proceed with the septic sys-
tem. Right now I can't pay my tax-
es and my mortgage. I can't keep
the bar open the way it is. I'm los-
ing $2,000 to 52,500 a month. THE
volume is just not there. The reality
is the whole thing must be re-
thought."
Councillor Steve MacDonald
asked, "If I don't pay my taxes,
would I come down and ask for re-
lief, or would the village take it?"
MacDonald also asked if the vil-
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lage was the only creditor being
asked to waive the bills.
"Commercial property is differ-
ent. I'm not asking council to wipe
out the arrears. I'm asking for at
least a couple years to do some-
thing with (the hotel)," Emerson re-
plied. He told council he is seeking
respite from other creditors such as
the mortgage holder; who is owed
$150,000 for the building. Council'
was told that if the developments
over a two year period did not im-
prove the situation at the Vendome,
they would be able to bill for past
taxes due.
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Public Information Meeting
The Council of the Township of Morris invite you
to attend a Public Meeting being held to inform
the ratepayers of the proposal for the:
Wingham Airport Development
proposed to be located on Concession 1 of the
Township of Morris.
The Meeting will be held:
Place- Belgrave Women's Institute Hall
Date - Monday, April 17, 1995
Time- 8:00 p.m.
Anyone with an interest in the proposed Airport
Development is urged to attend.
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It's not very often we get to blow our own horn; between issues
like bridge preservation and business departures. But when some-
thing like what has just happened to us happens, it's nice to share it
with the community.
At the recent Ontario Community Newspaper Association annual
convention, we were awarded third place in Class 1 (Circulation
2,500 and under) General Excellence. The two papers who beat us
out of the top two positions were the Stouffville Sun and the Acton
Tanner, both excellent, full-color tabloid publications; which means
of all the broadsheet entries in our category, we finished first. And
that's a nice feeling.
The community has been patient with us over the past three years.
When I first arrived in Wingham, the paper appeared to be in some
dangerous waters., Then last January came a change in ownership.
The clouds appeared very dark. There was a lot of work in front of
us. Yet, through it all we persevered and grew. Our new owners made
a solid commitment to the print media in Wingham with their invest-
ment in equipment, staff training and emotional support. Today I am
proud to say I am part of a winning team.
Each week many of you have contact with either Jim Brown, Mar-
garet Stal)leton or myself on these pages and in the community. But
away from the printed material, many hands come together to pro-
duce our newspaper. They're our neighbors, friends, family and my
co-workers. Some are too shy to stand up and take the bow, but they
deserve a great deal of credit: not just for ,the endless hours of blood,
4
sweat and tears they contribute to these pages, but also for the pa-
tience and sanity in dealing with me daily. I would like to say, on
these pages, thank -you to my co-workers for their efforts: Eve Bucha-
nan and Louise Welwood in the front office; Audrey Currie and Nor-
ma Golley in advertising, Steve' Pritchard in •composition and produc-
tion; our co-op students for 1994 and 1995, Tammy Adams. Julie
Elston and Liz Stokes; our publisher Jim Beckett; our drivers Ted
Fraser and Ross Thompson; our press technicians in Durham; and of
course my editorial compatriots Jim and Margaret.
I would also like to express my gratitude to you, our readers and
advertisers, who support us weekly by picking up the Advance -
Times. Without you, our service would not exist. In all, our paper
reaches out into the community each week to some 4,500 people.
The Advance -Times has come along way in my short tenure here
because of the incredible team effort shown, not just within our four
walls, butt•within our community. I hope Wingham can share in our
moment and take pride that its local paper has grown and achieved
success in the publishing industry.
To have placed third in the OCNA awards for 1994 was a goal we
set out in 1992. We moved up from ninth in 1993 to this. And now,
having a little bit of hardware to hang on our wall, we hope in 1995
to fill some more of that empty space.
To all, thank -you for believing in the Advance -Times. I know
we'll all work a little harder for you and the gold in 1995.
Caasesoos 9
General
Excellence
Awards
CLASS 1
(S 2,500 circ.)