CEO report
Manitoulin Health Centre (MHC) CEO Derek Graham presented his November report to the board at its last meeting. In terms of patient care, Mr. Graham reported that funding had been secured from the North East Local Health Integration Network (NE LHIN) to help support the hospitals across the Northeast East, including MHC, in implementation of QBP (quality based procedure)-based order sets. “In addition, a project manager resource has been engaged through Chapleau and Smooth Rock Falls that will help guide the efforts,” Mr. Graham noted in his report. “Planning has begun to prepare for the conversion of two acute beds (one per hospital site) to offer enhanced palliative care through hospital-based hospice.”
Mr. Graham explained that renovations would be required, as will the creation of procedures and policies that guide clinical activities. He also noted that once renovated, the rooms would be prioritized towards hospice, but could still be used for other purposes when unoccupied.
“MHC has hired Crystal Bridge as the new nurse manager with a prospective starting date of December 5,” said Mr. Graham. “Welcome Crystal to MHC.”
He said that the NE LHIN has created a “high-level plan to help guide the further evolution of a coordinated, integrated, multi-health sector, health record and IT support service across the Northeast. MHC is aligned with most of the directions within the plan.”
Mr. Graham also noted in his report that he was pleased to learn that the Manitoulin Teleophthalmology Program, operated by the Manitoulin Central Family Health Team, with funding support through the Small Hospital Innovation Fund through MHC, won a Bright Lights Award for Planning Programs and Fostering Partnerships for Healthier Communities through the Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario.
“An unanticipated injection of an additional ‘in year’ one percent base funding increase has been approved for all small hospitals,” stated Mr. Graham. “This was in addition to the previously announced one percent increase and was very welcome news. The government articulated their appreciation for the prudent stewardship shown by hospitals over the past five years, operating with small-to-no increases, and decided to release funds mid-cycle for this year.”
Paula Fields has begun her new role as MHC’s director of clinical innovation and partnerships, said Mr. Graham. “This position will be an important augmentation to the management team capacity across MHC.”
Mr. Graham reported that Mike Shain had resigned from the MHC board as a result of constraints and other commitments. He expressed MHC’s well wishes and gratitude for Mr. Shain’s two years of service.
Chief nursing officer report
MHC Chief Nursing Officer Pat Morka discussed the redesign construction of the emergency room at the Little Current site. “It is progressing well and we appreciate the staff, physicians’ and the public’s patience and understating through the disruptions,” said Ms. Morka.
“Planning for the physical renovations, clinical processes, policies, procedures and staff engagement has begun for the hospice palliative beds,” Ms. Morka’s report noted. “MHC was visited by the lead from Kirkland Lake Palliative Hospice site and the LHIN lead to advise and share information with us as we transition with our dedicated space and enhance the experience of patients requiring palliative/hospice care in our community.”
Ms. Morka said that the lab is now able to test for acetaminophen levels in patients with suspected overdose instead of sending test samples to Sudbury. “This will enable our physicians to have results and provide treatment more expeditiously.”
MHC and the Central Manitoulin Family Health Team have worked together with the University of Waterloo to host two fourth year pharmacy students, Ms. Morka told the board. The students will start in January and be preceptor by the physician group.
Financial reports
MHC CFO Lynn Foster reviewed the financial reports with the board. She said that “after seven months of operation in our 2016-2017 fiscal year, MHC has a surplus from hospital operations of $236,000, with an overall surplus, including other revenues and expenses of $270,000.”
She listed the capital additions for the fiscal year including: cardiac monitoring equipment, various patient lifts, blanket warming cabinets, loading cars for sterilizers, a colonoscope, lab renovations to improve patient flow, an ice machine for patient kitchenette, a control unit for building management system, a charting module for occupational health and safety software and various information technology equipment such as routers, computers, laptops and printers.
“Excluding the cardiac monitoring equipment, which is being treated as a separate initiative for funding purposes, the total of the additions above approximate $170,000,” said Ms. Foster “These items will be purchased over the following months to the end of March. Other than our emergency department renovations project, there have been no new capital additions since last reported in September.”
Ms. Foster reported that phase one of the emergency department construction is nearing the end. “The clinical team is scheduled to start the transition to our new surrounding the week of November 21 and starting on November 28, patients will be served in our new space,” she said. “From a business perspective, change orders have been kept to a minimum and the project is currently still under budget. Phase to is scheduled to begin December 5 with an estimated duration of eight weeks.”
Chief of staff
MHC Chief of Dr. Staff Stephen Cooper talked about how OMA (Ontario Medical Association) “expressed several concerns about Bill 41, including the ability of MOH to ignore local decisions, expanded bureaucracy with sub LHIN structure, government ability to review medical records, lack of consultation of physicians (OMA) on health care reform and the belief that some of the changes impinge on the representative rights of the OMA (like amending contracts with physicians.)”
“I participated in the University of Alberta Primary Care Weekend with Dr. Jeffery, Dr. Quackenbush and Dr. Barss by video link (Dr. Mackeracher attended in person),” reported Dr. Cooper. “I thought it went quite well. The speakers were mostly informed and entertaining.”
“We continue to benefit from our physician recruiter who continues to forward new locum physicians for our rosters,” stated Dr. Cooper in his report. “Dr. Nawaz, our cardiologist for last 5-6 years, is retiring. MAC will be considering next steps in providing cardiology consultation on the Island.”
Dr. Cooper said that Dr. Bedard and the Assiginack Family Health Team have been involved with the CLEAN Meds Study, along with the Academic Family Health Team at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto and the Huron Shores Family Health Team in Blind River. “The Manitoulin Central Family Health Team has now been included within that study,” he added. “This study is testing the effects of providing patients with free and convenient access to a carefully selected set of medications. While not directly a project of the MHC, it is another example of how the professional staff at the MHC are actively involved in improving the patient experience.”
He said that 108 Northern Ontario School of Medicine students have finished their placements and at the beginning of November there were eight medical students on Manitoulin.
Dr. Cooper congratulated Dr. Reade on being presented the Regional Physician of the Year award by the Ontario College of Family Physicians at their annual meeting.
Auxiliary report
The MHC Auxiliary, Little Current, reported raising $400 at the fall harvest bake sale. The auxiliary reported raising $1,335 at the summer book sale.
The auxiliary drop box and membership information have been relocated to the lab waiting area, allowing prospective members to sign up as they wait.
MHC is having a rock mounted on the fundraising tree to recognize the auxiliary’s commitment to fund the patient televisions, the report also noted.
Two $500 donations will be presented at the Manitoulin Secondary School Awards Night for secondary school graduates considering the health field.
The board also reviewed Mindemoya Hospital Auxiliary President Judy Mackenzie’s report.
“Once again, we have had a successful luncheon, tea and bazaar,” she said. “We also completed the raffle for a quilt, gift certificate and gift basket. We will run another raffle from May to November 2017.”
She noted that the new televisions have been installed and have been well received. This service is offered free of charge, compliments of the hospital auxiliary.
“We presented a cheque for $50,000 to MHC to go towards the Telemetry Project and another $50,000 has been committed for the upcoming year,” stated Ms. Mackenzie. “Carol Gilmore will present six $500 bursaries at Manitoulin Secondary School’s Awards Night in December on behalf of the Mindemoya Hospital Auxiliary.”