MGH and the New Women’s College Hospital in Toronto sign research agreement 

The Manitouwadge General Hospital has entered into a partnership agreement with The New Women’s College Hospital from Toronto to study the use of Telehealth to deliver Self Management Programs to Rural and Remote Communities.  This study will focus on multiple sites in Northern Ontario.  Manitouwadge met the criteria as one of the small remote communities the researchers were looking for.

Self-management programs have an important role in chronic disease management.  Over the past few years, research has shown that well designed programs can have an impact on the quality of life of people living with chronic conditions.  In Northern Ontario given the higher prevalence of chronic diseases and the lack of access and availability of health care services compared to other parts of the province, there is a growing need to deliver this information.  However, there are barriers to the implementation of self-management programs in the northern regions of Ontario.  As these tend to be small-group programs led by trained individuals, one barrier is justifying the investment of training dedicated program leaders in every community. It is also not realistic to expect program leaders to travel to smaller communities to deliver courses across Northern Ontario because of time, distance, weather and cost. As well, in small remote communities there may be an insufficient number of participants to form an in-person self-management group.

This is a free education program for people with chronic disease to learn the skills needed for the daily management of long-term illnesses. Each course is 2.5 hours a week for 6 weeks. It will be offered using video-conferencing from a telehealth studio at the Manitouwadge General Hospital beginning this September .

Program participants will learn:

• How to manage their symptoms
• How to eat well and live more actively
• How to communicate effectively with the health care team
• How to manage fear, anger, frustration and depression
• How to make daily tasks easier
• How to get more out of life

The study is limited to people 55 years or older and have one or more of the following conditions:
• Arthritis
• Stroke
• Heart Disease (e.g. coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure)
• Lung Disease (e.g. asthma, chronic bronchitis, COPD, emphysema)

Manitouwadge General Hospital CEO Judith Harris was enthusiastic in signing the agreement.  “This type of program supports the hospital’s commitment to partner with other agencies to deliver quality programs we could not provide directly”.  Funding for this project is provided by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research.  Support is also provided by the Ontario Telemedicine Network.  The hospital will provide staff support to set up the sessions and the videoconference equipment. 

Anyone who meets the above criteria and wishes to participate can contact the
Registration office at:
1-866-870-4560

Women’s College Hospital
76 Grenville Street, Suite 818
Toronto, Ontario M5S 1B2

The past week has seen many developments involving technology and the subsequent training of staff.  As technology and medicine rapidly changes, small hospitals must make a strong commitment of time and resources to remain current. 

Canadian Triage Acuity Scale.  A one day course to train the trainer was provided in Terrace Bay for nurses in the region to attend.  Louise Baran, Annie Janveau and Lynn MacDonald took the course for MGH.  Known as CTAS, this scale has been used for a few years by nurses, doctors and paramedics to ensure all patients are triaged consistently and on an identical scale.  This helps ensure the appropriate resources are allocated immediately depending on patient need.  For example, when paramedics radio a CTAS score to the Emergency Room, nurses use this score to determine which room the patient needs to go to, which staff should be called in including doctors etc.  It is also used to determine which patient is seen next in a waiting room. 

Recent changes to the scale will require all nurses and paramedics in Ontario and paramedics to upgrade their use of this valuable tool.  MGH nurses will undergo the training in the next few months.

Meditech:
This exciting project has been embraced by most of the hospitals in Northwestern Ontario.  Led by Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, the district hospitals have embarked on an ambitious project to get on the information superhighway.  Participating sites are now entering Phase Two of the project which will see the accounts receivables, pharmacy and laboratory services and food services into this new system.  The first phase involved the computerization of all data for diagnostic imaging and admitting.  Equipment will continue to be received and installed over the next few months.  The third phase will be when doctors and nurses enter patient records at the bed side.  This is expected some time in 2008.  At that point, all hospital patient information should be integrated at each hospital and eventually with Thunder Bay Health Sciences Centre.  This is a major step to moving this region to an electronic patient record for services provided in the hospitals. 

Picture below staff receive web based training on the accounts receivable module while using the new computers. 

 

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is providing full scholarships to the Advanced Health Leaders Program for current and potential members of executive teams in the health system.  This is an executive education program focussed on the next generation of Ontario’s health leaders.  It seeks to improve their understanding and skills in the areas of Leadership, the Management of Change, Emotional and Political Intelligence and Integrative Thinking.
The program is based at the prestigious Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto.

Forty-two spaces are funded in full by the Ministry of Health and three spaces were offered in each of the Local Health Integrated Networks.  The selection process was highly competitive and the Manitouwadge General Hospital is very pleased and proud to announce that our newly appointed Director of Community Outreach, Mr. Jocelyn Bourgoin, received one of the three appointments from our LHINs.

This is an exciting opportunity for leadership development in the Ontario health care system.  After being advised of Mr. Bourgoin’s appointment, Mrs. Reta Kalincak, Board Chair stated: “Our congratulations are extended to Mr. Bourgoin.  We are confident that he will reap the rewards of this initiative and we are fortunate to have him on our team.”

Judith C. Harris,
C.E.O

A retreat with results!

On August 15th, MGH took the next step in the review of our role study and hosted a retreat for our health partners, team leaders, board members,  management and community representatives.  Led by Pat Norman from Agnew Peckham Consulting in Toronto, the session focused on clarifying our draft vision statements and identifying values we hold dear.  Partner agencies came from Marathon, Nipigon and locally to assist the hospital with formulating how we will work with them in delivering Mighty Great Healthcare for our residents. 

As each group session massaged the words to get them to say what we mean and eventually mean what we say, the enthusiasm was evident in the room.  Regardless of background or function, everyone got an opportunity to help shape the focus of the hospital for the next five years.  A final document is to be submitted to the hospital steering committee and once approved by the hospital board; the document will be shared widely.  To all who took time from their busy schedules to spend the day forging our vision, thank you.

New funding to address infrastructure projects

The Ministry of Health and Long Term Care has approved $180,500 in infrastructure renewal funding to help keep the hospital in good condition.  The funds will be used for seven projects to address areas of deficiency or improvement.  New handicap door openers will finally be installed to address the challenges we have had with the main hallways.  Improvements in soundproofing to the telehealth room will assist in maintaining privacy for patients using this service.  A new bulk oxygen storage system and above ground fuel tanks will be constructed.  Patient safety will be improved with a newer wanderguard system to alert nurses when some patients wander outside their area.  The increased levels of activity in the hospital have placed a strain on our hot water supply system.  Newer and larger hot water tanks will be brought in to keep up with the demand. 

Goodbye Pat and Pat

RPN Pat Gould and Administrative Support Pat Tuomi have both moved on.  Pat Gould has been a fixture around the hospital for over 20 years.  She has been active in many projects and was union steward for many years.  She is relocating with her family.  Pat Tuomi has worked at the hospital since the early 90’s.  She started at the ambulance service and moved to maintenance before working in administration.  She will remain in Manitouwadge.  We wish both of them the best in their new endeavours.

HOSPITAL GARAGE SALE
Mark your calendars!!  On August 25th, at 0900-1100, MGH will be having a garage sale to dispose of items no longer used.  We are running out of storage space and need to do a good cleaning to remove surplus items.  All departments have been asked to go through their operation and identify what they don’t need that is cluttering up the work space.  Who knows what they will find, but Manitouwadge residents are welcomed to come take a look and see if you can use any of it.  No early birds please, we need time to set up and will not be selling items until 0900.

 

MGH Bone Density Scanning program achieves goal;
provide services closer to home.

Every few days, they come from Marathon, Terrace Bay, White River, Hornepayne  for the quick and painless procedure that will reveal if their bones are becoming fragile.  Since the hospital purchased the Bone Density Scanning machine, its use has been steadily increasing.  One interesting statistic is that half the patients are from out of town.  Manitouwadge General Hospital has the only bone densitometry scanning machine between Thunder Bay and Sault St. Marie.  Waiting times are non existent, and readings are analyzed instantly by computer and given to the referring physician.  All information is exchanged electronically between the hospital, radiologist and referring physician as part of the ever growing use of internet technology to improve patient care services closer to home.

Bone density scanning, also called dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA or DEXA) or bone densitometry, is an enhanced form of x-ray technology that is used to measure bone loss.  DEXA bone densitometry is most often used to diagnose osteoporosis, a condition that affects 25% of women over 50 and 5% of men.  After menopause women lose bone mass at a much faster rate, causing the bones to become thinner, more fragile and more likely to break.

The patient lies on a padded table. An x-ray generator is located below the patient, the detector is slowly passed over the area, generating images on a computer monitor.

The patient must hold very still for a few minutes while the x-ray picture is taken to ensure an accurate diagnosis. The DEXA bone density test is usually completed within 30 minutes as the lumbar spine and non dominant hip is scanned.

Test results will be in the form of two scores:

T score — This number shows the amount of bone you have compared with a young adult of the same gender with peak bone mass. A score above -1 is considered normal. A score between -1 and -2.5 is classified as osteopenia, the first stage of bone loss. A score below -2.5 is defined as osteoporosis. The T score is used to estimate your risk of developing a fracture.

Z score — This number reflects the amount of bone you have compared with other people in your age group and of the same size and gender. If this score is unusually high or low, it may indicate a need for further medical tests.

Small changes may normally be observed between scans due to differences in positioning and usually are not significant.

Benefits

• DEXA bone densitometry is a simple, quick and non-invasive procedure.
• No anesthesia is required.
• The amount of radiation used is extremely small—less than one-tenth the dose of a standard chest x-ray.
• DEXA bone density testing is the most accurate method available for the diagnosis of osteoporosis and is also considered an accurate estimator of fracture risk.
• DEXA equipment is widely available making DEXA bone densitometry testing convenient for patients and physicians alike.
• No radiation remains in a patient's body after an x-ray examination.
• X-rays usually have no side effects.

Risks

• The effective radiation dose from this procedure is about 0.01 mSv, which is about the same as the average person receives from background radiation in one day.
• Women should always inform their physician or x-ray technologist if there is any possibility that they are pregnant.
• No complications are expected with the DEXA procedure.

 

Manitouwadge General Hospital and Telemedicine partnership

Visits triple in three years.

For the past few years, many residents have benefited from the use of telemedicine technology to obtain medical care and advice from specialist located across the province.   As more specialists and allied health professionals learn of this valuable tool, new ways emerge to improve delivery services to local residents.
Here are three common scenarios that have helped save travel costs for patients and clinical service providers

Scenario 1:  A patient is eager to obtain a knee replacement surgery.  The wait list is a bit long for one to be done in Thunder Bay, so the patient agrees to have it done in Dryden.  As part of the pre-surgical consult, the Dryden anesthetist wants to assess this patient.  Normally this would require a visit prior to the surgery to see this doctor.  Instead, both the doctor and patient used the telemedicine equipment at Manitouwadge General Hospital to perform the following; obtain a history, have a physical look at the patient, listen to the heart and lungs via an electronic stethoscope which allows the physician to clearly hear the sounds in Dryden.  A camera is used to examine the mouth and airway which again is seen in Dryden.  A measuring tape is used to provide some distances for the doctor to know the size of equipment he will need when the patient arrives.  Blood work is ordered, faxed to MGH and the patient is on his way ready to travel only once for the surgery.

Scenario 2: A group of Manitouwadge residents with chronic diseases participate in group sessions to help them manage their conditions by speaking with experts and sharing lessons learned with others just like them across the province in small and remote communities.  They actually are part of a study on the use of telemedicine to improve the quality of life for those with chronic diseases.

Scenario 3; A training session on the latest  in diagnostic imagining is held for local technologists to not only see live presentations, but they can also ask questions of the demonstrator and immediately see their questions demonstrated on the screen.
These are a very small example of the myriad use of telemedicine uses.

In 2005, there was 121 patients seen via telemedicine.  By 2006, the number was 249 and if current trend continues, 2007 might see more than 370 patients.  Some days have 5-7 patients.  The busiest was 10 patient visits on one day.  That represents 10 local residents not having to travel to Thunder Bay for a simple appointment on that day.
These numbers do not reflect the educational sessions held, only patients seen.

What is a telemedicine clinic?
A telemedicine clinic uses cameras and televisions to connect you to doctors and other health professionals over a distance, reducing the need to travel to receive care.
When you have an appointment at a telemedicine clinic, you will be able to see, hear and talk to a doctor or other health professional via two-way television.

What happens at a telemedicine appointment?
A telemedicine appointment is much like a regular check up, only the health professional you will be seeing and talking to is on a television screen.
Before you arrive for your appointment, the person who will examine you will already have some information about you. In addition, you may be asked to bring test results with you to the appointment.  Because MGH is using digital X-rays, the physician will already have them on his screen.
Once you have checked in at reception at the hospital, you will be directed to the waiting area under the skylight in the main hallway.
An individual who has been trained in telemedicine will bring you into the examination room, show you the equipment and explain how it works. You may ask any questions that you have. After you have been provided with the details about your appointment, you will be asked for your consent to proceed.

Who is with me during a consultation?
In most consultations, a telemedicine professional will be with you during the examination. Your family doctor or other health professional may also attend.

Who will be examining me?
The health professional you will see will be located at another site.  He/she may ask the coordinator to move your limbs, apply the stethoscope or camera etc 

How long does a telemedicine appointment take?
A telemedicine appointment can run anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour, depending on the type of appointment and whether or not you have seen the health professional before.

Is telemedicine private?
Your telemedicine appointment will be private and confidential. The appointment can only be seen and heard by those directly involved.

What about my 'Personal Health Information'?
We understand that your health information is important to you and that it must be protected. 'Personal Health Information' is any information that can identify you and link you to the health services that you have received. This includes your name, address, telephone number, health card number, examination or laboratory results, the name of the health professional you will be seeing, and the reason for the visit.

How does OTN protect my 'Personal Health Information'?
Your consent for the use of this information by OTN is implied when you agree with your referring health professional to have a telemedicine consultation. You can withdraw your consent at any time prior to or during the telemedicine consultation.  Your personal health information will not be shared with anyone other than those involved in your care without your prior consent, unless OTN is required to do so by law.
OTN uses physical and technical methods to protect your personal health information. These include control access locks, locked drawers and filing cabinets, user ID and passwords, private key encryption software, firewalls, virtual private network hardware and software clients, and a private network over which data and images flow between sites.

 

Medi-Tech training proceeds on schedule

Nursing staff are now entering the next phase of Medi-Tech training as Manitouwadge General Hospital joins Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Centre and the other district hospitals toward a fully integrated regional patient record.  This next phase of training involves the use of the software to order all laboratory and diagnostic imaging  procedures on the system.  This will facilitate access to information regardless of which hospital a person is using in the region.  The final phase of this project will eventually see nurses and doctors entering the patient chart details into the system.  The resulting information will lead to better data retrieval, less errors, access to research data and ease of referrals to Thunder Bay.

Late Career Nurse Initiative

This government program supports nurses over age 55 to spend part of their time doing less physically demanding work, such as mentoring other nurses or teaching patients. This gives experienced nurses a break from the physical demands of front line nursing and keeps them from retiring early — so the health care system can benefit from their knowledge and experience.  Manitouwadge General Hospital has been successful in applying for such a grant and one of our RNs will be participating into this program until spring of next year.  As a long term member of the team at MGH, her valued experience and knowledge will be retained longer than otherwise would have been possible.

 

Clinic Update

The Manitouwadge General Hospital has decided to re-tender the renovations to the clinic after the results of the first tendering process came in much too high for the scope of the project.  Discussions about reducing the costs of the tender were held with the company that submitted the lower of two tenders.  Despite major reductions in the scope of the project, there were little savings to be had.  The contractor cited the remoteness of the community as a significant factor in the high costs and reducing the scope of the work did little to effect savings. 

A second tender request has been issued with a modified scope of work.  The tenders are to be opened on December 18th.   It is hoped this re-tendering will produce better results and work could begin early in the new year.

Manitouwadge General Hospital Initiative Paying Big Dividends

On August 25, 1995, James Paynter, Chair of the Manitouwadge General Hospital  met with Minister of Health Jim Wilson.   He pointed out that as of May of 1995, Manitouwadge had only one physician working full time in the community.  Efforts to recruit even temporary doctors did not work and the last remaining physician left.  MGH decided that there had to be a new way of encouraging physicians to come to our community.  They developed an alternate payment plan which provided incentives to physicians to stay and work in the community.  A minimum salary level, on call pay and office support was instituted.  Assistance with housing, professional development and most importantly time off rounded up the package.  The results were quick and permanent.  The physician situation stabilized and permanent family practitioners returned to the community.  We have never been short on physicians since.

The Manitouwadge Alternate Payment Plan was eventually taken over by the Ministry of Health and used as a basis to establish similar programs in other small communities in the north.  Many northern communities still cannot find physicians.  Geraldton continues to struggle and has had to resort to having locums cover the town on an ongoing basis.  Some communities rely on nurse practitioners for primary care with weekly or monthly physician visits. 
 
Today in Ontario, there are 130,000 children and over 1,000,000 citizens who cannot find a family physician.  Even Thunder Bay has 35,000 residents without access to a family physician.  It is expected this situation will continue to worsen over time and competition to attract physicians will only escalate.  Dryden already offers a sizeable bonus to relocate there.  Manitouwadge will not be in a financial situation to compete against such communities.  In larger centres such as Ottawa, physicians hold interviews to decide which patients they will accept on their roster as openings come up.  Other physicians have “fired” patients who were too unpleasant.  Our current physicians love this community and remain committed to delivering quality care while having a balanced life here.

When residents find it objectionable at not being able to see a physician within two weeks for non-emergent needs, we need to remember that a recent review of other clinics in the region indicated Manitouwadge had the shortest wait times.  Of course the 1,000,000 or so Ontario residents who can’t even find a physician who will see them would love to have only a two week wait for routine appointments.

The reason Manitouwadge has it this good is because of the board’s initiative in 1995 and the current group of physicians who like small town living as long as they can have a family life that is acceptable.  Should the workload become unbearable, the quality of life disappears and the physicians leave and eventually no incentive will ever be enough to bring permanent physicians back.  We need to appreciate the quality and level of service we have, because the alternative is not something we would like.

Board approves clinic renovations to proceed

The Manitouwadge General Hospital has awarded the first phase of the clinic renovation project to Quinan construction from Orillia.  Thanks to a successful fundraising campaign, the modifications required to stream line the day to day operations of the clinic will begin shortly.  Andy Cotnam of ANO Architects based in Timmins will oversee the project with much of the local monitoring to be done by hospital staff to keep costs in check.

Phase one will see the many improvements to storage area, exam rooms, doctor offices, entrances and most importantly, patient privacy.  An electronic sound masking system will be installed to help reduce the amount of information that can be heard in the waiting room and adjoining examination rooms.  A new file room will be built to store all the patient files in a secure and yet accessible area. 

Phase two and three of the project are to address the outside appearance of the facility as well as an improved ventilation system.  Fundraising for those two phases will begin shortly. 

The clinic will continue to operate during the renovation phase.  Plans are being made to mitigate the amount of disruption this will create for staff and patients.

 

Diagnostic Imaging (X-Ray) changes hours to accommodate changing community

As part of the hospital’s goal to pursue continuous quality improvement, an internal audit revealed that Manitouwadge residents favour getting their diagnostic imaging procedures early in the morning.  For years, the department stayed open later in the day to accommodate workers from the mine and forest companies. As our community changes, so did the workload.  In the past three years, their procedures have gone up tremendously.  Over 64% of the visits are before noon.  46% of all procedures are done between opening time at 09:00 and 11:00.   Almost half of all the images were completed in the first two hours of the day’s start!  The review also indicated that only 3% of tests were done after 1600 and only 0.6% after 16:30. 

The new diagnostic imaging hours will be from 08:30 till 16:30.  This will improve access to those who need to get to work early as well as those who have to fast for imaging or even lab procedures.  It will also spread morning “rush hour” over another half hour thus helping to reduce wait times. 

Nurses benefit from Ward Clerk

A new friendly face can be seen at the nurse’s station.  Tracy Fahey is the new Ward Clerk.  Tracy lived here for six years 20 years ago.  She is a graduate of Manitouwadge High School.  She subsequently completed the Medical Office Assistant Program and has worked in Maple Ridge BC for three years before moving to Sudbury where she worked in admitting at the Sudbury Regional Hospital.  Four years ago, she transferred to the OR as a Ward Clerk and thrived in the fast pace environment.  Because she was using MediTech in Sudbury, she is very comfortable with the new programs recently installed at our hospital.  Her duties here will include routine paperwork, appointment bookings, patient follow up and arranging transfers.  By working closely with the nurses, she will be a key element to ensure continuity of care as well as allow nurses to focus more on patients and less on paperwork.

MGH and the New Women’s College Hospital in Toronto
Expand Chronic Disease Management Program  

As was announced last fall, the Manitouwadge General Hospital has entered into a partnership agreement with The New Women’s College Hospital from Toronto to study the use of Telehealth to deliver Self Management Programs to Rural and Remote Communities.  This study will focus on multiple sites in Northern Ontario.  Manitouwadge met the criteria as one of the small remote communities the researchers were looking for.

Dr. Susan Jaglal, Senior Research Scientist at Women’s College Research Institute, is offering free self-management courses through videoconferencing (telehealth) to Manitouwadge residents with chronic diseases. The intent of the study is to see if people can learn the skills they need to self-manage their illnesses by taking free courses through telehealth.  The main objective of the course is to improve the participants’ self-management practices by increasing their knowledge, identifying healthy and unhealthy behaviors, and developing self-care skills.

Dr. Jaglal’s research team is looking for Manitouwadge residents with chronic diseases to enroll in these free courses, and participate in her study to determine whether this “distance learning” approach is effective. The study will require participants to complete a telephone survey four times during the year.

Each free course is six weeks long, with one 2 ½ hour session per week.  The course as well as all materials (e.g. workbooks) are available free of charge to participants.  Courses will be held at one of the Manitouwadge General Hospital telehealth studios. 

WHEN & WHERE:    
Free courses have been tentatively scheduled for
1. March 27-May 1: Thursdays 1:30-4:00pm
2. April 16 – May 21; Wed 1:30-4:00 pm
3. May 13 – June 17; Tues 1:30-4:00 pm

WHO:              Individuals are eligible for the free courses if they are:
- 45 years of age or older**
- Have been diagnosed by a physician with one or more of:
- Chronic lung disease (asthma, chronic bronchitis, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease / emphysema)
- Heart disease (coronary artery disease or congestive heart failure)
-Stroke
-Arthritis
-Diabetes**

In the previous sessions, participants had to be over 55 to participate.  This is a significant change.  Anyone who meets the above criteria and wishes to participate can contact the Registration office at: 1-866-870-4560

Women’s College Hospital
76 Grenville Street, Suite 818
Toronto, Ontario M5S 1B2 
 

Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM)

is offering a French Medical Terminology  language course for French speaking nurses to improve their medical terminology when dealing with francophone patients.  Three Manitouwadge General Hospital  nurses have enrolled in the program which is offered via telehealth linkup with a live instructor located at one of the NOSM sites in Thunder Bay or Sudbury.  This is another example of how health care delivery in Manitouwadge has improved with the assistance of Telehealth and the NOSM.

Northern Ontario School of Medicine Students use Manitouwadge as part of training program.

Anna Maria Soviero and Justin Todd picked the coldest stretch in a long time to set up shop in our community to complete clinical placements for their second year of medicine training.  Working with our local doctors at the clinic as well as the hospital, they are enjoying the community and the people.  While in the community, they must continue to attend classes by teleconference calls with web connections.  One very evident aspect of the NOSM training was the reliance on technology to provide training and assistance to the students regardless of location.  It is quickly apparent that Anna and Justin are very comfortable using computers for all aspects of training.  Despite being hundred’s of kilometres away from their instructors, fellow students and the school, they remain constantly on line with all of them.  The new generation of graduating physicians will expect their work environments to be well equipped with technology for them to deliver the best care they can.

Justin was born in Sault St. Marie and at age five moved to North Bay until Grade 10 when the family moved to St. Catherines.  He enjoys sports in particular basketball, weightlifting and golf.  He has a honours bachelor degree in Medical Sciences with specialty in pharmacology and physiology.  Todd was quoted as saying: “I am very drawn by the sense of community in Manitouwadge and the accommodating nature of the people and the hospital staff. In having a home campus in a larger center and having multiple placements in small more rural towns like Manitouwadge you really start to gain an appreciation of the benefits and social dynamics of smaller communities, but retain the ability to bring those benefits and values back to the larger centers.”

Anna was born in North York but moved to Thunder Bay at age 14.  She is has a four-year Honours Bachelor of Kinesiology degree at Lakehead University.  In her spare time, she enjoys horseback riding.  Her interest in medicine came from witnessing the need for physicians in the north, especially in smaller towns.  “NOSM style of learning in small groups suits her best” says Anna.  She enjoys her stay here and appreciates the diversity of care provided by local physicians.

Anna and Justin will be with us until March 4th.

As Chief of Staff for the Manitouwadge General Hospital, Dr. MacTavish advises that Dr. Cherinet Seid from Ottawa will be here Feb 18 - 25 while Dr Janet Smylie from Toronto will be here from Feb 26 - March 2nd   Dr. William Crawford who hails all the way from New Zealand, will be here March 17 - 31st.

A recent audit by Diagnostic Imaging is showing a significant improvement in the turn around times for radiologist reports.  Last year, the majority of hospitals in the North West were advised that the current service provider no longer wanted to continue with the service.  Thunder Bay Regional Hospital agreed to assume the readings with local and locum radiologists and after a few months of adjustments, the quality of the reports and turnaround times have been improving steadily.  Staff advises that urgent reports often can be read in minutes thanks to digital imaging.

 

MGH nurses reach 100% Advance Cardiac Life Support Certification (ACLS)

A recent recertification course has ensured that all of the RN's at Manitouwadge General Hospital  are ACLS certified by the Health And Stroke Foundation of Ontario.  Using an elaborate simulator that can be shocked with a defibrillator and have tubes and IV's inserted into it, the nurses were able to practice their skills for those rare occasions when they may be asked to handle such life and death situations.  The manikin can simulate many different types of cardiac arrhythmia's ( changes in EKG's).  The nurses had to be able to recognize and treat these arrhythmia's in order to pass the program.  All of the nurses who took the course were successful.  The course was delivered by Dr. MacTavish, who is an ACLS Medical Director with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario.  Since his arrival in our community, it has been much easier to have all the nurses certified.  Without a local instructor, the hospital would have to send nurses out of town or contract someone to come in to deliver the program.  Congratulations to all the nurses on maintaining such a high level of qualification.

This may be an opportune time to remind everyone that National Nurses Week is coming up shortly and now is the time to plan how you will show your appreciation to our hard working men and women who provide care 24/7 in our facility and out in the community via public health and diabetic programs etc.  This year’s theme is “Think you know nursing? Take a closer look.”.  It reflects on the ever changing profession that nursing represents for health care.  As new roles evolve for nursing careers, the focus remains to meet the needs of patients in all walks of life.

Clinic Renovations

This project is progressing well.  The new file and supply rooms are enclosed, the main entrance changes are almost complete and most of the wiring etc is completed.  The contractor has decided to work mainly on weekends and late on Monday nights to minimize disturbance for the clinic staff and patients who attend there.  By working these types of hours, the disruption to day to day operation of the clinic has been minimized.  The next phase of the work will require the clinic to be closed on May 8th and 9th to allow for more disruptive work to be done quickly.   Everyone’s patience and cooperation is appreciated while this project is going on.

Rotman’s School of Management Advanced Health Leadership Program Graduates First Class

April 25th was the last day of an intense three week program sponsored by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care in partnership with the University of Toronto’s Rotman’s School of Management.  The program focused on leadership in health care settings in time of chance and challenging environments.  Jocelyn Bourgoin, Director of Community Outreach was one of only four people from the North West Region to participate in the course.  Only forty five candidates from across the province attended this first intake.  A second class has been approved, but despite excellent feedback from all the participants, it is not known if the program will be offered again.

New Safety Engineered Sharps Policy Approved

After attending a special policy formulation session in Thunder Bay, Director of Nursing Debbie Hardy developed an improved policy to protect staff who use hollow point needles.  By using specially engineered needles whenever possible, the hospital hopes to eliminate accidental punctures during injection procedures.  Health workers are often exposed to diseases from contaminated sharps incidents.  Using new technology to reduce those incidents helps keep everyone safe at work.

 

Kitchen Flood Tests Hospital Emergency Plan

On May 5th, the day was progressing as any other when suddenly; kitchen staff noticed water coming up from the floor drains.  A new system for breaking down food and grease failed and the grease trap was full causing water from the sinks and freezer to back up.  Despite the best efforts of the maintenance and housekeeping staff, the flood quickly spread to the whole kitchen, the adjacent hallway and eventually reached the stock room.

As the housekeeping and maintenance crew teams redoubled their efforts to stem the tide, an Emergency Management Team Meeting including Public Health Nurse Jackie Jung  decided to close the kitchen until the flood could be stopped and move the evening meal preparation to the Day Away program kitchen in the rehab department.

Extra staff came in to help move all of the sealed foods, utensils, dishes, pots, pans etc needed to prepare dinner scheduled to be delivered in less than two hours.  As a precaution, all the dishes were re-washed.  Dinner was prepared and the meals delivered to the patients on time.  While this phase of the operation was going on, Maintenance Engineer Bob Lennie and Kevin Batchilder from Batch’s Plumbing unplugged the grease trap after considerable efforts.  Housekeeping staff all came in to clean the floors and disinfect the kitchen. 

By morning, all was clean, the cafeteria was open and it was business as usual.  One would not have known this kitchen was a disaster zone 12 short hours earlier.  Kudos to all the hospital staff, Public Health Unit and Batch’s Plumbing for an excellent response. 

Joe # 3 Moves on.

On May 9th, a farewell BBQ was held for Joe Russard (or Joe number 3 as he was also known) who will be leaving the MGH team to work in the mining sector.  Bob Lennie expressed the disappointment of many in seeing Joe leave as he was always cheerful in getting a task done.  All you had to do was mention something needed to be done and by the time you returned, the job was complete.  Best wishes were expressed for his family’s move to greener pastures. 

Deadline for Judith C Harris Bursary

The deadline for the Judith C. Harris bursary for Manitouwadge High School graduates pursuing post-secondary studies in the health care profession is May 30th.  Application forms can be obtained at the high school or by contact Doris Tirshmann at 826-3251 ext 228.

 

MGH staff train in Non Violence Intervention

On May 13 and 14, nine MGH staffs attended a special training program to help manage the increasing violence in health care work places.  Unfortunately, even Manitouwadge is not immune to such behaviour.  Violence against workers in Canadian long term care facilities is a common occurrence, according to a recently released study.
The York University-led study, Long Term Care Workers and Workplaces: Comparing Canada and Nordic Europe, found 17 per cent of registered nurses and 25 per cent of licensed practical nurses, registered practical nurses and registered nursing assistants experience violence daily. For personal support workers, who bathe, clothe and feed residents in long-term care facilities, 43 per cent reported daily incidents of physical violence.
"What we found is disturbing," says Pat Armstrong, professor, York University Department of Sociology and study co-author. "Canada's level of violence towards long-term care workers is significantly higher than the other countries we looked at.
There are many reasons patients can lash out at health care workers and it is critical that employees be trained to manage such situation for the best care, welfare, security and safety of both the worker and patient.  This program is based on the Crisis Prevention Institute, INC program which has gained increasing recognition in the past few years.
Instructors from Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) delivered the course.  Jennifer Turcotte is a Registered Nurse with a Mental Health background.  Jaryd Glowatch is responsible for security at TBRHSC.  This dynamic duo promised that by the end of the course, everyone would feel much more comfortable in handling people who become aggressive in the work place and they were right. 
Participants learned how to use words, body language and if absolutely necessary, as a last resort physical intervention to ensure that a situation does not escalate and someone gets hurt.  Techniques covered, hair pulls, bites, choke holds, grabs and full blown attacks.  The concept is to not hurt the person acting out, but use techniques that protect the workers and yet controls the situation.  After the course, many felt it was one of the best courses ever offered to all the staff.  The verbal skills and understanding of why people act out and how to intervene early to defuse the situation was very valuable.

 

MGH and Partners submit nine projects to LHIN

A frenzy of activity seized the hospital in the past few weeks as everyone pulled together and submitted three proposals and six suggestions to the North West LHIN on how best to help residents Stay Well at Home.  Partnerships were explored with the physicians, North Shore hospitals, Community Care Access Centre, North of Superior Programs, ORNGE (air ambulance), Superior North EMS, Township of Manitouwadge to name a few.  The proposals covered the gamut from having a transit system for medical appointments on highway 11 and 17 to complex wound care at home to coordinating home came, mental health and hospital services for improved service to residents.  Responses to the submissions are expected sometime in the next month. 

Bear Breaks Bin

A bear managed to make a nuisance of himself last week when he visited the hospital during the night to break into the garbage bin.  He then proceeded to spread his feast all the way to the helipad.  The next day, he returned to the hospital grounds and was actually chased of the property by maintenance staff.  The bear then proceeded to swim across the lake.  A cage was set up and a bear was promptly captured and removed from the hospital property.  Everyone is hoping it was the same bear.

Welcome Derek

Former resident Derek Blair has joined the nursing team a few weeks ago.  Derek and his wife were raised here before moving away.  They decided to return to Manitouwadge to raise their family here and enjoy this great community. 

Hospital helps patients kick the habit

Hospitals throughout Northwestern Ontario are now better primed to help patients who want to butt out.  Recent in-service training by researchers Dr. Pat Smith and Dr. Scott Sellick will assist nurses to implement bedside smoking cessation programs for patients. 

“Our extensive research demonstrates that people who are hospitalized want to quit smoking,” explains Dr. Pat Smith, Associate Professor, Northern Ontario School of Medicine.  “This training program is part of a system of tools designed to reach smokers when they are most willing to quit and most likely to succeed in their attempt. People who quit smoking during hospitalization have significantly higher quit rates than the general population.” 

 “With this training and the right information and tools, our nurses are now prepared to provide smoking cessation assistance to our patients,” says Louise Baran, Nurse Manager, “Our goal is to help patients make healthy choices to prevent further disease or deterioration.” 

 

MGH holds Annual Corporate Meeting

June 16th was the annual meeting for the hospital corporation held in the Judith C. Harris Boardroom.  Corporate members attended the meeting to receive the reports from administration, the auditors and also to elect new board members and appoint auditors.  The hospital again ended the year with a slight surplus.  Trustee elections saw the return of Phil Minty to the board after a one year absence mandated by the bylaws.  Barbara Olson was also acclaimed as director.  Joan McDonald who has been involved with the board for more years than could be remembered (or admitted to) ended her final term.  She advised that although she won’t be on the board, she fully intends to continue to knit for the Kozy Korner gift shop.  Peter McKeon who has been there since 1986 also saw the end of his term.

At a subsequent Board meeting, Reta Kalincak was re-elected as Chair of the Board for two years.  Earl Knipple was elected as Vice-Chair.  John MacEarchern was elected as Finance Chair, Judith Harris, former CEO for the hospital for 28 years was present in the audience as a voting member of the corporation.  She was honoured that the annual report was dedicated to her career.  Copies of the report can be requested via the hospital and a copy will be available at the public library shortly.

NEW Tub Technology Visits MGH

Shoppers Home Health Care from Thunder Bay visited our community and the hospital with a special vehicle to showcase new types of bathtubs designed to help people remain well at home longer.  When people lose some mobility, they often have difficulties with getting in and out of regular bathtubs.  These new types of tubs are commonly advertised on TV as making the use of a tub easy and safe.  Various models were displayed for staff and visitors who took the opportunity to get more information.  For more information, please contact Shoppers Home Health Care directly in Thunder Bay at 1-800-465-3986.

 

Hospital Bursaries go to local students

The first Judith C Harris Bursary in the amount of $1,000 was awarded to Cody to help pursue his studies in nursing at Lakehead University next fall.  Established by the hospital board of directors, the bursary was intended to recognize the major contributions Judith C Harris gave to the community as CEO of the hospital for 28 years and help local students pursue a career in the health care field.  Cody was also the recipient of the Hospital’s Auxiliary Bursary. 
Congratulations Cody.

 

 

Long term employee retires

Margot Gagne began working in housekeeping at MGH in 1984.  She would remember the “good old days” of making the floor in the old hospital shine despite the unevenness  with the bumps in them.  Walking those long corridors and pushing heavy machinery was hard work and still is today in the new facility.   Yes there is better machinery, but the hallways did not get shorter and the amount of cleaning increased from the old to the new hospital.  Keeping a hospital clean is not the same as keeping your house clean.  In these days of antibiotic resistant bacteria, the vigilance required of housekeeping and infection control is paramount.  Margot worked day in and day out to ensure that staff, patients and visitors not only had a pleasant environment to work and be in, but also did not get exposed to harmful infectious entities.  Congratulations on a long and dedicated career and best wishes for a healthy and long retirement.

 

 

Financial system upgrade.

MGH is moving forward with a new financial system called Ormed.  This program is used by Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Centre and many other regional hospitals.  The Encom system currently used by the hospital has been due for replacement for years and after detailed review, the decision was finally made to move forward with Ormed.  To facilitate the transition and help to computerize functions in the finance office, Avin Ramnarine has joined the team in an advisory capacity.  Avin has been working in Toronto since 1982 in account management and financial planning processes.  He has worked with such clients as Mazda and Lavalife among others.  He has and MBA and just wrote his last exam for CMA designation.  Although he has only been here a day, he is amazed at the peace and quiet our scenic community can offer.  Besides relaxing in the nice scenery, Alvin enjoys running and biking. 

Nurses and doctors complete neonatal resuscitation course.

Having to handle a critical infant can be very challenging at the best of times, but when such an event happens in a small rural community, it is often someone the nurses know.  The fact that it rarely happens is the good thing, but staying up to date and current also becomes a challenge.  To ensure quality care is delivered even under such difficult circumstances, MGH hosted a Neonatal Paediatric Resuscitation course at the hospital on June 16th. 
Dr. Todd Young from Hornepayne is a certified Neonatal Resuscitation Program Instructor with the Canadian Paediatric Society and taught the recertification course to  Ronna Neale, Jodi Kitt, Annie Janveau, Mary Glaister, Cathy Kelly and Drs. Hall and Young.  All completed the course successfully.  All RN’s except for one have now taken the program.  Another course planned locally for the fall will be used to recertify six other RNs.  One new nurse will need to go to Hornepayne to take a full course.  This course is very well received by the nurses because of the challenges it poses and the need to be ready should their advance skills ever be required.

MGH Chief of Staff is Nominated for Ontario Council Award

Dr. Jim MacTavish, Chief of Staff at the Manitouwadge General Hospital, has been nominated for the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario Council Award, conferred annually to outstanding physicians in Ontario.  The award recognizes a physician's ability to be an expert decision maker, communicator, health advocate, resource manager, and scholar. 

MGH wants your help to minimize infections in hospital.

Manitouwadge General Hospital knows that hand washing is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of infection and now they want you to know it as well. Although staff are reminded all the time to wash their hands, it is not enough.  Visitors also need to be careful with their hand cleanliness.  Physicians nurses and other health care professionals are trained to understand that they will be exposed to more infectious agents in their careers than most and the best protection they will ever have is to wash their hands before and after every patient contact.  Observations from Chief of Staff, Dr. Jim MacTavish prompted a recent hospital audit of the use of the main entrance hand sanitizers which found a very low use by the public.  Only 20% cleaned their hands on the way into the hospital and 1% on the way out!!  It is not enough to kill the bugs you bring into the hospital, but you must also not bring hospital bugs home to your family. 

Did you know?
Canadian health institutions cause an estimated 220,000 infections per year?
Of those infections 8,000 people will die.  This means that every day, 22 Canadians die from an infection picked up in a health care facility. 

Proper hand washing alone can reduce these numbers by 20-40%.   “I want each and every person who enters this hospital and who leaves it to use the hand wash station when they enter and when they leave” said Mrs. Baran.  That is on top of other hand washing practices such as using the washrooms, before eating, after blowing your nose, etc

To remind everyone who enters or leaves the hospital to clean their hands, the hospital Infection Control Committee requested the purchase of two large hand cleaning stations to be located at the main public entrances.  Dr. MacTavish was pleased to see the hospital take extra steps to engage hospital visitors to minimize the risks for infections.  “These floor stations look great and appear to be a great choice” said MacTavish.  Minutes after being installed, people entering the hospital took notice and used the station. 

You will notice a waterless hand wash dispenser outside the door of patient rooms, at the entrance to patient care units, and at hospital entrances/exits.

Simply apply and rub onto hands until it evaporates. No water or drying towel is necessary. This type of waterless hand washing is now believed to be more effective than soap and water washing.  Soap and water washing is still best for removing visible soil from your hands or when you have been in contact with someone who has a clostridium difficile infection. When using soap and water, wash with lots of friction for 10 seconds, dry well and use a paper towel to turn off taps.

 

DEE MILLER COMING TO MANITOUWADGE AUGUST 12TH !

Since June 10, 2008, Dee Miller, Executive Director and Founder of Renewed Strength has been biking around Ontario.  Her plan is to cover 7,645 kms in 100 consecutive days to raise awareness of the free programs Renewed Strength offers to cancer survivors and to raise needed funds to provide every cancer patient in Ontario the opportunity to take advantage of these programs.  In conjunction with her bicycle ride around Ontario, Renewed Strength will offer a very exciting “100-Day Fitness Challenge”. This Challenge provides individuals who wish to help in the fight against cancer  not only the ability to help cancer survivors, but also to increase their physical well being while becoming part of a supportive community.  No matter where one lives in Ontario, they may be part of the event.  Over 80% of donations are spent in providing programs.

Princess Margaret Hospital’s Caring Voices (www.CaringVoices.ca); an online community of support for cancer survivors  with online access to current educational resources, peer support, and advice and education from health care and community experts, has joined in promoting the awareness of the 100-Day Ride.  Dee will be moderating a daily chat at each location she visits to inform the public of how participants are progressing with their 100-Day Fitness Challenge. 
Just imagine you or a loved one being diagnosed with cancer, fighting through the treatment, becoming a Survivor, only to return home without the strength or knowledge of how to start one’s physical and mental road to recovery!  Statistics show that a growing number of cancer patients survive only to face a variety of new needs; many of which are not being met.  It is Dee Miller’s goal to have specialized programs that provide professional guidance and assistance in every community.

Renewed Strength Inc. is a registered Ontario charity which was founded in 2004 to fill the gap in the continuum of care for cancer patients who may no longer qualify for or be able to access specialized strength and mobility aftercare programs. After obtaining one’s Doctor’s consent, Renewed Strength will offer free exercise programs that can be completed in a survivor’s own home without special equipment.   These  Renewed Strength Programs help start a positive life cycle by  increasing strength and mobility, which is intended to make functioning on a daily basis easier, fight reoccurrence and improve the overall quality of life.

Dee will be making a presentation on exercising after cancer at the Manitouwadge General Hospital on August 12 at 7pm in the Judith C Harris Boardroom.  The Manitouwadge Cancer Assistance Group joins MGH in inviting all who have an interest in cancer survival to attend this session

If you would like to join a group of cyclist who will meet Dee at the corner of 614 and 17 and raise funds for Renewed Strength, by cycling with her on 614, please contact Jocelyn Bourgoin at the hospital at 826-3251 ext 115 for details.  You can also make donations directly to Renewed Strength at their web site www.renewedstrentgh.ca .

 

Bike visit a success.

Dee Miller’s bike visit to Manitouwadge was one of the highlights of her trip so far according to her web site at www.renewedstrength.ca.  Dee and her mother attended a special dinner at the hospital with members of the board and our chief of staff Dr. MacTavish.  At the board meeting, Denis Lanteigne dropped by to present Dee with close to $1,000 in pledges, cash donations and donations in kind.  Most of these funds were raised by Denis when he biked from the corner with Ab Doyle and Dee.  She had company all the way to town and was very impressed with our dragon pond, the Christmas tree and our town letters on the rocks.

She had a quick opportunity to share information about her program for cancer survivors with the board and then was whisked away to present her information to those for whom she is doing all this, a group of cancer survivors that Betty Oksanen invited to attend.  They were very pleased to hear how much information and support is available to cancer survivors.  Dee even had products such as a purse designed especially for cancer patients.  The information was very well received and pamphlets have been left with Betty Oksanen, the hospital and the clinic. 

The Renewed Strength web site offered “A very special THANK YOU to the community of Manitouwadge, the Manitouwadge General Hospital… Manitouwadge will always hold a special place in our heart!  Dee and Bev.”  This is the first time her front page recognized a whole community for supporting her visit.  Then again, we know we live in a special community.  Dee and her mom have just found out.

 

 

Bocce ball, charity barbeque

Manitouwadge General Hospital mission states “We are in the business of caring for people and making their lives better”.  With this in mind,  the staff of MGH will be hosting a Bocce ball, charity barbeque and a benefit concert for cancer on September 13, 2008, noon  to 5 pm.  Six Pak has generously agreed to provide an outdoor benefit concert.  There will be prizes, great music, food, free draws, balloons, and face painting for the kids.

Initially, we wanted to do something for Therese Lelievre, mother of one of our nurses.  However, once we began we all realized how many people do not have friends or family that are able to help raise funds for individuals.  Therese has graciously agreed to represent the many faces in our community living with this disease and coping with “Life’s challenges”.   Proceeds will be shared with Therese and the Manitouwadge Cancer Assistance Group who provide financial aid to local residents. 

We encourage everyone to come out and enjoy the afternoon, help us in fulfilling our mission of “making their lives better”,  and remind us all the Life is about living and Living is for Everyone.

 

Fund Raiser Held on Hospital Lawn meets with great success!

Saturday afternoon saw the serene hospital grounds jump to life when hundreds of people gathered to play Bocce Ball for a fundraiser for the Manitouwadge Cancer Group and Mrs. Therese Lelievre. People even drove from White River to enjoy the great setting and perfect surroundings. The Six Pack band entertained the crowd for the afternoon while young and old enjoyed great games of Bocce Ball. The mood was festive, the weather excellent and the food always ready. Many people volunteered to make this event such a success and it paid off. The hospital grounds offered an excellent venue and for many, it was a first chance they had to enjoy a great view of the lake. Usually, you need to be an inpatient to enjoy this view as the rear of the hospital lawn is rarely used by the public. Saturday was the exception and those who gathered there truly enjoyed themselves.

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Clinic News

The Manitouwadge Medical Clinic recently had its voluntary annual chart audit, which was performed under the terms of the Physician Assessment Review (PAR) program. Chart organization, completeness, and evidence of appropriate care were examined in a cross-section of patient files. The clinic achieved a perfect score in the audit.

MGH Wraps up Bocce Ball Event with BBQ

Staff at the hospital celebrated the success of the recently held Bocce Ball event to raise funds for cancer patients in Manitouwadge.  The get together was a great way to wrap up what has been an excellent fall celebration.  On behalf of the fundraising group, Bob Kirkpatrick thanked all who volunteered and those who participated in the event.  Over $5,500 was raised for local residents to benefit from when they are impacted by cancer.  Bob pointed out that living in such a remote community, makes a cancer diagnosis  that much more challenging to deal with.  Having support from the Manitouwadge Cancer Care Group is a key benefit to being part of such a giving community. 
A special slide presentation of the event was displayed during the lunch and a photo album of the event was presented to the Lelievre family as a souvenir.

The gauntlet was also dropped and a challenge was read by Bob Kirkpatrick to the assembled audience whereas Ab Doyle has challenged the hospital and clinic medical staff to a triathlon event race.  He will be alone against a team who will relay for each event.  Watch for details elsewhere in this issue.

Queen’s Medical Student Trains with Local Physicians

Nick Sunderland has been in Manitouwadge since September 8 to complete a clerkship in family medicine.  Under the supervision of Dr. Karin Petersen, Nick has been seeing patients at the clinic.  He has also worked with the other physicians in the Emergency Department of the hospital.  The diversity and challenges of the patients he saw in both settings have impressed him.It is his first time in Northern Ontario and he truly enjoys the outdoors we have to offer.  Originally from Kamloops B.C., he studies at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Western Ontario in London.  Nick will be part of the upcoming triathlon challenge.  He competes regularly in such events most recently this past summer in Edmonton and Ottawa.  Although coy about his best times, he did point out he has competed in races as long as the Olympic events.  He plans to compete in a half Ironman race next spring somewhere in North America.

 

2009 will be busy at MGH

As then end of 2008 approaches, the hospital looks forward to seeing some tangible results from months of sustained efforts in improving services.  Three specific areas in particular will be evident in January.

MedXpress

The Manitouwadge General Hospital has purchased a wheel chair accessible bus from Crestline Coach of Saskatoon to be used between Manitouwadge and Thunder Bay in the new year.  Renovations have started to create an office for the MedXpress travel coordinator who will be hired with a full time driver and a casual driver in the new year.  A regional committee of all the hospitals has fully endorsed the project and everyone is looking forward to making this service a success.

Ultrasound/Echocardiography

A contract for a new Ultra Sound machine has been signed.  Our current equipment is 10 years old and is starting to show its age.  As anyone who owns a computer knows, 10 year old technology is definitely not cutting edge anymore.  In medicine, five year old technology is sometimes considered obsolete.   This new machine will provide better imaging and tools but most importantly, will permit Echocardiography.  Currently, patients must go to Thunder Bay or Sault St. Marie for this procedure.  Marcia Newton will be training in Toronto for two weeks in January to learn how to perform the procedure.

Dietician

Our recent efforts to recruit a dietitian resulted with multiple applications.  One candidate has been interviewed and is very interested in coming to our community.  She will be visiting shortly and everyone hopes will find our community suitable to relocate here and provide us with important services in dietary counseling.

Clinic News:

Dr. Janice Smiley will be visiting Manitouwadge for two weeks in January.  Dr. Smiley specializes in women’s health and welcomes appointments during her visit.