December 4, 2003

The Board of Directors of Atlantic Health Sciences Corporation held its regular monthly meeting December 1 at W. C. O’Neill Arena in St. Andrews, NB.

Yvonne Bartlett, Facility Administrator, provided Board members with an update on Charlotte County Hospital in St. Stephen. "It’s a vital part of our community, with 58 beds providing comprehensive health care services," she said. Bartlett explained that this hospital serves all of Charlotte County with in-patient services, 24 hour emergency services and specialty clinics that see an average of 550 visits per month. "We’re especially proud of our oncology outreach program that allows patients to receive Chemotherapy treatment right here in Charlotte County," she said.

Board Chairman Bill Teed thanked Bartlett for her presentation and explained that Board members were aware that it is the Bartlett’s enthusiasm that is a driving force behind the excellent service delivery at Charlotte County Hospital. "And we understand and are grateful for the important role you played in successfully recruiting 13 nurses to this area," he said.

Lorraine Brown, Director of Human Resources for AHSC provided Board members with an overview of human resources within the organization. Mr. Teed expressed the Board’s appreciation for the presentation and reiterated its commitment to the staff and physicians of AHSC. "We support the move to encourage government to designate funds provided to post-secondary training institutions. We must ensure that we have adequate seats to train the health professionals for tomorrow," he explained.

AHSC President and CEO, Dora Nicinski reported on increasing concern of patients waiting for placement to alternate levels of care. "We are working to improve the utilization of our acute care beds across Region 2. But the number of patients awaiting placement make up to 30% of our general beds unavailable. « Nous travaillons à améliorer l’utilisation de nos lits de soins de courte durée dans toute la région 2. Toutefois, le nombre de patients en attente d’un lit fait en sorte que jusqu’à 30 % de nos lits généraux ne sont pas disponibles. »

The Saint John Regional Hospital is an acute care facility and yet, on any given day, we have more than 100 patients waiting in acute care beds to be accepted to a different level of care in the community," she explained. "This creates delays throughout the hospital. Sometimes it means that people are waiting to be admitted from the Emergency Department. We currently have 32 beds out of 80- in the Health and Aging Program filled with patients awaiting placement. Equally important, it means that these 100 patients are making this hospital their home. A hospital is not meant to be a permanent home – it’s a place to go when you’re sick." 

Dr. James O’Brien, AHSC Chief of Staff reported that Dr. John Dornan is stepping down from the post of Medical Director of ICU. "Dr. Dornan has held this post for more than four years and we are grateful for the time and dedication he has brought to the role," O’Brien said. He explained that a search has begun for a new director.

O’Brien also reported that members of MAC praised AHSC’s Physician Resource Coordinator, Sherri Lynn Richardson for her efforts in physician recruitment. "We have successfully recruited to many specialties and to family medicine since Sherri Lynn has joined us. She has brought organization to our efforts and we’re seeing great results," he said.

O’Brien notified Board members that Dr. Rachael Morehouse has been appointed Clinical Head for the Department of Psychiatry and that Dr. Pam Forsythe has agreed to become deputy head.

Finally O’Brien announced that Dr. Isa has made an extremely generous gift to this organization. Through an endowment, the student with the highest annual standing in Obstetrics will receive a $1000 prize. "This is the type of man Dr. Isa is, " O’Brien said. "His generosity is well known in this organization. We are delighted that this endowment will go to students studying Obstetrics."

Wayne Wamboldt, Finance Committee Chairman reported the following for the period ending October 31, 2003:

• Shareable Surplus (Deficit) ($.278M)
• Medicare Deficit ($.798M)
• Non-Shareable Deficit ($.648M)
• Board Surplus $.255M
• Total Deficit ($3,430M)

Plans for the Community Health Centre are moving well, reported Dr. James O’Brien, Chief of Staff. "To date some 813 new patients have been assessed by health staff at the St. Joseph’s Community Health Centre," he said. "That has resulted in more than 1500 patient visits." There still remain 7,491 patients on the Patient Registry and staff are working well as a team to get these patients assessed, he said. "We are calling patients and offering appointments. If patients do not wish an appointment at this time, they may defer to a later date," he explained.

O’Brien also reported that a new service has recently been implemented that sees St. Joseph’s Community Health Centre physicians scheduled to see patients in the Walk-in Service (formerly Emergency Department) Monday to Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. Patients wishing to access this service may call for same day appointments each morning until noon. Regular walk-in services continue from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. at St. Joseph’ s Hospital and scheduled appointments are not necessary.

Nancy Savage, VP Patient Programs advised Board members that tenders had closed on the planned construction at the St. Joseph’s Community Health Centre. The contract, worth $1.15M was awarded to Cardinal Construction Inc. "This is Phase II of the renovation at St. Joseph’s Hospital and will include the Waiting Area, Lourdes Link and the Lourdes Wing. These renovations are in direct support of the St. Joseph’s Community Health Centre," she said.