March 31, 2005

The Board of Directors of Atlantic Health Sciences Corporation held its regular monthly meeting March 29 at Ridgewood Addiction Services in South Bay. The following are highlights of that meeting:

St. Joseph’s Hospital Auxiliary

Rosemarie Martin, President, St. Joseph’s Hospital Auxiliary reported to Atlantic Health Sciences Corporation Directors on the auxiliary’s activities. Martin explained that in its 75th anniversary year the auxiliary has 304 members who work to support St. Joseph’s Hospital by holding bake sales and 50/50 draws. “The important work of the Auxiliary is made possible through the more than 1885 volunteer hours auxilians devote to working in the gift shop and supporting other fund raising efforts,” Martin said. William Teed, Q.C., Chairman, Board of Directors, Atlantic Health Sciences Corporation, thanked Martin for her report and noted that the Auxiliary should be proud of its long history of supporting the work of St. Joseph’s Hospital. “The great service you provide is much appreciated by this Board of Directors, by the physicians and staff of St. Joseph’s Hospital and, most importantly, by the patients,” Teed said.

Quality End-of-life Care

Members of the Hospice Palliative Care Centre (HPCC) gave Board Directors a presentation on the Hospice Palliative Care Centre. “This is a collaborative practice model for quality, comprehensive and coordinated hospice palliative care,” said Dr. Chris O’Brien, Medical Director of the program. As part of the 12-month pilot program, HPCC trialed a clinic/home consultation program. “This trial will end April 1. We will resume this important and timely service when we successfully recruit and fund a nurse, a social worker, physician and administrative staff,” O’Brien explained. Mr. Teed thanked Dr. O’Brien for the presentation, adding that AHSC should be proud of the Memorandum of Agreement between Atlantic Health Sciences Corporation and Hospice Saint John and Sussex that made the Hospice Palliative Care Centre a reality. “This is a unique partnership that grew out of a common desire for quality end-of-life care,” he said.

Report of the CEO

In her report, AHSC CEO Dora Nicinski advised Board members the Emergency Department at the Saint John Regional Hospital and the Urgent Care Centre at St. Joseph’s Hospital has now returned to normal activity following a significant increase in the number of patients served in February. “The flu appears to have run its course and patient visits have returned to normal levels. In March we had 2800 patient visits at St. Joseph’s Urgent Care Centre and 5,300 at the Emergency Department at the Saint John Regional Hospital,” said Nicinski.

Nicinski also updated Board members on the activities of the Saint John Methadone Clinic since its opening last month. She said 25 clients from the wait list of 120 would be accommodated by the end of this month. “We are currently recruiting a nurse, a social worker and physicians to the program,” she said. Nicinski also told Board members that the methadone clinic now operates out of Ridgewood Addiction Centre, but that plans are to move the clinic to St. Joseph’s Community Health Centre once renovations are complete.

Nicinski reported on a pilot project for patients with congestive heart failure and community-acquired pneumonia. Multidisciplinary care plans have been developed and will be used first on one nursing unit and then extended to a second. Once the pilot is complete and evaluated, impact on patient care will be assessed. “If successful this approach will be delivered on other nursing units,” Nicinski explained.

Finance Committee

AHSC Treasurer Todd Stephens reported on a presentation to the Finance Committee on AHSC’s Attendance Management Program that was initiated to help reduce sick time. The program encourages dialogue between managers and unions and offers wellness programs to employees.

Response to the External Review of New Brunswick Cardiac Services

Board members received an executive summary of the Response to the External Review of New Brunswick Cardiac Services. The document briefly outlines activities to date of the working group charged with implementing the review’s recommendations. As the groups began assessing the situation it was recognized that some implementation strategies are now underway. Planning for a third cardiac catheterization lab is already underway and the RFP is scheduled to go to market by the end of this month. The Board agreed that further discussion of this document will take place at an upcoming meeting.