May 6, 2005

The Board of Directors of Atlantic Health Sciences Corporation held its regular monthly meeting May 2 at the Kiwanis Nursing Home in Sussex. The following are highlights of that meeting:

Sussex Health Centre Auxiliary

Marie McKnight, President, Sussex Health Centre Auxiliary reported to Atlantic Health Sciences Corporation Directors on the auxiliary’s activities. Martin explained that the Auxiliary continues to face membership challenges. “We lose some of our loyal members as they age. We welcome new members who are interested in enhancing patient care in the Sussex area,” McKnight said. In her report, McKnight said that the Auxiliary continues to award education bursaries to students in health care professions. “We are also proud to continue to run the hospital gift shop,” she said. Recently, the Auxiliary purchased an acoustics emission machine worth $5000 for use in the audiology department. “This machine allows for hearing test to be conducted on pre-school children. Prior to obtaining this equipment children had to travel to Saint John,” she said.

Extra-Mural Program

Connie Armstrong, RN and Karen Jonah-Brown, physiotherapist, both employees of the Extra-Mural program, presented a case history that depicted the challenges and successes of caring for a four-year old child as a patient of the Extra-Mural Program. The story showcased the importance of teamwork and involving all members of the team in caring for their little patient and her family. Board Directors were impressed with the many supports that can be accessed to allow patients to receive what in some cases can be described as acute care at home.

Report of the CEO

In her report, AHSC CEO Dora Nicinski advised Board members that a Nurse Practitioner position has been created in the Mental Health Program. We realized there could be a gap in services, as some clients of mental health services do not currently have access to a family physician. “Following a successful pilot I am pleased to report that the position has been made permanent, funding has been re-allocated from existing operations and recruitment is underway,” said Nicinski. She explained that responses to a patient survey on the importance of this service have been favourable.

Nicinski also updated Board members on the activities of the Saint John Methadone Clinic since its opening in February. She said there are currently 27 clients in the Program and the wait list stands at 119. “Of the 119, 90 are new clients and 29 are awaiting transfer from another program,” Nicinski explained.

Nicinski had good news for Board members and the residents of Sussex. “Now that the Minister of Health and Wellness has announced a satellite dialysis unit will be placed in Sussex, we have recruited staff for that unit and have begun a six-month training program,” she said. Nicinski went on to tell Board members that the planning phase was now complete and that the work to renovate the area within the Sussex Health Centre would soon begin. “We’ll also begin the process to purchase necessary equipment,” she said. “It’s important to us and even more important to the patients that we are ready to offer dialysis treatments in Sussex before winter. We’re on track to open the dialysis unit by the end of November.” Members of the Sussex Health Foundation Inc. who were present at the meeting were very pleased at the announcement and advised Board Chair William Teed that the group was very close to reaching its fund raising goal of $300,000.

Finance Committee

The fiscal year ended on March 31 and we are now preparing for an external audit. Year-end financial statements will be presented at the Annual Meeting in June.

The extensive renovations that have been ongoing at St. Joseph’s Hospital for the past three years are now in phase three. This phase will see a new lobby and front entrance with better lighting and greater patient accessibility. Other construction phases included the reopening of floors 7 and 8 as part of AHSC’s Health and Aging Program, the opening of a Women’s Health Centre on the 9^th Floor and the addition at clinical programs at St. Joseph’s Community Health Centre.  The lobby/front door project is on-target for completion in mid-June.

Research Action Plan Update

Board members received an update on the Research Action Plan. Board members received information on progress made to date on the recommendations of the original Research Report received by the Board in September 2003.

Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Atlantic Health Sciences Corporation, the University of New Brunswick, the National Research Council and the New Brunswick Community College, a monthly Health research Colloquium has been initiated. To date nine health research speakers have presented to the research community in this area.

The Health Promotion and Research Fund receives proposals for “seed” and operating grants for health research projects. The total funding for 2004 was $130,000.

Media Contact:
Patricia Crowdis
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(506) 648-6116

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