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April 27, 2006 The Board of Directors of Atlantic Health Sciences Corporation (AHSC) held its regular monthly meeting April 24 at St. Patrick’s Hall in St. Stephen. The following are highlights of that meeting: Kings Way Nursing Home Representatives from the new Kings Way Care Centre explained to members that construction on the new 75-bed nursing home will begin soon, with opening intended by August 200. AHSC Board chairman William Teed, Q.C. thanked Ken Hansen and Michael Brannen for their presentation, saying that “this is very positive news. There are currently many patients in hospital awaiting alternate levels of care that can be provided in a nursing home environment. We look forward to your opening.” Mental Health Services Clinical Department Head for AHSC Mental Health Services, Dr. Rachel Morehouse and Administrative Director for the Program, Sue Haley LaJoie gave Board members information on the Mental Health Services Program at Atlantic Health Sciences Corporation. The presentation included a clear and concise description of services available to a walk-in client, a client in crisis and one requiring hospital care. “We offer services in Sussex, St. Stephen, St. George and Saint John,” explained Haley LaJoie. “In addition we also use telemental health applications on Grand Manan at Charlotte County Hospital, Sussex Health Centre and at the Saint John Regional Hospital. Board members were pleased to see that the description of services is now being designed to use on posters and placements that will be distributed across the region. Report of the CEO In her report AHSC President and CEO Dora Nicinski told Board members that the organization reached its highest compliance level for WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Material Information System) training. “Thanks to a great effort by all, including the Department of Organizational Learning, we have achieved our highest level ever – 92.5%,” she said. Nicinski also reported that AHSC’s NB Eye Bank (NBEB) received Health Canada’s final inspection report from its inspection done Jan. 30/06. There were no recommendations to improve operations. NBEB successfully passed inspection. “I am very pleased to report that, with the official opening of the third cardiac catheterization lab at the NB Heart Centre, a community wait list that stood at 335 patients will now be all but gone,” Nicinski told members. “All patients who were on the wait list have been given assessment appointments. They will all be seen before June 2. If it is determined that a patient requires cardiac catheterization following the assessment, this procedure will be done within a couple of days.” Nicinski told Board members that Diabetes Education e-learning software has been developed to allow patients to do their teaching from home for those who are unable to come into the Diabetes Education Centre for 3-day classes. With this pilot project patients will be able to enter their weight, blood pressure, glucose reading and activity level. Finally Nicinski informed members of a new support available to qualifying patients of AHSC’s Breast Health Program. “The “Oasis” Program” is a partnership between the AHSC Breast Health program and the Delta Brunswick Hotel,” she explained. “Out-of-town patients requiring breast surgery that would normally be done on a Day Surgery basis may qualify for an overnight stay at the Delta if they do not have local lodging.” This will include an evening meal and breakfast for them and their significant other. Up until now, these patients were staying overnight in the hospital due to the distance that they lived from the surgical centre. It is felt that there may be 10-15 patients per year who would qualify for this program. The program will be evaluated after six months. Nicinski expressed her thanks to the Delta for making this program available to qualifying patients. Public Question Period David Ganong asked Board members for information on PET scan utilization. Dora Nicinski explained that we hope to have the PET scanner up and running by September of this year “thanks to support from you and others. We then have operational funding for 300 scans per year.” Medical Advisory Committee Dr. Brian Wheelock, AHSC Chief of Staff advised Board members that over the past year 156 residents and 76 medical clerks have received training at Atlantic Health Sciences Corporation. He also reported that Dr. Sparkes has received the Mentor of the Year Award and that Dr. Elizabeth MacDonald has been awarded New Brunswick Specialist for 2006 from the Royal College Regional Advisory Committee for Region 5. Finally Dr. Wheelock advised Board members that MAC is requesting that Dr. Scott Giffin, District Medical Officer of Health be asked to join AHSC’s Medical Advisory Committee. Professional Advisory Committee Chairman Ken Baird reported that changes in the hours of operation in the Pharmacy Department have had a positive outcome on the number of medication orders arriving at nursing units by 9 a.m. “Prior to the change 69% of medications ordered through the night arrived in nursing units prior to 9 a.m.; now that the hours of operation begin at 7 a.m., 88% of these orders arrive by 9 a.m.,” he explained. Finance Committee AHSC’s fiscal year ended March 31 and we are preparing for the external audit. Year-end financial statements will be presented at the AHSC Annual Meeting in June. The Board of Directors approved a resolution to authorize AHSC management to enter into a contract with Source Medical Corporation for a five-year term commencing on June 1, 2006 with an option to extend the contract term for an additional three-year term.
Contact: Patricia Crowdis Copyright © 2006 Atlantic Health Sciences Corporation. All rights reserved. |
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