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The extra station in Huntsville’s dialysis unit means Lorne Elmer, shown with dialysis unit team leader Evan Turner, can get treatment closer to home. Photograph: Sandy Lockhart Muskoka’s hospitals ready for the future While Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare has been working to keep the deficit under control, its hospitals have been busy preparing for the future despite rumours of impending closures. “There are a lot of good things happening,” says Barry Monaghan, interim chief executive officer for Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare, which operates both the Huntsville District Memorial Hospital and South Muskoka Memorial Hospital “The South Muskoka Hospital site is not closing,” says Monaghan in reaction to rumours. “The evidence of that is very clear,” he says, referring to the commitment by the South Muskoka Hospital Foundation to agree to fund a $500,000 urology table. “That is pretty strong evidence of the hospital going forward.” In the original operational audit, as part of due diligence in the deficit recovery plan, Monaghan says closing one site and the consolidation and rationalization of services was considered. “It was decided that was not in the best interest of the community and they chose not to go down that path,” he says. With renovations and new equipment for the pathology section of the lab at the South Muskoka Memorial hospital and extensive renovations and equipment for the imaging department at Huntsville District Hospital, both locations are better equipped to serve the communities and attract new staff in the future. Lab services Manager Bryon Palmer says the lab at South Muskoka has doubled in size, and has new equipment that is more efficient, safer for staff and creates a less congested workspace. The work was temporarily relocated to the Huntsville site during renovations but reopened at South Muskoka in mid-May. With the culmination of Bracebridge’s capital campaign, the South Muskoka Memorial Hospital Foundation is now fundraising for $5 million of equipment on the hospital’s wish list. They completed the fundraising campaign for the CTC scanner and state-of-the art 8 October 2010 www.whatsupmuskoka.com imaging equipment last year. The Huntsville District Memorial Hospital Foundation is now serving more people with a temporarily expanded dialysis unit. “Working with regional and provincial teams, we are working through the process to expand it on a permanent basis,” says Monaghan. The goal is to expand the unit from five to six stations, increasing the capacity and ability to meet the need locally. Pathologist Dr. John Penswick works at new lab equipment at South Muskoka Hospital. Photograph:Sandy Lockhart The organization is hoping a new permanent CEO and manager of financial services will be in place for the new year. Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare planned to start interviewing candidates for the CEO’s position in October. “If everything goes according to plan, I leave in December but I will stay a little longer if needed,” says Monaghan. Although Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare and the Trillium Health Centre in Mississauga have decided not to work together on a management services contract, an option explored earlier this year, other benefits have come from that relationship. They will be working together on some board training opportunities and are linked to a network developing best practices and consistent standards. Muskoka’s hospitals served about the same number of patients as last year, despite reducing the number of beds and staff in some areas. With new technology at the hospitals, they are now able to link Muskoka’s hospitals with the trauma centre at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, in a pilot project to help deal with emergency trauma situations. As a result, it improves the outcome for trauma patients in Muskoka. Monaghan says the hospitals continue to do well, when compared to the provincial standard for emergency wait times. “The expectation is that you will be seen in a fourhour period, and that time is shorter here,” he says. The board will also be busy focusing on the new Excellent Care for All Act. “It’s an act that focuses the attention of the organization’s governance on the quality component of healthcare,” says Monahan. He adds that the Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare already has a quality committee of the board, so they will be ready to take the next steps and prepare both sites for the future.
South Muskoka has $5 million wish list About $5 million dollars of equipment is needed by the South Muskoka Memorial Hospital and the community is stepping forward to help out. Items like a $500,000 urological imagery table system and two $250,000 ultrasound and imaging machines are two priorities to enable the hospital to better serve the community. “Approximately 40 per cent of surgical volumes at the hospital are urological, so this is an important piece of equipment,” says Colin Miller, executive director of the South Muskoka Hospital Foundation. He adds that one quarter of all the urological procedures in North Simcoe Muskoka take place at the South Muskoka Memorial Hospital. The new table is badly needed, as Miller says packing tape is holding parts of it together. The new ultrasound equipment needed is used for everything from cancer and pregnancy to bladder, eyes, muscles and even prostate. Ultrasound allows imaging of tissue without risk of radiation associated with other traditional imagery. Miller says the community is very supportive with about 3,000 donors this year. “Overall, most of our fundraising programs reached or exceeded last year’s revenue goal,” he says. The foundation is a charitable organization that fundraises to supply all of the equipment and other hospital needs not supplied by hospital funding. “The foundation and the hospital auxiliary are really the only sources of funding for new equipment for hospitals,” he says. At year end, June 31, 2010, the foundation raised $1,688,432. This is about $800,000 less than last year’s record breaking $2.49 million raised. “The big difference was gifts received through bequests,” explains Miller. In 2009 bequests to the South Muskoka Hospital foundation were almost $1.3 million but in 2010 they were just $550,000. “We have no way of influencing or controlling the money that comes in through bequests,” says Miller, who explains many people have arranged donations to go to the hospital foundation upon their death. Miller is frustrated by rumours circulating that the hospital is closing and says while the hospital is working with its financial situation, it is also making plans for the future to take care of patients for many years to come. “People are welcome to call with concerns,” he says. “Nobody likes to see programs reduce in size but our health care system is changing.” Miller explains that in the last 20 years, the number of acute care hospital beds in Ontario has reduced from about 50,000 to 30,000, but that is because most surgeries are now day surgeries. Also on the hospital wish list are new beds at $4,500 each. “Provincial standards have changed for beds so we need to upgrade a number of beds,” says Miller. Four bedside monitors at $30,000 each are also needed. A new dual-energy bone densitometer costs over $100,000 and is needed to help check the people Repairs to the building are also something that the foundation assists with. “The building was built in the 1960s and extensive roof repairs, of about $800,000, are needed,” says Miller. “It is not always about medical equipment, but also the supporting infrastructure.” Also on the list are a plate warming system, disposable bed pan system, patient pain control pumps and an auto dispensing unit for the pharmacy. Miller explains that a person making a donation can request exactly where the money is to be spent. “We have a fiduciary responsibility to make sure the money goes where they donor wants it to go,” he says. Of course, many of the pieces of equipment are so expensive that funds are pooled from several donors to purchase the big ticket items. Miller says it is easier to get funding for some items than others. “People get more excited about a something like a defibrillator. You slap it on someone’s chest and bring them back from the brink of death,” he says, adding that once you’ve been saved by a defibrillator, you don’t think twice about purchasing one for the hospital. “But we still need the plate warmer. Patients are not going to get better without meals.” Money for the hospital comes from different areas. “It is not just the very wealthy that support our hospital,” he says. The memorial program raised about $90,000 last year. “To honour someone who has died, you can make a donation to the foundation,” he says. Some people are also doing that to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries. This year’s mail-out campaign to former hospital patients and previous donors started in-mid March and by the end of June had received a little over 600 donations totalling $95,000. “This hospital is very well supported by the community,” he says. Of course, the hospital foundation still needs more money to purchase equipment needed by the hospital. “Unfortunately, people don’t really think about their hospital until they are thrown into a crisis situation,” he says. Thanks to the generosity of donors, the necessary equipment is there to help them. Township of Muskoka Lakes RE-ELECT LIZ DENYAR Councillor Ward B www.lizdenyar.com ELECT TERRY PILGER FOR MAYOR FOR MEANINGFUL CHANGE Please view my website www.terrypilger.com for updated information Email me at terry@terrypilger.com or call 687-4575 EXPERIENCE, ABILITY, VISION & LEADERSHIP www.TerryPilger.com www.whatsupmuskoka.com October 2010 9
Page 1 and 2: WHAT’S UP October 2010 MUSKOKA’
Page 3 and 4: Discounts Available on 3 or more Al
Page 5 and 6: Taking a new look at an old system
Page 7: Muskoka paramedics, joined onstage
Page 11 and 12: Gravenhurst officially opens new to
Page 13 and 14: Art exhibit brings history to life
Page 15 and 16: Foundation honours stewards of natu
Page 17 and 18: ADVERTISING FEATURE Ryan Miller, #1
Page 19 and 20: WHAT’S UP MUSKOKA SPORTS YOU’VE
Page 21 and 22: Be thankful for the precious things
Page 23 and 24: WINTER CAR CARE Tire care is crucia
Page 25 and 26: Aiming high to help children By Car
Page 27 and 28: Photograph: Don McCormick Lucy Wing
Page 29 and 30: WHAT’S UP MUSKOKA SOCIAL SCENE 1
Page 31 and 32: Superior Insulation. Superior Perfo

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