Health care in Stewart reaches crisis proportions

While the provincial government frequently refers to British Columbia as the "Best place on earth", some of the places in the "Best Place" are facing some serious challenges to the very core services of their communities.

Stewart, the northwest town on the Alaska border due north of Prince Rupert is facing as serious a health care crisis as a town could face, with two of the communities doctors resigning their positions, frustrated with the state of the health delivery system in the community.

Northern Health so far has only offered up the solution of residents making the trek to Terrace for any required blood tests or X rays, a daunting task for sure considering the nature of Northwest weather in the winter time.

The health care crisis in the community has moved the Mayor elect to taking the message of concern to the Provincial government, while local mining interests in the region add their voices of concern over the health care situation and the impact it may have on their employees and their families.

Monday's Daily News outlines the dire straits that Stewart residents are facing these days, as the town is reduced to one part time doctor, two hospital nurses and a laboratory system that is hit and miss at best.

The troubling situation in Stewart was featured as the front page headline story in Monday's paper.

HOSPITAL ON LIFE SUPPORT AS DOCTORS LEAVE THE NORTH
Stewart hemorrhaging staff from hospital and now only has one doctor on the books
By George T. Baker
The Daily News
Monday, November 24, 2008
Pages one and three

Hospital services in Stewart have drastically declined in the last six months, according to newly re-elected Mayor Angela Brand Danuser and she worries that the Ministry of Health is not aware of just how bad things are.

According to Brand Danuser, Northern Health has removed three beds from its hospital; the nursing staff has dwindled to only two full time nurses; and the hospital's laboratory and x-ray coverage has become sporadic at best.

All of this pressure has resulted in two doctors handing in their resignations, claiming they've had enough of the rolled-back infrastructure.

"The doctors do not feel comfortable diagnosing and treating patients in a rural hospital," said Brand Danuser.

Brand Danuser has sent letters to both the minister of heath George Abbott and Premier Gordon Campbell outlining her concerns and pointing to the ministry of health services statement that reads: "Our mission is to guide and enhance the province's health services to ensure British Columbians are supported in their efforts to maintain and improve their health."
Brand Danuser accuses the ministry of not living up to its commitments.

With the two doctors resigning, that leaves the District of Stewart with one part-time doctor to take care of the 500 inhabitants who live there.

But 500 is not a hard population number for the popular mining town, where the rental vacancy is hovering around zero per cent and the hotel space is as coveted by transient mining industry workers as much as the mining resources they excavate.

With dwindling medical services, some of the mining industry heavyweights have petitioned Northern Health and the BC Ministry of Health for some infrastructure assistance-fearing employees will not have access to emergency medical services when needed.

"When Northern Health makes comments that we should just go to Terrace for a blood test or x-ray, you know it's just not that easy," said Brand Danuser.

"Our bus doesn't run every day or the roads could be closed, it's just not practical,"
Northern Health director of communications Steve Raper said that Northern Health is working with the community to deal with the infrastructure problem, but as of yet have not come to any decisions on what to do about it.

"We are working with community representatives and we are putting a plan in to place to address the challenges in providing services in Stewart," said Raper.

Raper said Northern Health is aware of concerns about staff shortages not just in Stewart but also around the Northern B.C. area and are working to address them.

"Everybody is really concerned. We are four hours away from any hospital on a good day," said Brand Danuser.

Noro Virus strikes Prince George care facility

Residents and staff of the Simon Fraser Lodge in Prince George are suffering the effects of an outbreak of the Norovirus, so far over 40 patients and staff have come down with the nasty bug.

The lodge located on Laurier Crescent in Prince George, has 130 beds in the complex.

In order to try and control the outbreak, Northern Health has instituted increased infection control measures, requesting that visitors stay away for 48 hours if they exhibit any symptom of the bug, as well as checking in with the nursing staff upon arrival at the facility.

Opinion 250 had some further details on the outbreak.

Simon Fraser Lodge Hit By Noro Virus
By 250 News
Thursday, February 07, 2008 11:08 AM

At least 40 patients and staff members at the Simon Fraser Lodge in Prince George have been hit by Noro Virus.

Viral gastroenteritis symptoms can include sudden onset of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, as well as cramping, chills and fever and should not be confused with influenza, which is primarily a respiratory condition. The symptoms typically last for three days.

In all of B.C. last year, there were about 370 clusters of gastro intestinal illness; 80 percent of which were confirmed Norovirus cases. In some cases outbreaks resulted in restricted visiting hours and patient isolation, to help control spread of the illness.

Northern Health needs the help of visitors to battle the bug. Increased infection control measures are in place including increased focus on hand-washing; requesting visitors stay away if they have had symptoms within a 48 hour period, and checking in with nursing staff prior to visiting patients.

More assistance and housing the key to helping with the addictions problems of the North coast

A recent consultation session hosted by Northern Health has come up with its final report on addictions and how to help those that have them.

Northern Health's Let's Talk About Addictions and Mental Health consultations traveled to a number of northern communities, seeking out the feedback from residents across northern British Columbia.

While Rupertites highlighted some of the pro active measures in place locally, such as the all Native Basketball Tournaments and a theatre program run out of the Friendship House called Street Spirits that reaches out the areas youth, there were still key concerns for local participants in the survey.

The lack of youth prevention activities and lack of support for youths on the streets were among the main problems identified on the local scene as well as the need to return to the North coast a mental health advisory.

The full details on the survey and where things may go from here, were provided in Wednesday’s Daily News.

Addiction concerns are getting attention from NH
By Kris Schumacher
The Daily News
Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Pages one and three

Prince Rupert residents believe that transition housing for men and youths is urgently needed in the community, according to a recently released Northern Health (NH) report.

The final community summary reports from Northern Health's Let's Talk About Addictions and Mental Health consultations - which took place in various northern communities this spring - were recently released. The report breaks down the feedback that Northern Health received from each community, and summarizes what residents feel are the positives and negatives of addiction and mental health services in their communities.

Prince Rupert stakeholders who attended the consultation and offered feedback included individuals with personal experience as well as voices from local agencies and organizations. Aside from the expressed need for affordable housing and specialized housing for men and youth, people stated the need for a local residential treatment program as well as concerns about the growth in youth addictions throughout the community.

The lack of youth prevention activities and lack of support for youths on the streets were identified as contributing factors to the problem, and residents said they felt the need to re-establish a mental health advisory structure. Also brought to the attention of Northern Health was the absence of an HIV/AIDS support organization, and the implications of that absence for the health of community members.

There are some elements of support in Prince Rupert that people identified as beneficial to addressing and curbing addictions and mental health problems, the most obvious being the Transition House where women and their children can stay for up to 30 days. The All-Native Basketball Tournament was recognized as a very positive component toward promoting good health in the community, as well as the Street Spirits outreach program at the Friendship Centre, where theatre is used to discuss issues and engage community members, particularly at-risk youth.

While the Transition House was praised for it's work, the fact that there are not enough beds and spaces for women and children was brought up. It is currently funded for 13 beds but regularly is asked to house 20 women and children, which residents and staff feel is something that should be addressed immediately. More general concerns for improvement in Prince Rupert included a need for more youth outreach workers who can begin to address the addictive behaviour concerns many residents have for local youth.

There was also concern raised that Northern Health should improve the privacy and confidentiality of their office, which currently mixes all those seeking public health services.
As a result of the feedback they received, Northern Health has outlined several areas where they can provide leadership around issues and improvements to services.

Northern Health will consider increasing the hours of their needle exchange service and try to have someone trained to specifically deal with HIV/AIDS in the community. They will also be looking to remodel their office to support confidentiality, as well as take part in the aboriginal homelessness initiative.

Among other things, Northern Health also said it plans to look at improving the service people receive in crisis, especially at the Prince Rupert Regional Hospital. Changes include an on-call clinician for after-hours, and a mental health position in the acute care setting.

It’s a full staff complement at PRRH Maternity

Mothers to be can rest a little easier heading into the fall and winter moths with the knowledge that the maternity ward at the hospital is back to full strength.

Northern Health’s director of Communications Mark Karjaluoto advised that; “All of our maternity nursing lines in Prince Rupert are now filled, staff have finished their individual orientation, and two of the nurses are fairly experienced in the More OB program.”

The return of a full staffing situation at the maternity ward should help alleviate any future problems that at times resulted in Rupert mothers having to be shipped off to Terrace or other locations to have their babies due to the staffing shortage at PRRH.

With the unpredictable fall and winter weather soon to arrive that’s one less worry for a mother and father to be to have to think about as the delivery date nears.

The Daily News had full details on the announcement in Friday’s paper.

Maternity nursing crisis ends happily
By Kris Schumacher
The Daily News
Friday, September 28, 2007

Page one

All of the vacant maternity nursing positions at Prince Rupert Regional Hospital have now been filled, officials announced last week at Northern Health's board meeting in Fort St. John.
Medical staff informed the board that work will continue to keep the service fully functional by offering continuing medical education to increase the number of medical staff providing C-section services and supporting the More OB maternal care quality program.

"All of our maternity nursing lines in Prince Rupert are now filled, staff have finished their individual orientation, and two of the nurses are fairly experienced in the More OB program," said Mark Karjaluoto, Northern Health's director of communications.

More OB is a voluntary program designed to increase patient quality improvement for obstetrical services in the region. Developed by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada, More OB aims to try to cut the risk factors that go along with labour and delivery by building relationships between different care providers, enhance communication skills, and provide staff with ongoing practice to enhance skills needed in an emergency.

Northern Health also announced at the meeting that it is operating with a small surplus through the first quarter of the 2007-2008 fiscal year, equaling $1.4 million. However, when taken into account that NH has a $558 million annual operating budget, that amount is only a small fraction of one percentage in the budget.

"Our financial staff have projected a break-even position for the current budgetary year," said Dr. Charles Jago, NH board chair. "We are expecting greater hospital activity in the winter months, along with higher energy costs which will affect our financial position."

The board received an update on the Let's Talk About Addictions and Mental Health community consultation program, which involved a number of community forums being held in municipalities and First Nations communities in the spring and early summer. The final report will be drafted and available within the next few weeks, and its recommendations will help guide improvements to NH's addictions and mental health systems.

Prince George cancer centre will benefit the north in many ways

The travel debate will most likely go on as far as cancer treatment plans for residents of the Northwest are concerned, however the expected opening of a cancer centre in Prince George by 2012 should still provide great benefits for all communities of the Northern Health Authority. At least that's the opinion being offered from Prince George in the days following last weeks announcement by Premier Gordon Campbell.

Aware of the concerns from the farthest away communities about the potential travel problems associated with a trip to Prince George, especially in the winter, proponents of the Prince George centre are boosting the knowledge base benefits that the centre might provide to outlying regions such as Terrace and Prince Rupert.

The Daily News provided details on how the issue is being presented in Thursday's paper.

Cancer centre brings expertise
By Kris Schumacher
The Daily News
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Pages one and three

The new cancer centre to be built in Prince George by 2012 doesn't solve the travel issues faced patients, say medical professionals, but it does bring expertise closer to home.

The new facility will provide radiation therapy to patients, eliminating the need for many cancer afflicted individuals to travel south for that particular treatment.

However there are still concerns that some communities won't benefit as much as anticipated from having a centre in Prince George.

"If you listen to the arguments that people give for a centre there, such as being able to get treatment and stay at home, that's fine for the people in Prince George, but those are really the only people," said Terrace physician Dr. Geoff Appleton.

"Everyone outside of there still has the problem of travel. For Terrace and Prince Rupert it will still be easier to access Vancouver by a two-hour flight, and that should still be allowed."

Retired nurse and Prince Rupert resident Peggy Davenport believes that the creation of a cancer centre in the North is going to be helpful for many people, but that it should not take attention away from recognizing the transportation problems that still exist for many rural patients.

"As it stands, there isn't a direct flight available from Prince Rupert to Prince George, and people who are under treatment for cancer cannot tolerate the long bus ride, because it's too long and it's very hard to do," said Davenport.

"If it was easy to do, I'm sure that people from Northern Health who live in Prince George would be riding the bus when they make their trips West."

There are talks between the Canadian Cancer Society and the provincial government of creating a cancer lodge for patients and their families, similar to what currently exists in Vancouver.

Whether a similar lodge will be built to complement the Prince George facility is yet to be determined, but regardless it will still leave many rural patients with the hardship of getting there.

"We've always been concerned with access issues when it comes to cancer services, and we know that people in the North have real difficulties when it comes to transportation," said Barbara Kaminsky, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Cancer Society B.C. and Yukon Division.

"Frankly even to access Prince George from Prince Rupert in the winter months can be a problem."

Aside from physically visiting the Prince George centre, there will still be other ways that rural cancer patients can benefit from the creation of a Northern centre.

Dr. Ronald Chapman is the executive director for the Northern Cancer Control Progam, and notes that communities like Prince Rupert, who have already been administering systemic therapy to cancer patients, will benefit greatly by having local doctors supported by those working at the Prince George centre.

"The most positive development out of this is the centre will supplement the regional cancer centres in all of British Columbia, and it brings a facility much closer to the North than there has ever been before," he said.

"We're getting experts in the North which we previously haven't had, and it becomes a regional resource since those people will also have a responsibility to support community cancer clinics around the region."

Northern Health spreads some money around the North

The Opinion 250 website is reporting on the plans of Northern Health to allocate 4.6 million dollars in funding to a number of facilities in the Northern Health region.

Mills Memorial Hospital in Terrace will receive a share of the money, while the Prince George Regional Hospital appears set to receive the bulk of the funding.

$4.6 Million For Northern Health Projects
By 250 News
Thursday, August 02, 2007 02:33 PM

Northern Health has received $4.6 million in regional funding for several projects under the Province's Health Innovation Fund.

The key projects affecting the region include:

CT Angiography Services: This initiative will help improve diagnosis times of patients with chest pain. The new service will increase diagnostic imaging capabilities in Northern BC, and potentially reduce the need for patients to travel to Vancouver for testing. The new CT scanner at Mills Memorial Hospital in Terrace can offer this service following additional staff training. $33,000 from the Health Innovation Fund will pay for the training and operational costs to run this new service.

Prince George Regional Hospital will receive capital funding to acquire a second CT scanner with the required processing capacity and software for this service. The total investment for PGRH covering the new unit and operating costs will be $1.478 million.

Integrated Health Networks- Primary Health Care System: as part of NH’s Care North Strategy, this project will help to provide better care for people , such as Aboriginal people and the elderly, who experience chronic diseases. The region will share in $2.73 million dollars in funding.

“Emergency Department Information Systems (EDIS) Implementation: $420,000 for better patient information to help improve patient flow through the Mills Memorial Hospital Emergency Department. The initiative will expand the current EDIS used at Prince George Regional Hospital to Mills Memorial Hospital in Terrace and to Fort St. John Hospital.

Northern Health CEO Cathy Ulrich says the projects will be positive on several levels "Our projects through the Health Innovation Fund will help improve the quality of care for patients, better manage both chronic and acute illnesses, and help improve efficiency within our facilities.”

Hospital Chair Briglio finds Abbott to be a boffo health minister

Tony Briglio seemed almost zealous with his words, so effusive was he in passing along the accolades about Health Minister George Abbott over the weekend, going so far as to say that “he has never seen a health Minister so in touch with the needs of the North.”

Briglio’s fervent bout of admiration came after Abbott touched on a number of shared concerns about Health care in the Northwest during a recent tour of the Northern Health services in the region. Minister Abbot seemed to be particularly concerned about the plight of seniors on the North coast, a cause that is close to the hearts of many on the local health care scene.

Of course being “in touch with our needs” and delivering our requirements may be two different things! So it will be with interest that we watch to see how Mr. Abbott’s impressions of the Northwest, translate into provincial health policy over the short and long term.

Then we’ll know if we all should pick up the song book and join in on the Briglio chorale.

All songs of praise were reported on dutifully by the Daily news, complete with a front page story in Monday’s paper.

HOSPITAL BOARD BOSS LIKES HEALTH MINISTER’S DIAGNOSIS
Tony Briglio says George Abbot is in touch with the needs of the Northwest
By Kris Schumacher
The Daily News
Monday, July 30, 2007
Pages one and three

Tony Briglio has never seen a Health Minister so in touch with the needs of the North in his 25-plus years as a health care critic in British Columbia.

“I’d like to applaud Minister Abbott’s observations, and naming what the real issues in our community and the North are,” said Briglio, city councillor and chair of the Northwest Regional Hospital District.

“Recognizing that we do need resources for our seniors in particular in terms of the Acropolis Manor structure that we’re working on, and also the plight of the Northwest Regional Hospital District. Recognizing we’ve been working with Northern Health to have them realize that as a cost-saving measure, perhaps it would be a good idea to look at what the needs are going to be as we build, and perhaps add some additional capacity there from what the numbers are today.

“When you look at what we have, to what we’re going to have, it’s really only one bed more prior to Acropolis being scaled down,” he said. “As a starter, we had suggested to Northern Health not too long ago that they look at Acropolis Manor in the spirit of adding at least another 10 beds and perhaps save us a pile of money, when we’re going to have to do that anyway a couple of years down the line.”

Briglio’s praise of Minister Abbott comes a week after the head of provincial health took a four-day tour of the Northwest region, stopping in places including the Queen Charlotte Islands, Masset, Terrace and Prince Rupert.

The purpose of the minister’s visit was to speak with both health care workers and patients, to better identify the needs of the northern communities today and for the future.

“I think Minister Abbott certainly got a good flavour of what the issues are around our neck of the woods,” Briglio said. “He identified type two diabetes as being an issue among our demographic here, he identified the recruitment and retention issue, and although he points out the UNBC medical program, he doesn’t suggest that it’s the be-all to end-all, and rather that there are other things they are working on with the B. C. Medical Association to encourage more doctors and nurses to come. And from my perspective, I’d like to see what some of those things are, because that’s always been an issue with us, and it always has been an issue.”

Not only was Briglio pleased with the minister’s effort to get out of his office and tour the communities he is responsible for, but also that he genuinely understands what key problems places like Prince Rupert will be facing in the years to come.”

“The man obviously is either a quick studier or well-versed in terms of what the issues are here. So much so, that really I haven’t seen that in a minister before,” said Briglio. “It’s interesting that he took the time not only to come to our community but the surrounding area. That’s excellent.

”He’s recognizing that the North is an area where there’s a growth coming our way, and I think he’s being proactive here in terms of, hopefully, trying to assist us and garner us those things that we need for our community.

“He identified very clearly the issue of seniors, and when you speak to some government bureaucrats, the issue of seniors is not seen as one that’s of a growing nature in Prince Rupert, because historically in our area there’s been a young population base. But guess what? That young population base is guys like me who are getting on, and we’d like to reserve a room in Acropolis Manor.”

Senior’s advocates press Northern Health for more living units

When the new Acropolis Manor is completed there will be only one new bed added to the senior’s facility, a situation which seems rather silly considering the need in the community and a result that will not provide much comfort for those that currently sit on a waiting list for a spot in the local senior’s care residence. With that nugget of information made public, local advocates have begun the process of urging Northern Health build more units for seniors in need in the area. They began their journey by approaching city council last week, briefing them on their concerns and solicit their support for expanded care facilities for local seniors.

The current state of senior’s care on the North coast presents a situation that has many asking Northern Health to keep the current Acropolis Manor up and running as well, in order to provide services to those in the community.

The current long term care facility is slated for demolition upon completion of the new Manor; a decision which many feel is rather foolish, considering the ever expanding need for services in the province. The efforts of those advocates were outlined in Thursday’s Daily News.

NH URGED TO BUILD MORE SENIORS’ UNITS
New building means only one new bed: advocate
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Page one

The new replacement facility for Acropolis Manor will do nothing to help those who are on the waiting list for assisted living facilities, said a local health advocate.

Retired nurse Peggy Davenport told city council there is no way Northern Health (NH) should demolish the current Acropolis Manor until the health authority addresses the need for assisted living facilities in Prince Rupert.

“It has been publicly acknowledged by Susanne Johnston, former chief operating officer, and Sue Beckermann, former Northwest administrator, that the plans for the new facility does not provide enough space for the current people in need of complex care and assisted living housing when those currently at Acropolis, in the hospital and on the waiting list are counted,” said Davenport.

While the new facility is being designed so additional units can be added on at a later date, once the old facility is demolished, anyone currently in need of assisted living (able to live on their own but in need of access to a caregiver 24 hours a day) will be left with “inadequate and unsafe care until there is some sudden event, such as an accident and the person will lie in a hospital bed.”

She said there are currently a number of Rupertites, including two who are blind, who are not properly cared for through home support services.

“Why destroy Acropolis Manor to make a parking lot? It doesn’t make sense financially except for the one thing that comes to mind. NH does not want to hire support staff.

Coun. Tony Briglio acknowledged that the new facility will not add new spaces.

“I fully concur with Peggy Davenport’s report in terms of the need for additional units at the new facility,” Said Briglio.

Acropolis Manor, when it was originally built, had 50 beds, and then there were 20 beds at the fourth floor of the hospital for a total of 70 beds.

However, with the deficiencies at Acropolis Manor, 20 beds were closed knocking the number down to 30 and the total to 50.

“Anybody looking at that today would say we had 50, we are going to 71 (at the new facility), that’s 21 more beds. But we don’t we actually have one more bed than we had.”

However, he does not believe NH has said “no” to additional units, but rather they were still in discussions.

“They still have not come out and said “no” in respect to that.”
He added NH”s perception of the current requirements may come from census numbers that do not reflect the future of the community.

“We did not want to get into a debate with Northern Health about numbers and delay the project any further,” he said.

As for Acropolis Manor, it is a legitimate question to ask what else the facility could be used for, said Briglio.

“As much as I know, there are people in Prince Rupert, perhaps myself included, who would like to see something done with the facility, ultimately it is Northern Health’s decision,” he said. “And they have been getting the message loud and clear they need to make greater use of it than simply demolishing it.”

Council will send letter asking NH to consider additional assisted living units for new care facility, knowing the population is increasingly aging. Council will also ask if Northern Health has come to a conclusion about Acropolis and how it was made.“I think the community needs to know that,” said Briglio.

Minister’s tour drops in on Rupert

Heath Minister George Abbott spent some time around the Prince Rupert Regional hospital last week, taking a look for himself at the state of health care on the North coast.

Abbott was full of praise for the local staff members and found many great things taking place under the Northern Health umbrella. He admitted that there seem to be some issues over mental health and addictions in the local community, so perhaps we may see some action on those two pressing items of local concern.

He shared his thoughts of his Friday visit with the Daily News for their Monday edition.

HEALTH MINISTER CHECKS ON ACROPOLIS MANOR PROGRESS
George Abbott says more primary care resources are still needed in region
By Kris Schumacher
The Daily News
Monday, July 23, 2007
Pages One and Three

Minister of Health George Abbott stopped off in Prince Rupert last week on what was a five-day tour of the Northwest region of British Columbia.

“I had some great meetings here today in Prince Rupert,” he said. “I’m very impressed with how they’re working together here.

“This is a staff that’s very much engaged with the patient population that they serve. They work very much in an orderly and proper way, and there’s a lot of great things that Northern Health is doing at this site.”

He was particularly pleased with progress on the new Acropolis Manor.

“I’m delighted with the new Acropolis coming on. There will be even more that staff will be able to do to serve patients here.”

The minister’s tour included a visit to Queen Charlotte Village, a day in Skidegate, as well as Masset, before stopping in Prince Rupert on Friday.

“I’m very impressed at the work being done at this hospital,” said Abbott. “What I really want to encourage here is building more primary care resources. I think Northern Health’s done a great job, but there’s more opportunities that staff has raised both at the hospital here and downtown at some of the primary care centres there. We probably have some additional work to do around mental health and addiction services for the Northwest. But particularly the primary care and building some opportunities to try and serve the growing senior population.”

Abbot heard many health issues and concerns raised by citizens across the Nothwest region last week, but he felt there was a one question that ran through all the communities.

“I think a lot of it revolves around prevention and primary care. There’s lot of concern that we have the appropriate resources to deal with a growing seniors population, particularly with chronic disease conditions,” said Abbott.

“That’s a big issue not just here in the Northwest, but right across the province. The number of citizens in B. C., who are over 65 years in age is going to double over the next 10-20 years. We need to have not only residential care and assisted living resources, but we need to build a stronger primary care centre in British Columbia.”

He also feels that the problems need to be addressed at the community levels for solutions to be effective.

“We don’t have sufficient opportunities currently to reach out to the vulnerable population and try to address their needs. A good example is Type 2 diabetes. It is already a significant problem in British Columbia, but we anticipate over the next decade or tow we’ll see a doubling of it. Some of it is the aging population, but it’s also the younger population, so there’s a lot of work that needs to be done on both the prevention and primary cares sides. So when we identify the candidate population for diabetes that we get them on best practices management for their condition, so they don’t end up in emergency rooms.”

Also a serious problem in the Northwest is the issue of recruiting and training medical professionals for the region, which Abbott sees as improving in the coming months.

“I think the best thing we’ve got going for us is the new Northern medical school at UNBC, and that’s going to be very helpful. All the academic literature would suggest if you educate more nurses and doctors in the North, they are much more likely to remain in the North for long term. We’ve also brought into play some new partnership programs with the B. C. Medical Association and others to try to encourage more doctors and nurses to set up practices in areas that have traditionally been under-serviced, Prince Rupert being one of them.

The push is on, to keep Acropolis Manor from being torn down

With a new seniors care facility soon to begin the construction phase, local residents are turning their attention to ways to save the old faithful servant from the wrecking ball, at 26 years of age, many don’t feel that the Manor on Summit has outlived some purpose for the community. To that point, a group called Concerned Citizens for Saving the Manor is looking for ways to convince Northern Health to keep the building intact and look for parking solutions elsewhere.

To say the least, they are less than thrilled with the reasons provided by Northern Health over the demolition plans. They suggest that Northern health is treating the public in a condescending manner and are insulting the locals over their handling of the issue.

The Daily News provided details on their efforts in the Wednesday paper.

DON’T TEAR BUILDING DOWN, SAYS GROUP
Northern Health urged to find another use for vacated Acropolis Manor
By Kris Schumacher
The Daily News
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Pages one and five

A group of concerned citizens are voicing their thoughts about the proposed demolition of the 26 year old Acropolis Manor.

The group had their letter of concern read to the Northern Health Board at last week’s meeting in Prince Rupert by retired nurse Peggy Davenport. The letter outlines several reasons why they feel the Acropolis Manor building should not be demolished.

“The proposed demolition Acropolis Manor is the most ludicrous decision taken by Northern Health that we have ever come across,” it begins.

“This building is a mere 26 years old. If all public buildings that are of timber frame construction are torn down at (that age), our province would be in a financial mess.”

Northern Health has stated the building is no up to current earthquake code, would be too expensive to renovate, and says the area is needed to provide better access and parking around the hospital. But the Concerned Citizens for Saving the Manor feel that public documents outlining cost estimates to renovate the building should be circulated and made known to local people.

“Making a statement that it is too costly to renovate or earthquake-proof without releasing accredited cost estimates is condescending, intellectual dishonesty and insults the public,” the group states.

The group continues: “Does Northern health have two or three engineering estimates of the costs? If so, release these reports and the dollar value of what it would cost to make it earthquake proof or renovate.”

The group was also concerned with the logic behind tearing down a building with an outstanding mortgage of over $1 million.

“You do know that we have to provide the ability for people to work and park their vehicles and visit patients not only at the manor but in the hospital,” said Northern Health Chairman Jeff Burghardt in response to Davenport’s reading of the group’s concerns. “And we’ve taken care of the mortgage issues, there is no outstanding mortgage on the Acropolis.

So that is something we were well aware of, and something we thought we should be responsible for.”

Whether the group’s concerns have been satisfied by Burghardt’s response, or whether the fight for the Acropolis Manor has just begun remains to be determined.

Neither Burghardt nor Davenport were available for further comment at time of press.

Prince Rupert Nursing shortage has Northern Health walking a tightrope

It's going to be an anxious summer for patients, medical professionals and administrators in Prince Rupert.

Opinion 250 has posted a story on its website , detailing the concerns over nursing shortages at Prince Rupert Regional Hospital, a situation that could possibly lead to patient transfers over the summer months.

Prince Rupert Nursing Shortage Could Force Patient Transfers
By 250 News
Friday, June 29, 2007 03:55 AM

While Northern Health is making some progress in filling vacant nursing positions at Prince Rupert Regional Hospital, the facility will be walking a tightrope over the summer months.

"We want our patients to understand that in the event of a nursing shortage during a particular time, due to a sick call or unexpected staffing vacancy, we may need to conduct transfers to other facilities to ensure our patients receive certain procedures," says Sheila Gordon-Payne, Interim Health Services Administrator for Prince Rupert and the Queen Charlotte Islands.

"We are hopeful this will not happen. Even so, we're advising patients, such as expectant mothers, to discuss their birthing plan or alternative arrangements with their physician, in the event a transfer has to happen."

Northern Health's Director of Communications, Mark Karjaluoto, says two new staff members will bring the Maternity Ward at PRRH up to its full complement, as of August 1st. And by the fall, he says, "The hospital will have a nursingrotation that provides three registered nurses on the patient care unit (emergency and the operating room are staffed separately), two of which will have maternity training."

However with vacation time and the potential for staff sick days, Karjaluoto says Northern Health is working to bring nurses from outside of Prince Rupert to work at the hospital for shifts through the summer. He says recruitment for vacant medical/surgical nursing positions also continues.

Northern Health hears first hand of problems with local health care

People falling through the cracks, long standing issues and a lack of shelter for those in the most need were some of the key concerns brought to a forum about the state of treatment for mental health and addictions.

City councillors, local officials and citizens raised a number of concerns about the issue a long standing problem in the city and one that seems to keep getting pushed into a corner or swept under a rug.

The many issues that plague the city have been long standing ones, but lately seem to be getting worse and far more noticeable to the average citizen, the real question is whether Health officials are noticing and more importantly will they take action.

The Daily News featured the developments from the session in Wednesday's paper.

GAPS IN HEALTH, ADDICTION SERVICES PAINFUL
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Prince Rupert has a hospital with no psychiatric ward, yet it has psychiatric patients. It has people rummaging through trash cans to find pop bottles to pay for cheap liquor, but no detoxification centre. And it has teenagers moving nightly from couch to couch, but no homeless shelter.

That was the message health care providers, politicians and the public brought to Northern Health during a meeting about the state of treatment for mental health and addictions.
Coun. Joy Thorkelson said the issue of a lack of a detoxification facility has been problematic for decades.

"The biggest addiction in this town is alcohol," said Thorkelson.

"Things have not changed. It seems to be harder now for people to get treatment."

She said that when people have to wait weeks to get into an out-of-town facility for detoxification, most of the time they don't make it to the detoxification centre.

"I passed two young men in their late 20s, early 30s on their way here who used to hold down decent jobs in the fishing industry who now are just down and out, digging in the garbage for pop cans," said Thorkelson.

"These used to be people who could make a living but they could never make it on the bus to Prince George."

Other health care providers noted the lack of beds available to the homeless, and the lack of programs to get them back on their feet.

Coun. Sheila Gordon-Payne said she is most concerned about the people who fall through the cracks.

People who come into the emergency ward with a mental health problem in a life or death state receive treatment at the hospital, but if they can make it through the night on their own, they are sent home.

In addition, participants noted police and the hospital often use each other's beds (even in the cells) to house those who need someplace to sleep it off.

Police often become the health care system for those struggling with severe mental health and additions problems after 5 p.m. There is no one in town trained to deal with HIV patients, a lack of outreach services to the villages and the current staff at Northern Health Mental Health and Addictions are stretched to the limit, said participants.

Joanne Bezzubetz, Northern Health's regional director of addictions and mental health, agreed they need to provide more training for front-line health care providers such as those at the hospital to help them deal with mental health problems.

Nor do they offer prevention when it comes to mental health problems, but it is an area they do need to get into.

The public meeting was part of a consultation Northern Health is holding on mental health and addictions service.

Northern Health is holding 35 community meetings across the North from May 23 to July 5.
For those who did not attend Monday night's meeting, people can still submit their comments either by phone, mail or email. "Let's Talk About Addictions & Mental Health" comment forms, and discussion guides, are available at www.northernhealth.ca, as well as at local health units, health centres and hospitals.

"People can still respond on comment forms until July 7," said Sonya Kruger, communications officer for Northern Health.

Northern health issues precautionary boil advisory for the Northwest

Northern Health has provided an advisory for those in the region who rely on their own water supplies for household water requirements. Residents living in and west of Houston through to Prince Rupert and the Queen Charlottes are advised to take safety measures if they have their own water supply.

It is not expected that the larger urban areas in the region will be affected by the troubles of the last few weeks as river waters ran over their banks, potentially contaminating those who have wells for their water supply.

From the Northern Health website:

Precautionary boil water advisory issued for Northwest residents impacted by flooding; residents also advised to take well water precautions

Northern Health has issued a precautionary boil water advisory for Northwest residents living in areas impacted by flooding. Residents living in and west of Houston through to Prince Rupert and the Queen Charlottes are advised to take safety measures if they have their own water supply.

“If a property has become flooded, well water may have become contaminated with surface water,” said Iqbal Kalsi, Northwest Manager of Public Health Protection. “In these situations, residents should take precautions and assume that the water in their home is not safe to drink.”

Northern Health will provide free water sampling kits for residents who wish to have their water supply checked for contamination. Residents can arrange to pick up these sampling kits by contacting an Environmental Health Officer at their local health unit.

Well owners are being asked to protect their well from surface water contamination and disinfect their well prior to sampling. Residents in an area where flooding has taken place should also disinfect their wells. For details on how to disinfect, contact your local environmental health officer or visit www.northernhealth.ca/Disinfectingyourwell.asp

Until water has been confirmed safe for drinking, residents should:

Obtain bottled water or water from another source that is known to be safe;

Boil water for at least one minute; or

Disinfect water with unscented liquid chlorine bleach. Add eight drops of bleach to one gallon of clear water (if the water is cloudy, double the amount of bleach). Thoroughly mix and let stand for 30 minutes.

Northern Health also advises rigorous hand-washing for residents in the affected areas and as a general preventive health measure. Hand washing with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds will greatly reduce the risk of any illness that might occur following contact with contaminated water.

For more information about maintaining safe drinking water, or for residents concerned about cleaning up their homes after a flood, call your local environmental health officer or visit:

www.bchealthguide.org/healthfiles/hfile20.stm
www.pep.bc.ca/hazard_preparedness/Flood_Information.html

Media Contact: Iqbal Kalsi, Northwest Manager of Public Health Protection: (250) 638-2222

Northern Health stays local for new executive

Northern Health has decided to hire from within for its new president and chief executive, Friday's paper had the complete details on the decision.


Strength from within for Northern Health
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Friday, May 25, 2007

After an extensive search, Northern Health has chosen one of its own employees to take over the position of president and chief executive officer.

Yesterday, Northern Health chair Jeff Burghardt announced that the board has appointed Cathy Ulrich to the position, effective June 15.

"In recruiting our new CEO, the board's goal was to select a strong leader who would engage Northern Health's capable staff and maintain and build upon our partnership with Northern physicians," said Burghardt.

"We want to ensure that we strengthen our open relationship with Northern communities, and enhance on-going efforts with our many partners to build better health services across Northern British Columbia. We're confident that Cathy will provide exceptional leadership as Northern Health continues to develop."

Ulrich takes over from Malcolm Maxwell, who is leaving Northern Health for a position at a hospital in Ontario. Since 2002, she held the position vice-president of clinical services and chief nursing officer with Northern Health.

She has spent the majority of her career in rural and northern locations where she gained a solid understanding of the nature of rural and northern communities, their health needs and concerns, and the unique approaches required to meet these needs.

Burghardt added she has a proven track record of successfully garnering and engaging resources specifically for rural and northern initiatives.

She has also been actively engaged in health services research, teaching and graduate student support.

"I believe Northern Health is well positioned to be a provincial and national leader in the delivery of high quality health care services to rural and northern populations," said Ulrich.

"I look forward to leading the implementation of Northern Health's strategic directions and working with our many partners to develop creative and innovative solutions that will ensure a sustainable system of health services in the North."

Ulrich said she will spend her time between now and June 15 bringing herself up to speed with the many projects already underway at Northern Health.

Burghardt said that during the coming years Northern Health needs to migrate away from acute care and Ulrich can help in this goal.

"We need to move to healthier communities and so much of that requires program development," he said. "Largely in Cathy's role to this point, she's been responsible for the direction of program development. Malcolm relied heavily on Cathy in the last few years."

He added they wanted to hire someone who could accept and work with goals and objectives already being implemented by senior staff.

Push, Push, Wait, Wait, Hold, Hold. Travel, Travel?

Expectant parents are adding a discussion or two with their doctors to their to do list this week, as Prince Rupert Regional Hospital works around some staffing issues with its maternity ward.

With only two of the normal complement of five maternity nurses on staff available for work, Northern Health officials are suggesting that parents will want to discuss delivery options with their doctors.

Sue Beckermann was quoted in the Daily News on Friday that with the nursing shortage, expectant parents concerned about the staffing situation, may want to look to another community with certified maternity help on site and available for when delivery day comes around.

“It’s a very personal decision. If people are nervous that they could deliver on a day when we do not have a certified nurse available, they may want to go somewhere where they know that’s available,” she said.

Needless to say, it's probably a dis-concerting issue for parents to be to have to think about at a most stressful time. The need to uproot and go out of town to deliver their child.

It's not the first time that the issue of staffing of the maternity ward has come up locally, so it would seem that it's a situtation that Northern Health has been unable to resolve.

It makes for yet another addition to the questions about health delivery services in the Northwest, questions that keep coming up time and time again with little in the way of progress seemingly on the way.

The Daily News had full details on the maternity ward situation in Friday's paper.

Maternity ward working around shortage of nurses
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Friday, April 20, 2007

Expectant moms are being asked to talk about delivery options with their doctors because the hospital now has less than half the number of dedicated maternity nurses it needs.

Sue Beckermann, Northwest Health Service Administrator, confirmed the hospital only has two dedicated maternity nurses at the moment.

Prince Rupert Regional Hospital is supposed to have five dedicated maternity nurses. It had three until recently, then one had to leave because she is now a new mom herself.

While there are other nurses within the community with maternity training who have offered to fill in, there could be times when a maternity nurse is not available, said Beckermann.

“We are challenged. We probably will see occasional times when we have difficulty covering,” she said. “The important thing to remember is the doors are always open. There are always nurses here. They may not be maternity trained but the physician will be here as well and we would never turn anybody away.”

She said expectant moms should talk with their physician about their options.

“It’s a very personal decision. If people are nervous that they could deliver on a day when we do not have a certified nurse available, they may want to go somewhere where they know that’s available,” she said.

“That would be between that person and their doctor and in the meantime we are recruiting as hard as we can.”

Beckermann explained one challenge in recruiting maternity nurses is that Prince Rupert Regional Hospital only sees about 200 to 210 births a year.

“That makes it a little difficult to entice a maternity nurse to come,” she said. “The number’s low, that’s not even one birth a day per year. It’s not a lot of hands-on work, not a lot of consistency and our moms always tend to come in little groups rather than one at a time.”

This means Beckermann needs to find someone who wants to do maternity but not on a full-time, day-in day-out basis — someone who is willing to turn their hand to doing other things in nursing when there isn’t maternity available.

“There’s so many choices today for nurses that it’s very hard to persuade somebody to come to that role,” she said.

In addition, Northern Health is also encouraging nursing staff at Prince Rupert Regional Hospital to go for maternity training and supporting the cost of any specialty certification in maternity.

“Any of our staff that have an interest we have been sending off for courses and supporting them in getting that specialty certification,” she said.

In the meantime, she noted they have had times when no maternity nurse is available but other nurses have been able to work with physicians and fill in quite well.

Northern Health has plans

Expanding care facilities and local support for seniors is high on the spending list for Northern Health, outlined in a recent 2007-08 service plan.

The Daily News examined some of the highlights of the planned expenditures for the next year.

Healthy sum to be spent on the region’s hospitals
By James Vassallo
The Daily News
Friday, March 30, 2007

Northern Health will spend an additional $115 million on projects in the region during the next 12 months. Among those on the North Coast are the completion of the new Masset Health Centre, the replacement of Acropolis Manor and the replacement of the CT scan and x-ray room at Prince Rupert Regional Hospital.

“A major focus of our budget and service plan will be to expand care facilities and local support programs for seniors,” said Jeff Burghardt, Northern Health board chair. “We continue to see enhancements in a wide range of areas, which are helping us to better meet the health needs of Northern British Columbians.”

The spending was outlined in the health region’s 2007-08 service plan and budget plan, which was released at a recent board meeting.

Other projects include a new clinical information system, new residential beds at hospitals in Hazelton, Houston and Fort St. James, an expansion at Quesnel’s Dunrovin Park Lodge, completion of the maternity ward at Prince George Regional Hospital, additional residential care beds and assisted living units at Dawson Creek’s Rotary Manor, expansion at Terraceview Lodge, and an addition of residential care beds in Fort St. John.

Along with the hefty list of capital expenditures, Northern Health is also proposing an increased operating budget of $552 million, which must be approved by the Ministry of Health. It includes a 6.1 per cent increase in base funding from the B.C. Government. In the last fiscal year, which ends March 31, the health authority spent $532 million and is expected to have a $3.5 million surplus.

“The surplus from our last fiscal year will become part of our operating capital budget for the 2007/2008 year,” said Burghardt. “This will help us to meet our ambitious capital plan over the next year.”

Around the region, next year’s service plan calls for increases in hospital services, including an additional 28,000 surgical procedures; more seniors care services, including six more residential care beds next year and 83 more by 2008-09 as well as 59 more assisted living units next year and a total of 289 by March 2009; enhancements to mental health like $550,000 in new mental health observation units at a number of hospitals designed to offer more support for people with mental illness; and public health programs such as $180,000 in additional spending for the Tobacco Reduction Program. There will also be an additional 9,435 hours for home care support services.

Again for 2007-08, NH will also operate more acute care beds than mandated by the province.
With 20 per cent more hospital bed capacity than government expectations, the health authority will provide 5,540 beds at hospitals throughout the region. The extra beds are a response to both the poorer health status of people in Northern B.C., and the difficulty in operating some non-hospital services in small communities that would be common in urban areas.

NH has also initiated a community consultation on improving mental health and addictions services around the region. The health authority will begin visiting communities in late May to gather input.

Northern Health Waits for release of Cancer clinic report.

Northern health is patiently waiting for a report to be publicly released, outlining the future for Cancer care in the north. Plans which it is hoped will ultimately provide for a cancer clinic to be constructed in Prince George.

The Opinion 250 website has a story on the issue with a discussion with the head of Northern health Jeff Burghardt, who along with Dr. Charles Jago, co-authored the report delivered to the Premier last July.

It's a bit puzzling as to why it would take so long from the time a report is handed in for consideration, to when it is released to the public. Delays such as this, seem to be part of the problem with health care in British Columbia.

A delay of almost a year between a report and any indication of action, is too much and only goes to reaffirm the stereotype of a bloated bureaucracy that can't seem to move to action with any sense of urgency.

In the opinion 250 piece, Burghardt expresses a wish for the reports release soon and an opportunity to move the goal of cancer care in the north further along. Northern residents can only share in his wishes and perhaps a hope that somebody reads his report soon and lets us all know what the official verdict will be.

Head of Northern Health Wants to Know About PG Cancer Clinic Too
By 250 News
Sunday, March 25, 2007 03:53 AM

The head of the Northern Health Authority says he is hoping the report on a Cancer Clinic in Prince George is released soon.

In the meantime, Jeff Burghardt says Northern Health would like to see 8 or 9 locations where the doctors would see the cancer patients and then have them come to Prince George where perhaps as many as 5 or 6 oncologists would be available for the patient to see and receive radiation therapy or surgery.

In that way he said "As you build a confidence with the patient, they would want to be referred to a cancer clinic in this city. Rather than traveling to places such as Vancouver or Edmonton. When you build up a relationship with the doctor and the patient that will go a long way to where the treatment will be sought."

Burghardt knows it won't happen overnight "I don’t expect we will have a cancer clinic tomorrow, we have to get the people and the services needed for such a facility in place first."
Burghardt says there is work being done " We are moving towards having more oncologists here in this city in the immediate future, and that along with nurses trained in the field will make the construction of a clinic much easier."

Burghardt and Dr. Charles Jago co-authored the report which was delivered to the Premier last July.

Posted on Sunday, March 25, 2007 03:53 AM in News by 250 News

Putting the British, into British Columbia nursing

The Opinion 250 website is reporting that Northern Health has had a bit of success at a recent Nursing forum held in the United Kingdom. The Northern Health Authority has apparently offered nineteen nurses positions in Northern BC, with another 24 nurses expressing interest in opportunities here.

It is expected to take roughly six months to clear the paperwork to smooth their transit to Northern BC, where they will help to fill the roughly 65 positions currently left unfilled in the region.

UK Nurses to Come to BC North
By 250 News
Friday, March 23, 2007 03:56 AM

The Northern Health Authority says that 19 positions for nurses have been offered at a recent Employment forum held in Manchester, England, with another 24 nurses expressing interest.
It will take about six months to get them through the immigration process.

Most are specialty nurses who want to work in the Pacific northwest of BC for Northern Health says CEO Malcolm Maxwell. "We are very pleased at what we have been able to accomplish in the recruiting process."

Right now, Northern Health has 65 full time vacancies for nurses.
Posted on Friday, March 23, 2007 03:56 AM in News by 250 News

Northern Health and provincial government face tough questions on long term care policies.

The unfortunate passing of a 96 year old Prince Rupert woman has both Northern Health and the Provincial Government on the hot seat over senior’s issues. Gary Coons the MLA for the North Coast brought up the case of Verna Sevigny, a 96 year old woman who had been waiting for 18 months for a spot in Acropolis Manor, only to be deemed too healthy for the long care facility

In a rather tragic story, she remained living at home where she recently fell and broke a hip; subsequently she passed away a week and a half ago after suffering a number of complications resulting from her fall.

In a complicated string of events, she was once listed as a candidate for a bed at the Manor but at that time, chose to stay home instead. Once she felt ready to take a spot there, she was deemed as no longer needing the facility. It’s a situation that seems a bit hard to fathom, considering her advanced age and state at that time. If she was listed as a prime candidate a few years ago, surely she would still be a candidate for the first available space later on.

The entire process of getting seniors into proper institutional care as described in the Daily News article below, seems to be the creation of a convoluted bureaucratic process designed more to put off seniors than to provide for them. A lengthy checklist of requirements needs to be considered before anyone seems to be eligible to be granted a spot in the system, even if it seems pretty obvious by their day to day living that a person is in need.

It calls into question the treatment of seniors regarding long term care, as well as the policies in place to make sure that they are provided with the best care the province can offer. It’s a very sad story and its unfortunate ending places that issue prominently on the front burner.

While it’s laudable to want to see seniors remain in their homes as long as possible, sometimes that is not a realistic, nor a proactive move. Northern Health and the province need to explain how these things are happening and what steps are being taken to make sure that repeat instances don’t take place.

The Daily News provided a complete examination of this very sad situation as their front page story in Thursday’s paper.

RUPERT SENIOR’S PLIGHT IS DISCUSSED IN LEGISLATURE
MLA asking why Verna Sevigny was unable to get the care she needed
By James Vassallo
The Daily News
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Pages one and two

The recent death of a Prince Rupert woman who was denied a place in Acropolis Manor reached the floor of the provincial legislature this week.

“Verna (Sevigny) was 96, and on a wait list for 18 months for long-term care,” said North Coast MLA Gary Coons. “She was told she was ‘far too healthy for admission.

“Shortly after being rejected for long-term care, she fell in her home and broke her hip. She passed away a week a half ago from complications resulting from her fall.”

Coons asked Health Minister George Abbott to explain why Sevigny could not get into Acropolis Manor.

“The Minister was pretty cavalier in dismissing the concerns of people from Prince Rupert,” Coons said. “That’s not a surprise. They don’t want to talk about their broken promise of creating 5,000 new long-term care spaces.”

Marion Weir, who helped Sevigny with such things as her shopping and advocated for her in dealing with Northern Health, said there was no doubt the woman belonged in Acropolis Manor. Despite having her assessed three times in the last four years, she said the health authority would not recognize the critical need.

“Even as Verna lay in palliative care before she passed away, I met up with the home assessment guy and he says to me ‘if we just get her past this pneumonia, I’m sure she’ll be well enough to go to assisted living,” she said. “This lady wanted to be looked after for her remaining days, but they’ve changed their attitude about so many things I just don’t know where to go any more.”

Weir explained that Sevigny was assessed four years ago and identified as being a candidate for the long-term care facility as soon as a bed opened up. However, once one did, Sevigny decided she wasn’t ready to give up her home, prompting her to be taken off the list. Once she did feel ready for Acropolis, she was no longer assessed as needing the facility.

“She wasn’t even cooking for herself anymore because she was afraid there might be an electrical fire or she’d forget about something on the stove – she was even boiling her meat because she was afraid to fry it,” said Weir. “The stairs down to her laundry were dangerous, her carpet needed to be stretched out, she was tripping over it and she had lost weight so her shoes didn’t even fit her properly any more.”

“There were all these little things and they just kept saying because her mind was there, she was healthy. The government keeps saying we want people to stay home as long as possible. Doesn’t Northern Health see that if they want these people to stay home they need more help?”

The assessment process is a comprehensive one, says Angela Szabo, Northwest Home and Community Care director.

Szabo said the process is used across Canada and looks at needs in their entirety, including functional, psycho-social, spiritual and environmental states as they relate to health.

“What the assessment does is it red flags areas of actual or potential problems,” she said. “It tries to look at the entire individual and the areas that they could experience challenges in their day-to-day life.”

That information – which includes things like recent and past accidents stemming from health issues and how the person’s living space may impact that – is used to develop an individualized health services plan to determine what health care resources they need. It’s only when all those community resources – home support, home care nursing, the adult day program, respite services have been exhausted that patients find themselves in a facility like Acropolis Manor.

“If (an) individual had no family, was receiving 4.5 hours of home support seven days a week, attending the adult day program for bathing twice a week, receiving meals on wheels three times a week, in there 90’s, had arthritis and was blind, yes they’d be eligible and placed as a priority on our wait list for facility based care because their health determinations are considered high, they’re considered to have multiple red flags,” she said. “When someone has maxed out our community resources… and it’s still not enough to sustain them safely from a health and a risk perspective in their home, those are the individuals that our complex care environment is structured for.”

As well, when it comes to helping people with that list of community-based health services, Northern Health stresses that it ultimately has to be a about a person’s health status.

“It is the health needs that are the important things for us to ascertain rather than the age,” said Sue Beckerman, Northwest Health Service Administrator. “I think people can say they were 80, they were 90 this was going to happen some time, but that’s not always the case.

“That’s why we don’t focus on age. We certainly have a number of frail people in the community that are in their 30’s and people in their 50’s and 60’s who area lot thicker than people in their 80’s and 90’s.”

As to Sevigny’s death, Szabo adds everyone is very sorry that she passed away, but NH can’t prevent the terrible health consequences that may result from a senior falling. However, they are working to identify and help those most at risk. The Frail Elderly Collaborative, a pilot project taking place in Prince Rupert and two other Northern Communities, brings together a wide range of participants from doctors to family members to develop a coordinated strategy on falls.

“One in three seniors at any given point in time will have a fall and I think that we have to recognize that no matter where our seniors are, whether they’re in facilities or the hospital or the community they’re at risk due to the aging process,” she said. “(But for) individuals that are at a high or more risk than others (we’re working on) a coordinated plan of care and support services for them that is basically to a deeper level in the community providing more services, more supports instead of just closing down the office at five o’clock.”

Troubles in Transportation policy at Northern Health reveal a few problems

Judging by the rather extraordinary travel arrangements of a Queen Charlotte Islands man, Northern Health still has a bit of work to do on their travel policy.

The Queen Charlotte Observer has a tale of wild transportation problems encountered by a man seeking medical care, first on the Charlottes then in Prince Rupert and eventually on to Kitimat. In the end, his journey brought him released from Kitimat Hospital with no winter coat, no money and no apparent way back home.

It’s an issue that has caught the attention of the region’s MLA and shows that there needs to be a bit more communication between all aspects of the Northern health bureaucracy.

Medivacced islanders still being stranded on mainland
By Heather Ramsay
Queen Charlotte Islands Observer
Wednesday, March 7, 2007

-Queen Charlotte resident David Yasko was lucky he had friends on the mainland who picked him up from the Kitimat hospital after he was medivacced there for treatment and then stranded.

Mr. Yasko was sent by airplane to Prince Rupert on Feb. 8 and then by ambulance to Kitimat - with no coat and no wallet. So when he was discharged from hospital two days later, he was at a loss about what to do.

"I had no idea they just release you and you fend for yourself," he said. His friends, who live in Terrace, were nice enough to pick him up and drive him to Prince Rupert the next day, where he caught the float plane to Masset. His wife drove up to meet him there.

As for the Northern Health Connections bus, which transports patients around northern BC, Mr. Yasko said he had no idea it existed and was not told about it by any hospital staff.

Situations like this make North Coast MLA Gary Coons very troubled. "I have a real concern about the bus being available for (island) residents," he said. He also thinks the bus may work for mainlanders who need to get to appointments, but it is not an appropriate service for getting medivacced islanders back to the Queen Charlottes.

He wrote a letter saying as much to Northern Health in response to comments Dr. David Butcher made in a Jan. 25 Observer article about the bus being there for people returning from other hospitals.

"The bus may get a patient back to Prince Rupert, but it definitely doesn't get them to the Charlottes!" he wrote.

Mr. Coons wants to know if Northern Health believes sending a patient who undergoes surgery in Vancouver on an 11.5 hour bus ride to Prince George, and then on another 11 hour ride to Prince Rupert (plus the ferry to the islands) is appropriate.

He invited the provincial Minister of Health to take a trip on the bus from Vancouver to Prince Rupert for a first-hand experience. Mr. Coons says the minister said yes, but has yet to actually follow up on his commitment.

"It is a long way for someone not in the best of health," Mr. Coons said. Sean Hardiman, manager of the Connections Program, which has been up and running for eight months, said developing a transportation service in the North was not without its challenges.

He first approached airlines to see if they would provide a better rate for medical travellers and was not successful. With $4-million in funding for the Northern Health region, he was hoping to contract with airlines, but after the bid was advertised, he received no responses. His calls to Air Canada and Pacific Coastal were not returned. In the end, northerners got the bus, which he says is now covering 15 routes with 600 to 700 passengers a month. Eight people from the islands have used the bus, he said. The buses are not full, but he is encouraged by the growing number of passengers. In terms of getting people to the Queen Charlottes, Mr. Hardiman said he tried to make the bus schedule match the ferry schedule, but after much back and forth and good will between Northern Health and BC Ferries, it just didn't work out.

As for Mr. Yasko's situation, he said he can't speak to the case specifically, but generally, hospitals have social workers and discharge planners to help patients get home. He did admit that it is an ongoing challenge to ensure all Northern Health staff are aware of the bus service.
Mr. Yasko's wife Marlene said she also had difficulty dealing with the Travel Assistance Program. She was told she could get a discount for her husband's travel back to the islands, but after navigating through the numerous options on the phone system, could not find mention of the seaplane service in Masset.

The system said Harbour Air accepted TAPS forms, but made no mention of North Pacific Seaplanes. She found out later that this company used to be Harbour Air.