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Work begins on
MHC report
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by Mike Caesar
MANITOULIN----The Manitoulin Health Centre (MHC) in Little Current
came home with its first report card last week, and the result is a
solid average.
As a final grade, the MHC scored 63 per cent, against a provincial
average of 62 per cent for "small hospitals."
The result is gleaned from scores for four major categories: patient
satisfaction; patient care; hospital finances; and keeping pace with
change.
Each category is then subdivided into four additional categories
which are given scores ranging from one to five stars.
The MHC scored highest in the category of "patient satisfaction,"
with "bedside care" in particular receiving a full five stars.
The lowest score came in "patient care," specifically in "access to
diagnostic technology (for heart attack)," which received only two
stars.
According to the literature on the report card, "patient
satisfaction" is based on what patients say about their stay in
hospital (including care received from doctors, nurses, and other
health professionals), while "patient care" is determined by how
patients fare during and after their hospital stay. This category
includes such factors as length of stay, complications and access to
specific medical technology.
The report card, which is a joint initiative of the Ontario Hospital
Association and the provincial government, is aimed at increasing
accountability in health care by ensuring "that hospitals know how
they are performing relative to the rest of their peers," writes Tony
Clement, minister of Health and Long-Term Care.
"Hospitals are already accountable to their boards and their
patients, but with report cards they subject their performances to
the toughest judges of all - Ontario's taxpayers," he writes.
Though the exercise began in 1998, this year marks the first time the
MHC has participated.
Kim Roy, acting CEO of the MHC, says the report is useful in
providing "some indication of how we compare provincially."
"Prior to this time there were no guidelines," she says. "There
hasn't been a whole lot of accountability with hospitals in the past."
Ms. Roy says she is pleased with the results for MHC.
"We definitely met the provincial average," she says, noting
especially that "patients were very pleased with the care they
received here."
Despite there always being "room for improvement," Ivan Edwards,
chair of the MHC board of directors, was likewise pleased with the
results,
"It's nice to see it in black and white," he says. "If you don't
have something tangible to track (performance), all it is hearsay."
Mr. Edwards says, "Financially, we have to try and improve because of
the dwindling dollars for operations."
Besides rating hospitals individually, the report card identified
some provincial trends in health care. Some trends of note include:
- financially, hospitals have a combined long-term debt of $208
million. This year, however, the province's hospitals had a surplus
of $131 million.
- of about 30,000 surveyed patients, 88 per cent said that, overall,
the quality of their care was excellent or good, while 47 per cent
said the quality of food served was fair, poor, or very poor.
- day surgery use is on the increase, with 54 per cent of patients
who had their gall bladder out not staying overnight, as opposed to
42 per cent in 1999.
- across Ontario, almost 20 per cent of mothers had cesarean sections
in 1999-2000. The highest rate was in northern Ontario, with 23 per
cent of mothers having a c-section.
For a copy of the report card, visit the Ontario Hospital Association
at www.oha.com or call the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term
Care at 1-800-387-5559.
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Archbishop visits Island
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by Cheryl Waugh
IROQUOIS ISLAND ---- The word 'primate' explained Michael Peers, the
Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Canada, is generally not an easy
term to understand.
"About 300 years ago, biologists found (the word primate) and decided
it suited their purpose, they pre-empted it, but it's our word," he
said, with much amusement. "The church has used the word for about
1500 years."
Taken from the word 'prime', meaning first, Mr. Peers is the Primate
of the Anglican Church of Canada - the first among the nation's
Bishops - and has been for the last 15 years. The church is
headquartered in Toronto, but he was in the Manitoulin area on the
weekend to help St. Christopher's Church on Iroquois Island celebrate
its 50th anniversary on Sunday.
Mr. Peers is very familiar with the area, he was here 10 years ago to
celebrate St. Christopher's 40th anniversary, has visited the
Whitefish Falls Youth Camp, and as a student worked for the diocese
of Algoma. "Manitoulin is a very special place," he said.
He noted that there are a few other examples in Canada of churches
like St. Christopher's, a church which only operates during the
summer months for the cottagers on McGregor Bay. "These churches are
a tribute to the creativity of some communities," he said, adding it
also exemplifies the values by which people live. "It's much more
than that, the church becomes a focus to reflect on ideas and deeper
values."
The Anglican Church itself has been in a state of reflection as the
consequences of its participation in the sexual abuse of First Nation
children in residential schools has seemingly threatened the very
existence of the church in Canada. Financially, law suits stemming
from the residential school incidents is creating serious problems
for the church.
"These are the consequences that are coming out of (the residential
schools). Some regions of the country, such as B.C. face huge
expenses in litigation, and it will cost us very dearly. Other parts
of the country have no connection to that, and for them, life goes
on. We will survive in some form," he said, noting that over the last
2000 years the church has survived through many troubles.
In May, when a report from Ernst and Young came out predicting that
legal fees and settlements would exhaust the national church's assets
of about $10 million sometime in 2001, Mr. Peers told the executive
council of the Anglican Church of Canada that if bankruptcy becomes
inevitable, "We really are called to be the body of Christ. Dead.
Absolutely dead. And just as absolutely destined to rise. God's
purpose will not be thwarted," he said.
This past Sunday, he said since stories of the abuses in residential
schools started coming out, the church has been involving itself in
the healing process, including participating in healing circles with
First Nation people.
And, the healing for both sides continues. Mr. Peers explained that
only two weeks ago the National Church met in Waterloo, Ontario, and
over the two days, one full day was set aside for the issues
surrounding the residential schools, and its survivors.
As the day-long session ended, something completely unexpected
happened, said Mr. Peers. "A Cree Bishop stood up and spoke words of
forgiveness. He forgave the European Church. He spoke words of
forgiveness as someone who had suffered in a residential school. It
was completely unexpected. He said, 'I forgive your church which has
become my church'. He got a whole lot of people to speak."
He said the gap between the church and First Nations has closed,
although there is still much work to be done. "I want to see that
kind of work continue," he said.
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Smog advisory extended
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Purolator
by Neil Zacharjewicz
MANITOULIN - The Ministry of the Environment (MOE) has been giving
daily smog watches and warnings for the Manitoulin area recently,
with the latest watches running from Saturday, July 21 to Monday,
July 23.
The smog has been the result of warm southerly winds which were
blowing polluted air from the United States into southern Ontario,
resulting in an accumulation of smog and poor air quality. MOE issues
smog advisories as part of its Air Quality Ontario initiative, which
is intended to provide more timely information to the public with
regard to smog and air pollution, and is issued when there is at
least a 50 percent probability of high smog conditions over a three
day span.
MOE has reported cl;oudy and wet conditions are expected to move into
the northern part of the province, and is forecasting air quality of
the 'moderate' level for Manitoulin. The smog advisory has presently
been lifted as weather conditions change, but warmer weather
conditions could result in an increase of smog again in the near
future.
High levels of smog can make your eyes itchy, your nose and throat
feel sore, and your breathing heavy, especially if you are very
active outdoors. If you already have asthma, bronchitis or allergies,
it can make these conditions worse. Smog can lower resistance to
infection and cause people with heart and lung conditions to get even
sicker. In some cases, it can contribute to premature death.
"Clean air, indoors and out, is vital to maintain healthy lungs,"
says Brian Stocks, air quality manager for the Ontario Lung
Association . "When a smog alert has been issued, The Lung
Association urges everyone to take sensible measures to reduce
exposure to the powerful toxic respiratory irritants that increase
during poor air quality episodes."
With continuing warm weather predicted for the next few weeks, and
more smog on the way, The Ontario Lung Association recommends any
outside activities should be scheduled in the morning if possible, as
smog levels tend to rise in the afternoon. People living with a
respiratory illness, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD), the elderly and children are particularly at risk
from complications when pollution levels are high. It is best to stay
inside in a cool and clean environment, especially during peak
periods of smog.
If you plan on being outside in the hot weather, remember to apply a
suitable layer of sunscreen. Hats are also ideal for keeping the sun
out of your face. Also remember to drink lots of liquids, to prevent
dehydration, particularly if your plans call for physical activity.
The MOE is also advising taking a number of steps to help avoid high
smog levels: restrict the use of gas-powered equipment; avoid the use
of oil-based paints, solvents and cleaners; Take public transit or
car pool to work; teleconference instead of traveling to meetings;
turn off your vehicle to avoid prolonged periods of idling; refuel
your vehicle during the cooler hours of the day; turn down the air
conditioning; reduce electricity consumption and avoid the use of
your barbecue.
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