The North Wellington Health Care (NWHC) board of directors met here on Dec. 11 to discuss the hospitals’ Ebola preparations, LEAN training and positive feedback from the public on learning about a misleading children’s book campaign.
The board congratulated staff on the protective measures instituted at Palmerston and District Hospital and Louise Marshall Hospital following an Ebola virus disease directive issued by Ontario’s interim chief medical officer of health.
The Ebola virus disease is a rare and severe viral disease. It is spread through direct contact with infected bodily fluids, not through casual contact.
“The chance of the Ebola virus making its way to any of our communities is slim,” stated NWHC CEO Jerome Quenneville. “Our hospitals staff and physicians are ready.”
“One of the most important precautions being taken is in doing the initial assessment when the patient comes to the hospital,” NWHC officials state in a press release.
Staff have also been re-training for putting on and taking off personal protective equipment. Appropriate communication has been complimented with the necessary supplies for protection of care teams and the public.
“While there have been no known reported Canadian cases to date, it is comforting to know our local hospitals in Mount Forest and Palmerston are prepared just in case we are the first to discover such a case,” explained Quenneville.
LEAN training
NWHC staff is continuing to undergo “LEAN” training to learn how to look at a process, break it down into parts and eliminate waste. A LEAN initiatives update provided for the board, highlighted that 44 per cent of NWHC staff have completed the first level of training.
An additional five local health care providers successfully completed their Black Belt “advanced” training.
NWHC board chair Tom Sullivan stated, “This is translating into a strong team of problem solvers that are found throughout our hospitals. Staff members are now encouraged to continue being part of the positive, patient-focused team to support systematic change to reduce waste and improve care.”
NWHC is working with other health care partners, such as local Family Health Teams and the Canadian Mental Health Association, to provide the introductory LEAN training.
“The health care partners have provided positive feedback of these joint LEAN sessions and all partners continue to draw on the collective energy to continuously improve,” states Quenneville.
NWHC is considering further training for more staff over the next few years by continuing to draw on the Small, Rural and Northern Hospital Transformation Fund provided to the hospital for this work.
Warning appreciated
The NWHC board was pleased to hear that the corporation’s recent media release regarding unauthorized solicitation of local vendors in the Mount Forest area by Healing Hands Busy Books, has resulted in calls to Louise Marshall Hospital (LMH) Foundation thanking the organization for the warning.
“This has also been an opportunity to invite a renewed commitment to more appropriately connect directly with the foundation for donations in future.
“This is especially important as the LMH Foundation continues their major capital campaign fundraising effort for the redevelopment of the LMH emergency room and ambulatory care department,” the board states in the press release.
North Wellington Health Care operates hospital sites in Mount Forest and Palmerston. The corporation currently operates 14 beds at each hospital, employs 213 staff, 94 professional staff and over 200 dedicated volunteers.
