ANSWERS TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS 4 th Session - 64th General Assembly

Transcription

1 ANSWERS TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS 4 th Session - 64th General Assembly Question No: 72 Answered by: Hon. Doug Currie 2013 Date: Nov. 29, How many full time doctors are working at the Cancer Center? It is my understanding that Dr. Dryer has retired and Dr. Veale is back at her practice. With the high rates of cancer on the Island, what is the ratio between persons with cancer and an oncologist? Islanders requiring cancer treatment have increased support thanks to recent recruitment efforts. The province has a complement of three medical oncologists. Dr. Champion and Dr. Cipperly are supported by a locum and several associates. There is also a complement of two radiation oncologists. Dr. Pan and Dr. Laukkanen are supported Dr. Nair, who is completing a fellowship, and several associates. Recruitment efforts are continuing. There are approximately 900 patient consults a year, although it is important to note that a single patient could have dual consults with a medical oncologist and radiation oncologist so they are counted twice within the 900 figure.

2 Question No: 90 Answered by: Hon. Doug Currie Date: Jan. 2, 2014 All hospitals on PEl go through an accreditation process. Has there been any new work completed on Accreditation since the 2010 report was made public? When will this work be made public? Health PEl went through its scheduled Accreditation cycle for The report can be found here:

3 ANSWERS TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS 4 th Session - 64th General Assembly Question No: 91 Answered by: Hon. Doug Currie Date: Jan. 2, 2014 What were the top three concerns that the 2010 Accreditation report highlighted? What steps or actions were put in place to deal with these issues? The concerns were identified in the 2010 Accreditation Canada report found here: Accreditation Canada provided a 6 month and 12 month timeframe to respond and provide evidence of completion. HPEI achieved accreditation follow-up requirements within those time frames.

4 Question No: 92 Answered by: Hon. Doug Currie Date: Jan. 2, 2014 One area of concern was in Infection and Control, what measures are in place that deal with the issues identified in the 2010 report? The provincial Infection Control team has access to the services of an epidemiologist for analysis of data for trending and tracking purposes. This information is shared broadly throughout the system. Examples for distribution include monthly newsletter, annual report to Health PEl Quality & Safety Council, Health PEl Board of Directors and an annual report published by Department of Health and Wellness. Health PEl also invested in the recruitment of more Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) practitioners for various programs/services.

5 Question No: 93 Answered by: Hon. Doug Currie Date: Jan. 2, ) Another area of concern was with preventive maintenance on medical devices, equipment and technology; please update actions that were put in place to deal with this issue? A provincial team consisting of biomedical staff, maintenance, and leadership was established to address the gaps identified in preventative maintenance. Provincial policies were developed for all preventative maintenance. A provincial Electronic System-Asset Manager was introduced, which tracks and monitors all preventative maintenance requirements. All required staff were trained to use the system. The preventative maintenance program uses a risk-based approach for preventative maintenance prioritization and rationalization. Preventative maintenance is completed, as planned, on an annual basis. Mechanisms are in place to monitor alerts and recalls, as well as to ensure appropriate follow up.

6 Question No: 118 Asked by: Olive Crane Answered by: Hon. Doug Currie Date: April 9, 2014 Approximately 10 thousand Islanders went off Island for health services last year. For many having to go off Island for health services is expensive and in many cases not affordable for the individual and their families. If a person is not eligible for social assistance but still has a modest income is there any financial help available for out of province travel, or accommodations or food, if the person has to be seen in a clinic or a doctor's office? Is there any financial help for the patients care giver or family member who has to accompany the patient? The number of Islanders who went off-island for health services last year was approximately 7,600 (there are additional people with Island healthcare cards who received treatment off-island last year but did not need to travel as they were living there - students, for example). The Department of Health and Wellness has developed a partnership with Maritime Bus where patients in need will receive support for their off-island transportation costs. Based on income testing, patients will receive financial assistance for bus transportation and Maritime Bus will provide discounts to family members and special prices for accommodations.

7 (~Ul--hF ~',J1 t.() ~'). I L ~ 1'<\tS' ANSWERS TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS 4 th Session - 64th General Assembly Question No: 144 Answered by: Minister of Health and Wellness, Doug Currie Date: April 30, 2014 What health services and programs have been offered to the residents of Morell and surrounding areas in since 2012? Many people have asked to have the services of a Nurse Practitioner at least one day a week in Morell. Has that service been available? Will it be available? What health services and programs have been offered to the residents of Morell and surrounding areas in since 2012? We have been offering educational services every other Tuesday for approximately one year. Some of the topics we have provided educational sessions on are diabetes, hypertension, exposure to the sun, physical activity, nutrition, weight management, coping and stress management, allergies. We have had a dietitian visit as well as a NP did a session on the role of an NP. Many people have asked to have the services of a Nurse Practitioner at least one day a week in Morell. Has that service been available? Will it be available? We are in the process of getting a Nurse Practitioner to Morell one day per week. Morell has made an exam room for us at the village office and we have been collecting equipment and have the room furnished. The target to have the Nurse Practitioner there is this summer.

8 Question No: 165 Answered by: Minister of Health and Wellnes, Doug Currie Date: April 25, 2014 Minster, it's my understanding that videoconference services were available between the QEH Hospital, caregivers and parents of children of children with special needs allowing support and teaching opportunities through Holland Bloorview Hospital in Toronto and the QEH, until the past 5 months, why is this service no longer available? Minister, is this a program that can be reinstated? Minister, this service that Holland Bloorview Hospital offered to parents and children here on the island is extremely important and provides the most recent expertise, programs and services and education to children with special needs, Minister would you please review this decision to stop videoconferencing and allow when necessary or appropriate the service to continue? Videoconferencingffeleconferencing service~ continues to be available with many sites across the Maritimes and other provinces as needed. It is used, as needed, for assessment, follow up, case conferences, education and transition between services for clients who are seen in out of province facilities. The QEH continues to have a strong working relationship with Bloorview services, however there is no one being followed with Bloorview at this time. We would typically partner with sister provinces to explore specialized options within the region before utilizing a centre outside Atlantic Canada. Recently, the Physical Medicine Department at the QEH has further enhanced the ability to leverage this technology as it has a new equipment dedicated to the physical medicine services and is now located within the department.

9 ~) WRITTEN QUESTIONS Session - 64th General Assembly Question No: 166 Answered by: Minister of Health and Wellness, Doug Currie Date: April 24,2014 Minister what types of technology aids are available for special needs children that require them? Minister when a child needs a communication device, does the occupational therapy department help a parent choose the appropriate device? Minister do occupational therapists and or physical therapists working with special needs children receive ongoing training and support on present or new technological aids? Therapists have access to a variety of technological aides including: low tech - switches, manual wheelchairs, adapted toys, visual aides (visual timers, visual schedules, etc.), mounting devices for switches/communication devices, etc. and high tech - ipads, power wheelchairs, adapted keyboards, etc. Occupational therapists (OT) do not determine the type of communication device a child will receive; that is the role of a speech language pathlogist (SLP). OTs partner with SLP to look at: how the child will physically access the communication device e.g. direct access with their hand, a switch, their head or eyeblink, etc. and setup for the device e.g. how the device might be mounted on a wheelchair or desk, how the child is seated in their wheelchair or chair. Therapists receive ongoing professional education through workshops, webinars, telehealth etc. on technological devices. As this is a very specialized field, the occupational therapists and other members of the child's team collaborate on an ongoing basis with their maritime counterparts including the IWK and the Stan Cassidy Rehabilitation Centre (in Fredericton) to ensure the current standard of care is met and local follow up occurs as appropriate. This collaboration occurs regularly thru conferences, face to face meetings and with the use of videoconferencing technology.

10 ANSWERS TO WRITTEN QUESTIONS 4 th Session - 64th General Assembly Question No: 167 Answered by: Hon. Doug Currie Date: April 25, 2014 Does any provincial health plan cover the costs of the "Shingles" vaccine? If no, will the province be covering this vaccine in the future? Shingles vaccine is not publicly-funded in any province or territory as far as the Chief Public Health Office is aware. It is not a vaccine that is a priority at this time as part of the publicly-funded program.

11 WRITTEN QUESTIONS ~:'j~&~ Session - 64th General Assembly Question No: 177 Answered by: Minister of Health and Wellness, Doug Currie Date: April 30, 2014 How many residents live at Sherwood Home? What would the average length of stay be for a resident at Sherwood Home? How long has radon been an issue at Sherwood Home? How many residents live at Sherwood Home? Sherwood Home is currently at maximum capacity with 14 residents, 11 of which being considered permanent, the remaining reflecting long term respite clients. What would the average length ofstay be for a resident at Sherwood Home? Sherwood Home is considered a residential facility and many of the permanent residents have been living there for a long time, therefore the average length of stay is longer than it would be in other facilities. The average length of stay for residents of Sherwood Home is 27 years How long has radon been an issue at Sherwood Home? Radon levels were first identified as being slightly above the Health Canada guidelines in 2008, after Health Canada has lowered the indoor air quality radon guideline from 800 Becquerels per cubic metre (Bq/m3) of air to 200 Bq/m3. The level of risk identified during the radon sampling at the Sherwood Home overall is quite low, as well, the affected area is not normally used by residents or staff, therefore, environmental health indicated that it was not necessary to restrict resident or staff usage in the area noted to be above the threshold.

12 WRITTEN QUESTIONS Session - 64th General Assembly Question No: 178 Answered by: Minister of Health and Wellness, Doug Currie Date: April 30,2014 What programs does the province support financially to help people stop smoking? What smoking cessation drugs or products are covered under the Provincial Catastrophic Drug Program for Islanders who want to quit? What programs does the province support financially to help people stop smoking? There are several programs which provide coverage for drugs which assist people to stop smoking. These include Family Health Benefit Program, Smoke Cessation Program, Financial Assistance Program and the Catastrophic Drug Program. What smoking cessation drugs or produts are covered under the Provincial Catastrophic Drug Program for islanders who want to quit? Zyban is available under the Catastrophic drug program, Family Health Benefit program, Financial Assistance Program and the Smoke Cessation Program. Under the Smoke Cessation program there are additional benefits available which include nicotine patches and gum (Habitrol, Nicoderm, Nicorette & Nicorette Plus).