True North Health Advisory Council Wednesday, June 24, 2015 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Mackenzie County Office Fort Vermilion, AB MINUTES Council Members: Alberta Health Services: Public: Regrets: Mr. Michael Osborn (Chair), Mr. Danny Friesen, Ms. Mary Janzen, Mr. Eric Jorgensen, Ms. Noreen McAteer, Mr. Matthew Murphy, Ms. Wendy Ward Ms. Kate Butler, Ms. Angie Mann, Ms. Mary Mueller, Ms. Shelly Pusch, Mr. Mark Walker Nine Mr. Gord Burnell, Ms. Joyce Fehr (Vice Chair), Mr. Gary Callihoo, Ms. Susan Callihoo, Ms. Sandra Mann, Ms. Joyce Parenteau, Mr. Wally Schroeder Agenda Item Discussion ( Welcome and Introductions 1. Approval of Agenda Moved by Mr. Friesen, seconded by Mr. Jorgensen to approve the agenda of Wednesday, June 24, 2015 with the addition of Mobile Diabetic Screening Initiative as 4.5 and College of Physicians and Surgeons Meeting as 4.6. MOTION CARRIED 2. Approval of Minutes Wednesday, March 25, 2015 Moved by Ms. Ward, seconded by Ms. McAteer to approve the minutes of Wednesday, March 25, 2015 with the following amendments: Page 5, correct in the former Fort Vermilion nurses residence to read the in the Fort Vermilion staff residence.
3. Old Business 3.1. Business Arising From March 25, 2015 Ms. Mary Mueller, Advisory Council Officer 4. New Business 4.1. North Zone Update, Ms. Angie Mann, Director, Clinical Operations, North Zone Page 5, Council Roundtable, Second bullet, Correct wording to be Ms. McAteer brought forward a concern about the sidewalk crack in front of the entrance to the St. Theresa Hospital. Page 2, top bullets: spell Husky correctly. MOTION CARRIED Action items from the previous minutes were as follows: Ms. Butler will request an update about the dental program for the True North HAC area. (Response: the program is funded until July 31, 2015. The dental program was provided by the University of Alberta and has been turned over from Alberta Health to AHS. Ms. Pusch advised she will follow up on the transition of dental services. Council to write a letter to Mackenzie Housing with copies to the departments inviting them to the next council meeting in Fort Vermilion and other AHS stakeholders. Complete. Council to request Mike Linn to address the sidewalk. Discussion. Ms. Mann to follow up on. Ms. Mann provided the following updates: The Skills Weekend in High Level in March was successful as two students returned for summer employment and they want to do their final placement in the High Level area. The total number of North zone residents immunized for influenza by April 4 was 109, 382. The Magnet Teams employee led staff engagement teams are operating well in the area. Ms. Pusch to follow up on the transition of dental services. Ms. Mann to follow up on the sidewalk in front of the entrance to St. Theresa s. Council requested the influenza immunization rate for the area. 2 P a g e
Dr. Muir, an Obstetrician/Gynecologist, travels to High Level two days per month and sees 55 61 (8 visits per year) patients in the two days. St. Theresa Hospital in Fort Vermilion received some donations from the St. Theresa Auxiliary and the PCN to provide the physicians with a work space through the installation of cabinets. There is an unveiling on Monday, June 29 th at 2:00 p.m. The following maintenance items are occurring at the St. Theresa Hospital: - Replacement of window casings with solid wood, - Countertops replaced in some areas, - The cast room sink and cabinetry have been replaced, - Maintenance of the grass has increased, - A new lawn mower has been purchased, and, - They have requested quotes on cement repair for the exterior for the building. The PCN has added a Chronic Disease Program in Fort Vermilion Ms. Pusch reported the Zone is working from an unapproved budget. The North Zone continues to ensure there is access to core services across the Zone. AHS is functioning under the 2014 Health and Business Plan. Some of the initiatives they are working on are: Patient First Strategy Continuing Care Benchmarking the top 16 major facilities in Alberta. Good news items Mr. Walker advised there are three areas he would like to meet with council and members of the community about. 3 P a g e
They are: Physician recruitment, More use of Telehealth by specialists, and, The housing concerns in the community. 4.2. Chairs Update Mr. Mike Osborn, Chair, True North HAC The Council of Chairs has been asking lots of questions of the Official Administrator since the election. The Chairs look forward to enhanced roles with AHS. They also look forward to the reappointment of members and recruitment of additional members. Ms. Sandra Mann will not be renewing on council. Mr. Osborn asked about the Community and Rural service planning completed previously for the High Level area. Ms. Pusch advised that a long range planning format from Alberta Health will replace the previous planning. It will include a component of engagement with community stakeholders, patients and the HACs. The planning process is currently underway in Central Zone and Calgary Zone but it will be a while before it comes to North Zone. Mr. Osborn added the Northwest Regional Health Foundation is fundraising for six new Fetal Non Stress Test monitors. 4.3. Physician Recruitment Report Ms. Smith advised they are actively recruiting a family medicine physician for each of the communities of Fort Vermilion, High Level and La Crete (three in total). There is interest by a physician in Fort Vermilion. Ms. Smith advised that Rebekah Seidel with Rural Physician Action Plan (RPAP) is very supportive of physician recruitment committees in rural communities. Mr. Jorgensen asked for her contact information. Ms. Smith to provide contact information for Ms. Seidel to council. 4.4. Advisory Council Officer Report Ms. Mary Mueller, Manager, Advisory Council Relations Ms. Mueller provided the following highlights: Re-appointments for those expiring June 30, 2015 should be approved soon. 4 P a g e
Councils are waiting for approval to proceed with recruitment from the Official Administrator. CE are drafting an awareness campaign for fall Elections for Chair and Vice Chair will occur after recruitment and orientation are complete A review of the work plan will occur in the fall New on June 1, 2015, Health Link number is 811 More information and opportunities for involvement with Patient and Family Centred Care will be forthcoming in the North Zone. The strategy focuses on AHS staff and the organization to ensure patients are included in care planning. 4.5. Mobile Diabetic Screening Initiative Mr. Jorgensen asked about the Mobile Diabetic Screening Initiative (MDSI ), a research initiative funded by the University of Alberta. Ms. Pusch advised North Zone was asked to continue services with no funds attached. They are putting it forward with the North Zone budget. 4.6. College of Physicians and Surgeons Meeting Council reported on a meeting they attended with the College of Physician and Surgeons. They were pleased to have the opportunity to ask about the following items: Emergency fly outs Transfers of people to urban sites who have no wallets or clothing with them and the issues that arise when they are discharged in the urban centre. Referral patterns They encouraged the use of telehelath The abuse of prescription drugs. 4.7. Council Roundtable The following themes were brought forth by council members and echoed by residents of Fort Vermilion: Maintenance of the St. Theresa Hospital - Council members thank AHS for following up on the maintenance concerns at the hospital. 5 P a g e
Community and HAC members were encouraged to take their concerns to Mr. Walker at the site. Local autonomy and decision making - Mr. Jorgensen asked what follow up will occur from the Rural Health Review. Ms. Pusch advised AHS is looking at the feedback and recommendations from the report. AHS looks forward to working on some pieces from the review. An increase in hours at the Ambulatory Care Clinic in LaCrete often accidents occur outside of the hours of the clinic. Frustration with the role of the HACs - A few members voiced their frustration with their role on the HAC. Ms. Butler thanked the HAC and reinforced it is very important to hear the view points from the communities. Examples provided is that AHS listened to the HAC and maintenance has been reviewed at the St. Theresa Hospital and an aboriginal liaison position has been filled. Mr. Murphy, council member, advised he has seen many items documented and followed up on. Services at St. Theresa Hospital in Fort Vermilion the council members and the community asked have services increased in Fort Vermilion? Ms. Mann advised of the following increases: Staffing has been stabilized including a site manager. Holter monitoring has been offered. Tele-ophthalmology has been added as a service. The community added there is no wait time for the Emergency Department and the services are great at the hospital. The nurses and doctors are great. 6 P a g e
Ms. Ward asked about physical therapy for continuing care and mental health services in the community. She advised the retinal photography was donated by Health Canada and position is filled for one day per week. Use of Telehealth for pre-op and post-op visits the public asked about encouraging the use of video conference equipment to specialists. Many patients have to travel long distances for very short consultations that could occur over video. Can specialists be recruited to use the clinic two days a week when the doctors are out of town? Health Promotion position and Mental Health positions Council and the community are disappointed that the above positions were never refilled in Fort Vermilion when the previous employees left. Can strategies to address the abuse of prescription drugs be developed by Addiction and Mental Health? Chemotherapy Delivery council asked about the possibility of chemotherapy delivery from Fort Vermilion. They requested statistics for the area. Council to send letter to Medical Affairs to encourage further use of video conference equipment and the recruitment of specialists. Ask Mental Health Services to attend the September meeting. Ms. Mann to request statistics from CancerControl Alberta. 4.8. Community Input A number of community members attended the meeting. Following are the concerns that were heard: Housing for Staff in Fort Vermilion The community brought forward the need for long term housing in their community for health staff. The RCMP and oil/gas companies secure long term housing. Ms. Pusch advised AHS provides temporary housing for staff in some rural and remote communities. AHS does not secure long term housing. 7 P a g e
Staffing Suggestions An employee provided the following: Home care would like to be part of the Positive Post it Note initiative, Home care in the area is short of staff, She recommended that a mental health worker for home care would be beneficial and could likely work full time in the area, and, She asked if the ultrasound machine can operate for more hours in a day to reduce wait times. New Seniors Lodge Members of the public asked if the lodge is still going ahead with the budget concerns and new government. 6. Date of Next Meeting Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2016 *** Time: 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Location: Paddle Prairie, AB Ms. Mann to contact Public Health for more information on their initiative. Council to ask Mackenzie Housing for an update on the Seniors Housing Lodge. Ms. Mueller to check date and location of next meeting. 7. Meeting Evaluation and Adjournment Moved by Ms. Ward to adjourn the meeting at 9:30 p.m. 8 P a g e