WHITEWATER REGION — The residents of Whitewater Region can be thankful they have the Whitewater Bromley Community Health Centre in their township.
This was the feeling generated to Brenda Powers-Ross, Director of Whitewater Bromley Community Health Centre (WBCHC) and John Jordan, executive director of Lanark Renfrew Health & Community Services (LRHCS), of which the WBCHC is a part of, during Wednesday night’s council meeting, following a presentation on the LRHCS.
Mayor Hal Johnson said, “We have services here that a lot of communities do not have. We are very fortunate in having all we have here.”
Prior to the other compliments, a power-point presentation was provided by Mr. Jordan and Ms. Powers-Ross.
It was noted the Annual General Meeting of the LRHCS is at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 26 at the Westmeath Hall. Mary Cook is the guest speaker and expected to take the stage at 7 p.m.
Mr. Jordan noted two new board members are still being sought to represent the WBCHC.
Starting his presentation, Mr. Jordan provided a map showing the large area covered by the LRHCS followed by a brief discussion on the current board of members, of which there are a few representing WBCHC, and the organizational chart.
The funding for the organization’s $12.9 million budget includes 71 percent provincial government; 11 percent program fees; four percent federal government; four percent municipal government; one percent fundraising and eight percent other.
The budget is split three ways, with WBCHC receiving 15 percent or just over $2 million.
Mr. Jordan also noted the LRHCS recently received its sixth accreditation from the Canadian Centre for Accreditation
“The accreditation process is very gruelling process,” he said. “They go in and interview your clients, they interview your staff, interview your partners, and then they come and visit you and get into your closets, etc.
“We were very successful once again, so we’re very proud of that, of maintaining that status with the Canadian Centre for Accreditation.”
In reviewing some of the comments, Mr. Jordan noted under:
Governance: “The Review Team found that board members have a clear understanding of their role…and structures that support these roles and relationships.”
Volunteers: “The review team was impressed with the sheer number and variety of volunteers … recruitment is not an issue.”
Programs and Services: “…includes standards relating to how the organization’s approach is centred on the people it serves, and engages them in the service process; treats people with dignity and respect, ensures accessibility to the community, provides services that are culturally safe, directs clients to the most appropriate resources and orients clients to services. This entire component is an area of strength.”
Mr. Jordan also reviewed key dates in the LRHCS history, noting it grew out of formal partnerships and co-ordination of services.
In 2000, Bonny Johnson was able to get nurse practitioner funding for the Whitewater Medical Group in Beachburg followed two years later with funding for a second nurse practitioner for the Cobden location.
In 2003, the Lanark Health and Community Services was incorporated, and a year later, satellite funding was approved for Beachburg, Cobden and Killaloe.
In 2013, governance integration was completed with the WBCHC Advisory board, resulting in a corporate name change to LRHCS.
Ms. Powers-Ross took over the presentation, with a focus directly on what the WBCHC provides and offers to the area.
There are currently 25 people employed in 11 areas, including Chronic Disease Nurse, Counsellor, health promoter, information technology, medical secretaries, nurses and nurse practitioners; physicians, respiratory therapists and support staff.
She also noted there are professionals renting space at the Cobden site, including a chiropractor.
“Their services complement what we can provide as a community health centre,” Ms. Powers-Ross said. “Many people still refer to us as the doctor’s office…we’re much more than a doctor’s office.
“Community health centres are designed to bring together inter-professional teams to provide comprehensive health care,” she explained, adding, “We try to ensure the client is seeing the right professional at the right time.”
There are approximately 8,000 clients who use the WBCHC for primary health care, she said, from as far away as Arnprior, Barry’s Bay and Petawawa.
In a recent Be Well Survey, which is done with Ontario health centres across the province and nationally, the WBCHC ranked “much greater” in belonging and volunteering.
“That is really great news for our region,” Ms. Powers-Ross said. “As a community health centre, we continue to work on those indicators.”
The physical and mental health categories for the WBCHC, from the people doing the survey, suffered much more than those provincially and nationally.
“We continue to work on these indicators and use them as a guide,” she said.
She noted the greatest determinants of health are the social, cultural and economic environment people live in.
The pressures facing those in the community are an aging population, mental health and addictions, diabetes and chronic pulmonary obstructive disorder and asthma.
The WBCHC is addressing those issues it best can through various program, she said.
As an example, the WBCHC is funded for a mental health counsellor four days a week, Ms. Powers-Ross said. With the increasing demands, partnerships have been formed, including a psychiatrist and counsellor at the Royal Ottawa Hospital for cognitive behaviour therapy. Through this partnership, consults can happen in a few months instead of up to two years on a waiting list, she noted.
“That has made a huge difference,” she said.
Other partners include Bernadette McCann House and Pathways Addictions.
Currently, there are a number of staff looking at improving end of life care for clients and families going through that experience. A partnership was formed with Renfrew County paramedics, the Community Care Access Centre and the WBCHC team.
By the end of October, there will be an in-house certified team to address issues and make them more efficient and effective for our clients, she said.
“We hope to be a leader in the region in quality improvement,” Ms. Powers-Ross said.
The Lung Health Program was offered in Cobden and Beachburg, but has now expanded to Golden Lake, Barry’s Bay, Petawawa and Pembroke, she said.
“On Mondays we run a rehab program at the Cobden site, and it’s actually really inspiring to go in there and see these people with oxygen tanks on the treadmill or an exercise bike,” she said.
“When you’re talking to them it’s really inspiring, because it not only improves their physical health it improves their emotional health and wellbeing,” Ms. Powers Ross said.
Access to a respiratory therapist is so important, because statistics are proving there is a decrease in hospital admissions and emergency department visits and better quality of health, she said.
Ms. Powers-Ross then provided a long list of the programs offered to all community members by the WBCHC, which includes chef’s corner cooking class, diabetic educators, fitness classes, living a health life with a chronic condition and weight management.
Ms. Powers-Ross is appreciative of the help the township has provided in ensuring the programs provided by the WBCHC are advertised through its facebook page. She also thanked Whitewater News for the help it has also provided in getting information to the public in a timely fashion.
“It helps us to have a healthier community,” she said.
Reeve Terry Millar was first to the microphone.
“Thank you and your organization and all your people,” he said. “I can’t imagine this area without what you people do. From all 8,000 you mention, including me in particular, it’s well appreciated. Thank you very much.”
Councillor Charlene Jackson added, “I’d also like to thank you. It’s always nice to say we have health care services within Whitewater Region and that is a bonus to our community.”
Councillor Chris Olmstead also said thank you, adding, “We use it quite often, with a young family and older parents.”
Councillor Daryl McLaughlin said his thanks, adding, “I like all the programs you have that keeps the older people out of the hospital and I think that’s great.”
However, he did question if there is still a waiting list to get a doctor and if people can still get on it.
Ms. Powers-Ross said there is a waiting list. Although it had been whittled away 18 months ago, the list has grown once again, she added. People should call the health centre and get their name on the list if they are still looking for a doctor.
However, she did note, if there is someone who is in real need of health care, there is an opportunity to bring them on if possible.
“We review the capacity of our providers,” she said.
Mr. Jordan added, “This is something we can work on together. Rural communities have a tougher time in delivering services, it’s more expensive, but we also have to continually advocate that services come out of the urban centres to our rural communities. So, when resources are coming out, the more support we have the better.”
Councillor Dave Mackay said the centre provides very good services and when he goes to out-of-town meetings and conventions on municipal business, “I always brag about our health centre. We push it.”
Councillor Cathy Regier said, “We’re very, very fortunate to have you. Thank you very much.”
Mayor Johnson said for those who do not have a doctor, there are urgent care clinics at the centre. Ms. Powers-Ross said they held Monday to Friday from 9 to 10 a.m. and anyone can attend.
“We have a lot of corners covered,” Mayor Johnson said.
“I appreciate what you are offering, and this council will back anything we can do to help you move forward in getting your message out,” he said. “We do give funding and we do have volunteers who provide information that allow volunteers to become more involved in Whitewater Region.
“In moving forward, this is all going to keep getting better and better.”
In closing this portion, Mayor Johnson gave high praise to Cobden resident Fay Bennett, who attended the meeting as part of the board of directors for the LRHCS.
“I’d really like to thank Fay Bennett,” he said. “She is one of the volunteers in our community that does so much really good stuff for us.”
