Hospital Update
Steve said he had the pleasure of serving on the Hospital Board for 8 years with Dr. Jileson and his knack of working with all the factions was primarily what kept things running smoothly over that period. He has been in the area for 35 years and was Chief of Staff for 16. He is recently retired.
Dr. Jileson said he knew we were all aware of the change of administration but that the Hospital was still hard at work, in fact busier than ever. Inpatients are up 2.5%, emergency visits 4.5, outpatients 3, dialysis 8, physio 10 and lab test 6.
The Capital Campaign was recently concluded successfully, accreditation will be coming again soon and the Penetang Palliative Care unit is recognized as one of the best in the Province.
There are many challenges. Funding, area population growth, shortage of human resources with many people retiring, wait times and access to Community Care. Nurse practitioners are coming on line and, as part of family health teams, are being helpful. Most are working with a collaborating physician but some lack a doctor partner or associate with two or more. They are independent and are paid by the Province.
Resolutions are being found for the administration. The two facilities are now, officially, one secular hospital. A Board is being sought and when that is done they will be embarking on a search for a new CEO.
Phil Edmunds spoke about the Foundation. The Ministry expects hospitals to raise funds for capital equipment. The Community has been very supportive and the Midland Rotary Club has contributed significantly. New technologies offer new health care options but require new equipment and the rapid pace of change often means equipment only two years old is already out of date.
The Capital Campaign will spend $4.5 million on Digital Imaging and Equipment, on renovating the Rehabilitation and Emergency departments, on patient tracking, dialysis, patient monitors, ventilators and etc.
For 08/09 the Foundation hopes to raise $700,000.00. Of this about 200 will come from annual giving, 220 from special events like the gala, 125 from direct mail campaigning and 155 from general revenues. They plan to purchase a new ultrasound machine for $179,000, sterilization eqpt. for 145, defibrillators for 22, a colonoscope for 44 and etc.
The Foundation will be working on rebranding the two facilities, on founding an industry support group through local HR managers, on promoting a series of talks on Health, on leadership renewal and on continuing community involvement. In 1998 the foundation raised $80,000 and in 2008 it was $2.9 million. The total over the 10 years is $7.2 million and only 4% of that was spent on administration costs.
Phil pointed out that Rotary had either donated or committed to a total of $250,000.00 over the years, a significant contribution and much appreciated by the Hospital, the Foundation and the Community.