eo a ¥ 2 j nh Re ay ‘ " i . Be e : FT ae wenden Pine ee I ce —— Sec eaee ees cr Terrace Review — Wednesday, June 19, 1991 Bll Regional health « care status report... David Lane, Terrace Regional Health Care Society chairman by Tod Strachan Hospital Foundation was born. At the time, there were a lot of "nay sayers" according to Terrace Regional Health Care Society chairman David Lane. “It: won't work,” they said. "It doesn’t make sense." At the end of that year, the foun- dation’s financial statement seemed to bear out the pessimists view, however. It indicated a cash bal- ance of only $3,500. But neither the work of the foundation or the concept behind the Terrace Health Care Society were well known at the time. Of the Health Care Society, most people in Terrace were still saying, "What’s that?" A lot has happened in the past three years. The Terrace Health Care Society has been officially elevated to the status of The Ter- race Regional Health Care Society in recognition of the area served by Terraceview Lodge and Mills Memorial Hospital. "It’s become a buzz word," says Lane. “Every- body in the entire region knows who we are." As for the R.E.M. Lee Hospital Foundation, with three celebrity roasts and auctions and the first- ever issue of the "Cash Calendar" under their belt, their name has become well known. Everyone knows the foundation raises money for the purchase of needed medical equipment. As a result, the foundation's financial ‘position is in extremely good health in 1991. A number of donations have rolled in helping to pay for the purchase of a variety of medical paraphernalia, and the fund for the purchase of a CT scanner currently stands at just over $300,000. And it’s growing daily. With this type of community support, says Lane, the foundation is now in a position to solicit major corporate donations. Working hand-in-hand over the past three years, the R.E.M. Lee Hospital Foundation and Terrace Regional Health Care Society have made a difference, says Lane. Not I n 1988, the Dr. R.E.M. Lee ‘ only has the level of health care services here been maintained, it's been Improved, and Terrace is now recognized as the centre of health care in our region. When pediatrician Dr. Asante left Terrace, the loss was very great. But his replacement is on the way. Dr. Howidi is sched- uled to arrive in Terrace in June. And we have a staffing first at Mills Memorial. Ear, nose and throat specialist Dr. Marin Van- lierde is already at work offering a specialized service the area has never had before. | And there’s much more te come, according to Lane. Once the CT scanner is operational: at Mills Memorial, it will serve as a major catalyst in attracting even more specialties here. A CT scanner has become a basic diagnostic tool in medicine, a tool needed by many experienced specialists and one expected by young medical grad- uates. The good news for Mills Memor- ial, and the community as a whole, is that the delivery date of the CT scanner is not all that far off. Over the next six months, Lane says, the balance, or at least most of the balance of the $600,000 needed for the purchase, should be in the bank. This means the CT scanner will likely be on order by Novem- ber. Where will the money come from? Terrace city council’s recent donation of $25,000 certainly KO. . . helps, says Lane. Corporate dona- lions are a good possibility. And ot ne! . “Cash Calendar j gées on sale in Ty. or August. Some might say the province should help with the purchase. But the fact that they aren't is all right, says Lane. In the first place, working on a major fund raising project is good for the community. It pulls everyone together. And in «the second place the province has made a major commitment. If we as a community can come up with the cash for the purchase, the province will pay for 100 percent of all operational cost on an ongoing basis. According to Lane, this “arrangement adds up to a "good deal" for everybody. Lt he R.E.M. Lee Hospital Foundation is doing more than fund raising for the CT scanner purchase. As an example, a recently purchased piece of equipment is helping Mills Memorial pathologist Dr. Alex Enriquez to be far more effective in what amounts to operating room quality control. A part of his job involves the analysis of tissue samples to deter- mine that tissue removed in the operating room did indeed need to be removed. The $12,000 piece of equipment allows Dr. Enriquez to transfer a microscope image of those tissue samples onto a video monitor. This allows a group of medical professionals to view, discuss and analyze. the image at the same time. It can also be used for educational seminars, Lane adds. Other technological advances at Mills Memorial are in the works. Currently on loan from the Shi- madzu Corporation and Fuji Photo- film Co. Ltd, is an $80,000 tele- radiology unit. Teleradiology is a valuable technology which adds one more reason why everyone should think of Mills Memorial as a regional health care centre. With the loaned unit in place, medical facilities in places like SEARS CANADA Terrace is pleased to announce they will be moving to their new store in the new Trigo building at the corner of Lazeile Avenue and Kalum Street. We will be closed July 2 to move. GRAND OPENING IS JULY 3, 1991 Please join us for coffee and donuts. We are looking forward to serving you in our new location. SEAIRS | Stewart, New Aiyansh or Smithers can now transmit x-rays over ordi- nary | telephone | lines, In.an emer-- gency, a Terrace “specialist ‘tan make an immediate diagnosis for the doctor in the other centre. The loaned unit has been at Mills Memorial for a little over a month, but in time, says Lane, with a little help from the R.E.M. Lee Hospital Foundation and their many sup- porters, the hospital will probably own a teleradiology unit of its own. And Lane offers one more example of how the foundation assists the Health Care Society in attracting and keeping new medical staff. Staff surgeon Dr. Jim Dun- field brought new medical expert- ise to Mills Memorial. A part of that knowledge is a new technique for removing gall bladders that replaces major surgery with a small incision and miniature televi- ‘sion camera. The price tag is $60,000 but the technique offers advantages for everyone. And, says Lane, the foundation will somehow find a way to foot the bill. For the patient, the technique means less time in the hospital. It requires only a one- or two-day hospital Stay instead of four to six, and the patient should be active again in about one week instead of six. For Mills Memorial Hospital, it will reduce the time required for recov- ery — and for a hospital bed — ‘by one third. B right equipment to attract the range and calibre of professionals we need at Mills Memorial. It takes an attractive work atmosphere and that begins with good staff/management rela- tions. ut it takes more than the On this, point, Lane speaks with pride. There is a strong and very intentional focus on working rela- tions, says Lane, at both’ Mills Memorial Hospital and Terrace- View. _Lodge.. “He explains that: Health Care Society vice-chairman Alex Houl- den heads the Employer Relations and Staff Development Committee; the key to staff/management teamwork. This committee, says Lane, is made up of board mem- bers, management, medical staff and support staff representatives, all of whom have equal voting privileges. This committee has completed one of its primary tasks: visiting every department and asking, "What do you do?" and, "What do you need?” It’s an approach that works, says Lane. "Too often, the two sides fire from one trench to the other." And most often, he adds, this negative, anti-productive approach to a settlement only takes place at the expiration of each union con- tract. With the society's approach, discussion on small problems can take place almost any time and the need, therefore, for annual or biannual battles of complex issues is greatly diminished. Lane adds that the Health Care Society took another positive step towards nurturing this attitude of promoting and creating a working atmosphere where teamwork is something that can be assured. Last month, the Society hosted a Terrace Employer Discussion Group where board members, senior health care management and Management personnel represent- ing several local businesses and companies tuned into the wisdom of B.C. Hydro’s vice-president of human resources, Einar Field. Through his success at B.C. Hydro, Field is recognized as a leader in the development of posi- tive staff/management relations. A board of directors with a posi- tive attitude, a knowledgeable and cooperative professional staff, a fund raising foundation that sup- ports improvements in health care services... All these things add up to one thing. Health care in Ter- race is in very good health. NORTHWEST ACADEMY OF PERFORMING ARTS Gala Performance Sunday, June 23, 1991 R.E.M. Lee Theatre 1:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m. 2:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. $5.00 admission price buys a seat for ALL FOUR performances. “Piano, dance, violin, voice, strings, guitar, instrumental, string orchestra.” TICKETS AVAILABLE AT SIGHT & SOUND