A Medical Briefs Specialists wooed LOCAL HEALTH care officials hope that a psy- chiatrist visiting the city this week will move here, If that happens, the Terrace and Area Health Council will be two-thirds along the way toward its goal of basing three psychiatrists in Terrace to work with people in this city and to offer services to the surrounding area, A first psychiatrist was hired earlier this year and is expected to be on duty here in the summer. . Having three psychiatrists on staff at Mills, all of whom will be on salary, will broaden coverage . in the northwest which is considered under ser- viced in this area of medical care... .. a As well, the health council may change its plan to also hire a general practitioner with an interest in psychiatry io act as the director of the 10-bed psych ward here. That’s because it isn’t getting any applicants for the position, said Kuntz. The health council is also waiting to here if an obstetrician will accept a position here. There is only one such specialist here now. Renos get closer NOW THAT the money’s been approved, things have picked up in the timeline to complete badly needed renovations at Mills Memorial Hospital's 10-bed regional psychiatric ward. The architect hired to plan out the $627,000 pro- ject is ready to ask for tenders and a date for their relurn of May 4 has been set, says Terrace Area Health Council chief executive officer Dieter Kuntz. He expects work to start as soon as possible after that. , The ward will continue to stay open during reno- vations. “It’s less than idea, but we really have no alternative,” said Kuntz, . As it is, the ward was closed for more than six weeks earlier this year when the hospital could not find a temporary or clinical director. Because the ward will stay open, Kuntz predicts renovations will take longer than would be the . case if the contractor had free reign of the facility. Renovations will mean an updated common area, a new kitchen area for residents and two pa- tient “safe” rooms among other improvements. HeaithGuide on-line PEOPLE WITH Internet access now have another place in which to go for health care information. B.C. HealthGuide Online went into service last week as part of the provincial government’s effort to provide people with basic health care informa- tion in an attempt to reduce health care costs by curtailing visits to doctors and emergency rooms. The first part of this effort was the distribution of the B.C. HealthGuide to residences in the province and is to be followed next month by a toll-free, 24- hour service staffed by registered nurses, The on-line service has more than 2,500 health topics and builds on the guide by offering more in- depth information. The address of the service is www. behealthguide.org ; NOI S182 Cardiac training ‘NEARLY 36 nurses and others employed by the Terrace Area Health Council are getling refresher training in advanced cardiac life support through a $31,712 grant from the health ministry. It’s part of a two-year, $21 million program an- nounced late last- year to help -hospitals and other facilities ease nursing shortages. Health council nursizig director Marg Petrick said the twa-day course is required every two years for those involved with emergency services. “This can be expensive because there’s tuition, the cost of a physician and a nurse to give the course, pay for nurses who are taking the course and paying to bring in nurses to replace those who are on the course,” she said. di 82760 POs FMA Yoon 2 am Dialysis gets hazy APPROVAL OF a six-sta- tion kidney. dialysis unit in Terrace may be so close you can taste it, but dish- ing out the serving is still some ways away. for the ‘people who control the health care meni: _ The good news is that the need for a unit here has been established. [t?]] be just the second satellile operation in the north to the main one. based in Prince George. | But even though the health minisiry now’ ack- nowledges: the need, ‘a budget plan naw needs to: be drawn up, says a health ministry official. And the ministry can’t announce the unit until it’ knows and. approves the: plan and costs; says: Nina Durante. Her commeats: follow the passing last week of $9.318 billion for heaith care beginning April 1. “Right now we. can’t say if there’s any money for it because we don’t know how ‘much they need,” said Durante of -the dialysis unit plan for Ter- Trace. “But we wouldn't be at the stage of asking for costs if the plan didn’t | have some merit.” ; A kidney dialysis unit - has long been sought after in Terrace as a regional - health care service. Depending upon - the : - condition of. medical people needing dialysis, some have had to move away to get the treatment they need. Mills Memorial Hospi- tal has already set aside an unused wing for the unit in anticipation of its ap- proval this year. “] know we're close,” said Dieter Kuntz of the Terrace Area Health Council, He said the council is working as closely as pos- sible with the main dialy- sis unit in Prince George to havé the satellite opera- here. | EPILEPSY « EPILEPSY + EPILEPSY | Family counselling ai no charge. BRITISH COLUMBIA 1-888-223-3366 EPILEPSY SOCIETY = For More iqfarmtion fash Back HORUSINE ASSISTANCE PROGHAK Ask . MAIDA LEADERSHIP WARRANTY: Ask'phout-cur cutstending fee “Oilers: avattabla on rétad purchasesilenses of any new 2001 Mazda's in stock from March §, 2001 fora limited time coly. 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PROGR 3040 Hwy 16E, Terrace Phone 635-7284 D7041 Due to shipping problems, some . items advertisedin | our Spring Gardening Flyer will arrive late. Terrace Builders apologizes for any inconvenience and are therefore going to extend the sale pricing for two more weeks ending Saturday, April 14th. Again, sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused. .