Alaskan patients in Terrace hospital? by Betty Barton ‘exclusive Terrace Review inter- view with Micheal Leisinger on recent City of Terrace trade mission to southeast Alaska. On the recent Terrace trade mission to. southeast Alaska, Michael Leisinger, Chief Executive Officer of the Terrace Healthcare Society, was an active participant. On their first stop, in Ketchikan, Leisinger toured Ketchikan _ Hospital to find out what services — they offer and to determine where the Terrace Healthcare Society can ‘find a market niche. Leisinger was surprised to find the level of service they already have (in a community of only iwelve thousand) - CT scanner, nuclear. medicine, medical - specialists including a pediatrician, surgeon, - OBGYN, ENT and internist. But, they don’t have urology capabilities and Mills Memorial Hospital does. Leisinger hopes, to encourage patients from southeast Alaska to take advantage of the excellent health services offered here, at a_ much lower rate than they would have to pay in a U.S. hospital. Mills Memorial Hospital. would charge U.S. patients or their insurers $500/day plus doctor’s _ fees and any tests required, With that fee in place, the Terrace Healthcare Society would be making a ‘feasonable profit to improve care facilities and services for patients and staff. And, at the save time, they would be saving the U.S. patient up to $1000 per day. . _ Leisinger would like to see the Terrace Healthcare Society "get _ out of the paternalistic’ role of the Health Ministry and become more - business-oriented, but not fal! into the U.S. model." At the present time, Canadian hospital facilities spend two to four percent of their annual budgets on administration; U.S. hospitals spend ten to twelve percent, The reason for this vast difference is that the Americans _ have the increased costs of billing their patients for every service. Therefore they have to itemize and time each service provided and then charge them to the appropriate patient or insurer with a minutely detailed statement of account. Leisinger would like to see an average of one U.S. patient per day each year in the Terrace Healthcare system. With the additional funding, .the Terrace Healthcare Society could provide local educational opportunities for nurses. “If we get the US. business, the money can be used to attract back nurses who are out of the system and create a workplace that is enticing.” At the present time, lack of casual relief and sick days are the reason for a nursing - shortage in the Terrace Healthcare Society system. "If we could get a few of them back, our shortage would be solved." A committee of the Terrace Healthcare Society is presently looking at bringing daycare into the Terrace Healthcare Society to encourage casual nurses and full-time nurses back to work. After speaking with hospital -administrators in both Ketchikan and Wrangell, Leisinger confirmed, "The response was very encouraging. If they have to go out, they will consider coming to Terrace." For now, the Alaska State ferry or charter aircraft are the only access from southeast Alaska to northwestern B.C. But with the Iskut. road approved recently by Premier VanderZalm, toad transportation is a definite : possibility before the turn of the century. And, the Terrace Airport Advisory. Board and Shames Mountain Ski Corporation are both lobbying for Customs capabilities at the Terrace/Kitimat Airport to encourage international trade and travellers. Leisinger says that travel is often the most expensive portion of their insurance or hospital slay if residents from southeast Alaska have to travel to the lower 48 for medical services. “And if we can get on the Blue Cross provider list, it will open the doors to many employers and other insurers. Leisinger’s opinion is that the insurers are not state or community-loyal. Whatever is the least expensive way to provide the necessary service to their clients is all they’re concerned about. Wrangell presently has a small hospital with two general practitioners and one nurse who can administer anesthetics, They have no specialists. If the transportation obstacle can be overcome, they are most interested in coming to Terrace. Terrace Centennial Lions QUEEN CHARLOTTE CRABS Cooked or Alive SATURDAY, JUNE 23 starting at 10 a.m. beside Petro Canada on Lakelse Avenue Terrace Review — Wednesday, June 20, 1990 B9 TERRACE HEALTHCARE SOCIETY CEO Michael Leisinger tours Juneau's 61-bed Bartlett Memorial Hospital on a recent trade mission to southeast Alaska. Juneau also has St. Anne's Nursing Home, a 45-bed facility. Bartlett Memorial Is completely self-supporting and run by the City of Juneau. After viewing the facility, Leisinger determined that Juneau would probably be the least likely of the three southeast Alaska communities visited to use Terrace Healthcare Society services. B.C. & Alaska sign trade agreement by Betty Barton Last Friday, the province of British Columbia and the state of Alaska entered into a_ historic economic cooperation arrangement on trade, investment and tourism. Signing the document in Prince ‘Rupert were B.C. Minister of Lands Dave Parker, and director of International Trade for the state of Alaska, Robert Poe. "Because the province of British Columbia and the state of Alaska are neighbours sharing a common border, have a long-standing rela- * tonship: of friendshié“and: teust,- have entered into. valuable cooper- ative agreements in the areas of - - interest, drifinet fishing and oil spill pre- vention and response and have signed the Free Trade agreement, the province and the state have entered into this agreement.” They have agreed in a general memorandum of cooperation to share information and to work cooperatively on areas of mutual The agreement outlines the follow- -ingy” 1)Both British Columbia. and Alaska will take necessary steps to exchange appropriate trade, tour- ism and investment” informatien: . and disseminate appropriate infor- mation on goods and services to the business interests of the pro- vince and the state, 2)Each will continue discussions ‘on mutual air and transportation links between our respective lands. 3)Each will encourage and pro- mote the exchange of visits by delegations and business persons to each other, and extend cooperation and assistance to the visitors spon- - sored by the other parties. Alaska recently hosted the first trade dele- gation from B.C.’s Pacific North- west, more specifically the City of Terrace: and local business repre- sentatives. - 4)Each will -takié .appropriate — actions to promote the increase of trade and economic cooperation between the two parties. Kinsmen Club of Terrace CANADA DAY JULY ist 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. | Bands - Lower Little Park - Bandshell Contact Don - 635-6937 if you'd like to play. 2:30 p.m. Car Show - Antique - Street Rod y Bring your car to the parking lot opposite bandshell. 3-$100 prizes Pp = BIRTHDAY CAKE FOR EVERYONE! ) ( FOOD CONCESSIONS! TOURS OF HERITAGE PARK! ; FIREWORKS AT FERRY ISLAND at 11 p.m.! /