GBHS Annual General Meeting apprised of recent highlights

Interim President and CEO Maureen Solecki delivered the following highlights to the GBHS Board of Directors last evening at their Annual General Meeting at the Owen Sound Regional Hospital.

Members Elected to GBHS Board of Directors

Three new members have been elected to the Grey Bruce Health Services Board of Directors.

Al White is an accountant, and spent much of his career with BDO prior to retirement. Al brings extensive financial and governance expertise to the GBHS Board, and is Chair of the Bruce Peninsula Health Services Foundation and served as a Director on the Board of CMHA Grey Bruce, Mental Health and Addictions Services. Al also served on the Board of Directors of Hope Grey Bruce Mental Health and Addictions Services.

Steven Green is a former respiratory therapist with extensive front line and healthcare management experience. Steven migrated to the healthcare Information Technology sector where he managed large scale IT projects. He is currently a VP and Chief Privacy Officer with an electronic health records software company. His extensive expertise in healthcare IT will be an asset to GBHS.

Joanne Flewwelling spent over 25 years in healthcare leadership roles, most recently with William Osler Health System, where she held the position of Interim President & CEO, as well as Executive Vice President & Chief Nursing Executive, Clinical Services. Prior to that, she was a senior executive with Trillium Health Centre in Mississauga. Joanne’s leadership skills and healthcare experience will be a welcome addition to the Board.

CT Scanner Proposed for Southampton Hospital

GBHS submitted a business case to the SW LHIN to purchase and install a CT scanner at the Southampton Hospital.  The LHIN has recommended the proposal to the Ministry of Health for approval.

If approved, this diagnostic equipment will help GBHS serve patients in the Saugeen Shores area; better manage the increasing volume of patients requiring a CT scan across the Corporation; and ensure continuity of service when the CT scanner in Owen Sound is down for maintenance.

GBHS Recognizes Staff and Physicians for Years of Service

Every year, GBHS staff and physicians gather to celebrate the educational achievements of colleagues, recognize individuals for their years of dedicated service, and honour the teams who have won quality awards.

Held earlier this month, 230 people attended the event, where colleagues were recognized for their years of service – starting with 10 years and up to 50 years of employment with GBHS!

Fourteen staff were also honoured for their educational achievements. These are staff who, in addition to their careers with GBHS, complete course work to get certification in specialized areas, or who advance their academic standing through degree programs.

Four teams won Quality Awards: the Diabetic Foot Ulcer team, Code Stroke team, Adolescent Mental Health, and the Massive Transfusion Protocol team. Each team was recognized for their outstanding work to enhance patient outcomes and improve the patient experience.

Pre-Natal Classes

The GBHS Woman and Child unit has once again started offering pre-natal classes for women and partners.  The classes are being offered by the organization’s two Lactation Consultants, and each class includes two evening sessions.  Thirty people attended the first class, held earlier this month.

  • Next class starts in September, and the plan is to hold one class per month
  • To register, call: 519-376-2121 ext. 3928.

Stroke Distinction

As part of our ongoing commitment to quality care, the GBHS District Stroke Centre is working towards achieving ‘Stroke Distinction’ recognition from Accreditation Canada.  The Stroke program will be assessed against national standards of care for stroke patients.

Preparation for an accreditation survey is a significant undertaking, expected to take about 16 months.

Many staff have been involved in significant improvements over the years that have improved care and outcomes for stroke patients, which have included:

  • Regionalization of stroke care from eleven hospitals in Grey/Bruce
  • Creation of the GBHS District Stroke Centre at the Owen Sound hospital
  • Implementation of an acute stroke unit in Owen Sound and pre-notification of arrival time by EMS to the Emergency Department
  • Creation of a Code Stroke contingency code for Owen Sound
  • GBHS is one of eight Stroke Centres in the Southwestern Ontario Stroke Network jointly participating in the stroke program accreditation journey.

MRI Fundraising Initiative

· The five hospital foundations that support GBHS are raising funds for the purchase and installation of a new MRI in the Owen Sound Regional Hospital.

· The goal for the initiative is $4.7 million, and the Foundations have raised just over $3 million to date.

· GBHS staff and physicians are extremely grateful to the Foundations and the many donors for their generous contributions towards this critical diagnostic equipment.