Sun, bikes and rock and roll
The impact of mass gatherings on health care services in Sea to Sky and a request for an obstetrical surgeon were themes at the June 17 Open Board forum in Squamish.
Popular mass gathering events in Sea to Sky, like music festivals and bike competitions, resulted in an addition of $125,720 in costs for VCH last summer. The board was told that in order to best support these events, event organizers need to collaborate with VCH well in advance when planning their event.
In addition to an update on the delivery of health care in Sea to Sky, Medical Health Officer Dr. Paul Martiquet discussed the My Health My Community results for Sea to Sky.
About 40 people attended the forum, which was hosted by board chair Kip Woodward.
Mike Nader, chief operating officer for the Coastal Community of Care.
Linda Wood
I tried to attend the forum, but could not leave work. Most people I talked to did not know about it?
I have a few concerns:
1. What kind of planning is going into improving the physical facility to serve the growing obstetric client population. Our second delivery suite is small, windowless and marginal. We share the use of bathroom with the OR recovery room as there is none in the OR suite.
2. Admission and discharge from OR. The physical facility does not allow for close access for either admit or discharge. Patients are discharged from the main lobby, often ported by non nursing staff, and often orthopedic patients, which does not allow for information exchange or teaching. Privacy issues as well as surgical suite access inhibit families coming to our combined Day Care Surgery/PAR. As our population grows and we attract more surgical time, this becomes more of a need.
3. I would like to see some recognition by VCH of the contributions of two of our retiring MD’s
Dr Alan Lam served this community for more than 25 years, and carried a pager without recompense for many of those years. He was on call 24/7 whenever he was in town, and once there was another surgeon, was on call 50% of his time. He performed many emergency as well as scheduled surgeries, including trauma and caesarian sections. He played a big role in bringing safer obsetric care to this corridor
Dr. Liam Gawley also contributed for many years, including being on call for emergency surgeries, including C/S, the other 50% of the time. He also provided endoscopy screening.
For more information, contact Cindy Sellers, Program Manager for Sea to Sky Acute, and Dr. Richard Cudmore.