The Wellness in Wallaceburg Educational Campaign spotlights the services provided by local organizations in your community that are working to improve your health and wellbeing. This week’s spotlight is on Chatham-Kent Health Alliance.
What services do you provide?
The following services are provided at the Sydenham Campus: Emergency Services (inclusive of point of care laboratory services), Medicine, and Ambulatory Care. The Campus also offers Diagnostic Imaging services. In fact, the Sydenham Campus boasts a state-of-the-art fully digital x-ray suite that the vendor also uses as a Canada-wide showcase site for other interested hospitals. Learn more about CKHA at www.ckha.on.ca.
Who can access the services?
Emergency Services are available to anyone who requires that level of support 24/7, 365 days a year. All other services provided by CKHA require a referral from a primary care provider, such as a physician or nurse practitioner.
How do people access your services?
To access Emergency Services it’s as simple as arriving at the hospital and entering the department. For all other services, a referral is required prior to accessing services.
Is there a cost?
The Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) covers basic healthcare for Ontario residents. This coverage includes costs associated with a hospital admission to a ward. However, some hospital procedures and supplies are not covered by OHIP and charges may apply.
What is new (or highlight a special event)?
The week of October 27-31 is national Patient Safety Week. Events across both campuses are planned with a focus on hand hygiene. As well, when staff is observed for doing safe practices, they will be acknowledged and given a ribbon. Patient Safety Week is an important opportunity to remind the community about how everyone contributes to creating a safe environment in support of the delivery of quality care. It’s also an opportunity to celebrate the achievements in improved awareness and practices over the past year. The week fittingly ends by with the recognition of staff members or a team who exemplify safe practices through the Patient Safety Award.
What is the future direction of services in the Wallaceburg area?
Healthcare is changing and so too are hospitals. The government is shifting funding from hospitals to community to better support prevention and chronic disease management, two critically important aspects of keeping people as well as they can be. At the same time, the services provided within hospitals are increasingly tied to quality outcomes and patient safety; again, two critically important aspects of getting people back home following a hospital stay or procedure.
CKHA remains committed to the Campus of Care proposed through the !magine Project which would see a range of healthcare services, including those delivered by the hospital, co-located onto one site. This sustainable vision would translate into ease of access for patients and greater cooperation between partners in the healthcare system. The good news is that this work is already underway. CKHA and its local partners, the Community Health Centre and the Canadian Mental Health Association, are already delivering enhanced, coordinated and integrated services at the downtown location. It’s an example of how services that have physically moved out of the hospital can remain available locally and thrive when delivered in partnership with other providers.
What is the best advice you can give to people to help them stay well?
Taking a proactive approach to your own health is something we can all do to stay well. Eating a balanced diet, getting exercise, finding a spirituality to call your own and getting enough sleep (7-8 hrs.) are truly the best defence against getting sick and requiring the support of the healthcare system.
When you are in need of care, particularly acute care, rest assured there are appropriate services available to you close to home.
Wellness in Wallaceburg is an initiative that aims to raise community awareness of services that helps everyone be healthy and well. To receive updates of events and services in Wallaceburg join the Chatham-Kent Community Event Calendar at www.chatham-kent.ca, click on Wellness then Wallaceburg.
