With a “renewed focus on its Sydenham Campus”, the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) has announce additional Respiratory Services at its Wallaceburg site.
CKHA officials say the organization’s investment of a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RT) within the Emergency Department (ED) comes as a welcome addition to the Sydenham Campus and enhances high quality care for local patients.
“I am delighted that our recent focus on the Sydenham Campus has given us the opportunity to reinvest in service delivery for patients and their families,” stated Rob Devitt, supervisor.
“The expansion of Respiratory Services reaffirms our commitment to program and service delivery at our Wallaceburg site.”
The RT will provide coverage 16 hours per day, 7 days per week as a care provider within the ED, CKHA officials said.
The existing Pulmonary Function Lab will remain open 2 to 3 days per week, Monday to Friday, alternating with Thursday/Friday every other week. Services provided include pulmonary function testing, exertional hypoxemia studies, Electrocardiograms (ECG’s), as well as the application and removal of Holter Monitors.
RT’s will also remain on-call to respond to Code Blue calls and provide puffer teaching or assessments.
The RT may also be called to draw Arterial Blood Gasses and do transports for critically ill (vented) patients.
“Registered Respiratory Therapist services are an essential inclusion to the Sydenham ED and will better meet the needs of our patients in the Wallaceburg, Walpole Island and South Lambton catchment area,” said Dr. Anthony Dixon, Chief and Program Medical Director of Emergency Medicine.
“Our increased capacity to deliver exceptional, quality care will foster stronger relationships and positive partnerships within CKHA and the wider community.”
Dr. Dennis Atoe, a family and ER physician in Wallaceburg, said this is great news for the community.
“We cannot over emphasize the importance of RT services and quality care,” Atoe said.
“I want to thank everyone involved for their work, time and effort towards these initiatives. We are looking forward to an improved working relationship between the Sydenham and Chatham sites and the communities we serve.”
The CKHA is holding a town hall/open house this week in Wallaceburg.
The event is open to the public and will be held on Thursday, March 23 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Canadian Belgian Dutch Club.
This will be an opportunity for the community to personally meet the provincially-appointed supervisor, the new CEO and newly hired and appointed vice presidents and medical leadership team
