Whitewater Bromley Community Health Centre
Advisory Board of Directors
Advisory Board of Directors
Box 509, Cobden, ON, K0J 1K0
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Whitewater-Bromley Community Health Centre (WBCHC)
Sixth Annual General Meeting (AGM)
Wednesday, May 21, 2008 Cobden & District Civitan Hall
Board members present: Ron Jaremkow (chair), Bev Buchanan, Pat Krose, Izett McBride, Jack McLaren, Annette Mantifel, Randi Keith, Lynne Dunn, Rob McKenzie.
Guests: Dorothy Corbeil (chair, Rainbow Valley), Veli Rautio ( Program Director, WBCHC), John Jordan (Executive Director, Lanark Health & Community Services), Mary Gilmour (chair, LHCS board) Mike LeMay (vice Chair LHIN).
1: Opening
Ron opened the meeting at approximately 7 pm. He welcomed board members & guests.
2: John Jordan, Executive Director, LHCS
John spoke briefly about the vision of Community Health Centres, the need for health promotion, keeping people healthy as opposed to treating illness. “Everyone matters” is the new motto.
3: Veli Rautio, Program Director WBCHC
Veli did a presentation on Regional Information.
4: Treena Lemay President of the Board of Directors of the Petawawa Centennial Family Health Centre
Ron welcomed Treena, congratulating her on her involvement in the opening of one of the 1st 50 Family Health Centres & citing her many accomplishments.
Treena spoke of the history of the centre, the health crisis in Petawawa in 2004, when 2 of 3 doctors left the community & the decision of the leaders of Petawawa to join forces with CFB to form a Community Health Committee. Pictures showed the transition from a 2500 sq. ft. converted duplex to the present Petawawa Centennial Family Health Centre. Treena invited everyone to the opening of the center on Sunday, May 25, 2008 2-4pm.
Randi Keith presented Treena with flowers & thanked her for her informative talk.
5: Mike LeMay vice Chair of LHIN
Mike brought greetings from the LHIN.
6: Minutes
Ron said the minutes of the previous AGM have been on the WBCHC website for a year & the board members have had the opportunity to review the minutes for any errors or omissions. Moved by Jack to accept the minutes as distributed, seconded by Izett, carried.
7: Report of Chair – Ron Jaremkow
Chairman’s Report for the 2008 Annual General Meeting
Another successful year has passed for the Whitewater Bromley Community Health Centre Satellite. Under the capable direction of our new Program Director Veli Rautio and Executive Director John Jordan of Lanark Health and Community Services, our community has been well served by the facilities and staff of the WBCHC.
During the past year, we, the board of directors, have purchased the property adjoining the existing Cobden Site. It was at this meeting last year that borrowing the required funds for the purchase was approved for the purchase of the property known as 68 Main Street. Although this burdens the board financially, we feel that the property will be required for the eventual expansion of the Cobden Site and if not purchased at the time may have resulted in the permanent loss of the property to us.
Much time and effort was placed in seeking autonomy for our Health Centre over the last year. Letters to various departments in the Ministry of Health, even several conversations with Health Minister Smitherman were to no avail. Letters followed this to our Champlain Local Health Integration Network. On October 26-07, a delegation met with CLHIN in Ottawa and our concerns for autonomy were expressed to the LHIN representatives, but again to no avail. On March 20th at a meeting in Ottawa, it was very strongly suggested to us by the Ontario Association of Health Centres that due to the present climate in provincial health care, it was very unlikely that we would become an autonomous Community Health Centre. I for one was disappointed and somewhat discouraged by this. This however, doesn’t mean the end for further development of WBCHC. What it means is that we are faced with new challenges in the future and a new steering committee with representation from Beachburg, Cobden, Eganville, Golden Lake and Killaloe has been formed to investigate these challenges. Izett McBride is chair of this new committee known as the Renfrew County Health Network Steering Committee and he will speak of the committee in his report.
At this point, as chairman, I would like to thank those board members who have offered their time, effort and input into making this term a success.
To those directors not returning for the upcoming term, Annette Mantifel, Art Cobb and Ken Fink, thank you for the time and effort you have put into your positions over the past terms.
My last thank you is extended to our Executive Director, John Jordan and to the Lanark Health and Community Services board under Chairperson Mary Gilmour. Lanark has gone the extra mile for us here at WBCHC in helping to make things happen.
In closing my report, I would like to say, we can all look forward to another exciting year under a new Board Chairman. We must be prepared for new and better things and I’m sure that the incoming board is more than capable of the task.
Thank you!
8: Treasurer’s Report – Annette Mantifel
I would like to report that the accounting firm of MacKillican & Associates has now returned the Financial Statements for the year ending March 31, 2008.
The Treasurer’s Report provided this evening is an accurate statement of our financial status for the year ending March 31, 2008.
Based on the financial reports, the total income received during the 2007/08 fiscal year is $60,667. During the 2007/08 year, the property and building adjoining the Cobden site was purchased and the business tenant continued to rent the front part of the building. Rental income generated from 70 Main Street accounts for $24,000 of this total while rental income of $6,149.62 (net of GST) was generated from 68 Main Street. A total of $784 was received for the CHC at a joint fundraiser event held on June 28, 2007 for the Solomon Islands. As in previous years, the Whitewater Bromley Community Health Centre was very fortunate to receive generous donations. A total of $6,000 was received in municipal grants and $10,747 was received in donations from local service clubs and individuals.
The total expenses incurred during the 2007/08 fiscal year are $36,597. For both sites, utilities amounted to $6,961, repairs/maintenance amounted to $8,883, insurance amounted to $3,802 and municipal taxes accounted for $2,298.
The Whitewater Bromley Community Health Centre is reporting net revenue of $24,070 for the year ending March 31, 2008.
On the Balance Sheet as at March 31, 2008, total assets amount to $179,857 of which $29,808 represents cash in bank including GIC’s and $148,351 represents land, buildings, parking lot, leasehold improvements and equipment net of amortization. Liabilities are reported at $69,879 while contributed and operating surplus total $109,978. The Balance Sheet reflects the additional building and land purchased and the loan payable to Renfrew County Community Futures.
Anyone wishing a copy of the financial statements may obtain one from the Treasurer tonight after the meeting.
Moved by Pat to accept the treasurer’s report as recorded, seconded by Randi, carried.
9: Report of the Auditor – John Mains
John has examined & reviewed the books & records of the WBCHC for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2007. Nothing has come to my attention throughout the audit of the books, which would indicate that the records were inaccurate, or not of the WBCHC’s regular business.
John agreed to remain as Auditor for the upcoming year.
10: Report of current committees
Property - Jack McLaren
PROPERTY REPORT A G M May 21 / 08
Purchase at 68 main was completed June 1st/07 for the sum of $ 80.000.00
A row of trees were removed and area landscaped, there is more work to be done this spring to allow for better drainage of the back lot, more gravel in this area will allow for more parking .
There was wind damage on part of roof at 68 main this has been replaced.
Vent pipe was installed at 70 main, wheel chair ramp at side door and other minor maintenance issues looked after during the past year.
Our snow removal and maintenance cost keep rising; will have to address that issue latter this year.
Jack McLaren - Property Chair
Political – Izett McBride
Report from Political Liaison Chair to WBCHC Annual Meeting May 21st, 2008
The areas this past year that fall into this category include relations with our local municipalities and relations with the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. With recent configurations the Ministry now includes the Champlain Local Health Integration Network (LHIN).
With regards to the Municipalities, we were successful once again in receiving grants from both Whitewater Region and Admaston Bromley. I should add that the Admaston portion has been added officially to our service area as well. We have also enjoyed some work from Whitewater Public Works with regards to our parking lot in Cobden and may indeed be requesting some more assistance this year. Whitewater also maintains our building and lot in Beachburg as it is owned by them and under lease to the CHC.
Since we have been a satellite of Lanark Health and Social Services, the understanding has been that we would sooner or later become an independent unit operating from here.
With this objective in mind we requested and got a meeting with the LHIN group in Ottawa last fall which was followed up by a proposal to them for Whitewater Bromley along with Rainbow Valley to become an independent CHC. John Jordan, ED for Lanark was most helpful in this process. To date this has not been acted on.
We have more recently been in collaboration with Rainbow Valley (Killaloe site), the First Nations Pikwakanagan Family Health Team at Golden Lake, and a volunteer group from Eganville. We held an exploratory meeting with Lee McKenna of the Association for Ontario Health Centres (AOHC) and representatives of the areas mentioned including LHCS (Lanark) with the following result.
We found there was a common desire to establish a locally governed health centre network which would operate the five sites as one organization to include our two in Beachburg and Cobden, Killaloe, the current Golden Lake FHT site and a new location to be established in Eganville. The benefits are improved services to all our area with the ability to move personnel as needed and having enough size to warrant independent status. A steering committee was formed to advance the process with each group invited to name two members and I was selected as Chair.
We have held two meetings to date and look forward to progress in the future months.
Submitted by:
Izett McBride - Political Liaison Chair with help from Ron Jaremko, Pat Krose and Earl Bennett
Fundraising – Pat Krose
WB CHC Fundraising Report – Pat Krose
Bequests and Donations Pamphlets:
The fund raising committee has designed a poster and pamphlet to be available throughout the Whitewater/Bromley/Admaston Regions to provide easy access for donations to the WB CHC Board for programmes or building expansion. A donation to the CHC Board with a card of recognition can be made in honour of a loved one. Tax receipts for a donation over ten dollars will be issued to the donor. In the past the communities have been very supportive of the work of the board and the health centres so this system should provide an opportunity to make donations on behalf of a friend or family member.
Pat Krose, Fundraising Chair
A motion was made by Pat, seconded by Jack to accept the committee reports as recorded, carried.
12: Report of the Program Director – Veli Rautio
Veli expressed his gratitude for being hired as the program director. He introduced John Jordan, Bonny Johnson, Brenda Powers-Ross & Shirley Hill & announced Shirley Hill’s hiring as the Chronic Disease Management Nurse.
We are entering our fourth year of operation and we continue to grow and expand our services. As of April 30th, we have 3724 clients on our data base which represents both primary care and walk-in clients: 2736 of these clients receive their primary care from us. Walk-in service utilization is excellent at the Cobden site both by our centre clients and by the community at large. In 2007 we had 988 urgent walk-in clinic visits. We continue to offer many new groups and are working in many partnership arrangements with other health and social service agencies in our community.
Staff
Executive Director- John Jordan
Program Director – Veli-Martti Rautio
Office Administrator - Brenda Powers-Ross
Physicians - Dr. Kristian Davis, Dr. Teri Rheaume, Dr. Angus Daniel
Internal Medicine Specialist - Dr. Chris Willis
Nurse Practitioners - Bonny Johnson and Susan Allen
Nurses - Pauline Kohlsmith, Diana O’Ryan, Shirley Hill
Social Worker - Ray Parchelo
Health Promoter - Lara Mylly
Administrative Support - Cathy Regier, Doreen Schroeder, Lynda Steege,
and Lynda Harnish.
Programming Highlights
For more information on any of these groups please call either of our sites:
Beachburg 613-582-3685 or Cobden 613-646-7997
Foot Steps Walking Program: This lunchtime walking program was launched in both Beachburg and Cobden in October 2006. Centre staff and community partners share the walking leadership of this noon hour community walking program. Monthly activities are also planned.
Optimizing Life: Living Well with Chronic Disease: This is a new 6 week group which started in Beachburg in May 2007 facilitated by our Nurse Practitioners Bonny Johnson and Susan Allen. Participants will share information and tips to learn how to live with their chronic disease.
Adult Fitness: We offer 9 classes in 4 locations throughout the area which continue to be well attended running Monday to Friday September to May.
Good Neighbour Program: This originally started as a drop-in group every Friday 10am -12 pm in Cobden and now continues in both Beachburg and Cobden in the afternoons. Participants share their concerns, get health tips, invite community speakers, have some light exercise and enjoy a snack together.
Mindfulness Training: This program continues to be offered several times per year by our Social Worker Ray Parchelo. In this 8 week group program participants learn practical strategies to improve their ability to cope with physical and mental health issues.
Leading Edge: Our summer youth leadership program. This year we are trying again to have two students working for us to deliver this youth-community building program.
Smoking Cessation: these groups are held twice per year if sufficient registration is received.
Child Car Seat Safety: This clinic started this month at the Beachburg site and was booked well before the opening. We will be continuing this service and will expand to the Cobden site if requests determine the need.
Partnerships
Asthma Program: The Lanark Health and Community Services Primary Care Asthma Program continue at the 3 sites of the Satellite Program. Ellen Michaud has been working with people who have asthma since September 2007.
Opeongo High School: Our Nurse Practitioner Susan Allen continues to offer a half day per week teen health clinic during the school year with 368 students’ visits in 2006
Bonnechere Manor Day Away Program continues one day per week in both sites
Toybus: Our RN Pauline Kohlsmith visits this group every 2 weeks to provide health information to the parents who attend with their children
Diabetes Clinics: Outreach from Pembroke Regional Hospital is offered in both sites every 2 months
Beachburg Public School Breakfast Program: We officially became a partner in this school program in 2007. Our Health Promoter, Lara Mylly, provides service at the school and volunteers deliver a nutritious snack basket to every classroom 5 days per week. They also work together to provide other special activities such as a hot breakfast, popcorn sales, delivery of fresh fruit and vegetable trays once per month to every classroom
Women’s Shelter & Support Services use our sites as necessary for local support services
Many community groups use our programming space to run community health programs such as Breastfeeding Mothers Group, Prenatal classes, Kids in the Kitchen, Babysitting Course, Bike Rodeo etc.
Week in the Country: We continue to participate in the “Week in the Country” medical student program. This program allows medical students to get a taste of the Community Health Centre environment here in our region. This is in partnership with the Eastern Regional Medical Education Program.
Algonquin College: We again were able to have two students do placement at our sites with the guidance of Lara. The students were very happy with their placement and we hope to see them again soon (working here in the region).
Committee Work
Renfrew County Community of Care Advisory Forum (RC-CCAF) –LHIN Community Advisory Group
Healthy Babies, Healthy Children Advisory Committee – Renfrew County & District Health Unit
Child Poverty Action Network (CPAN)
CPAN sub- committee Social Inclusion Working Group
Renfrew County Car Seat Safety Coalition
Healthy Living Partnerships Steering Committee
Various Service Provider Networks
Improved Community Awareness
Newspaper Column: Staff members continue to write health articles for our monthly health column Health Happenings in the Cobden Sun.
Newsletter: Our newsletter Health Happenings has a new format and continues its distribution quarterly to every home in our catchments area.
Lara arranged for a media awareness workshop this spring. We provided the Mediacs’ workshops in partnership with support from local schools, parent councils and parent involvement committees.
Other
The Beachburg site will have an emergency power back-up system installed shortly to ensure continued care in the case of a power outage.
We now have a new logo – you can see it at the beginning of this report – to help us brand the Community Health Centre model of Primary Health Care. Like the “H” that guides people to the hospital, our stylized C will eventually guide people to our doors as well.
Looking Ahead
We continue to follow our five year strategic plan based on the information we received from the community survey and from the community partner interviews. The following strategic directions guide our program planning:
oEnhancing Organizational Capacity
oImproving Community Awareness and Marketing
oDelivering High Quality Primary Care Programs and Services
oBuilding Health Promotion and Community Development Initiatives
oParticipating in Research and Evaluation
CHC’s have recently changed their reporting structure from the Ministry of Health to the Local Health Integration Networks. As we move forward with funding initiatives, our place at the Renfrew County Community of Care Advisory Forum will help us ensure the health of our communities will continue in partnership with other health service providers. We are part of the Champlain Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) and we will be pro-active in ensuring that health care decisions have local input and will have a community focus.
We will continue to look at ways to deliver services that help people deal with their chronic diseases and /or to prevent diseases by staying healthy. We have now hired a Chronic Disease Prevention and Management nurse that will work at all three sites to develop chronic disease programming and delivery. This coordinated effort will deliver consistent chronic disease care for our clients and will help people take their health into their own hands through Chronic Disease Self Management.
In closing, I want to thank our hard working and excellent staff who provide many health care services to this community. We all know that health care or lack thereof is receiving a lot of attention these days and so we feel fortunate that we are part of a local solution - a solution delivering health care in a model that is respectful of the whole person and uses the skills available from different professionals to offer a broad range of health care services.
I would now like to take this opportunity to thank John Jordan from Lanark Health and Community Services as well as the Whitewater Bromley Advisory Board for their support in my new career here at the Whitewater Bromley Community Health Centre.
As I continue my learning curve that sometimes seems like a mountain, I really do find the days go by too quickly. Even though it seems I will never catch up, it has also been said that Michelangelo only had 24 hours a day – and look at what he accomplished.
Thank you,
Veli-Martti Rautio,
Program Director
13: New Business
Changes to the existing by-laws have been posted on the website.
Moved by Bev to accept the changes to the By-laws, seconded by Randi, carried.
14: Election of Directors – Izett McBride
The election followed the prescribed agenda & concluded with the election of 3 board members. Because Board membership is staggered so that at any one year, half the board is starting a 2 year term, Lynne Dunn & Randi Keith has accepted a 1 year term & Rob McKenzie has accepted a 2 year term.
Board members in the last year of a 2 year term: Jack McLaren, Bev Buchanan Earl Bennett, Lynne Dunn, Randi Keith.
Board Members starting a 2 year term: Ron Jaremkow, Izett McBride, Pat Krose, Brian Yuke, Rob McKenzie.
Izett requested further nominations from the floor & repeated this request 3 times as required. None were forthcoming.
Moved by Pat to close nominations& accept the slate of candidates as presented, seconded by Jack, carried.
15: Date for next years AGM: Tuesday May 19, 2009
16: Adjournment
Moved by Bev at 9pm that the meeting be adjourned, seconded by Jack, carried.
Sixth Annual General Meeting (AGM)
Wednesday, May 21, 2008 Cobden & District Civitan Hall
Board members present: Ron Jaremkow (chair), Bev Buchanan, Pat Krose, Izett McBride, Jack McLaren, Annette Mantifel, Randi Keith, Lynne Dunn, Rob McKenzie.
Guests: Dorothy Corbeil (chair, Rainbow Valley), Veli Rautio ( Program Director, WBCHC), John Jordan (Executive Director, Lanark Health & Community Services), Mary Gilmour (chair, LHCS board) Mike LeMay (vice Chair LHIN).
1: Opening
Ron opened the meeting at approximately 7 pm. He welcomed board members & guests.
2: John Jordan, Executive Director, LHCS
John spoke briefly about the vision of Community Health Centres, the need for health promotion, keeping people healthy as opposed to treating illness. “Everyone matters” is the new motto.
3: Veli Rautio, Program Director WBCHC
Veli did a presentation on Regional Information.
4: Treena Lemay President of the Board of Directors of the Petawawa Centennial Family Health Centre
Ron welcomed Treena, congratulating her on her involvement in the opening of one of the 1st 50 Family Health Centres & citing her many accomplishments.
Treena spoke of the history of the centre, the health crisis in Petawawa in 2004, when 2 of 3 doctors left the community & the decision of the leaders of Petawawa to join forces with CFB to form a Community Health Committee. Pictures showed the transition from a 2500 sq. ft. converted duplex to the present Petawawa Centennial Family Health Centre. Treena invited everyone to the opening of the center on Sunday, May 25, 2008 2-4pm.
Randi Keith presented Treena with flowers & thanked her for her informative talk.
5: Mike LeMay vice Chair of LHIN
Mike brought greetings from the LHIN.
6: Minutes
Ron said the minutes of the previous AGM have been on the WBCHC website for a year & the board members have had the opportunity to review the minutes for any errors or omissions. Moved by Jack to accept the minutes as distributed, seconded by Izett, carried.
7: Report of Chair – Ron Jaremkow
Chairman’s Report for the 2008 Annual General Meeting
Another successful year has passed for the Whitewater Bromley Community Health Centre Satellite. Under the capable direction of our new Program Director Veli Rautio and Executive Director John Jordan of Lanark Health and Community Services, our community has been well served by the facilities and staff of the WBCHC.
During the past year, we, the board of directors, have purchased the property adjoining the existing Cobden Site. It was at this meeting last year that borrowing the required funds for the purchase was approved for the purchase of the property known as 68 Main Street. Although this burdens the board financially, we feel that the property will be required for the eventual expansion of the Cobden Site and if not purchased at the time may have resulted in the permanent loss of the property to us.
Much time and effort was placed in seeking autonomy for our Health Centre over the last year. Letters to various departments in the Ministry of Health, even several conversations with Health Minister Smitherman were to no avail. Letters followed this to our Champlain Local Health Integration Network. On October 26-07, a delegation met with CLHIN in Ottawa and our concerns for autonomy were expressed to the LHIN representatives, but again to no avail. On March 20th at a meeting in Ottawa, it was very strongly suggested to us by the Ontario Association of Health Centres that due to the present climate in provincial health care, it was very unlikely that we would become an autonomous Community Health Centre. I for one was disappointed and somewhat discouraged by this. This however, doesn’t mean the end for further development of WBCHC. What it means is that we are faced with new challenges in the future and a new steering committee with representation from Beachburg, Cobden, Eganville, Golden Lake and Killaloe has been formed to investigate these challenges. Izett McBride is chair of this new committee known as the Renfrew County Health Network Steering Committee and he will speak of the committee in his report.
At this point, as chairman, I would like to thank those board members who have offered their time, effort and input into making this term a success.
To those directors not returning for the upcoming term, Annette Mantifel, Art Cobb and Ken Fink, thank you for the time and effort you have put into your positions over the past terms.
My last thank you is extended to our Executive Director, John Jordan and to the Lanark Health and Community Services board under Chairperson Mary Gilmour. Lanark has gone the extra mile for us here at WBCHC in helping to make things happen.
In closing my report, I would like to say, we can all look forward to another exciting year under a new Board Chairman. We must be prepared for new and better things and I’m sure that the incoming board is more than capable of the task.
Thank you!
8: Treasurer’s Report – Annette Mantifel
I would like to report that the accounting firm of MacKillican & Associates has now returned the Financial Statements for the year ending March 31, 2008.
The Treasurer’s Report provided this evening is an accurate statement of our financial status for the year ending March 31, 2008.
Based on the financial reports, the total income received during the 2007/08 fiscal year is $60,667. During the 2007/08 year, the property and building adjoining the Cobden site was purchased and the business tenant continued to rent the front part of the building. Rental income generated from 70 Main Street accounts for $24,000 of this total while rental income of $6,149.62 (net of GST) was generated from 68 Main Street. A total of $784 was received for the CHC at a joint fundraiser event held on June 28, 2007 for the Solomon Islands. As in previous years, the Whitewater Bromley Community Health Centre was very fortunate to receive generous donations. A total of $6,000 was received in municipal grants and $10,747 was received in donations from local service clubs and individuals.
The total expenses incurred during the 2007/08 fiscal year are $36,597. For both sites, utilities amounted to $6,961, repairs/maintenance amounted to $8,883, insurance amounted to $3,802 and municipal taxes accounted for $2,298.
The Whitewater Bromley Community Health Centre is reporting net revenue of $24,070 for the year ending March 31, 2008.
On the Balance Sheet as at March 31, 2008, total assets amount to $179,857 of which $29,808 represents cash in bank including GIC’s and $148,351 represents land, buildings, parking lot, leasehold improvements and equipment net of amortization. Liabilities are reported at $69,879 while contributed and operating surplus total $109,978. The Balance Sheet reflects the additional building and land purchased and the loan payable to Renfrew County Community Futures.
Anyone wishing a copy of the financial statements may obtain one from the Treasurer tonight after the meeting.
Moved by Pat to accept the treasurer’s report as recorded, seconded by Randi, carried.
9: Report of the Auditor – John Mains
John has examined & reviewed the books & records of the WBCHC for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2007. Nothing has come to my attention throughout the audit of the books, which would indicate that the records were inaccurate, or not of the WBCHC’s regular business.
John agreed to remain as Auditor for the upcoming year.
10: Report of current committees
Property - Jack McLaren
PROPERTY REPORT A G M May 21 / 08
Purchase at 68 main was completed June 1st/07 for the sum of $ 80.000.00
A row of trees were removed and area landscaped, there is more work to be done this spring to allow for better drainage of the back lot, more gravel in this area will allow for more parking .
There was wind damage on part of roof at 68 main this has been replaced.
Vent pipe was installed at 70 main, wheel chair ramp at side door and other minor maintenance issues looked after during the past year.
Our snow removal and maintenance cost keep rising; will have to address that issue latter this year.
Jack McLaren - Property Chair
Political – Izett McBride
Report from Political Liaison Chair to WBCHC Annual Meeting May 21st, 2008
The areas this past year that fall into this category include relations with our local municipalities and relations with the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. With recent configurations the Ministry now includes the Champlain Local Health Integration Network (LHIN).
With regards to the Municipalities, we were successful once again in receiving grants from both Whitewater Region and Admaston Bromley. I should add that the Admaston portion has been added officially to our service area as well. We have also enjoyed some work from Whitewater Public Works with regards to our parking lot in Cobden and may indeed be requesting some more assistance this year. Whitewater also maintains our building and lot in Beachburg as it is owned by them and under lease to the CHC.
Since we have been a satellite of Lanark Health and Social Services, the understanding has been that we would sooner or later become an independent unit operating from here.
With this objective in mind we requested and got a meeting with the LHIN group in Ottawa last fall which was followed up by a proposal to them for Whitewater Bromley along with Rainbow Valley to become an independent CHC. John Jordan, ED for Lanark was most helpful in this process. To date this has not been acted on.
We have more recently been in collaboration with Rainbow Valley (Killaloe site), the First Nations Pikwakanagan Family Health Team at Golden Lake, and a volunteer group from Eganville. We held an exploratory meeting with Lee McKenna of the Association for Ontario Health Centres (AOHC) and representatives of the areas mentioned including LHCS (Lanark) with the following result.
We found there was a common desire to establish a locally governed health centre network which would operate the five sites as one organization to include our two in Beachburg and Cobden, Killaloe, the current Golden Lake FHT site and a new location to be established in Eganville. The benefits are improved services to all our area with the ability to move personnel as needed and having enough size to warrant independent status. A steering committee was formed to advance the process with each group invited to name two members and I was selected as Chair.
We have held two meetings to date and look forward to progress in the future months.
Submitted by:
Izett McBride - Political Liaison Chair with help from Ron Jaremko, Pat Krose and Earl Bennett
Fundraising – Pat Krose
WB CHC Fundraising Report – Pat Krose
Bequests and Donations Pamphlets:
The fund raising committee has designed a poster and pamphlet to be available throughout the Whitewater/Bromley/Admaston Regions to provide easy access for donations to the WB CHC Board for programmes or building expansion. A donation to the CHC Board with a card of recognition can be made in honour of a loved one. Tax receipts for a donation over ten dollars will be issued to the donor. In the past the communities have been very supportive of the work of the board and the health centres so this system should provide an opportunity to make donations on behalf of a friend or family member.
Pat Krose, Fundraising Chair
A motion was made by Pat, seconded by Jack to accept the committee reports as recorded, carried.
12: Report of the Program Director – Veli Rautio
Veli expressed his gratitude for being hired as the program director. He introduced John Jordan, Bonny Johnson, Brenda Powers-Ross & Shirley Hill & announced Shirley Hill’s hiring as the Chronic Disease Management Nurse.
We are entering our fourth year of operation and we continue to grow and expand our services. As of April 30th, we have 3724 clients on our data base which represents both primary care and walk-in clients: 2736 of these clients receive their primary care from us. Walk-in service utilization is excellent at the Cobden site both by our centre clients and by the community at large. In 2007 we had 988 urgent walk-in clinic visits. We continue to offer many new groups and are working in many partnership arrangements with other health and social service agencies in our community.
Staff
Executive Director- John Jordan
Program Director – Veli-Martti Rautio
Office Administrator - Brenda Powers-Ross
Physicians - Dr. Kristian Davis, Dr. Teri Rheaume, Dr. Angus Daniel
Internal Medicine Specialist - Dr. Chris Willis
Nurse Practitioners - Bonny Johnson and Susan Allen
Nurses - Pauline Kohlsmith, Diana O’Ryan, Shirley Hill
Social Worker - Ray Parchelo
Health Promoter - Lara Mylly
Administrative Support - Cathy Regier, Doreen Schroeder, Lynda Steege,
and Lynda Harnish.
Programming Highlights
For more information on any of these groups please call either of our sites:
Beachburg 613-582-3685 or Cobden 613-646-7997
Foot Steps Walking Program: This lunchtime walking program was launched in both Beachburg and Cobden in October 2006. Centre staff and community partners share the walking leadership of this noon hour community walking program. Monthly activities are also planned.
Optimizing Life: Living Well with Chronic Disease: This is a new 6 week group which started in Beachburg in May 2007 facilitated by our Nurse Practitioners Bonny Johnson and Susan Allen. Participants will share information and tips to learn how to live with their chronic disease.
Adult Fitness: We offer 9 classes in 4 locations throughout the area which continue to be well attended running Monday to Friday September to May.
Good Neighbour Program: This originally started as a drop-in group every Friday 10am -12 pm in Cobden and now continues in both Beachburg and Cobden in the afternoons. Participants share their concerns, get health tips, invite community speakers, have some light exercise and enjoy a snack together.
Mindfulness Training: This program continues to be offered several times per year by our Social Worker Ray Parchelo. In this 8 week group program participants learn practical strategies to improve their ability to cope with physical and mental health issues.
Leading Edge: Our summer youth leadership program. This year we are trying again to have two students working for us to deliver this youth-community building program.
Smoking Cessation: these groups are held twice per year if sufficient registration is received.
Child Car Seat Safety: This clinic started this month at the Beachburg site and was booked well before the opening. We will be continuing this service and will expand to the Cobden site if requests determine the need.
Partnerships
Asthma Program: The Lanark Health and Community Services Primary Care Asthma Program continue at the 3 sites of the Satellite Program. Ellen Michaud has been working with people who have asthma since September 2007.
Opeongo High School: Our Nurse Practitioner Susan Allen continues to offer a half day per week teen health clinic during the school year with 368 students’ visits in 2006
Bonnechere Manor Day Away Program continues one day per week in both sites
Toybus: Our RN Pauline Kohlsmith visits this group every 2 weeks to provide health information to the parents who attend with their children
Diabetes Clinics: Outreach from Pembroke Regional Hospital is offered in both sites every 2 months
Beachburg Public School Breakfast Program: We officially became a partner in this school program in 2007. Our Health Promoter, Lara Mylly, provides service at the school and volunteers deliver a nutritious snack basket to every classroom 5 days per week. They also work together to provide other special activities such as a hot breakfast, popcorn sales, delivery of fresh fruit and vegetable trays once per month to every classroom
Women’s Shelter & Support Services use our sites as necessary for local support services
Many community groups use our programming space to run community health programs such as Breastfeeding Mothers Group, Prenatal classes, Kids in the Kitchen, Babysitting Course, Bike Rodeo etc.
Week in the Country: We continue to participate in the “Week in the Country” medical student program. This program allows medical students to get a taste of the Community Health Centre environment here in our region. This is in partnership with the Eastern Regional Medical Education Program.
Algonquin College: We again were able to have two students do placement at our sites with the guidance of Lara. The students were very happy with their placement and we hope to see them again soon (working here in the region).
Committee Work
Renfrew County Community of Care Advisory Forum (RC-CCAF) –LHIN Community Advisory Group
Healthy Babies, Healthy Children Advisory Committee – Renfrew County & District Health Unit
Child Poverty Action Network (CPAN)
CPAN sub- committee Social Inclusion Working Group
Renfrew County Car Seat Safety Coalition
Healthy Living Partnerships Steering Committee
Various Service Provider Networks
Improved Community Awareness
Newspaper Column: Staff members continue to write health articles for our monthly health column Health Happenings in the Cobden Sun.
Newsletter: Our newsletter Health Happenings has a new format and continues its distribution quarterly to every home in our catchments area.
Lara arranged for a media awareness workshop this spring. We provided the Mediacs’ workshops in partnership with support from local schools, parent councils and parent involvement committees.
Other
The Beachburg site will have an emergency power back-up system installed shortly to ensure continued care in the case of a power outage.
We now have a new logo – you can see it at the beginning of this report – to help us brand the Community Health Centre model of Primary Health Care. Like the “H” that guides people to the hospital, our stylized C will eventually guide people to our doors as well.
Looking Ahead
We continue to follow our five year strategic plan based on the information we received from the community survey and from the community partner interviews. The following strategic directions guide our program planning:
oEnhancing Organizational Capacity
oImproving Community Awareness and Marketing
oDelivering High Quality Primary Care Programs and Services
oBuilding Health Promotion and Community Development Initiatives
oParticipating in Research and Evaluation
CHC’s have recently changed their reporting structure from the Ministry of Health to the Local Health Integration Networks. As we move forward with funding initiatives, our place at the Renfrew County Community of Care Advisory Forum will help us ensure the health of our communities will continue in partnership with other health service providers. We are part of the Champlain Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) and we will be pro-active in ensuring that health care decisions have local input and will have a community focus.
We will continue to look at ways to deliver services that help people deal with their chronic diseases and /or to prevent diseases by staying healthy. We have now hired a Chronic Disease Prevention and Management nurse that will work at all three sites to develop chronic disease programming and delivery. This coordinated effort will deliver consistent chronic disease care for our clients and will help people take their health into their own hands through Chronic Disease Self Management.
In closing, I want to thank our hard working and excellent staff who provide many health care services to this community. We all know that health care or lack thereof is receiving a lot of attention these days and so we feel fortunate that we are part of a local solution - a solution delivering health care in a model that is respectful of the whole person and uses the skills available from different professionals to offer a broad range of health care services.
I would now like to take this opportunity to thank John Jordan from Lanark Health and Community Services as well as the Whitewater Bromley Advisory Board for their support in my new career here at the Whitewater Bromley Community Health Centre.
As I continue my learning curve that sometimes seems like a mountain, I really do find the days go by too quickly. Even though it seems I will never catch up, it has also been said that Michelangelo only had 24 hours a day – and look at what he accomplished.
Thank you,
Veli-Martti Rautio,
Program Director
13: New Business
Changes to the existing by-laws have been posted on the website.
Moved by Bev to accept the changes to the By-laws, seconded by Randi, carried.
14: Election of Directors – Izett McBride
The election followed the prescribed agenda & concluded with the election of 3 board members. Because Board membership is staggered so that at any one year, half the board is starting a 2 year term, Lynne Dunn & Randi Keith has accepted a 1 year term & Rob McKenzie has accepted a 2 year term.
Board members in the last year of a 2 year term: Jack McLaren, Bev Buchanan Earl Bennett, Lynne Dunn, Randi Keith.
Board Members starting a 2 year term: Ron Jaremkow, Izett McBride, Pat Krose, Brian Yuke, Rob McKenzie.
Izett requested further nominations from the floor & repeated this request 3 times as required. None were forthcoming.
Moved by Pat to close nominations& accept the slate of candidates as presented, seconded by Jack, carried.
15: Date for next years AGM: Tuesday May 19, 2009
16: Adjournment
Moved by Bev at 9pm that the meeting be adjourned, seconded by Jack, carried.