This long posting may be of interest. It comes from the Community Economic
Development Network listserv at Simon Fraser U in BC, and was a message
posted by the Rural & Small Town Programme in Sackville New Brunswick, with
a copy of a message / response from Manitoba - so a great example of a
national and international brainstorming on a shared issue of health reform
and economic development.
I am copying the original message first,
then the Manitoba message and finally
the list presented to a group of residents and others who used it to develop
actions.
It is a great example of using Computer-Mediated Communications for
community health work!
By the way, take a look at who the final message went to - 12 Canadian
list-servs and electronic discussion groups/mailing lists - a very broad
network!
Alison Stirling <[log in to unmask]>
_____________________________
From: owner-ced-net
To: ced-net
Cc: localgov; crrf-l; ruraldev; rural; maritgr; geoatlantic-l; rural;
non-met-dev; rurcan; arktel; cap-atlantic-network
Friends:
We are generating a list of ideas (one-liners) and case studies (paragraph
or two) of how small town hospitals which have been downsized (beds closed,
services reduced) have taken on new activities to keep people employed and
still provide health services to the residents.
This 55-bed hospital in Sackville, New Brunswick Canada has been downsized
over the past few years to the point of having only about 33 beds
operational. There eight family doctors in town. There are two large
hospitals 45 minutes away in Moncton. Some of the doctors in Moncton travel
to Sackville once a week to offer special clinics (dermatology, for example)
not provided by family doctors, but this may be reduced or ended as the
Health Care Corporation and the doctors themselves do not seem interested in
supporting it. There is also a two-bed obstetrics facility in the hospital,
but fewer family doctors seem willing to perform births there, preferring to
send their patients to the larger hospials in Moncton.
Do you have examples of how hospital facilities can or have been used for
medical-related or non-medical-related activities that can meet population
demand and provide employment? Please e-mail directly to [log in to unmask]
David Bruce, Research Associate
Rural and Small Town Programme
Mount Allison University
Sackville NB E0A 3C0
506-364-2395 506-364-2601 (fax)
[log in to unmask]
Visit our WEB SITE at http://www.mta.ca/rstp
----------
Re: > Do you have examples of how hospital facilities can or have been used
for medical-related or non-medical-related activities that can meet
population
demand and provide employment?
I think this is an issue that is being faced by a lot of small, rural
communities. I would appreciate seeing some of this information posted
directly to the list. In our area we have a 150 bed hospital surrounded
by 4 smaller (20-30 bed) facilities. With the rationalization taking
place in the Manitoba health sector, it doesn't take a rocket scientist
to predict that one or more of these facilities will be closed or have
to change function. So, the quest is on...
Ken Arundell <[log in to unmask]>
Assistant Manager <http://www.cpnet.net/cp>
Central Plains Inc. - A Manitoba Regional Development Corporation
___________________________
To: ced-net
Cc: localgov; crrf-l; ruraldev; rural; maritgr; geoatlantic-l; rural;
non-met-dev; rurcan; arktel; cap-atlantic-network
Subject: Responses to Alternative Uses for Community Hospital
Date: Monday, May 13, 1996 10:12AM
Thanks to everyone who contributed ideas for our list of alternative uses
for a small community hospital. We presented the list below to a large
group of residents and others who worked in small groups to flesh out
priorities, possible actions, etc. I have also attached two ideas that came
in late after the list was used by the group.
--=====================
Ideas List of Alternative Uses for Hospital Facilities
(From experiences elsewhere)
I. Specialized Medical Services
Physiotheraphy/Occupational therapy
Pathology
Chronic care - Parkinson's; Arthritis; Alzheimer's
Acute care/Trauma Centre
Palliative care - AIDS
Paediatrics
Geriatrics
II. Clinics
Nutrition Incontinence
Maternity Teenage sexuality
Wellness
III. Centres
Rehab Centre - Industrial injuries such as agricultural,
fishing, mining; other workplace injuries Research Centre,
e.g. environmentally sensitive research; epidemiology, etc.
IV. Training
Birthing Centres, e.g. midwife training
Nurse Practitioners
Satellite campus for medical schools/research institutes, e.g.
Dalhousie University
V. Community Health Centre
"One stop shop" - combine all health and human services under
one roof, including Public Health, Red Cross, VON, Extra
Mural, Mental Health, Social Services, etc.
VI. Others
Community College
Retail outlets
Child care centre
Community education and awareness building, ex. preventive
medicine
NOTE: Any of the items on this list may be further broken into
delivery; care; treatment; training. Many also have research
centre potential.
Two late additions:
I have no direct experience, but have always visualized a community
healing centre which would combine traditional medical care with
space for businesses related to health, including nutritionist,
massage therapists, family counselling, daycare, a small gym or
exercise facility, perhaps midwives, lactation consultants,
etc...plus space for workshops adn community meetings on
meditation, various healing practices, herbal remedies,
cooking/food preparation courses, etc.
MOst community colleges are cutting back on these "general
interest" types of programs, but we are very much a part of a
learning society. Could also include a seniors centre, library or
resources, ACCESS TO THE INTERNET, distance education centre,
up-grading or adult ed centre...
Combining government funded services with private business and
entrepreneurs can be to everyone's benefit. Of course, it depends
partly on the population of the surrounding area to determine
whether there is enough potential business to support it. However,
you may find that there are lots of home-based business people
locally who would be interested in having access to a facilty
part-time, or an outlet for their products.
_______
Apart from my work at the above address (Uni of Tasmania), I work
at the Westbury Community Health Centre.
Originally this was Westbury Hospital and later became a nursing
home catering for 9 residential patients. This was closed down and
the patients were relocated to other nursing homes. The main
hopspital being 30 minutes away. There are only 2 family doctors at
the local clinic.
In its place there is the Westbury Community Health Centre which is
staffed by:
1 Diversional Therapist (part-time), who provides day centre and
community services for the frail aged and disabled members of the
municipality
1 Community Nurse (full-time), who works with frail aged and
disabled members of the community, often making house visits and
giving follow-up treatment to patients who have been released from
institutional care. She has several home maintenance and home
carers working under her program as needed.
1 Social Worker (full-time), who provides counselling and other
services which aim to improve the well being of residents of the
Municipality.
1 Family & Child Health Nurse (full-time), who provides advice and
aid to parents with children up to highschool age.
1 Youth Worker (part-time), who works with youth from 14 to 22
years old in providing them with activities and services (including
education).
1 Centre Manager (full-time), who apart from ensuring the efficient
operation of the Community Health Centre, is instrumental in health
promotion activities (not just physical but emotional and spiritual
as well). This often means giving direction to community groups who
come together with a common aim so that they can reach their aim
(Many people have ideas but do not have the skills to implement
those ideas). She is also responsible for recruiting and training
of volunteers which make so much of the work done by the Centre
possible.
For any other information, please feel free to contact me on the
above e-mail or write to:
Centre Manager, Annette Barrett
89 Bass Highway
Westbury TAS 7303
Australia
Tel: 003-931222
Fax: 003-931872
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