St Joseph Island Plowmen's Association
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September 2, 2010 • Issue 763 • $1.00 Serving St. Joseph Island since 1995 “Your Island Newspaper” Visit us online at www.islandclippings.com Tel: 705-246-1635 email: [email protected] Fax: 705-246-7060 New Developments in Northern Health Care! IT’S BEEN A BIG WEEK for Northern healthcare. Mike reduce demand on hospital emergency departments by Brown, MPP, Algoma-Manitoulin, announced Monday that providing non-emergency care. there will be two new Family Health Teams established, to The addition of 30 new teams is part of Ontario’s commit - serve the Batchewana and Blind River communities. Ontario ment to the creation of 200 Family Health Teams. These is creating 30 new Family Health Teams across the province teams are currently providing care to over 2.3 million Ontar - to provide better access to family health care. ians and serving over 393,000 previously unattached patients. “I am pleased that Algoma-Manitoulin has received two more The province also operates Health Care Connect, a program Family Health Teams, in addition to aimed at helping people find a family doctor or Nurse Practi - those previously approved in Wawa, tioner in their community. According to government Elliot Lake, Chapleau, Manitowaning, statistics, over 900,000 Ontarians have been attached to a Espanola, Mindemoya, Manitouwadge and family doctor since 2003. Government figures also reflect an Little Current,” said Mr. Brown. increase in the number of doctors, citing 2,886 more doctors practicing now, than in 2003. It’s expected that, once all 200 teams are operational, they will provide access to primary care for nearly 2.7 million Ontarians. Monday’s “What makes these Family Health Teams so valuable is announcement is a key that each one is developed with the needs of the part of the government’s community in mind. These additional 30 new teams ‘Open Ontario Plan’ to provide more will provide even greater access to quality heath care access to health care services, while for people in the community.” said the Honourable improving quality and accountability for Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term patients. Mike is happy to note that the Care. Algoma-Manitoulin riding now has 10 approved Family Health Teams – more The concept appears to also have the enthusiastic than any other riding in the support of the Province’s doctors. Dr. Mark McLeod, Presi - province. dent of the Ontario Medical Association says “We are thrilled with today’s announcement of an additional 30 Family Health Teams opening their doors province-wide. These teams will not only provide Ontarians with access to a doctor He has long been a strong supporter of the Family Health in their community, but to a team of health care professionals Team concept as a workable solution to the province’s health that can provide patient-centred care.” care ‘crunch’ and doctor shortage. In addition, the government has announced the creation of Family Health Teams provide care closer to home by bringing 25 Nurse Practitioner-led clinics, which are expected to together health care professionals such as Physicians, Nurse provide care for more than 40,000 people. Practitioners, Registered Nurses, Social Workers and Dieti - cians. Working together, they offer quality team-based care Mr. Brown’s news led us to uncover another announcement – while also attaching more patients who don’t have a regular this one from the North East Local Healthcare Integration family doctor to one in their community. They also help Continued on next page David Nelson Sales Representative “Your Island Realtor” The Real Estate Stop 949-7867 • 246-2757 New Developments ...continued from page 1 Network (NE LHIN) that three new Nurse Practitioner-led clinics will be located in Capreol, North Bay and Thessalon. The clinics are in addition to the three already located in Northeastern Ontario in Sudbury/Lively, Sault Ste. Marie, and the French River. Nurse Practitioner-led clinics are a great option for people in need of primary care. Practitioners are able to treat common illnesses, and injuries and order lab tests, X-rays and other diagnostic tests. Nurse Practitioners work with doctors, nurses and health care providers to offer a team-based approach to front-line care. North East LHIN CEO Louise Paquette notes that more front - line care options such as Nurse Practitioner-led clinics, Family Health Teams, community health centres and nursing stations are an important part of the solutions to many of our region’s DOUG HOOK longstanding health care issues. “This week has brought excel - lent health care news for people living in Northeastern WATERCOLOURS & REPRODUCTIONS Ontario. Greater access to more health care professionals supports better patient care and helps to ease alternate level of 6TH ANNUAL LABOUR DAY SHOW care and emergency room wait time pressures currently facing TOWN HALL, RICHARDS LANDING our hospitals.” SEPTEMBER 3RD 4TH 5TH 6TH More locally, Dr. Alan McLean, Physician Lead, Superior 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day Family Health Team stated, “This is an exciting opportunity for our group to give patients in Sault Ste. Marie the kind of For more information collaborative and patient-centred care that Family Health 705 246 2457 Teams provide.” [email protected] So here’s a snapshot of Primary Care in Northeastern Ontario: 533 family physicians practice in Northeastern Ontario. Of 2009 DODGE RAM the province’s 170 Family Health Teams, 27 are located in Northeastern Ontario, including Blind River and the Baawaating and Superior Family Health Teams in Sault Ste. Marie. X4 There are also 6 Community Health Centres (CHCs) in 4 Northeastern Ontario. These are not-for-profit organizations funded by the LHIN to deliver both primary care and community services. There are currently no CHCs in our area. In addition, Nursing Stations are sponsored through hospitals and are stand-alone organizations. Most stations, or clinics, are staffed by Nurse Practitioners who work in collaboration with a family physician. There are 16 Nursing Stations in Northeastern Ontario, but none in our area. 4 X 4 • LOADED Unfortunately, NONE of these innovations seem to have yet CLOTH INTERIOR reached OUR area. While our neighbours in the Soo, Thes - $22,900 salon and Blind River have hopefully now received some 4 DOOR PICKUP badly-needed healthcare relief, Algoma’s ‘North Shore’ region PLUS LIC & TAXES continues to await news of the fate of our local hospital, our It’s worth the drive! overworked doctors and our thinly-stretched health care resources. Is there hope for us? Maybe so! According to sources in Mike Brown’s office, the issues here are being pragmatically 214 Main Street, Thessalon addressed, and a positive outcome is expected. Hopefully it will come soon, and in the form of very good news! 842-2433 Page 2 St Joseph Island Plowmen’s Association 76th Plowing Match MMHA thanks the following individuals and By Gail Murdock businesses who contributed to the success of the THE ST JOSEPH ISLAND PLOWING MATCH was held Charity Golf Tournament in aid of the August 28, 2010 under sunny skies at the St. Joseph Township Matthews Memorial Hospital Association Centennial Grounds. Although the numbers were down this year, the competition was as keen as ever. The ground was We thank the golfers for participating ... tough to plow but the Plow persons were tougher, and without the teams, we would not everyone completed their land on time. have a tournament! Senior Tractor Class was won by Tom Murdock followed by CORPORATE SPONSORS Glen Underhill and Keith Brown. Utility Class 3 or more Investors Group furrows winner was Ross Armstrong, then Mike Bringelson Algoma Financial Group and Rob Armstrong. Antique Class winner was Perry Coulter Mastronardi Produce followed by Tom Mowery. Junior Tractor Class (15 years old or Island Springs Golf Resort under) was Bobbi-Lynn Murdock winning. Her Mom, Cori HOLE SPONSORS Murdock took the Women’s Tractor Class. The Senior Class Law Office of Hugh MacDonald saw Jim Cruickshank winning with Harold Kent a close Don Littleton Electric & Fred2s Trailer Park second. PC Doctor Soo Mill Buildall Tom Murdock took the Best Plowed Land in the field (the Tulloch Engineering Bernt Gilbertson trophy) with Glen Underhill coming second. Carl Thomas/Royal LePage The W.L. Miller trophy for Best Plowed Land by a junior went Northern Credit Union to Bobbi-Lynn Murdock, Tom Murdock’s granddaughter. She MacDougall Energy Inc. also had third best plowed land in the field. CART SPONSORS There was one team of horses belonging to Jim Garson. Thomas Young Builders Everyone enjoyed watching them work and to see how it was Holder Marine done years ago. It also brought back memories to some of the Kent2s Corners crowd. Island Enterprises Bruce Mines Insurance The Judge, Keith Robinson of Cookstown, Ontario, commented that the plowers did a good job plowing. Keith EXPENSE SPONSORS Betty Moore plows at the International Plowing Match. He has also repre - Vince Vernelli sented Ontario at the Canadian Plowing Competition and has Dr. Mossing represented Canada at the World Plowing Match. Andrew Scallan In addition to the ‘regulars’, the match brought out many new Kelly Buller attendees as well, including our summer residents and people PRIZE SPONSORS from Manitoba who enjoyed the horse plowing. Some had Molson Breweries never seen plowing done or been to a Match before. Most went Marc Vernelli away having learned something about plowing and the impor - Changes Hair Salon tance of stewarding the land. Tim3BR Mart Arden Irwin & Judy Connell The match was a success thanks to the participants and the Tammy Irwin/Cash Converters Canada sponsors. Without sponsors it would be very difficult, if not St. Joseph Island Museum impossible. Thanks to McDougall Energy, the Township of St.