Message from the Chief of Staff
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MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF OF STAFF “Take heart. Our cause is a just one.” These were the closing words in Montfort : La lutte d’un peuple, Michel Gratton’s book on the events surrounding the SOS Montfort campaign. Though this epic struggle may be over, a new one is set to begin: ensuring that Franco-Ontarians have access to the highest quality of health care despite the many challenges we face in health care today. “ The success of the changes underway are largely the result of the courage and commitment of a medical team that truly belongs to the community it serves and that cares deeply about the health and well-being of its patients. ” DR. BERNARD LEDUC Chief of Staff This quote relating to momentous events in our history is no less In addition to increasing the number of operating rooms, relevant in 2007. the Surgical Unit is working on acquiring the expertise and the equipment required to offer state of the art laparascopic Needless to say, doctors have had to be extremely understanding surgery. This type of surgery, which allows the surgeon to in putting up with the numerous changes and inconveniences operate without having to make a major incision, will become caused by the construction project. However, their unwavering increasingly common in general abdominal, orthopedic, commitment and determination are proof positive that they urologic and gynecologic surgery. Benefits for the patient recognize the potential of the New Montfort and want to contribute include a shorter hospital stay and a much quicker recovery. to achieving this dream. In partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Health and The goal in building the New Montfort is to improve the commun- Long-Term Care, the Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre and ity’s access to outstanding health care and services, one that has the Council of Academic Hospitals of Ontario, amongst been a constant throughout the hospital’s history. To this end, we others, Montfort Hospital is researching and implementing are participating in numerous regional and provincial initiatives the best practices in health care as well as participating in such as the following: numerous projects aimed at standardizing clinical practices throughout the region. The reduction in wait times remains our greatest challenge but one that we face with courage and optimism. In 2006- Despite the challenges, our doctors are delighted to see that 2007, Montfort continued to progress towards meeting the these numerous projects are all striving to achieve the same goal: annual provincial targets relating to wait times. the continuous improvement in the quality of care delivered by Montfort to its community. The success of the changes underway Montfort has launched a proactive recruitment campaign in a are largely the result of the courage and commitment of a medical bid to attract new doctors. The national shortage of qualified team that truly belongs to the community it serves and that cares doctors, especially those who can work in French, is severe. deeply about the health and well-being of its patients. Nevertheless, Montfort will welcome four (4) new obstetricians to its ranks, which will allow the hospital to increase the I would like to thank our doctors for their dedication to all of the number of births from 1,700 to 2,700 per year. In the coming people who count on Montfort to provide quality health care. year, Montfort also plans to recruit at least six (6) new family doctors and expand its mental health team. When the cause is a just one, everything becomes possible. MARIE-FRANCE CUERRIER, PHYSIOTHERAPIST 1 MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF OF STAFF THE MONTFORT HOSPITAL 2006-2007 ANNUAL REPORT THE NEW MONTFORT : A HEALING HOSPITAL In our search for the best practices in health care, we visited hospitals that were models of excellence in North America. We discovered a hospital in Titusville, Florida, where the staff wants to revolutionize the hospital system on this continent. The Parrish Medical Center describes itself as a ‘healing hospital’. Its goal is to overcome one of the greatest challenges of modern medicine: to provide patient-focused care in a medical system where technology is increasingly dominant. It’s worth mentioning that the Parrish Medical Center was once slated for closure. Today, it is recognized as a model of excellence throughout the United States. One never ceases to be amazed at the twists and turns of fate. A ‘healing hospital’ or what we’ve chosen to call it in French, un hôpital humaniste, is a place where the patient is supported by a continuous chain of compassion. Humanism, a philosophy dating from the 16th century, affirms the dignity and worth of all people, and recognizes the ultimate importance of human interests. By extension, a humanist institu- tion embraces these universal human values. At Montfort, there is a mosaic on the floor in a prominent location that is part of the original building dating back to 1953. It reads: CARITAS. MR. DENIS POMMAINVILLE, Chairperson, Board of Trustees, and MR. GÉRALD R. SAVOIE, President and Chief Executive Officer Over the years, many have wondered what the word caritas really means. Some believe that it’s the Latin word for ‘charity’ while others think it stands for ‘compassion’. According to the dictionary, In the course of a lifetime, we sometimes have to relearn how A lost soul is often irretrievable. caritas means “high esteem, respect, tenderness, love, affection.” to love. In fact, we are convinced that a hospital that has lost its soul A healing hospital, that’s Montfort. It’s the love that our staff For the last 54 years, the staff at Montfort Hospital has shown cannot truly achieve excellence because all of the ‘technical’ demonstrates to patients, family members and loved ones. patients and their families a lot of love. From the Daughters of aspects matter little when it comes to measuring excellence in Wisdom to our present-day employees, from our doctors to our the delivery of health care. Without taking anything away from the outstanding accomplishments volunteers, they have all proven countless times that their ‘heart of the Parrish Medical Center, some people believe that Montfort has is in the right place’. And it’s still true to this very day. In large part, true excellence is measured by the degree of no lessons to learn when it comes to the fundamental values that compassion that accompanies the care. To each and every should underpin the delivery of health care. Construction of the New Montfort forces all of us to face a host of patient. Every single day. That’s the true measure of excellence new and difficult challenges. The most important of these chal- and the people at Montfort provide it in spades. Compassion is However, our visit to the Parrish Medical Center did confirm that lenges is to succeed in maintaining and promoting what we have the essence of ‘the Montfort culture’. we are on the right road and helped us realize that, in the midst of come to call ‘the Montfort culture’. the most tumultuous changes in the history of Montfort, we must As for the present… guard against losing sight of our goals. Representatives at the We are constantly striving to provide our staff with the most Parrish Medical Center also shared with us the innovative ways in advanced tools and the best known practices. The New Montfort For Montfort and the community it serves, the future is full of which they have transformed themselves into a ‘healing hospital’. will be a testament to this pursuit of excellence. However, we’ve promise if we but seize the opportunity. In this often dehumanizing As we have stated earlier, the biggest challenge for Montfort is to always known that a hospital is so much more than bricks and world we live in, it would be all too easy to lose sight of our goal. preserve and promote its reputation for compassion and to foster mortar or the latest in high tech equipment. In fact, can the ‘best In less than a year, the New Montfort will be a reality. the attributes that make it a ‘healing hospital’. practices’ truly be implemented if they don’t include compassion? We’ve already promised you that we would be well-prepared to Our new organizational priority is to relearn how to love each and The true measure of an exemplary hospital is the quality and open this new hospital and to provide the best tools and practices every patient, every single day. In fact, this is more than a priority, commitment of its employees. known in the field of health care. In fact, the New Montfort will be it is a promise. one of the most modern healthcare facilities in the country. As basic as this concept may be, it is easy to lose sight of it in the hustle and bustle of our busy lives. When a hospital cares more This promise will be kept. We will also make another promise, about buildings, equipment and efficiency than people, it ends up one that may be even more important. losing its soul. A hospital without a soul has lost what really matters: the fundamental values of tolerance, compassion and respect for human dignity. These are the timeless values that put the human being ahead of any other consideration. THE NEW MONTFORT : A HEALING HOSPITAL 2 THE MONTFORT HOSPITAL 2006-2007 ANNUAL REPORT “ The transfer of low-risk deliveries from The Ottawa Hospital to Montfort Hospital (which required strong leadership from both hospitals), serves as an example of ‘repatriation’ of care to community hospitals in the Champlain region. ” DR. ROBERT CUSHMAN CEO Champlain LHIN HÉLÈNE MANNING-LEMIEUX, PHYSIOTHERAPIST MONTFORT: A KEY PARTNER IN IMPROVING ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE In 2006, the Province of Ontario created 14 Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs).