The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Dear Editor, This is in response to the numerous letters to the editor over the last few weeks. I am an RHA employee who would like to clarify some of the untruths being printed. Although I work for the organization, I am not representing the employer in anyway; but I am frustrated that facts continue to be misrepresented. The RHA Mission is "Healthy People in Healthy Communities Working Together to Improve our Health." Cost-effective approaches and prudent expenditures of public funds are ways in which the organization will be governed. Not "The Mission and the Vision" as stated in one letter. To the author; you belong to this community and you need to be part of the solution. Working TOGETHER is the Mission. In one of the letters, it stated that the RHA announced that the building of the clinic would save $250,000 a year and wanted to know how "they" came up with that number. Interestingly enough, how "they" came up with that number was actually published in the paper. In fact, in the letter to the editor dated Nov. 29, there was a statement that "people were not interested in that statistical data," which proves to me that it was made public. The proposal, with all the costs and savings, had to be approved and scrutinized by an outside agency prior to approval Ð namely Manitoba Health. The RHA board had to put their stamp of approval on it Ð which as an FYI is appointed by Manitoba Health, not by RHA senior administrators. Therefore, I am sure if the savings were deemed to be there, they would be there. One can't say there are savings when there are not Ð you can't pull the wool over that many eyes. I would like to comment on the "frequent travellers" club statement that was made in one of the letters to the editor. Surely the author must recognize that due to the size of the region and the distance to Winnipeg, it is inevitable that the NRHA would have to dedicate a significant amount to travel. NOR-MAN region covers a large geographical area and as such, travel throughout the region by program staff is significant. A number of staff are involved in provincial networks, which necessitates trips to Winnipeg for meetings. It is important that managers participate in network meetings as prescribed by Manitoba Health. Where possible, teleconferencing and/or MBTelehealth are used to lessen travel costs. Also, there is a regular fleet shuttle for staff travel between Flin Flon and The Pas to lessen the number of vehicles traveling between the two communities. May I also remind the author that one of the largest cost drivers in the RHA is the Northern Patient Transportation Program, which is a provincial program, which is grossly underfunded, and one which we have little to no ability to control costs. As well, this program is physician-driven as it is the physician who prescribes the mode of transportation. I was also extremely disappointed in the author of the letter who indicated that the "20-minute clause" is no longer in effect. When the doctor on call for any department leaves the hospital, they must be able to return within 20 minutes in the event of an emergency. This is and always has been in effect. As it stands now, every physician who is on call in the emergency department is, "God forbid," qualified to deal with a major, minor (or otherwise) issue that may come through the door. Shame on anyone who speaks so negatively about our medical practitioners. It is unfortunate that the author has been misinformed regarding the qualifications of the ER physicians. I believe there is (supposed to be) an unwritten "brotherhood" amongst physicians. The author of one of the letters is correct in saying that there is not a local anaesthetist or surgeon; however, the NRHA is actively recruiting, regardless of the location of the clinic. Itinerant surgeons and anaesthetists are being utilized in the interim to provide this service. Flin Flon Hospital has not housed four surgeons or anaesthetists for at least 20 years ("in the not so distant past"). The reality is that the training of General Practitioners to also perform surgery and anaesthetics is no longer as common as it once was. I did find it extremely distasteful that the author would air another physician's situation, and I empathize with him. I am sure the other doctor referenced did not want his suspension from the hospital or as Chief of Staff from the NRHA made public, regardless of how "scandalous" it was thought to be. There ARE stars in the NRHA and there ARE great teams. We all play an integral part in that team; patients, employees and physicians alike. That is what the NRHA Mission is about. Just a thought...maybe the author(s) of these negative letters should consider facilitating positive dialogue in the community and extending an olive branch to the NRHA during this turmoil; especially you, Dr. Kucparic, whereby the RHA has supported you for over 30 years in your career as a community physician and retired Chief of Staff. Gloria Brown Creighton
