by Jane Adams
The Winchester District Memorial Hospital Annual General Meeting was held on June 25, providing an opportunity to review the past year – as well as the past few months.
“While the COVID-19 pandemic has overshadowed everything these past few weeks, it has also served to illuminate something that we already know at WDMH: We are prepared. And we have the expertise to care for our local communities,” noted outgoing Board Chair, Mike Villeneuve, in his remarks during the virtual meeting.
Every day, the WDMH team plans for extraordinary times like these. The accomplishments over the past year help to confirm that. Here are just a few highlights:
Quality and patient safety remain our #1 priority. Patient satisfaction related to family and patient-centred care reached 97%.
Ongoing inspections and accreditation processes yield with positive results. For example, four pharmacy technicians were certified in IV medication preparation and four housekeepers were certified in the cleaning of the rooms where this preparation is done.
We continue to combine high touch with high tech, with new clinical information systems to better support care. Examples include a new scheduling system in the Operating Room, resulting in more efficiency and more procedures.
We are committed to helping staff, physicians and volunteers increase their skills through ongoing education. We also share our knowledge through presentations and by publishing the WDMH research results. We welcome learners throughout WDMH – from high school coop students to our family medicine residents. These students help to enhance our skills as well.
Our Finance team received another clean audit as confirmed by the external auditors. For the first time in several years, WDMH has ended the year with a small financial deficit. The shortfall will be funded from existing resources and will not impact the hospital’s ongoing financial stability. Action has been taken to ensure a balanced position for the coming year.
The WDMH team of close to 1,000 staff, physicians, volunteers, and learners is strong. Thirty-five new professional staff were welcomed to WDMH this past year, bringing the number of credentialed staff to 213.
There are 148 active WDMH Auxiliary members, providing more than 1,000 hours of support each month. Valuable input from our Patient and Family Engagement Committee (PFEC) ensures that patients are part of the decisions we are making every day.
The WDMH Foundation raised funds to purchase 43 new pieces of medical equipment, totaling almost $1.2 million.
At a special meeting of the Board following the AGM, James Pitruniak was confirmed as the new Board Chair, Bruce Millar as Vice Chair, and Renée Belhumeur as Treasurer. Appreciation was also extended to Mike Villeneuve who becomes Past Chair and to Andrew Barrett and Dr. Marilyn Crabtree who have completed their terms.
The AGM ended with a reminder to stay connected – now more than ever. Patients, families, and community members are encouraged to provide input by phone or email, visit the WDMH website, follow WDMH on Facebook and Twitter, and sign up for CONNECT, our e-newsletter.
A joint Report to the Community will be delivered to close to 60,000 homes in our region in early July. The focus is on the importance of good neighbours providing great care, supported by a grateful community.
