A New Vision for Perth-Andover and Hotel Dieu
“SPEM REDUXIT” is the motto of the Province of New Brunswick
The Hotel Dieu Hospital Defence Committee has a vision of a bright future for our Hospital which will “restore HOPE” to the many people who use its services, to the
185 employees and to the community.
The vision is affordable and would use emergency, non-budgetary Federal funding as was done in 1995-1997 when half of the Hospital was raised and therefore, flood proofed. This 1997 wing, which cost $8 million, contains key services such as 24 hour ER, General Surgery , Obs and Day Surgery (in 2 surgical suites, newest in
Horizon Health after Waterville), Lab, Diagnostic Imaging, Patient wing for about 25 medical/ inpatient, CCU, Palliative Care beds, Chemotherapy, ECG, Foyer and
Reception area, Pastoral Care, etc.
mostly Federal flood disaster funding, to raise key provincial infrastructure works !
So, the next step is to rebuild and raise the rest of Hotel Dieu by 2015. The following vision “restores hope”:
Definitely renew and re-unify Hotel Dieu Hospital services by completing a new raised, flood proof wing, attached to the 1997 wing by 2015.
This wing will accommodate:
• 14 visiting specialists such as Pediatrics, Cardiology, Ear/Nose/Throat,
Gerontology, Oncology, Orthopaedics, etc.
• Respiratory, Occupational and Physio- therapies
• Dietetics
• Social Work
• Speech Pathology
• Video conferencing
• Administration Offices
• Wellness Center
• Conference/Meeting Rooms
• Dietary Services
• Mechanical Systems
• Stores
• Maintenance
• Central Processing
• Employee Lounge
• Morgue
• Etc.
There would be room also for a Doctors’ Clinic in this area.
The estimated cost based on $8 millon in 1997 is $25 million in 2015. This includes new equipment in the 2015 wing and also upgrades to the equipment in the 1997 wing to bring it up to 2015 standards (eg, surgical, anaesthetic, obstetrics, and
diagnostic imaging).
There would be a lot of work to achieve this vision:
• From 2012 to 2015, it will be necessary to house some extra services in the
1997 wing, on-site, in trailers and in other locations near by.
• Many meetings.
• Strong advocacy for the entire community in:- flood prevention/ reduction/
mitigation and a $25 million “refurbishment” of the Beechwood Dam Head pond at a fraction (less than 1%) of the cost of the $3 billion “refurbishment”of the Point Lepreau Nuclear Station.
• The continuation of the 2 General Surgeon Practice with C-section
Capabilities, a feature of the Hospital for 15 years.
But, pride in the excellent patient care provided at Hotel Dieu since 1947 will motivate us to build a better, stronger Hospital , rising to a new high.
Hotel Dieu Hospital certainly has a lot going for it:
• A long tradition of quality health care in the Upper Saint John River Valley and a mission which has expanded south to northern Carleton County, north as far as Saint Leonard in Madawaska County and throughout Victoria County- Grand Falls, the Tobique First Nation, Plaster Rock and Perth-Andover areas, resulting in a catchment area of up to 15,000 – an Anglophone, Francophone and First Nations microcosm of our great, hopeful province !
• Hotel Dieu is a well established Hospital with a full range of services, close to home and fully accredited since the 1950’s !
• Hotel Dieu provides a higher level of patient care and satisfaction at a lower cost per capita, per day which saves the government money. Canadian research shows that the most cost- efficient hospitals are full-service, 30 bed , medium-sized, rural general hospitals!
• Canadian and U.S. Research shows smaller hospitals with lower surgical volumes are safer, more cost efficient and have better surgical outcomes in areas such as appendectomy, maternity care, bed sores, post-operative thrombo-embolism, etc. !
• Hotel Dieu is an economic engine which is helping to fuel the next national demographic trend. The exodus of the baby boomers from big city Canada to small towns with hospitals and good health care is here and now. Have you seen the half million dollar “cottages” being built on the Tobique Head Pond? The book “Boom, Bust and Echo” says “Governments should view small town hospitals not as a burden on the health care budget, but as a powerful tool for the economic of development of rural regions.” !
A New Vision for Hotel Dieu
The Hotel Dieu Defence Committee is not surprised that our small Hospital has one of the highest rates of patient satisfaction in Horizon Health.
For example, the 2010 “Patient Care Experience” Report by the NB Health Council shows Hotel Dieu Hospital scored higher than the Horizon Health averages on 9 of 13 Patient Care Indicators.
Also, Hotel Dieu even scored
higher than a neighbouring Horizon hospital on these 11 of 13 Indicators:
1. Overall Rating
2. Communication with Nurses
3. Communication with Doctors
4. Responsiveness of Staff
5. Communication about Medications
6. Pain Control
7. Cleanliness
8. Quiet at Night
9. Information when Discharged
10.Quality of Care after Discharge
11.Intention to definitely recommend this Hospital to family and friends
Our Hospital has the overwhelming confidence of the people! No wonder “Hotel Dieu” is called the “Can Do” Hospital !
Premier David Alward and MLA Wes McLean promised, if elected, to maintain all Hotel Dieu services “as is” – surgery, obstetrics, and beds, “ No ifs, ands or buts”.
Your Hospital Defence Committee pledges to work closely with the Civil Servants and Provincial Officials as they implement the Premier’s and the MLA’s promises.
Will you help us achieve our vision of action, service and excellence in Rural Health Care?
The goal is to:
- Promote rural employment
- Boost investment, growth & jobs
- Help Provincial financial stability through cost efficiency
- RESTORE HOPE to our people by refurbishing Hotel Dieu, a Hospital serving with expertise and compassion since 1947
- Hotel Dieu Hospital Defence Committee, May 23, 2012.
Co-Chairs John Larsen and John Lang
Presented on May 26 to MP Mike Allen and MLA McLean in Perth-Andover, NB
Many thanks to Pierre Mailhiot and Maj Gagnon for their visual interpretations of the new Hotel Dieu.
