Medicine Units Patient Care Manager, Maureen Andersen says many people helped with organizing and preparing for the move and the opening of the new beds. She would like to say thanks to Rick Goulet, the nurses, Allan Pecson and all the Housekeeping staff, Physical Plant's Ken Herbert, Hans Gronau and Al Petryshyn, Pharmacy, Unit Clerk Carol Tian, Volunteers Ken Kureluk and Heather and Wayne Maisonneuve, Laura Stuart-Shaw from Telecommunications, Respiratory, Biomed and Pat Selmser and Donna Tonowski for helping with orientation. I'll just say one big thank you to everyone involved. The next steps will focus on enhancements in the areas of surgery and critical care. The addition of six new critical care beds to be located at the Grey Nuns was announced in March.
Plans are underway to recruit staff and confirm physician coverage.
This new critical care component is expected to be in place this fall. In addition to the recently opened 16 medicine beds and the six new critical care beds, the Grey Nuns will open 20 new surgery beds and another 16 medicine beds. The new surgery beds will help improve the distribution of high and low intensity services among hospitals in the region. In January 1999, an evaluation of the impact of all service changes within the region will take place. An important part of this evaluation is a strategic planning process, starting soon at the Misericordia Community Hospital and Health Centre.