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As predicted, the new hospital has played
a significant role in attracting and retaining more specialists
to our community. That has resulted in increased demand on the current
operating rooms, as patients do not have to leave the community
to have procedures performed, or may return for recovery and rehabilitation
thanks to the presence of specialist physicians. This process is
called repatriation.
For example, in 2004 the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre
welcomed the first set of twins born in Cumberland County in a number
of years. Little Zoe Grace and Thane William, daughter and son of
Evlynn and Geoff McAloney, were born in September 2004. Thanks to
newly recruited obstetrician-gynecologist (OBS/GYN), Dr. Marquis
Okon, there is no need for Mrs. McAloney, and other mothers like
her, to leave the area for deliveries that might be considered higher-risk.
The number of births at the CRHCC increased in 2004-05 as well,
since more women had the opportunity to access gynecological services
within Cumberland County.
With the increased number of surgeons and ENT and OBS/GYN specialists
on site, more regular OR time is required. The opening of this suite
will result in shortened wait times for surgery and allow patients
to move more quickly from diagnosis to surgery. While funding from
the province and federal government will cover the majority of the
costs towards the new OR, we must also raise funds for additional
OR equipment. The present funding formula for capital projects such
as this are 75% from government and 25% from local sources.
The third operating room will also play a very important role in
the expansion of services. In part due to this expansion, 10 additional
beds will be added at the hospital, bringing the total number of
inpatient beds to 75.
Third Operating Room
“Growing Care Campaign”
With support from the Department of Health and the Cumberland Health Care Foundation’s “Growing
Care Campaign”, construction on the third operating room at the Cumberland
Regional Health Care Centre began in late June 2006. When the facility opened
in the fall of 2002, the third operating room was only shelled in – there
was not sufficient demand on the surgical program to warrant the expenditure.
With the success the Cumberland Health Authority (CHA) has realized in recruiting
specialist physicians and encouraging Cumberland County residents to access service
closer to home, the time was right to finish the project.
Over a period of three weeks, the other two operating rooms were closed and upgraded
with state-of-the-art overhead booms and other pieces of equipment to ensure
there was consistency in the various systems to be used by surgical staff. The
first part of the project concluded in mid-July when the original operating rooms
reopened. Major construction on the third room was completed shortly thereafter
but delays were experienced in receiving all required equipment. The room was
put into full-time service in October 2006 when all remaining equipment was installed
and ready for use.
Since that time, there have been approximately 350 procedures completed in the
third operating room. Four additional staff have been hired and five new beds
have been added to the overall bed complement in the building to aid in accommodating
the needs of the expanding surgical program. The overall sustainability of the
surgical program has been greatly enhanced by the opening of this well equipped
operating room. It has allowed for an increase in the number of surgical cases
and supports the Health Authority’s goal of re-establishing quality secondary
services for residents of Cumberland County. It has also allowed the CHA to increase
the services available to patients from southeastern New Brunswick.
(Source: Cumberland Health Authority 2006-07 Annual Report) |
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