Campaign focus will strengthen, stabilize, and eliminate barriers to health care for Tantramar residents

(Sackville) – Our community has made tremendous strides in improving the health and well-being of Tantramar residents, but there’s more to be done.

It’s no secret that in New Brunswick access to primary health care (PHC) is a challenge under its current service delivery model. This is due to several factors, including an aging and growing population, an aging health care workforce, and the recruitment and retention of primary care providers.

Horizon Health is transforming primary health care delivery towards an enhanced team-based inter-professional collaborative care model, referred to as Family Health Teams. PHC-aligned practices are shown to improve quality of care and satisfaction while having potential to save costs across the health care system.

In our case, the Tantramar Primary Health Care Centre (TPHCC) is well on its way to bringing together physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, social workers, pharmacists, and other professionals to provide a “health care home” for orphan patients (patients who have been “lost” within the system or have no primary provider overseeing their care).

To help address the current situation, the SMH Foundation has launched its Collaborative Care is Coming Campaign with a $150,000 goal. Funds will enable the purchase of special equipment for the Tantramar Primary Health Care Centre, so our health care team has the modern tools to care for patients, and the Centre is a desirable place to practice their skills.

“Primary care is really the front door to the health care system,” said Richard Lemay, Director of Primary Health Care Horizon Health Network—Zone 1. “It’s the first place people should go for care for best health outcomes. We are committed to promoting and championing your health, and ensuring you are followed over time if you have a chronic illness.”

Some of the tools that the Foundation will be funding include a wheelchair scale, electric examination tables, tympanogram (to observe the ear drum and evaluate the condition of the inner ear), bladder scanner and Clinitek Status Analyser (an automated point-of-care device used primarily for urinalysis testing).

Campaign Chair Bill Carroll is asking for the community’s support to build on the progressive groundwork that has been laid. “Every effort is being made to evolve how health care is being delivered to our family, friends, and neighbours. Together, we can embrace the collaborative health care model by making health care more accessible to the residents of Tantramar.”

If you would like to donate, you can contact the Foundation at 364-4106, drop by the hospital, or donate securely on-line at www.smhf.ca/donate.

If the campaign goal is exceeded, the additional funds will be used on the Hospital’s other priority needs. Our Hospital. Our Health Care.