Tag Archives: Almonte General Hospital

Our Emergency Department teams are here for you

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Registered Nurse Nicki Watkins joined the Emergency Department team at Almonte General Hospital (AGH) team in April – right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. She says she jumped right in. “From day one, excellent policies were in place to keep everyone safe,” she says. “This team is amazing.”

Registered Nurse Mark Gormley has worked in the Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital (CPDMH) for more than 20 years and he says that COVID-19 has changed almost everything – except the care provided to local communities every day: “We were able to quickly put proper precautions in place to care for our patients.”

At both AGH and CPDMH, the Emergency Departments are open 24/7 and ready to care for patients with serious health concerns.

At each hospital, a screener at the front door asks each patient a series of questions and provides the ER team with important information.  From there, patients can be assessed and anyone with COVID-19 symptoms can be isolated to a different area if necessary. All staff are wearing personal protective equipment. They change their gloves and do thorough cleanings between each patient.

Nicki has been a nurse for 10 years and worked in the ER at CHEO before coming to Almonte. “I’m comfortable with the uncomfortable and I like the pressure of never knowing what is coming next,” she says. “If someone has an emergency and needs help, we are ready and we can help.”

Mark agrees. “We appreciate that members of our communities are taking the recommendations to stay home seriously, but it should not come at the cost of your health or safety. We don’t want patients to have worse or bad outcomes because they waited too long to come to the hospital. Don’t sit at home if you have a concern. Come and see us.”

For the latest updates about Coronavirus, please visit the Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit website at www.healthunit.org.  For the latest updates on what we are doing to keep patients safe, please visit our websites at www.almontegeneral.com/coronavirus and www.cpdmh.ca/coronavirus.

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Local paramedic help Build a Mountain of Food

Paramedic Jason Tunks standing with the food donations!
Paramedic Jason Tunks amid all the donations!. Photo submitted.

Every day, paramedics with the Lanark County Paramedic Services (LCPS) care for our community. Recently, they did so in a different way.  On December 12th and 13th throughout Lanark County, more than a dozen paramedics and their families held their annual “Fill an Ambulance with Food” drives in Almonte, Carleton Place, Smiths Falls, and Perth.

And the results are impressive. Across the four communities, 142 boxes of food were collected, (up from 110 last year) which was enough to fill a 5-tonne truck. In addition, $5,027.90 was raised for local food banks.

“Thank you to our paramedics for their continued commitment to our local communities.  Special thanks to organizer Jason Tunks for his leadership, and thanks to all of our Paramedic volunteers: David Mullin, Lisa Popplewell, Crystal Lamadeleine, Tasha Daye, Sam Christopher, Clint Allan, Eric Ray, Jerry Zwicker, Trevor Neil, Jared Towns, and Marty McKittrick,” said Chief Paramedic Travis Mellema.  “We are also grateful to all of the people of Lanark County who donated food and money to ensure that families have food for the upcoming Christmas holidays.”

Grateful thanks to our other supporters: Organizer Chris Craig, RCL Automotive; Scott Fleming, Rideau Home Hardware Building Centre with his 5-tonne truck; Hugh Colton, Hinton Auto Group and previous organizer; and Tracey Stevens, Rideau Home Hardware Building Centre.

The LCPS provides emergency response service for an area encompassing almost 3,000 square kilometres with a population of 70,000. It responds to approximately 25,000 calls for service each year.

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Almonte General Hospital welcomes Open Doors for Lanark Children and Youth

Almonte General Hospital welcomed Open Doors for Lanark Children and Youth to the hospital campus on Spring Street. A Registered Psychotherapist will now be on-site one day a week, offering counselling and crisis support for children and youth up to the age of 18, and their families.

In addition to pre-booked appointments, the Registered Physiotherapist will provide Emergency Department (ED) consultations for children and youth. She will assess risk and develop safety plans in consultation with the ED team.

“We are pleased to welcome Open Doors for Lanark Children and Youth and to work together to provide these much-needed services in the community for children, youth and families of Mississippi Mills,” noted Mary Wilson Trider, President and CEO. “Open Doors will augment the vital adult services already provided on-site by Lanark County Mental Health, helping families navigate the mental health system.”

“We are excited to improve accessibility to high quality child and youth mental health through this partnership with Almonte General Hospital,” adds Kevin Clouthier, Executive Director, Open Doors for Lanark Children and Youth. “Not only can people access us more easily, this is a wonderful opportunity to build strong relationships with our health partners at the hospital and elsewhere in Mississippi Mills.”

The Registered Psychotherapist will be located in the Lanark County Mental Health office. Clients will access AGH through the main doors where they will be screened upon arrival. These clients will have pre-booked appointments which will be made through Open Doors.

Open Doors for Lanark Children and Youth provides services throughout Lanark County. Each staff member is dedicated to working with each child, youth and family to gain an understanding of each person’s unique circumstances and social relationships. In doing so, they can tailor a plan that is fitted to their unique needs.

For more information, call 613-257-8260, email admin@opendoors.on.ca, or visit www.opendoors.on.ca.

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COVID-19 self-isolation centre for precariously housed individuals still available

COVID-19

Lanark County agencies are reminding citizens that a self-isolation centre continues to be available for people in precarious housing situations who have tested positive for COVID-19 or are awaiting results.

In the spring, a collaboration of community agencies developed and is staffing the temporary self-isolation centre in Perth. It is available as a resource for Lanark County as the impact of the pandemic continues to evolve and affect the community. Agencies intend to maintain the site until Spring 2021.

The centre consists of a block of rooms and a number of staff working limited hours at an on-site office set up. This is a temporary option for those in Lanark County and Smiths Falls who are homeless, living in a group setting, or precariously housed and have no opportunity to socially distance or quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic. These individuals have already tested positive for COVID-19, or have symptoms and need to be tested or are awaiting test results.

The collaboration includes assessment services, arrangements for transportation, on-site support as well as virtual services for medical needs (daily wellness checks by the Lanark County Paramedic Service’s Community Paramedics), harm reduction, mental health, food and basic provisions. The Leeds Grenville Lanark District Health Unit is guiding infection control protocols. Clients who test positive for COVID-19 will be quarantined at the centre voluntarily. Clients staying at the centre must remain on the site property at all times except for required hospital/medical treatment.

Referrals to the COVID-19-positive centre should come through agencies by calling the Lanark County Interval House and Community Support (LCIHCS) crisis line (available 24/7) at 613 257-5960 or 1-800-267-7946 or TTY: 613-257-1952.

The project was made possible through funding from the Social Services Relief Fund issued by the Province of Ontario and administered through Lanark County Social Services. Lanark County Mental Health took the lead to apply for the funding, with support and endorsement from about two dozen local agencies and businesses, which have offered coordination, staffing and in-kind and other contributions.

Partner agencies include Carebridge Community Support, Cornerstone Landing, Lanark County Interval House, Lanark County Mental Health, Lanark County (Social Services), North Lanark Community Health Centre, Open Doors for Lanark Children and Youth, Ottawa Valley Family Health Team, Rideau Community Health Services, The Table Community Food Centre, United Way East Ontario Lanark, Victim Services Lanark County, Lanark County Paramedic Service, and the Leeds Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit. Endorsement/support has come from the Almonte General Hospital, Carleton Place and District Memorial Hospital, Lanark County OPP, Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital, Smiths Falls Police Service, Town of Smiths Falls, and the Lanark County Situation Table.

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New Chief of Staff says Almonte is a perfect Fit

Dr. Graeme McKillop
Dr. Graeme McKillop. Photo submitted.

Dr. Graeme McKillop contemplated becoming a doctor while living in West Africa in a small house with no electricity or running water. He had already completed a Master’s degree in Agronomy, but decided that the crop science research he was doing might not be enough. “I’d been thinking about it for a while on the back burner,” he says. “It was a good change for me. I think I’m much better suited for medicine.”

Dr. McKillop came back to Canada and completed his medical training in Calgary and Toronto, eventually landing in Almonte. “I stumbled onto Almonte and it was a perfect fit,” he says. “It is a great town full of interesting people who were very welcoming to me.”

Almost 20 years later, Dr. McKillop is taking the helm as Chief of Staff at Almonte General Hospital and Medical Director at Fairview Manor. He is also a family physician at the Ottawa Valley Family Team, with additional training in palliative care, dermatology, and tropical medicine. 

“It’s been a fantastic evolution during my time here,” notes Dr. McKillop. “There have been a lot of changes in how we deliver care and how doctors work together to provide cross-coverage.” He cites the family medicine obstetrics program as one example: “There are now four family physicians delivering babies and providing pre- and post-natal care. “That’s rare for a small hospital and it’s something we want to promote.”

Dr. McKillop says he has also seen changes since he last served as Chief of Staff from 2006 to 2008: “Now, we also have increased integration with our colleagues at Carleton Place Hospital. The result is better utilization of services, including the surgical program. COVID-19 has really accelerated this and there’s even more we can do.”

Special thanks to outgoing Chief of Staff Dr. Christiane Descheneswho brought wisdom, common sense, and a sense of humour to the role. She is retiring after 40 years of caring for patients.

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New board chairs share aligned goals

Carol Anne Esnard and Dave Perley
Carol Anne Esnard (left) and Dave Perley (right). Photo submitted.

Carol Anne Esnard and Dave Perley both believe in giving back to their local communities. As the new Board Chairs of the Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital (CPDMH) and Almonte General Hospital (AGH) respectively, they plan to work together to ensure their communities have the very best care close to home.

“I love living in Beckwith and I want to be involved,” explains Carol Anne. “Being on the CPDMH Board has been an incredible experience and I’ve learned so much about health care and my community.”  Carol Anne retired in 2015. Most recently, she was the Chief Administrative Officer at Genome Canada. Carol Anne has held a number of executive positions over her career, mostly in the not-for-profit sector.

  • Dave Perley. Photo submitted.
  • Carol Anne Esnard. Photo submitted.

Dave Perley shares Carol Anne’s love of the local community: “I was relatively new to the area when I joined the AGH Board and I wanted to expand my network, meet some new people and make a difference. I sure haven’t been disappointed.”  Dave is a retired Hewlett Packard executive with over 30 years in the high-tech industry. He is a frequent lecturer at Algonquin College in the areas of business, marketing, and leadership skills. Throughout his career, he has also volunteered with not-for-profit associations.

Both Carol Anne and Dave say their goals are aligned, focused on improving care through the further advancement of the Mississippi River Health Alliance and a joint clinical service plan for the two hospitals. “Aligning strategic plans and integrating select services is leading to greater efficiencies and innovations in our delivery of care. We are excited to see what the future holds as this collaboration evolves,” says Carol Anne. “We want to build on the great work that has been done already and ensure we are aligned at the Board level too,” adds Dave. “1 + 1 definitely equals 3.”

Each hospital is also planning a major infrastructure project in the coming years with the new Emergency Department in Carleton Place and expanded Diagnostic Imaging services in Almonte, including an application for a new CT Scanner. “We are all looking forward to completing the Emergency Department planning process and getting the shovel in the ground,” says Carol Anne. “Approval of the CT Scan application will be a major achievement for health care in our area,” notes Dave.

President and CEO Mary Wilson Trider says she is proud to be working alongside both Boards of Directors: “Our local communities are very supportive, and these committed volunteers bring diverse skills, expertise, and community knowledge. Congratulations to Carol Anne and Dave on their new roles.”

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COVID-19 Assessment Centre in Almonte now offers direct access

Effective Tuesday May 26, 2020, the COVID-19 Assessment Centre (CAC) located behind the Almonte General Hospital will expand efforts to reach more people requiring COVID-19 testing.

A referral from Public Health or a Primary Care Provider is no longer required.  Residents of North Lanark, which includes Mississippi Mills, (Pakenham, Almonte and Ramsay), Carleton Place, Beckwith and Ashton, may now call the Assessment Centre directly to book an appointment for a COVID-19 test.

Who Can Be Tested? 

  • Anyone with symptoms of COVID-19
  • Anyone concerned about exposure to COVID-19
  • Anyone who may be at risk from exposure (e.g. essential workers – health care workers, grocery store employees, etc.)

People seeking a test must call 613-325-1208 and leave a message. A COVID-19 Assessment Centre nurse will call back to book an appointment.

Please note the Assessment Centre is still by appointment only and operates Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm.

The Assessment Centre is located at the corner of Spring Street and State Street in the brick building behind Almonte General Hospital’s Emergency Department.

To discuss specific symptoms, please contact your Primary Care Provider, Leeds, Grenville, Lanark District Health Unit at 1-800-660-5853 ext. 2222 or Telehealth Ontario at toll-free 1-866-797-0000 or toll-free TTY at 1-866-797-0007.

Further information is available at www.ontario.ca/page/get-medical-advice-telehealth-ontario. You may also call your own primary care provider for advice and guidance.

For the latest updates on COVID-19, please visit the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit website at www.healthunit.org.  For the latest updates from AGH, please visit www.agh-fvm.com/coronavirus.

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AGH and CPDM – If you need care, we’re here for you

The Emergency Departments at Almonte General Hospital (AGH) and Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital (CPDMH) are open 24/7 and ready to care for patients with serious health concerns. We appreciate that members of our communities are taking the recommendations to stay home seriously, but it should not come at the cost of your health or safety.

“If you are in need of medical attention, please come to the Emergency Departments or call 911 right away,” notes Dr. Marcia Spooner, Chief of Emergency at CPDMH. “Our staff and medical staff are taking every necessary precaution to ensure everyone’s safety.”

Dr. Karen Turcotte, Chief of Emergency at AGH agrees. “In both hospitals we have unfortunately seen patients who were sicker than they might have been because they delayed coming to the Emergency Department.”

  • Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital
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At both hospitals, all patients coming to the Emergency Department are screened and provided with a mask upon arrival. At AGH, patients with COVID-19 symptoms are escorted directly to the room where they will be assessed. At CPDMH, patients with COVID-19 symptoms use a separate entrance through the ambulance bay.

Patients with COVID-19 symptoms can also access the COVID-19 Assessment Centre in Almonte through their primary care provider or by calling the Health Unit at 1-800-660-5853 ext. 2499 for a referral. The assessment centre is located behind the hospital in a separate building.  For more details, visit www.almontegeneral.com/assessmentcentre. 

For the latest updates about Coronavirus, please visit the Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit website at www.healthunit.org.  For the latest updates on what we are doing to keep patients safe, please visit the our websites at www.almontegeneral.com/coronavirus and www.cpdmh.ca/coronavirus. 

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Hospitals thank Cavanagh Construction and Other Generous Donors

Cavanagh donating N95 Masks
Thank you to Cavanagh for their recent donation of N95 masks. Here, Mary Wilson Trider, President and CEO (far left), CPDMH staff members Alison White and Jean Brown, and Kimberley Harbord, Integrated Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (far right) accept the donations from Cavanagh Construction staff member Kendra Usher (beside Mary). Photo submitted.

Our Community Keeps on Giving!

The donations just keep coming – and we are very grateful. Over the past few weeks, our local communities have stepped up with donations of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other offers of support for the front-line workers at Almonte General Hospital, Fairview Manor, Lanark County Paramedic Service and Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital. 

Yesterday, Cavanagh Construction donated 900 N95 masks to Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital.   “We had the masks in stock, and we know our local health care providers need them,” says Lori Cavanagh.  “We were happy to share our supply with local nursing homes as well as the hospital. They are the true heroes.”

“Thank you to Cavanagh and everyone who has made a donation,” notes Mary Wilson Trider, President and CEO. “Our communities have always been so supportive of health care close to home, and now that support is more important than ever.”

To support future donations, both hospitals have now set up COVID-19 donation pages on their websites. The pages provide details on donations of PPE, home-made items, as well as gifts of food for staff and physicians. Visit www.almontegeneral.com/COVID-19Donations and www.cpdmh.ca/COVID-19Donations for more information.

For the latest updates about Coronavirus, please visit the Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit website at www.healthunit.org.  For the latest updates on what we are doing to keep patients safe, please visit the our websites at www.almontegeneral.com/coronavirus and www.cpdmh.ca/coronavirus.

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Community donations show love and support

Thank you for nourishing our souls

Our local communities care. And we are grateful to everyone who has offered support to the front-line workers at Almonte General Hospital, Fairview Manor, Lanark County Paramedic Service and Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital.

Your donations of factory-made personal protective equipment (such as N95 masks, gowns and face shields) are helping to keep everyone safe. And your offers of food from local businesses and restaurants for busy health care workers are helping to nourish our souls. It’s a great expression of love and support!

In the interests of staff, physician and patient safety, we need to be sure that the donated food doesn’t create an opportunity to spread the germs we are all working so hard to keep out of the building. To ensure everyone’s safety and to avoid large gatherings of staff, gifts of food must be individually portioned and individually wrapped. For example, we cannot accept donations such as large pizzas or group platters where many people might touch the food while taking their own portion. Please provide disposable cutlery in sealed packaging if required. 

If you have any types of donations, please email Cindy Skebo at Almonte General Hospital at cskebo@agh-fvm.com or Angie Kelly at Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital at akelly@carletonplacehosp.com to make arrangements before delivery. 

The Hospital Foundations are also encouraging financial donations to show support for our front-line workers.  For more information, please visit https://almontehospitalfoundation.com or www.cpdmh.ca/foundation. Thank you for your support.

For the latest updates on COVID-19, please visit the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit website at www.healthunit.org.  For the latest updates from AGH, please visit www.agh-fvm.com/coronavirus.

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