Tag Archives: Almonte General Hospital

Proof of vaccination required for visitors

Proof of vaccination

Beginning October 7th, visitors to Almonte General Hospital (AGH) and Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital (CPDMH) will need to be fully vaccinated.  AGH and CPDMH are aligning with other hospitals in the Champlain region to introduce the mandatory vaccination policy.

“Visits from family and caregivers contribute greatly to a patient’s quality of life and well-being and we need to take every precaution to keep our patients, staff, and community safe,” notes President & CEO Mary Wilson Trider. “This new policy aligns with the provincial vaccination directions for healthcare and other organizations.”

Visitors who are not fully vaccinated (having received 2 doses of COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior) will not be permitted to enter the hospitals unless they qualify under a limited number of exceptions. Full details can be found on the hospital websites at www.agh-fvm.com/visitors and www.cpdmh.ca/visitors.  Regardless of vaccination status, no patient will be denied care or service. 

Other visitor guidelines, such as a maximum of designated visitors for each patient, restricted visiting hours, screening at entry, mask-wearing, hand hygiene, and social distancing continue. We will continue to assess the situation and adjust our visitor policy accordingly. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

For the latest updates about COVID-19 testing and vaccinations, 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.  Those who need proof of their vaccination status can download a receipt at https://covid19.ontariohealth.ca/.

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Radiothon aims to fund healthcare equipment need

Lake 88.1 Radiothon
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Thursday, October 14, 2021

‘Supporting our frontline workers by giving them the tools they need’

Local healthcare officials, doctors, nurses, patients and volunteers will take to the airwaves of Lake 88.1 Radio on Thursday, October 14th for a live 12-hour fundraising ‘Radiothon’ in support of our local hospitals and community health centres.  

The station is once again partnering with the Almonte General Hospital/Fairview Manor Foundation, the Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital Foundation, the Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital Foundation, as well as Country Roads Community Health Centre, ConnectWell Community Health and Rideau Community Health Service. 

The event will be the third major healthcare Radiothon for Lake 88, which is now a division of ‘My Broadcasting Corporation’ after owners Brian Perkin and his wife Jennifer sold the station earlier this year.  Perkin, who continues as General Manager, says a full day of interviews and information segments has been planned to increase the awareness of local health care facilities and to highlight specific equipment needs that require funding.

Perkin says, “As we prepare for this year’s event, we need to remind everyone that our local hospitals must raise funds on an on-going basis to pay for their equipment. Even though our governments have spent significant dollars on COVID-19 care, it’s still necessary for our hospitals to fundraise so they can buy the equipment they need to provide quality healthcare.” 

Perkin states that one of the little known facts about healthcare funding is that each hospital in Ontario is funded by a general budget that pays for heat, hydro, maintenance and the salaries of nursing and support staff.  He adds, “That budget does not cover the purchase of medical equipment to provide patient care.  Items like medication pumps, surgical equipment and vital signs monitors are all purchased from funds donated by members of the community – not through provincial dollars.”

The list of equipment needs this year is a long one.  The Urology Department at the Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital requires new surgical equipment for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the kidney and bladder at a cost of over $225,000.  

The Almonte General Hospital & Fairview Manor Foundation needs a ‘Point of Care’ I-STAT analyzer to give Physicians immediate results to blood work and fundraising continues for AGH’s new CT Scan unit.

The Carleton Place District Memorial Hospital requires more than 100 pieces of patient care equipment, totaling approximately 2 million dollars, for use throughout the hospital including the new Emergency Department building.  

And support is needed for program and services provided by Country Roads Community Health Centre in Portland and Westport, ConnectWell Community Health in Lanark and Carleton Place, and Rideau Community Health Services in Smiths Falls and Merrickville. 

On Radiothon day, the on-air hosts will share stories from some incredible patients and volunteers whose lives have been changed and saved thanks to the generosity of local donors. The excitement of Radiothon day will also be shared online at lake88.ca.  From 6am to 6pm, the phones will be manned by foundation staff and volunteers who will take donations from listeners wishing to support any or all of the local hospital foundations and community health centres. 

As Dr. Peter Roney, former Chief of Staff at PSFDH says, “Anyone who lives in this region of Eastern Ontario will have a very high likelihood of personally benefiting from the equipment funded through local donations.  Most of us will make use of our local hospitals at some point in their lives.  So when you make a donation, you are making a donation to yourself and your family.”

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Marc Giles and local hospitals big winners after Win2021 lottery

Marc Giles
April Bean, Al Roberts, Leslie Giles(In car), Marc Giles, Keith Bean and Robyn Arseneau. Photo submitted.

Marc Giles of Carleton Place is the grand-prize winner of the Win2021 Hospital Lottery. Giles’ winning ticket number 105254 was announced July 8th at 7 p.m. by Keith & April Bean of Bean Chevrolet. The Beans are the presenting sponsors of Win2021 and provided the 2021 Chevy Blazer. Approximately $145,000 will be split by the Almonte General Hospital Fairview Manor Foundation and the Carleton Place and District Memorial Hospital Foundation.

When contacted about his win Giles said, “My Dad said we should get tickets because he likes supporting the local hospitals.” Giles also went onto also say they’d hope to win too because, as he told Keith Bean, he’s long admired the Blazer RS.

Following the draw Keith Bean commented, “So exciting to have another draw behind us. Congratulations again to Marc and his father, Leslie. Raising money for the hospital is something that all of our employee’s really get behind. The success of this draw brings such a shot of positive energy to every member of our team and all of our amazing customers. Thank you to each and every individual who reached into their own budget and spent $35 or $100 or more for such a great cause. It’s so awesome to have two great hospitals in our community, and, with success like this it shows our community is firmly behind the men and women at our hospitals who do such significant work every day!”

“These funds will allow each hospital to purchase new or replacement equipment,” said Mary Wilson Trider, President & CEO of Almonte General Hospital and Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital. “We count on our communities to help us provide safe, high quality patient care by putting the best tools in the hands of our physicians and staff. Thankfully, people are recognizing this through buying lottery and catch the ace tickets, making donations, and planning special gifts to our foundations. We’re very appreciative of all this support. We can’t thank Keith, April and Bean Chevrolet, the Beckwith Butcher and media partners, CTV Ottawa, TSN and Pure Country, enough for making this lottery possible.”

As well as the grand prize winner, Keith Nephin won the first early-bird prize of $2021 on May 4 with ticket number 107258. The second early-bird prize, a Traeger BBQ package donated by the Beckwith Butcher, was won by Wayne Langille on June 18, holder of ticket number 112543. Genevieve White-Brown drove away with the final early-bird prize, a 2021 Chevy Spark. White-Brown’s winning number was 103076.

“Both hospital foundations greatly appreciate all of the community support which has made the success of the Win2021 Hospital Lottery possible,” said Robyn Arseneau, Executive Director, Carleton Place and District Memorial Hospital Foundation.

“From our donor partners and event sponsors to ticket purchasers, this success would not have been possible without each of you!” added Al Roberts, Managing Director, Almonte General Hospital Fairview Manor Foundation.

With the conclusion of the third car lottery, the total of funds raised through this joint fundraiser presented by Beans is approximately $430,000.

The Win2021 Hospital Lottery was licensed by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (License Number #RAF1204604).

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Ottawa Valley Family Medicine Obstetrics Program launches new website

FMOB team
The FMOB team includes (l-r) Dr. Ursula McGarry, Dr. Amy Toderian, and Dr. Julie Stewardson. Missing: Dr. Nathalie Slaney. Photo submitted.

Women in Lanark County, the Ottawa Valley and west Ottawa now have a new resource to support their low-risk pregnancy care. The Ottawa Valley Family Medicine Obstetrics team (FMOB) has launched a new website – – www.ottawavalleyfmob.ca – which provides a complete overview of the program, as well as a variety of resources for families.

“We wanted to create a website that provided reliable and accurate information to women in our community,” explains Dr. Julie Stewardson. “We also wanted to increase awareness of care options for pregnant women in our region and provide them the information they needed to advocate for their care.”

Members of the FMOB team have privileges at Almonte General Hospital. Patients benefit from a family medicine philosophy focused on whole person care, including access to a social worker and dietitian.

The team includes Dr. Julie Stewardson, Dr. Ursula McGarry, Dr. Amy Toderian, and Administrative Assistant Sandy Guppy. The group is being supported by Dr. Nathalie Slaney for four months, from January to the end of April 2021.  These family physicians have specialty training in family medicine as well as obstetrics. Together, they have 48 years of cumulative experience delivering babies. The team is also skilled in newborn care and provide care for Moms and newborns at delivery and in the first days of life.

Almonte General Hospital is the only rural hospital in this region providing a full range of low-risk obstetrical services, including 24/7 coverage by an obstetrician and pain management services.  Our multidisciplinary team includes Obstetrician/Gynecologists, Family Physicians, Midwives, specially- trained Nurses and Anesthetists.  The unit has five private postpartum rooms with their own washroom and shower, two labour and delivery rooms, showers, and an operating room for cesarean sections. Our Diagnostic Imaging team offers a full range of advanced ultrasound services and patients can book ultrasound appointments by calling 613-256-2514 ext. 2114. For details, please visit our website at www.agh-fvm.com.

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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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