New services offered at the St. Joseph Community Health Centre in Dalhousie

Dalhousie, August 1, 2014 – Vitalité Health Network will be establishing three new ambulatory care clinics at the St. Joseph Community Health Centre in Dalhousie. These new services will treat patients from across the Restigouche region in the fields of foot care, oral anticoagulant therapy, and urologic wellness. The Network will also be doubling the number of orthopedic clinic days scheduled there. The addition of these services will strengthen the facility’s role as a provider of primary health care services, which are key to maintaining and improving people’s health as well as the quality and sustainability of our health care system.

Primary health care is distinctive, both in terms of its approach to health and its delivery of services that go beyond the traditional health care system. “Being attentive to community needs is a cornerstone of primary health care,” stated Jacques Duclos, Chief Operating Officer of the Restigouche Zone. “The My Community at a Glance reports published by the New Brunswick Health Council indicate that we face challenges treating chronic health problems in both the greater Dalhousie and Campbellton regions,” he explained.

Expanded access to primary health care will allow us to manage chronic illnesses more effectively and improve the health of our population. The hospitalization rate for conditions where appropriate ambulatory care could have prevented or reduced the need for a hospital admission is 9.12% in the Restigouche region, which is the highest within Vitalité Health Network. The provincial average is 6.61% and the national average 5.25%. “This is why we will be adding these three new clinics to the approximately 15 services and clinics already being offered on an ambulatory care basis at the St. Joseph Community Health Centre,” Mr. Duclos indicated.

Foot Care Clinic

Nearly 16% of Restigouche County’s 28,000 residents are diabetic and therefore more prone to developing foot ulcers. Not counting the vascular problems or other chronic conditions that may lead to foot problems, it is estimated that approximately 660 Restigouche residents could have this complication. The screening provided by the Foot Care Clinic will prevent foot ulcers, and the early intervention provided will prevent complications.

Anticoagulant Therapy Clinic

Oral anticoagulant therapy is a treatment that halts or slows the coagulation of blood. This approach is used to prevent or treat certain chronic cardiac or vascular illnesses. Regular monitoring is essential due to the risk of hemorrhage or blood clots associated with this treatment. Through access to a community anticoagulant therapy clinic, patients will receive timely and thorough follow-up. This will help them better manage their medications and also help prevent possible hospitalizations through closer monitoring of their health.

Urologic Wellness Clinic

Incontinence is a chronic condition that impacts people’s lives in a variety of ways, including social interaction, sexual activity, and the ability to work, travel, and participate in sports and community activities. On average, nearly 22% of Canadians over age 18 are affected by this condition. It is estimated that there would be approximately 5,700 potential incontinence patients for the Urologic Wellness Clinic within the Restigouche region.

Orthopedic clinics

The Restigouche region welcomed a second orthopedic surgeon in January 2014. The quality of the services being provided in this sector is generating higher than expected volumes. The St. Joseph Community Health Centre will therefore begin scheduling two full orthopedic clinic days per week rather than a single day. The expansion of these services will help strengthen the Dalhousie facility’s Medical Imaging Department.

These clinics are expected to be operational in the fall of 2014.

Reorganization of palliative care within the Restigouche region

Vitalité Health Network will also be proceeding with a reorganization of palliative care within the Restigouche region, with palliative care to be offered at a single point of service in future, namely the Campbellton Regional Hospital.

“With a total of ten palliative care beds in the region, we had a ratio of 0.36 beds per 1000 inhabitants in the Restigouche, while the ratio for the Network as a whole is 0.16 beds per 1000 inhabitants,” explained Mr. Duclos. “Even with the reorganization, the region will have six palliative care beds in Campbellton, for a ratio of 0.22 beds per 1000 inhabitants.” For comparison purposes, the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre in Moncton also has six palliative care beds. Average palliative care bed utilization in Dalhousie is low, at 1.45 beds out of 4, which translates into a cost of $620,000 per occupied bed.  The utilization rate in Campbellton is also relatively low, at 3.28 beds out of 6. The palliative care reorganization will take effect on August 1, 2014.