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Critical cases lead to 23 recommendations for QHC

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Quinte Health Care’s review of six cases causing severe harm to or deaths of patients has resulted in 23 recommendations for improvements.

John Embregts, chairman of the board’s quality of patient care committee, said the events earlier this year marked a significant increase from the usual average of three to five a year.

“We had three in the month of May so it raised people’s concerns,” he said, adding QHC launched a “thorough analysis.”

No details of the specific events were available Tuesday, but falls, infections and staff or doctor errors may be deemed critical events. In June The Intelligencer reported on a Picton woman’s May death from a bacterial infection.

Recommendations listed in Embregts’ report include further training for staff, changes to procedures and more. The training is to include education about resuscitation policy.

Embregts said QHC has “a fairly robust process” for addressing such incidents.

In other board news:

• The four-hospital corporation had a small surplus of $388,000, a little better than the $374,000 expected, during the first six months of this fiscal year, which ends March 31.

• QHC has won a “gold-level” 2014 Quality Healthcare Workplace Award for efforts to improve the quality of patient care and work life for staff. It’s awarded by the Ontario Hospital Association and Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

• Ontario has refused to $500,000 in one-time funding for Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital. North Hastings Hospital was, however, eligible. Hospitals must have less than 2,700 cases a year and be more than 30 minutes away from a larger centre. The ministry uses the county’s centre as a starting point; QHC and the South East Local Health Integration Network use the hospital or county office. The LHIN is investigating the chances of appealing.

• Spectators at QHC board meetings are rare, but there more more than a dozen Tuesday. They included Prince Edward County Mayor-Elect Robert Quaiff and members of the county’s incoming council.

Board chairman Steve Blakely outlined the policy through which the public may speak to the board and said members would field questions after the meeting. One man asked if there was any other opportunity to question the board during the meeting and left in a huff when told there wasn’t.

luke.hendry@sunmedia.ca

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