La Verendrye hospital here is among 38 health facilities in Northwestern Ontario that will share more than $2 million in provincial funding through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp.
La Verendrye will get $200,000 to purchase medical equipment such as an anaesthetic machine, a sterilizer, and a vital signs monitor, as well as to upgrade the telephone system to facilitate tele-medicine and videoconferencing.
Meanwhile, the Rainy River Health Centre was given $174,450 to purchase medical equipment such as cardiac monitors, a clinical analyzer, and a crash cart, as well as the addition of an ambulance facility.
And the Emo Health Centre landed $161,700 to buy medical equipment including electric patient beds, a troponan analyzer, and to build outdoor accessible areas for long-term care patients.
Other local facilities landing funding include:
•$23,325 to the Emo Dental Centre for the purchase of equipment such as a sterilizer, a dental chair, an ultrasonic cleaner, and an X-ray unit;
•$18,000 to the Rainy River Dental Clinic to buy equipment, including a sterilizer and X-ray film processor, and high-speed hand pieces (drills etc.); and
•$14,554 to the Anishinaabeg of Naongashiing First Nation, north of Rainy River, for the purchase of medical equipment such as an examination table, an airlift stool, and pediatric neonatal scales.
“The Ontario government recognizes the importance of having well-equipped facilities to provide high quality primary health care to residents of small and remote northern communities,” said Northern Development and Mines minister Dan Newman, who also chairs the NOHFC.
“We are committed to delivering a health system that promotes wellness and improves health through accessible, integrated, high-quality services at every stage of life and as close to home as possible,” he added.
As part of today’s announcement:
•28 health facilities in the Sioux Lookout area and in remote communities across the Northwest will receive a total of $972,813 to purchase medical and dental equipment, and to renovate existing facilities; and
•10 small hospitals, clinics, and dental centres across the southern part of the northwest will receive a total of $1,120,904 to buy medical and dental equipment, and to assist in renovations.
Funding for these projects is provided under the NOHFC’s Capital Assistance to Enhance Northern Health Care initiative.
It funds up to $25,000 per primary care health centre or $200,000 per small hospital for renovations or for the purchase of medical equipment in small northern communities.
“We welcome this announcement by Minister Newman to acquire and upgrade medical and dental equipment, and improve services in health facilities across Northwestern Ontario,” said Yvonne Murphy, A/Director of the Sioux Lookout Zone Hospital.
“This Northern Ontario Heritage Fund investment will go a long way to enhance our ability to service our patients,” she added.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
