Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and partners will soon dramatically improve the care received by patients living with diabetes in Northwestern Ontario.

Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, St. Joseph’s Care Group, and Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre have partnered to launch the Centre for Complex Diabetes Care (CCDC).

The Centre for Complex Diabetes Care will provide individuals with a single point of access to specialized interprofessional teams using a coordinated approach to diabetes management and treatment. The Centre for Complex Diabetes Care team will work directly with an individual’s primary care provider to ensure that comprehensive services are provided.

Gil Labine, First Vice Chair, Thunder Bay Regional Board of Directors says, “TBRHSC continues to improve its ability to provide ‘exceptional healthcare’ by establishing the Centre for Complex Diabetes Care (CCDC). This centre will leave a lasting legacy for many patients and families in Northwestern Ontario as these people cope with a significant healthcare challenge”.

 

Andrée Robichaud, President and CEO stated, “We continue to shape the future of healthcare together. The CCDC provides for a culturally appropriate single point of access for patients and families. Because diabetes can be a complex healthcare challenge, we know that it is important that we align our collective investments to clinical practice guidelines and care settings”.

“At the CCDC, we recognize that the medical context of a diabetic patient and family associated with the patient is important. It is knowing that stabilizing diabetes, managing the condition, and appreciating the risk of serious associated conditions means that everyone has to be accountable for care. It doesn’t go away because of the complexities. I am excited about the potential of the CCDC to help people at their time of need,” says Dr. Saleem Malik, Medical Director for the CCDC.

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care recognizes the need for this centre in a region that has a significant diabetic population. They will contribute up to $2.6 million in one-time funding for the 2011/12 funding year to support the operations of the Centre.

“This investment reaffirms our government’s commitment to healthcare in Northwestern Ontario. Since 11% of the population in Ontario is diabetic, we know that this Level 3 Centre for Complex Diabetes Care will make a distinct difference in the lives of many people,” says Michael Gravelle, MP for Thunder Bay-Superior North.

While people with diabetes only make up a small percentage of Ontario’s population, Northwestern Ontario has more people suffering from the illness than the provincial average, especially among the Aboriginal community. Complications of the illness can also lead to other serious health issues.

“The importance of the CCDC at TBRHSC can’t be understated when you consider that the diabetic population also represents 39% of all heart attack victims and 69% get a limb amputation. A high level of care is essential. Patients will get it at the CCDC,” says Bill Mauro, MP for Thunder Bay-Atikokan.

The disease burden and unique challenges of care delivery in the North West Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) present a compelling case for the need for a CDCC to serve this population. The North West LHIN represents the largest land mass of the Province of Ontario (47%) coupled with the smallest and most dispersed population. This results in challenges to health service delivery, including access to care, health human resources, the need for extensive travel, and higher costs of care per capita. In addition, the North West LHIN has many small towns and First Nations communities located throughout rural and remote areas. Planning, delivering and accessing health services in these areas are often difficult due to the remote location of these communities. Telemedicine plays a vital role in helping to overcome the difficulties in delivering care to a large, sparsely populated region.

“The CCDC melds medical expertise at TBRHSC with the special needs of diabetics and their families all over Northwestern Ontario. Being the leading provider of Telemedicine in Canada, we feel that our Diabetes Care Team at the Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre and our partnership with St. Joseph’s Care Group and other healthcare providers in other centres in Northwestern Ontario means that we will be able to provide guidance and care “closer to home,” says Lori Marshall, Vice President of Planning, Medicine, Cardiology and Maternal/Child Services at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.

Penny Anguish, V.P. & Chief Nursing Officer, Complex Care & Physical Rehabilitation Services, St. Joseph’s Care Group says, "SJCG is proud to partner with TBRHSC and SLMYWHC. This partnership allows us to combine our expertise including inter-professional, evidence-based diabetes education and care, expertise in data collection, analysis and quality improvement and the ability to provide culturally appropriate services at the right level of care."

 

Barb Linkewich, V.P. Health Services, Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre states, “The incidence and prevalence of diabetes in Northwestern Ontario is significant, particularly among the First Nations. This coupled with the barriers presented by a large geographic area sparsely populated with many small and remote communities, points to the need for enhanced care. The CCDC will help us to improve the quality of care that we offer. We look forward to working with our partners and to having a support system to deliver Quality of care".

 

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