Having the right information is crucial
Hard to believe summer is here and along with it our third issue of Niagara Health Now – an expanded edition that includes Niagara Health’s 2008-2009 Annual Report.
Annual reports are published to shine a light on the hospital’s performance over the past year and to broadly share with readers the hospital’s future direction and strategic priorities. Annual reports provide a wealth of information and increasingly are published to demonstrate accountability in the hospital sector. I want to take this opportunity to thank the small but mighty Niagara Health Corporate Communications team for ramping up to bring our readers this informative annual report special edition and extend a huge thank you to our Chief Financial Officer Angela Zangari and the Finance Department for pulling together the bulk of the information contained in our 2008-2009 Annual Report.
We’re all consumers of healthcare. Having the right information about where to go for services when we need them is crucial. Public education provides everyone the opportunity to be a more informed consumer. And public education is one of the key elements of the Emergency Department conversions to 24 hour/7 day a week Urgent Care Centres at our Douglas Memorial and Port Colborne sites as part of the Hospital Improvement Plan. Marcia Ladouceur, Project Lead and Emergency Services Manager for Welland and Port Colborne sites, is the face and voice of this year’s Urgent Care conversions. A Registered Nurse, Marcia has spent most of her 24-year career working in Emergency Services and in 2005 led the conversion of the Ontario Street Site Emergency Department in St. Catharines to a 14 hour / 7 day a week Prompt Care or Urgent Care service. Marcia is keen to get the word out to local residents on when to go to an Urgent Care Centre, when to go to an Emergency Department, and when to call 911.
I welcome you to join in our public education efforts and pass on this important healthcare information to friends, neighbours and relatives. «
Christine Clark, Chief Communications Officer
