April is the time for local residents to ask questions and learn more about hospitals under the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA).
CEO Lori Marshall says the CKHA will host a series of open houses throughout the month. She says the purpose behind them is two-fold, to meet the new board members and give some insight into the hospital's future.
"The new board takes over effective April 1, so it's an opportunity for everyone to come and meet them, [also] to share some of their ideas and thoughts," she says.
"We're at a position now where we've really solidified our commitment to the two sites of the hospital [and] have more of a focus on rural health care," she says. "We have balanced the books and so now it's time for us to start thinking about what's the future."
Marshall says they have a general idea of how they want the hospital's future to look, however, they would like suggestions from those in the community in regards to what services they would like to see.
"There are a lot of services that are appropriate for community hospitals to provide... it's not to say that it would be our role to solve all of those gaps, it is our role though to work with partners," says Marshall.
Residents will be able to drop by the open houses anytime between 6pm and 8pm to look around at different information boards set up and speak with hospital officials.
Four open houses will be held around Chatham-Kent. They are as follows:
April 3 - UAW Hall 88 Elm Dr. S, Wallaceburg
April 4 - Aristo’s Banquet Room - Smitty’s Restaurant 307 Grand Ave. W, Chatham
April 10 - Ridgetown College - Wilson Conference Room 120 Main St. E
April 18 - Tilbury Family Health Team 22 Mill St. W
