The Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) is reporting great progress to reduce the surgical backlog and the longer wait times created by the pandemic.
The Vice President of Clinical Programs and Operations at CKHA, Caen Suni, said although the hospital group is not where it wants to be, it is doing more surgeries now than it did during the same period in 2019 and wait times should get shorter as time passes. Suni said CKHA has performed more surgeries in the five key areas of focus, including cataracts, tonsils, gall bladders, and hip and knee procedures between mid-September and mid-November of 2021 than it did over the same period two years ago.
"In particular, we're doing 116 per cent orthopedic procedures when compared to two years ago and in the last four weeks we're doing 217 per cent of cancer surgeries, that's twice as many as two years ago for that exact same period," said Suni.
Suni said the success comes from compacting the schedule to do more surgeries per day, adding more staff to address the backlog, and investing in new technology that saves time. Suni said diagnostic services are essentially back to normal and surgery volumes have recovered.
Suni added that CKHA is among the top hospitals in southwestern Ontario when it comes to surgical volume. He also reported that he expects this to continue and the hospital will meet targets in at least three of the five key areas at the end of the fiscal year. Suni noted cataract and tonsil procedures need more work and should improve moving forward because of more available staff and fewer throat infections because of masking.
CKHA President and CEO Lori Marshall thanked the surgeons, anaesthetists, and all staff at the hospital for contributing to the surgical renewal success.
"It's our clinical staff, our nursing staff, as well as our support service staff that really contribute to us being able to respond in this way as we look to serve our community in need. All great news," said Marshall.
Marshall previously said there were about 2,000 local surgeries held up because of pandemic restrictions.
Marshall also reported that 21 of the 26 positions that were fired for not getting vaccinated contrary to hospital policy have either been filled, candidates are being interviewed, or the positions have been posted. She added that five of the positions were casual or temporary and didn't need to be filled.
"While we miss those people who are no longer at CKHA, we have been actively recruiting and there has been no change to the services that we offer," Marshall said.
Marshall also said that volunteers will be returning to the hospital soon. They were helping at the Bradley Centre in Chatham with the COVID-19 vaccines. She said some volunteers have started helping in the diagnostic imaging department but more will be brought back safely by March through a phased-in approached.
CKHA Board Chair, Alan Wildeman, said the new Wallaceburg power plant is in its final testing stage of hydro and gas lines and should be complete early in the new year.
Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development and MPP for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex will be at the Wallaceburg site on Friday to make an announcement beside the new power plant.
CKHA is still waiting for provincial approval to move to a new project, including a new five bed emergency department and renovated ambulatory care. The next phase is expected to cost about $25 million.
