The Westerner for October 18, 2010

Club Christmas Function:  Highlands Golf Course, November 27

October 25 Speaker:  Duane suggested we bring guests (spouses and others) to listen to Paralympian Viviane Forest, with her inspirational talk on being a blind downhill skier and winning 5 gold medals.

Lest We Forget Concert:  Jim Spalding advised tickets are available for Cosmopolitan Music Society's November 7 presentation honouring 100 years for Canadian Navy as well as veterans and all Canadian War Heroes

50/50: Jerome and Steve did not match - pool must be close to $160

New Member Induction:  Chris introduced and Mike Ryan inducted Kasey Armstrong under classification of Banking - Branch Manager - Welcome

Finemaster:  Rob Dunseith fined President Mike $1 for messing up Cheryl's name then everyone $1 for just knowing there was a civic election

Guest Speaker:  Rob then introduced Fred Horne, MLA, who in his first term as MLA, is working on a new provincial health act.  Fred has 25 year's experience in the health care industry.

Fred acknowledged Ben Lang, our charter president, and the 55 years of community and international service provided by our club.  He specifically thanked us for supporting seniors and air cadets.

Fred is using his personal international network to bring in ideas for operating our province.  There are, currently, 3 initiatives under way re health reform but there is no one solution and they are not completely reinventing the original policy.  The focus is on the best practices and make them available to all residents across the province - examples, electronic health record and knee and hip program.  Now they are working on reducing emergency department wait times, saving costs by moulding 9 payroll systems into 1, and increasing purchasing power by placing 1 order instead of 9.

The 3 initiatives are 1) support front line professionals to deliver healthcare and reduce administrative personnel; 2) fund the health budget by planning for 5 years instead of one - long lead times for changes in technology need a longer fiscal period - changes are in the wind to support senior housing, nursing homes, etc. - better access to family doctors, reduce operation wait times; 3) legislation - review for updates - current legislation dates back to 1960's - focused on institutions and money, not people - continuing care now splits up couples to support the one in need - will make changes to keep the couple together longer - fund the person, not the bed - another problem is drug therapy which can only be administered in a hospital setting, thus extending hospital stays - looking at ways to move that type of procedure to other venues.

There is a need to accomodate more than hospitals and doctors - nurse practitioners, pharmacists, therapists in a treatment group with availability to a doctor when the need arises.  The other practitioners can work on their own without a doctor providing all the direction, especially in writing.

Legislation is also important because of the complexity of health decisions especially  re increased life span - over 40% of the provincial budget is oriented towards healthcare and is soon expected to surpass 50% - education, infrastructure and other support streams become impacted by lack of available funds.  Relate to health, not just sickness. Provide good evidence (in writing or electronic) to enable politicians to make informed decisions.  Spiritual support in healthcare is important.

Recommendations are being presented to the legislature this fall. This will include a health charter for residents/citizens - give them more power and input to make their own health decisions.  The Minister will have to give notice of impending changes and consider the feedback before proceeding.  Fred attended 29 workshops across the province in his search for the healthcare answers.

Fred was thanked by President Mike.