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Examining health care
Dehcho Health and Social Services gathers community input

Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, November 25, 2010

DEH CHO - Community representatives spent a day last week giving Dehcho Health and Social Services input on how to provide the best possible care for the region in the future.

On Nov. 17 the authority held a gathering in Fort Simpson to discuss three interconnected themes - wellness, accessibility and sustainability.

Approximately 25 community representatives, members of the authority's board and staff examined the three issues.

Similar meetings are being held in every region based on A Foundation for Change, the plan the Department of Health and Social Services released last year outlining how to maintain levels of service in the future.

"Naturally there's huge issues around the sustainability of health care," said Kathy Tsetso, the authority's chief executive officer.

Participants at the gathering looked at how to provide care while contending with shrinking budgets, an aging population and increasingly expensive treatments.

Part of sustainability is access, Tsetso said. Using new technologies including HealthNet and Telehealth could cut costs, she said.

As part of the gathering participants watched a demonstration on how an x-ray can be sent electronically to Stanton Territorial Hospital in Yellowknife allowing a specialist to decide whether a patient can be treated in their home community or needs to be sent out.

Promoting wellness is also key because if people are healthier they will need the authority's services less, said Tsetso.

The gathering was constructive, said Margaret Ireland, the chair of the authority's board.

Sometimes people don't understand the authority has limited funds, said Ireland. The funding has to be stretched so the same level of quality care is provided, she said.

Part of the discussions focused on the need for a holistic approach to wellness. If there's a problem in the physical area the balance of the spiritual, emotional and mental sides also have to be examined, she said.

Other major wellness themes included the need for more community-based addiction programs and the need to celebrate successes such as people who have chosen sobriety.

Rebecca Murdoch, who represented Trout Lake, said the gathering was productive.

She added the forum allowed community members to voice their concerns directly instead of having to go through board members.

Murdoch said Trout Lake would like to see improved communication between the community and the authority and also between the authority's staff as well as more programs within in the community.

The authority's board will examine the recommendations from the gathering to see how they can be included in an action plan and implemented over the next few years, Tsetso said.

At a broader level the chairs from all the regional boards will be meeting with the territorial minister of health in early December to look at the results and how they can be acted on, she said.

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