24 - Wednesday, June 5, 1991 — North Shore News

Community partnerships

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Lions Gate Hospital is a major participant in several community partnership programs which provide a high level of service to patients, and more effectively use the resources of the hospital and the community.

The Quick Response Program recently celebrated its first anniversary, having seen more than double the number of people originally anticipated. This program is offered in cooperation with North Shore Health, and is designed for those who find themselves being admitted to hospital because they cannot

quickly access the services they require to stay in their homes. For these people, nursing or rehabilitation services are often the main reason for hospitalization. Quick Response staff can arrange for these services to be provided in the family home, instead of hospital. The benefits are mutual — patients recover quickly and confidently at home, and acute- care hospital beds are open for patients who more urgentiy require them.

Lions Gate's Palliative Care Program has provided service and leadership for over 10 years. This program, working in collaboration with North Shore Health, North Shore Family Services and the Lions Gate Hospice Society, offers choices in management and lifestyle to over 200 families a year. This Spring, the program hosted its 10th annual conference at the Hotel Vancouver. Several hundred medical and health professionals attended from Canada and the U.S.

Lions Gate Hospital is a strong

partner in Healthy North Shore

2000, a collaborative project with North Shore Health, to plan and coordinate future health services.

Fiscal management of limited resources

One of our greatest tasks has been to plan and manage the delivery of exemplary health care in an environment of change. At Lions Gate Hospital, we have been working towards effective resource

management tor many years, and herein ties the challenge of providing, maintaining and improving health care with limited, often restraint budgets.

Hospital equipment continues to be amongst the most expensive of any field. Much of the equipment in use at Lions Gate is earmarkeci for replacement due to its age and the availability of new technology. And although the cost, when factored over its 10-20 years of use is low per year of service. the initial outlay is in the millions of dollars. The replacement of items which are no longer serviceable, in addition to the new tools and techniques available, amounts to an overwhelming cost. Of the $9 million of equipment identified in 1990-1991, the $2.3 million capita! budget covered 25-percent. These capital funds come from 4 primary sources — provincial and regional governments, the community via Lions Gate Hospital Foundation, and the Auxiliary to Lions Gate Hospital.

People are our most imporant resource

By far our most important resource is Our people. Our statf and physicians, our Board of Directors and our many volunteers are what make Lions Gate Hospital the unique and special place it is. Our siaff are renowned for their top professional skills and, equally important, their giving themselves to make Lions Gate a warm, welcoming, enthusiastic place to be. Many of our innovative programs and services were identified and implemented by staff who had the creativity and dedication to put better service into practise.

We recognize with gratitude the individuals who give so generously of their time and talents to serve on the Board of Directors, the Lions Gate Hospital Foundation and Auxiliary. Our board members work year ‘round to provide perspective, leadership and governance to our hospital.

The Auxiliary, with over 500 members, dedicates its time to serving patients and raising funds for equipment and patient services. Many members have given over 30 years of service. In the past 10 years over $1 million has been raised by the Auxiliary, through its Dogwood Shops, Thrift Shop and other activities. This year marks

the Auxiliary’s 70th anniversary.

The Lions Gate Hospital Foundation continues to foster relationships between the hospital and the community. Their success in just 3 short years is evidenced by the commitment of volunteers wno raised more than $1 million for capital equipment this past year.

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