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PLUMBING • HEATING • HVAC SERVICES •
Vol. 11, Issue 17
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
FREE
Erie Shores HealthCare Assessment Centre is ready for increased flow
FLIGHT OF INSPIRATION This DHC-1 RCAF Chipmunk was one of many classic aircraft that made the flight across Essex County on Thursday, May 21. About 12 aircraft took part in the Inspiration Flight and Tribute by the Canadian Historical Aircraft Association to honour front line workers and pay tribute to fallen Snowbirds Captain Jenn Casey. The Chipmunk was captured as he did a wing dip above Erie Shores HealthCare in Leamington. Deanna Bertrand photo
May 16th Miracle was a record-breaking food drive
CHATHAM — The final count is in and the May 16th Miracle Food Drive was indeed a resounding success. So much so, that organizers are estimating it may have unofficially eclipsed a world record. The Guinness World Record for a food drive is 559,000 lbs of food collected in a 24-hour period. Although the Chatham-Kent food drive was not a registered Guinness event, they collected 678,200 lbs of food.
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Municipality-wide, about 3000 volunteers worked tirelessly on Saturday, May 16 to collect non-perishable food from doorsteps. In Wheatley alone, over 50 volunteers collected about 20 skids of food as well as over $1100 in monetary donations. All collections in Wheatley stayed at the Wheatley Food Bank at the Wheatley Baptist Church. The food drive covered more than 2000 square kilometres.
Rob and Janis Willan of Wheatley get ready to go collecting for the May 16th Miracle. They were two of over 50 volunteers in Wheatley on Saturday, May 16. Sun photo
By Mark Ribble tive, with 47 outstanding test results as LEAMINGTON — There has been of Monday, May 25. Over the course of the pandemic, Erie a noticeable increase in the amount of people attending the COVID-19 Assess- Shores HealthCare has also tested 430 ment Centre at Erie Shores HealthCare patients in the ER and in-patient units, with 55 of those coming back positive in the past few days. After Ontario Premier Doug Ford an- for COVID-19. The Premier advised Sunday that the nounced on Sunday that anyone can now get tested, local officials expect opportunity to be tested for the virus is now available to all. “You will not be those numbers to keep rising. “Prior to May 19, we were averag- turned away, even if you or your family ing about 30-35 patients per day,” says don’t have symptoms,” he said. “If you Kristin Kennedy, the Vice President of feel you need a test, you will be able to Patient Services and Chief Nursing Ex- get a test.” Although it was not required previecutive for ESHC. “Since May 19, we’ve seen that average increase to 45-50 pa- ously at the ESHC Assessment Centre, tients per day.” ASSESSMENT - Page 2 Now, with Premier Ford’s weekend announcement, they are swabbing all patients who attend the centre to be tested. Since the Assessment Centre opened at Erie Shores HealthCare on April 16, they’ve assessed 980 patients. Of those 980 people who were assessed, they swabbed 878 of them for COVID-19. From that 878 people who were swabbed, 104 of them tested positive for COVID-19 and 724 were nega- ESHC Assessment Centre staff prepare for patients.
Janice Dawson departs CEO job at Erie Shores HealthCare
LEAMINGTON – On Tuesday morning, Erie Shores HealthCare announced the departure of CEO Janice Dawson, who has been at the helm for three years. ESHC Board Chair Jeff Lewis made the announcement in conjunction with the launch of an independent executive search for the hospital’s next leader. Dawson is moving on to pursue other professional interests. Dr. Ross Moncur, the hospital’s current Chief of Staff, will step in as interim CEO until the executive search for a full time replacement is complete. Dawson’s leadership has played an integral part in managing the COVID-19 crisis and ESHC now ranks as one of Ontario’s top five hospitals for short emergency wait times. “Helping to lead the hospital through increases to our catchment area and volumes while supporting the improvement to our emergency wait times and navigating the organization through the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, we cannot thank Janice enough for her valuable contributions and leadership to Erie Shores HealthCare and wish her all the best in this next stage of her career,”
said Lewis. Erie Shores HealthCare’s steady growth in many areas recently, shows that the hospital’s contribution to public health in Essex County is increasingly vital. Lewis was grateful to Dr. Moncur for stepping up during this time. “Dr. Moncur has the full trust, confidence, and support of the Erie Shores HealthCare board of directors as he steps into this new role,” said Lewis. “Having DR. ROSS MONCUR such a strong chief of staff - and now interim CEO - engaged in this process will give the board terrific insight into the opportunities and needs that lay ahead.” “Dr. Moncur is a longstanding member of the Erie Shores family,” said ESHC Director of Communications and Public Relations, Arms Bumanlag. “In addition to his work in the hospital, he practices at the Leamington Area Family Health Team and resides in Kingsville with his family.”
