With more money being freed up thanks to staff and budget cuts, the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) will be making a series of new investments at the hospitals in the area to improve care for patients.
CKHA announced in its 2017/2018 Recovery Plan that it will be reducing staff to ensure the hospital can continue to deliver high quality care and support equipment renewal, facility repair and replacement, and program enhancements.
CEO Lori Marshall says the hospital will save about $3-million after cutting about 40 staff positions this year, which will allow for improved equipment and services.
"We're able to invest in new and expanded patient services -- so things like additional hip and knee surgeries," says Marshall.
Examples of investments will include:
- Additional physician coverage in the emergency department
- Expansion of specialist clinics
- Additional 73 knee replacements and 14 hip replacements
- Increased respiratory coverage
- Capital renewal plans
- Replacement of capital equipment, including a new Health Information System
- New bassinets
- New laryngoscope in emergency department
- Updated vital sign monitors
- Neonatal/infant transport isolette
- Point of care ultrasound and resources to support advanced training for ER physicians