Choice of CT scanner for Kincardine hospital draws more responses

To the Editor:
RE: “Kincardine resident wants public input on choice of CT scanner for Kincardine hospital”

Extremely well said. 

I wonder what is really behind this decision that Kincardine is not deserving of the better CT scanner?

I do not feel that the hospital board has a reason good enough to satisfy the residents of the Municipality of Kincardine on the decision it has made. 

Personally, I feel the board members are not representing our best interests for the best health care, and as such, should maybe resign. 

It would seem they cannot make the best informed decision considering money is not a problem in reaching the best decision.  

Peggy Griffin
Kincardine
 

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To the Editor:

I will, in the future, be certain any donations I make will be entirely earmarked for the Kincardine hospital only not the foundation.

The hospital board does not follow its mission statement and clearly does not follow the wishes of its local citizens.

The entire board should be ashamed and I consider the members to be bullies! 

Lynda Trudell
Lurgan Beach
 

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To the Editor:

Right now, we are all feeling that the hospital board is very closed-minded.

The amount of people and how quickly they shared their opinions, shows the majority of us definitely want the Drive CT scanner.

I believe if the board reconsiders its decision and purchases the machine wanted, that the next time money is needed, everyone will definitely be happy to work at finding funds.

We can engage everyone in the choices available at the time and work together for the common good of all of us and our future.

We live in a beautiful municipality, with lots of caring folks who want to be involved and help with solutions that benefit all of us.

Irene Kerslake
Kincardine
 

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To the Editor:

This CT scanner issue really keeps going ‘round and ‘round.

I watched the hospital ‘open’ board meeting Wednesday night (Feb. 3) and what I heard and understood from the board and the CEO were the following:
 

1. The understanding of the board and its ‘fiduciary responsibility.’
2. If you need a ‘more-advanced CT scan,’ you can still be ‘transported to Walkerton.’
3. ‘Many’ physicians were consulted and the hospital board’s decision has been based on the recommendation of chief radiologist, Dr. Douglas Mowbray, and ‘not the salesperson at Siemens,’ but the ‘clinical lead for Siemens.’ Can you tell me how the advice of 12 local physicians-specialists in support of the DRIVE CT has not been considered?
4. I understand different CT units require a different ‘standard operating approach.’ I also understand the current DRIVE CT in Walkerton is not fully deployed to its maximum potential and scope, due to lack of pace in advancement and/or preference of Dr. Mowbray. This is not personal – I do recall Dr. Mowbray mentioning, over a few different and recent presentations on this CT issue, that the EDGE PLUS is ‘good enough’ for what we need and if we ‘did it right,’ we should get the DRIVE. Well, which is it? The DRIVE CT that has been touted for the last two years, or the newer model and first innovative unit in Canada! Impressive, but not the model we came together to financially support. 
5. I understand, within the region which hospital has which CT scan unit and I also understand that, regionally, the Walkerton site wants to be considered the site if someone needs a ‘higher-functioning’ CT scan.
6. Dr. Lisa Roth declared a compromised relationship receiving some level of compensation as a paid ‘Chief of Staff’ for all four-hospital sites of the hospital corporation (South Bruce Grey Health Centre) and that Dr. Douglas Mowbray disclosed he is a fee-for-service radiologist, which may be accurate; however, as the hospital corporation’s paid ‘chief of radiology’ for all four sites, he, along with Dr. Lisa Roth, would receive some level of compensation as the ‘paid’ chief physicians, respectively.
7. That CEO Michael Barrett and Dr. Roth consulted with Dr. Gerard Shoemaker who mentioned for ‘his basic cardiology purposes’ that ‘either CT unit would suffice’ but the premise the past two years has been that while akin to a neurology CT scan, a cardiology CT scan is responsively sensitive to blood flow and plaque (my general impression is that the DRIVE CT produces less radiation, is more agile in imagery and provides a more definitive result, albeit the images may look similar, the devil is in the details when it comes to a CT image, which is why they are not cheap units to acquire, you pay for what you get).
8. We now understand that the DRIVE CT may exposure you to 20 seconds of radiation whereby the EDGE PLUS would expose you to 50-60 seconds. While this may be a negligible differential to a hospital corporation, or its one chief radiologist, the lifetime incidence is cumulative and exposure is not something I care to entrust to someone with a perceived ‘conflict’ being ‘paid’ to advocate for a ‘cheaper’ model. That, to me, is negligent and I do not consent to this. This is a simple Internet search to understand cumulative incidence of exposure.
9. When board member David Leone suggested the board did an ‘excellent job’ reviewing the information that his colleague, Doug Harris, suggested was a board ‘education session’ led by the clinical lead at Siemens for 1.5 hours, I wonder if from the Walkerton drinking-water tragedy, would a community settle for a piece of life-saving equipment for $1.4-million less, or would you spend the additional cost, having already been approved and endorsed by the hospital foundation, supported by Bruce Power, the municipality, physicians groups and Kincardine residents to optically show (a) you care and (b) you are listening to the financial donors?

Friendly advice to the hospital board and CEO, if you are considering asking the Kincardine community or the local municipal council for any funding commitments toward the 10-per-cent ($9.7-million) ‘redevelopment community ask,’ I suggest you find it in your heart and conscience to simply reverse course and just get the DRIVE CT.

The Kincardine community will fund and build the hospital without question. We don’t need an administrator or a self-represented board for that matter. We just need to understand the ‘amount’ and the Kincardine community will be there, as always. This is why the Kincardine foundation is flush with cash; we support local.

I propose the following for consideration of the board:
 

• Reverse your decision and pursue the CT DRIVE, no further action required. All stakeholders happy.
• In agreement with comments on-line, I would encourage the board to reconsider its decision; otherwise, I would encourage the community to investigate other options to separate Kincardine.

Let’s not make this difficult or embarrassing any further, chairman John Gilbert. You are not holding court, reconvene the board and attempt to try to do the right thing. Leadership isn’t always popular but the message from the community, council, foundation, Bruce Power and the physicians group is pretty directive in whole, support the DRIVE CT and be a ‘hero.’

Kincardine’s tired of being ‘just good enough.’ We would like to be at least equals or the best.
 
Marta McBride
Fergus
Seasonal resident of Kincardine
 

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To the Editor:
RE: “Health centre board confirms purchase of Edge Plus CT scanner for Kincardine hospital”

I just read the article in the Kincardine Record, “Health centre board confirms purchase of Edge Plus CT scanner for Kincardine hospital.” 

I can hardly believe this when the community, physicians group and Kincardine council all supported purchasing the Drive CT scanner.
 
How can the hospital board do this and is there any recourse?  I'm sure I'm not the only one with these questions.

Margaret Visser
Huron-Kinloss