Bruce Power strengthens partnership with regional hospitals

Bruce Power has entered into a wide-ranging Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the South Bruce Grey Health Centre which includes hospitals in Kincardine, Walkerton, Durham and Chesley; and with Grey Bruce Health Services which includes hospitals in Owen Sound, Southampton, Markdale, Meaford, Wiarton and Lion’s Head.
The agreement will strengthen an already strong relationship in a number of key areas.

 

“This MOU is all about formalizing a wide-range of activities we have been collaborating on for some time, while recognizing that it’s important that we create a formal structure to ensure that we seize as many strategic opportunities as possible by working together,” said Paul Rosebush, president and chief executive officer of the South Bruce Grey Health Centre.

 

Through the MOU, Bruce Power will provide $150,000 in funding to the two organizations to make enhancements related to emergency services and training of staff throughout the region. Previously, Bruce Power has collaborated with both health centres to support quality health care and emergency services, including investments in health care infrastructure, physician recruitment and retention activities.

 

“Bruce Power has always been a strong supporter of health care and emergency services throughout the entire region but this relationship extends far beyond funding, to how our organizations work together to strategically tackle a wide range of issues throughout the region,” said Lance Thurston, president and chief executive officer of Grey Bruce Health Services.

 

In 2013, Bruce Power announced $2-million in funding to support the enhancement of health care infrastructure within the two regional health centres, with a particular focus in the Kincardine and Southampton hospitals.
In addition, Bruce Power has provided more than $500,000 in funding to support physician recruitment in Kincardine and Saugeen Shores and continues to fund this initiative jointly with those two municipalities.
The company has also committed to ongoing annual funding, supporting a range of regional health initiatives through its Community Investment and Sponsorship Program.

 

“We’ve had a very successful working relationship over the past 14 years, and now we’re looking at new areas of collaboration with a particular focus on improving regional health care and enhancing emergency services,” said James Scongack, vice-president of corporate affairs at Bruce Power.

 

The new funding will be used to:

 

• Invest in hospital infrastructure, including facility enhancements, diagnostic equipment, and specialized instrumentation

• Improve emergency preparedness through training of staff, participation in drills and exercises, and maintenance of an integrated response plan

• Ensure alignment and collaboration to new regulatory requirements related to the re-distribution of potassium iodide (KI) tablets.

• Continue physician recruitment initiatives with surrounding municipalities to bring new emergency room and family doctors to the region

• Support health and wellness programs

• Sponsor public health education and awareness campaigns

• Strengthen co-operation through a knowledge partnership, including research and information-sharing in the areas of common interest

 

A copy of the MOU can be found at: www.brucepower.com/reports-archive