CCAC caring for more people with greater needs

The County’s David Vigar will lead the South East Community Care Access Centre board of directors for the coming year.

At the recent annual general meeting, members learned that in 2012/2013, the South East CCAC provided care to more than 33,410 people including: 20,889 patients receiving care at home; 14,481 seniors who were supported to stay in their homes independently; and 3,451 children receiving health services at school. Community Care Access Centres are comprised of 14 organizations across the province, funded and legislated by the ministry of health, to connect to home care, long-term care and other services in the community.

Vigar, of Picton, is a retired senior healthcare executive with more than 20 years as a Chief Executive Officer of small rural, medium and large sized community hospitals. He has previous board involvement with Children’s Aid and Community Living organizations. He works with Accreditation Canada as a fellow surveyor/facilitator conducting accreditation reviews and providing education to organizations both nationally and internationally.
Joining him on the board are: Wendy Cuthbert (vice-chair), Stan Collins (treasurer), Deanna Dulmage (secretary), Carole Weir, Marion Hughes, (of Prince Edward County) and Francyne St-Pierre Givogue.

In a statement of the past year, the South East CCAC reports it assisted more than 1,242 seniors transition to a long-term care home; worked in hospital inpatient and emergency departments across the region to help 12,071 people return home from hospital with home care; and provided 663 more patients with personal support, and 100,248 more hours of personal support than the previous year.

“Not only are we coordinating care for more people, we are also seeing an increase in patients with high needs,” said Jacqueline Redmond, CEO of the South East CCAC.  “Caring for more people with high care needs requires increased collaboration across the health system and CCACs play a key role in creating a better aligned health system. We look forward to continuing to work with all sectors of the local health care system to provide outstanding care to every person, every day.”

The South East CCAC balanced its $109 million budget with a small surplus.

“I have a deep gratitude for the work of the South East CCAC,” said outgoing board member Beverley Townsend.  “Every day there is a huge corps of people who support more than 12,500 individuals to remain in their homes under the guidance of the CCAC care coordinators. The CCAC has a relatively small number of staff reaching many people in the community and helping many people navigate the health system. We get a huge value for the dollars invested.”

To view a copy of the 2012/13 Annual Report and the audited financial statements, visit the South East CCAC website at www.se.ccac-ont.ca publications and reports page.