ARARAT - To coincide with tonight's East Grampians Health Service annual meeting the second `Community Matters' publication will be distributed to all households in the municipality.
For the second year, Community Matters has retained its name from what was previously identified as the Quality of Care Report and is the health service's report the community.
While Community Matters has been written based on the requirements of the Department of Human Services, it is a celebration of the strong links between EGHS and the Ararat and district community.
EGHS's philosophy is `Our People, Our Places, Our Community and Our Lives' and aims to deliver in each of these areas:
Our People - EGHS staff are appropriately qualified and trained and deliver innovative programs and services to the community in excellent, environmentally sensitive facilities.
Our Place - EGHS is proud to be part of Ararat and district; a vibrant place and generous community.
Our Community - EGHS promotes itself to the whole community, and aims to attract the best practitioners both nationally and internationally to join the organisation.
Our Lives - EGHS cares for newborns, patients and clients through to residents in its aged care facilities, and people who attend the day centres.
However, EGHS goes beyond offering the basic health services of the hospitals of old, offering an extensive range of acute, residential, home and community based services and programs throughout Ararat Rural City.
Acute services include an inpatient unit (chemotherapy, ECG stress testing), infection control, midwifery, palliative care, perioperative services (day procedure, dental), ear, nose and throat, vascular (emergency surgery, general surgery, haemodialysis, obstetrics and gynaecology, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, urology), pharmacy.
Its primary care service include antenatal, community nurses, community palliative care, dental, diabetes education, dietetics, district nursing, domiciliary care, HARP (chronic disease management), health promotion, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatry, post acute care, social work and speech pathology.
Medical imaging services include general x-ray, ultrasound, and CT in conjunction with Stawell Regional Health.
Residential services include 70 Lowe Street, a 45 bed high care facility, Garden View Court, comprising 24 individual units and the Willaura Nursing Home and Parkland House Hostel.
The Patricia Hinchey Day Centre, Ark Toy Library and Willaura Day Centre all provide valuable services to the community.
Board president Graeme Foster and EGHS CEO Rob Bulmer also acknowledged the work of the health service's partners in raising valuable funds for much needed equipment.
''Good facilities and equipment are important in contributing to a welcoming environment and to the provision of a safe and high standard of care,'' they said.
''East Grampians Health Service continues to identify opportunities to improve its facilities and the work of the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation Ararat Branch and our Auxiliaries provided vital funds and good will in addition to the excellent financial support we received from the Department of Human Services.
''More importantly, however, is the recognition that `Health Services are People' providing care and personal attention to those who entrust themselves into its care.
''The true success of a health service lies in its compassion and recognition of each person as an individual. We pride ourselves in striving to maintain this feature of our service to our patients, residents and clients.''
Mr Foster and Mr Bulmer said the long tradition of the health service's relationship with the community will be celebrated next March during the health service's 150th anniversary weekend.
The formation of the East Grampians Health Service `Building for the Future' foundation in August of this year is another important development.
''Formally appointed trustees will build a financial base and steer another important legacy in support of the health service's strength and prosperity into the future,'' Mr Foster and Mr Bulmer said.
Community Matters is being distributed to the community through the support of The Ararat Advertiser and Australia Post Ararat.
Email a friend
Favourites
Del.icio.us
Facebook
Digg
StumbleUpon
MySpace
Reddit
Newsvine
LinkedIn
Kwoff
Twitter