Patient Transfer Week: Local Patient Transfer Team Celebrated
Celebrating the dedicated Blanche River Health Patient Transfer Team and the community’s role in supporting their vital work.
It’s Patient Transfer Week, an opportunity to salute the Blanche River Health (BRH) employees who drive thousands of kilometres each month to ensure in-patients attend medical appointments as far away as Timmins, North Bay, Sudbury and beyond.
“Travelling great distances to access specialized care in other communities is a reality of northern, rural health care,” said Jorge VanSlyke, President and CEO, BRH. “Our patient transfer service team members go above and beyond, making approximately 500 trips each year to ensure our in-patients receive the care they need from out-of-town clinicians. I am grateful for the vital contributions they make to providing quality health care for our patients.”
Recognizing the importance of the service, the Blanche River Health Foundation (BRHF) donated two new patient transfer vehicles last year, replacing older vehicles that required costly maintenance. These vehicles were funded in part by a generous legacy donation from Olga Jackson, whose lasting gift is helping to improve patient care in our communities.
“The Blanche River Health Foundation steps in to fund medical equipment and capital projects that are not funded by the government,” said Cassandra James, the Foundation’s Executive Director. “Supporting the vital work of the hospital’s amazing patient transfer professionals is crucial to connecting patients to the care they require. It is one of many examples of how the generosity of local individuals and businesses support enhanced local health care.”
“We are grateful for the important work of our patient transfer team, and hope the communities we serve will join me in thanking them for the important work they do,” added VanSlyke.
Blanche River Health (BRH) is a 69-bed hospital corporation with two sites serving the North Eastern Ontario communities of Englehart (21 beds) and Kirkland Lake (48 beds) as well as residents in surrounding areas. Our mission is to make health care work for you.
BRH values people and continuous improvement and we demonstrate this through accountability, respect, and courage to excel.
Please direct media inquiries to: Communications and Public Relations 1-866-274-7774 ext. 2144 | communications@blancheriverhealth.ca
Pictured: Patient Transfer Attendants Shea McCallum, Penny Ferguson, Paul Czovek and Erin Boisvenue and Jennifer Boudreault (BRH Manager Health Information, Privacy/Security Officer) pose with one of the non-urgent patient transfer vehicles.