Annual Report 2004 - Health and Emergency Medical Services

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The Health Services Department promotes, protects and enhances the health and safety of the people of York Region through a wide range of programs and services provided by its six branches: Public Health, Emergency Medical Services, Long Term Care and Seniors, Health Information and Planning, Community Development and Business Services.

PUBLIC HEALTH
Focus: Keep York Region healthy through health promotion, health protection and disease prevention activities.
Achievements:

•	There were 14,540 flu shots administered, a 28% increase over 2003.
•	The Street Outreach mobile van program provided basic and potentially life-saving interventions to 16% more homeless and street-involved individuals.
•	York Region was selected as a provincial pilot test site for a new infectious diseases case management and reporting software, known as the integrated Public Health Information System (iPHIS).

•	The Red Flags Reference Guide For Early Years Professionals was developed as a tool to monitor healthy child development, and included workshops for more than 100 Ontario Early Years Centres members.
•	Public Health Nurses of the Healthy Babies, Healthy Children program conducted 13% more postpartum home visits in 2004, providing screening, counselling and home visiting support.
•	Post Partum Mood Disorder (PPMD) Transition to Parenting family nights were offered to 75 mothers and 60 fathers, a significant increase from 24 mothers and no fathers in 2003.
•	The School Team worked collaboratively with the public school board to address health-related needs of newly arrived immigrants. This ongoing innovative project will result in ethno-specific Public Health services offered out of the board’s Jefferson Learning Centre.
•	Dental Services provided dental screening to 66,599 children, an increase of 9,584 children over 2003.
•	Nutrition Services led the efforts of public health nutritionists from 7 health units to develop a healthy school nutrition document, released to government, health units and school boards across the province.
•	Injury Prevention staff delivered the Road to Safety program to 37 day care centres, providing parents with child restraint information and measuring 424 children to ensure they were in the correct car restraint for their weight, height and sitting height.
•	Lay Health Educator Cervical Health Project successfully trained 11 women to deliver 42 cervical health education sessions in Cantonese and Mandarin to 663 Chinese women. 80% of participants indicated they would follow the screening guidelines offered.
•	A new Private Well Water initiative was launched in 2004 to encourage those on private wells to test their well water at least three times annually. 600 well water kits were distributed.
•	Public Health Branch committed to expand the 20/20 The Way to Clean Air Program through community workplace outreach to encourage residents to reduce energy use by 20% at home and on the road.
•	Through the food safety program, 11,389 food premise inspections were completed, an increase of 248 inspections over 2003.
•	Eat Smart!, Ontario’s healthy restaurant program, recognized 113 York Region establishments for excellence in food safety, nutrition and non-smoking dining.

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
Focus: Support safe and secure communities in York Region through the provision of high quality emergency medical services.
Achievements:

•	Two additional ambulances were added to provide a total of 26 ambulances and 6 Paramedic Response Units to respond to medical emergencies.
•	Three additional Paramedic Response Stations were opened in Markham, Richmond Hill and Mt. Albert, to a total of 18 stations.
•	Emergency Medical Services participated in approximately 121 community events, public relations and education initiatives, increasing awareness and fostering community partnerships.
•	The Heart Alive public access defibrillation program was officially launched, with 51 automated external defibrillators (AED) installed in 28 Regional worksites, and more than 390 Regional employees trained through 34 targeted responder courses. Heart Alive is a public access defibrillation program aimed at increasing survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest.

LONG TERM CARE AND SENIORS
Focus: Offer quality programs which promote the health, well being and independence of seniors and adults requiring long term care services.
Achievements:

•	The number of long term care beds was increased from 200 to 232 in 2004, providing a total of 84,680 facility program days. The waitlist was reduced as a result of the addition.
•	26 additional, accessible Alternative Community Living (ACL) Supportive Housing units were opened at the Newmarket Health Centre - Armitage Gardens. This program provides housing and support services to seniors so they can stay in the community and remain independent.
•	The Long Term Care and Seniors Branch received a three-year Accreditation award from the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation (CCHSA).
•	A successful mock emergency exercise was conducted at the Newmarket Health Centre to prepare staff and test emergency preparedness in the event of a disaster.
•	Newmarket Health Centre redevelopment project completed phases two through four, adding 12,000 long term care bed days and 20,000 square feet for outreach programs and community services.
•	100% of clients and families rated both the Newmarket and Maple Health Centres with a good to excellent client satisfaction.
•	The circulation of the Seniors Resource Directory was expanded to include all households in York Region.

HEALTH INFORMATION AND PLANNING
Focus: Provide accurate, timely and comprehensive information about the health of York Region residents.
Achievements:

•	York Region was the second largest epi-centre in North America for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) during the 2003 outbreak. In 2004, staff reconciled over 300 SARS client files and developed a comprehensive case database and final report.
•	The Rapid Risk Factor Surveillance System (RRFSS) was successfully coordinated, with on-going monthly interviews of a random sample of 100 adults. Gathering data will assist public health program planning.
•	The Health Connection toll-free health information telephone line provided information, education and support to 44,732 callers.




•	Advanced Care Paramedics (ACP) provided additional, potentially life-saving procedures to their patients. Eight Primary Care Paramedics were trained to the ACP level in 2004, to a total of 64 ACPs servicing the emergency medical needs of residents.
•	The Tobacco Education and Control Team successfully implemented the final phase of the No-Smoking By-law making bars, casinos, billiard and bingo halls, race tracks, night clubs and lounges smoke-free. By end of 2004 over 90% of these premises were in compliance.

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