Did Cornwall Community Hospital Management Pink Slip Withdrawal Management Services Program Staff Monday?

CFN – CCH Hospital management are playing footsie with facts and refusing to cooperate with CFN’s request for basic information.

 

After a flood of communication after our petition to ask for a 90 Day Moratorium of the Sale of the 2nd Street site we received reports last Friday that staff were called into a meeting and given 7 days to accept retirement packages.   Monday we were told that staff were given long term notices in lieu of pay.

Our attempts to get clear answers from Shaun MacDonald, Communications Coordinator of CCH were met with requests for where we received our info and cloudy answers.

After a series of emails, when asked clearly, were any staff pink slipped at the facility Monday CCH responded with the missive below:

Changes to Withdrawal Management Services Program

Communication

-January 7, 2013-
Key Messages

  • The Cornwall Community Hospital Withdrawal Management Services program is moving from a Residential model, which included onsite overnight care, to a Community based model in order to meet the changing needs of our local clients.

This is a fundamental change to an essential program. Our goal is to enhance our services while operating an effective program and improving efficiencies.
Advantages:

  • With the population needs changing and drugs of choice having changed, evidence and best practice demonstrates that treatment is more effective with longer lengths of engagement and flexibility, which is best provided with a community model of delivery.

 

  • This new model will enable us to reach those groups of people who are currently underserved including women, youth, and the elderly.
  • The previous model was running at a very low occupancy rate over the years (25-40%). This re-evaluated strategy will allow for continuous improvement in the quality of services and the operational performance and will benefit a much broader demographic.
  • The community model will serve more clients within the same operating budget.
  • Service gaps will be narrowed or eliminated.
  • The community model has a track record of success – demonstrated across Ontario.

 

  • The level of impact on staffing levels is undetermined at this point. We are hoping that no one will leave the organization who does not want to, however the new model requires a different mix of Withdrawal Management Services staff to accommodate the enhancement to services.

 

  • Staffing changes will be managed through the process articulated in our union contracts. The first step in the process is to offer existing staff in the department early retirement and voluntary exit options.

 

 

  • Staff members have been encouraged to speak with Human Resources on an individual basis to express any concerns or to receive more information.

Also patients at the hospital are voicing concerns over their own service in the future.

Chantale LeClerc, RN, MSc, GNC(C) – CEO / Chef de la direction – Champlain LHIN / RLISS Champlain -1900 City Park, Suite 204, Ottawa, ON, K1J 1A3 – 613-747-3208  –   chantale.leclerc@lhins.on.ca

Ms LeClerc has not responded to CFN’s request to speak with her although there is buzz that she’s attending a meeting here in Cornwall this week with the EOHU.

Again, the basic question is why is the Hospital Management behaving in this manner?  Why are they chopping services that clearly are needed by our community?

Why are they not being transparent?   Why are our local politicians tolerating the Hospital management behavior?

After last weeks dramatic public meeting (LINK) the public clearly showed in interest in having a say to the future of this facility?

We will be updating as we are sifting through as much information as we can.  If  you have any info you wish to share email us at jamie@cornwallfreenews.com or call our hotline at 613 361 1755.

To sign the petition asking for a 90 day moratorium click HERE.

What do you think Cornwall?  You can post your comments below.

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19 Comments

  1. What happened to the funding money that CCH received for Detox Center,I heard to be built on grounds of old ambulance station next to CCH,We need that service for the people that require it,I heard that numbers were down but still we just cannot abandon them like that,they are someone,s son,daughter,mother or father.We cannot throw the baby out with the bath water!!!!

  2. The level of impact on staffing levels is undetermined at this point. We are hoping that no one will leave the organization who does not want to, however the new model requires a different mix of Withdrawal Management Services staff to accommodate the enhancement to services.

    Does this mean that only francophone staff can now replace those workers? Interesting….Cornwall !!! Are you going to keep allowing this B S by your silence!!!

  3. It is mind boggling to say the least, how people think they can dictate how a corporation or institution should be run and how decisions should be made.

    Unless one is part of management, knows the facts or ramifications such decisions will have……who can make an honest opinion on what truly is going on and why.

  4. Author

    Stella perhaps if that corporation, supported by the community and tax dollars, were a smidge more transparent?

  5. Whoever you are Stella, you must be one of those “corporation” people. Big difference here. Too much hush hush and then slice and dice of the community that they claim to care about.

  6. How transparent must they be? Keep all citizens in the loop of every move or decision they make? Have their financial books open to the public? Justify all their actions to satisfy the public? In the real world, it just doesn’t happen.

    That is the job for the qualified only, such as financial advisors and management. It is impossible to govern and keep all citizens happy at the same time.

  7. With social networking today (facebook, this media, e-mail, twitter etc.,) all managers become highly sensitive to wickit- leaks….

    What do they do then? Perhaps everybody before meetings must put their cell phones in a lock box and bare under strip searches before their meeting can commence. Then under strict, signed sworn oaths not to divulge such ‘secrets’ under punishment of termination and NO pension, I guess you could say the bury their heads in the sand. Oh, so no English will know any better, all meetings are now primarily the secret ones, carried out in French).

    Before we get too excited I guess if leaks are to be sent out only certain media will be privy in a basement bar somewhere above 13th and Brookdale Ave., if you know what I MEAN.

    We seem to want and even EXPECT immediate answers to everything and draw on conjecture and rumor for our findings. Perhaps I am just as guilty at times as the rest of us. No matter, whatever the findings, we will still disagree, digest and digress.

    My take on it so far is that there will be limited space outside of the emergency services at the CCH after which time if long term and disruptive client needs to be transported to the Mental Health Unit at the CGH, they will be, under police escort if need be and or by ambulance………..for now anyway.

    So you see, they will still be looked after one way or another, of that we can be sure. NOT TO WORRY.

  8. Well Stella the more transparency the better. Why does Winchester Hospital not have these problems?

    The problem with you and your supporters who back the current system is that you cannot accept that the people for whom you serve are no longer willing to swallow whatever bullshit the establishment directs towards them.

    These days people may be economically poorer as compared to generations that have come before however they are also much smarter and generally better informed and educated.

    Old ways aren’t working anymore. Paradigms shift; others take their place to replace the old ones and the old ones are then discarded.

    I can still remember a time when people never challenged what their doctors or priests told them. Imagine if that were still the case, nowadays? We would have no knowledge then of the story of the Boys of St. Vincent or the wrongdoings of medical malpractice, would we?

    Stella writes:

    “Have their financial books open to the public? Justify all their actions to satisfy the public? In the real world, it just doesn’t happen.

    That is the job for the qualified only, such as financial advisors and management. It is impossible to govern and keep all citizens happy at the same time.”

    Again you’re wrong there Stella. This happens once a year with non-profit organizations with their Annual General Meetings. All the financials are read for everyone in attendance to take in.

    I can see where you are coming from though, Stella. You really are an elitist type thinker aren’t you? It is this type of elitist mentality though that has led to rulers hiding things from their public all throughout history and which has led to revolutions when people have simply had enough of it all.

    There is a reason why you left NY City Stella. And the reason was you couldn’t stomach that wonderful multicultural metropolis. No, dear, you had to come back to that old, milltown with the backwoods mentality, didn’t you?

    Here’s to NY City!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHagigQRKqU&feature=related

    No offence good people of Cornwall but I need to illustrate my point here with Stella. Cornwall is simply no New York City! There is no equivalent of Carnegie Hall in our native city.

  9. cory wrote “There is a reason why you left NY City Stella. And the reason was you couldn’t stomach that wonderful multicultural metropolis”And the reason was you couldn’t stomach that wonderful multicultural metropolis”

    First off little c, that comment has nothing to do with the subject at hand, but I am compelled to reply.

    NYC was a temporary assignment….like for 6 months at a time……got that? That being said….when the term was completed, I returned to my beautiful country.

    As for this part of your comment “And the reason was you couldn’t stomach that wonderful multicultural metropolis” like many of your other comments….it’s not even worth responding to **smile**

  10. just love PR people who can’t write…

    The Cornwall Community Hospital Withdrawal Management Services program is moving from a Residential model, which included onsite overnight care, to a Community based model in order to meet the changing needs of our local clients.

    Translation: We’re kicking bodies out onto the street

  11. more love for those PR people who can’t write…

    With the population needs changing and drugs of choice having changed, evidence and best practice demonstrates that treatment is more effective with longer lengths of engagement and flexibility, which is best provided with a community model of delivery.

    Translation: the people in need are really effed…kick’m out onto the street

  12. more love for those PR people who can’t write…

    The previous model was running at a very low occupancy rate over the years (25-40%). This re-evaluated strategy will allow for continuous improvement in the quality of services and the operational performance and will benefit a much broader demographic.

    Translation: we’ve screwed around with the numbers to make it seem as though we’ll be doing a better job. in fact we’ll be doing less for less but making a good salary

  13. more love for those PR people who can’t write

    The level of impact on staffing levels is undetermined at this point. We are hoping that no one will leave the organization who does not want to, however the new model requires a different mix of Withdrawal Management Services staff to accommodate the enhancement to services.

    Translation: we’ve covered our asses. the future (for us) is bright. screw the employees

  14. Yep, Stella, only one guy I know of had a”” heart attack”” over it, and guess what, good news is he wasn’t one of the English only as one would have expected under todays F/E fiasco.

  15. Yep, he was not given a choice. It was one ‘opp’s, we don’t need you any more, no thanks for your 20+ years of dedicated altruistic service, heart attack the next day…oh, what’s your problem…a little insensitive were we Mr. Collateral Damage?

    No shit! Sue the bastards.

  16. Let’s build a new hospital and already before it’s opened start cutting back, how did we know? All this will amount too is one huge janitors office of waisted space. AND to add further insult, let’s sell off a building already paid for by taxpayers for peanuts and propose a new building on the same site as this huge janitors office at the cost of millions yet cut staff.

    Maybe it’s time these top managers start losing their jobs?

    This is why Cornwall will not progress into something so much better, mis-managed, loss of trust, friends helping friends only and to hell with everyone else.

    I was born and raised in Cornwall and in my 50 years the sign still reads 46000 people. I laugh everytime I hear a radio add stating how Cornwall has grown. Tell me where we have grown?

    Cornwall is in a hole, a big dark hole and it’s only getting worse before it will ever get better, if it does at all.

  17. I have a hard time understanding on whom wrote those PR versus. Come on now, do you really mean it was the PR staff?
    Really! Must of received a little token on thier pay or a day off for such a lovely job of trying to screwing peoples mind up.
    Boy, it sure shows how acid minded thinking there and that;s suppose-to-be a hospital to help people in many ways to recovery.

  18. The gentleman who had a heart attack after being told he was no longer wanted, only had 2 more years before retirement with full pension,he is French…..but guess what ….not french enough!!! Sad when you can do your job for years then being told you no longer fit the qualifications……yet the very people causing such pain & psychopathic behaviour do not all speak french themselves !!!

  19. Why is Cornwall Community Hospital targeting full time employees in an attempt to get rid of then only to hire part-time workers with no benefits. Is the the mentality we are supporting? The hospital is hiring retired workers to fill this gap.

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