By Jamie Cameron
Good news arrived March 3 for the approximately 13 local dialysis patients as the hospital announced plans for a new unit. Allan Dean, Member of the Hospital Foundation said the project is “near and dear to our hearts”, and with Gail Ryan, Director of Nursing for the Outaouais, and MNA André Fortin, explained the project.
Ryan presented a slide show displaying the dialysis unit in Hull, which will be the model for Shawville. Five units will be installed with room to add five more in the future, allowing up to 20 patients to receive services when construction is complete around the end of the summer. “Most patients are treated 4 to 5 hours a day, 3 to 4 days a week, depending on the individual and how they react to the treatment,” said Ryan.
The information system is the same as in Hull and other satellite services. Telemedicine (live video conferencing) allows a nephrologist to do a clinical exam for any dialysis patient, thus ensuring close monitoring. Additional staff positions will be created: four full time nursing jobs, extra cleaning staff, biomedical resources, secretaries and other positions.
Fortin commented that the project was created by people of the Pontiac, funded in great part by people of the Pontiac and will be constructed by people of
the Pontiac. “It is truly a community project,” he said. Dean noted that Fortin was
instrumental in moving the project forward over the past four years.
Artist’s conception of the floor plan.
