WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16.1987. PAGE 31 Fr WHIEIA L progrm hc rvisetr By BRIAN WINTER Rehabilitation services are an important part of the Whitby General Hospital's programnto enable i patients to* function nor- mally after they leave the hospital, and make them as independent-as- possible if they require a prolonged stay., Dianne Russell, who has been director of rehabilitation services since July 1, 1987, has 18 years of experience in her field. She was a physical and occupational therapist at Scarborough General Hospital before coming to Whitby, and has worked at Scarborough Centenary, Riverdale and Oshawa General Hospitals. At Whitby General, she is in charge of four departments: physiotherapy, occupational therapy, recreational therapy and the speech and audiology depar- tments. Physiotherapy is provided for ,both in-patients and out-patients. In-patients are usually treated for medical and surgical conditions, however, a large area of respon- sibiliy is in the 32-bed continuing care unit on the second floor. A new program, starting in Sep- With an ever increasing population, a Whitby Ambulance Service operator says he would welcome a third car for the Whitby area. The Ministry of Health recently expanded ambulance service in Oshawa, Ajax-Pickering and in other area locations, part of $8- million in additional funding across the province. "We feel as if we've been given a rawtdeal, like the bospital," says Whitby Ambulance ce-owner Bill Cocker, referring to previous ministry allocations that did not in- clude acute care beds for Whitby. Cocker says Whitby has been served by two cars for 20 years. In 1968, 863 calls were made by the service. Last year, 11,500 calls were made, more than half of those in Whitby. "We do a lot of stand-by calls and a lot of transfers for Oshawa," says Cocker. "It would be nice to an ad- ditional car." One of Whitby's two cars is available on a 24-hour basis while United Way campaign begins Rev. Richard *Jones was the keynote speaker for the United Way kick-off luncheon, Monday, Sept. 14 at Gen. Sikorski Polish Veterans Centre, Oshawa. Rev. Jones, an ordained Methodist minister, is the founder of the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews. Since the council's inception he. has been executive director, president and president emeritus. He has received numerous awar- ds from police departments in Canada and the U.S. and is curren- tly chaplain for the Metro Toronto Plice Association. In addition he is an officer of the Order of Canada, was awarded the Beth Sholom Brotherhood Award, the John Diefenbaker Community Services Award, and the 1967 Centennial Medal for work in human relations. Rev. Jones addressed 500 volun- teer canvassers to help prepare them to reach their goal of $2.6 million for 1987. For campaign information, con- tact the United Way office at 436- Russell is new rehab director tember or October, will be set up for post-cardiac patients. Persons who are recovering from heart at- tacks will be provided, with programs of graduated exercise, energy conservation and general education in how to cope with the changes brought on by heart at- tacks. Russell notes that there has been an increase in out-patient service since an orthopedic surgeon was added to the staff in the spring of 1987. Some of the most common in- juries treated are fractures, ar- thritis, neurological conditions and back and neck problems. There are also many sports-related injuries, some of which require arthroscopy, a surgical technique to examine or treat knee injuries. After a diagnosis is established, the patients are given daily or weekly treatment in the physiotherapy department, depen- ding on their injuries, and receive an on-going assessment. DIANE RUSSELL Occupational therapy is also provided on an in-patient and out- patient basis. Most of the in- patients are on the coninuing care unit where they are assisted in becoming independent in daily living, such as dressing, feeding and bathing. Many have suffered from strokes or hip fractures and each person is provided with in- dividual assistance according to their needs. A long-handled shoe-horn or elastic shoe laces can be provided to persons who cannot bend down to tie their shoes, while velcro fasteners can replace buttons which stroke victims may find dif- ficult to do up. The aim of the occupational therapy program is to teach the patient to cope with a disability and become independent with his own self-care, says Russell. Recently a computer has been purchased to assist with perceptual and cognitive assessment and treat- ment. Occupational therapy is also provided for out-patients who have had surgery or injuries, par- ticularly involving the hands or wrists. An extensive therapeutic recreatio' program is provided for patients in the continuing care unit. Clients are exposed to a variety of recreational programs and crafts which help to foster independence and can be continued in the com- munity. Volunteers assist the staff in con- ductiig exercise classes and special programs such as garden parties, barbeques, card parties or bingo games. A gardening club on the continuing care unit is respon- sible for beautifying the patio near the hospital's main entrance, and trips and outings take the clients on picnics or to Cullen Gardens. About half of the clients on the continuing care unit are in the rehabilitation program which prepares them to go home or to another facility, while the remain- *der are chronic clients who stay at the Whitby General. Community participation is im- portant in the recreational the other is used 16 hours a day. The ministry allocates hours and fun- ding for the Whitby service, which is operated independently as are other area services except Oshawa, operated directly by the ministry. Whitby has 13 full-time ambulan- ce workers. The Whitby service also has a spare car to be used only for emergencies as well as two cars used only for the Mosport race track between May and October. Cocker says ambulance service is a "day-by-day thing," meaning quiet one day and busy the next. But he says the population and call number statisfics can't be ignored and he also mentions the introduc- tion of 911 might have some effect. program, which provides enter- tainment by persons who corne te- the hospital to give travelogues, musical programs or slide shows for the clients. The speech pathology and audiology department is carried out on a consulting basis, using the services of a speech pathologist when necessary. About six patients a month are assessed by the speech pathologist, mainly those suffering from strokes or swallowing problems. The speech pathologist makes recommendations to, the hospital staff and the patients' families on how best to assist the patient in speaking or hearing. The rehabilitations services department works very closely with the nursing staff, the physicians, discharge planner and other departments.- Weekly meetings of the rehabilitation staff are held to review the department's goals. Russell sees the rehab depar- tment extending its services as the hospital extends facilities and the community of Whitby grows. PROTECT THOSE YOU LOVE Death is unavoidable, but it is possible to protect the bereaved from unnecessary suffering. Prearranging and prepaying for your funeral saves loved ones from decisions and financial deliberations when SONTARIOFUNERAL @SERVICE ASSOCIATION M they are already under great stress. Arrangingnowmeans vou inake the choices. And if you prepay too, the money is put in trust so that what you select today is paid for tomorrow. It's certainly worth thinking about. Prearranging is simply more thoughtful. W. C. TOWN FUNERAL CHAPEL FUNERAL DIRECTORS JOHN R. TOWN JAYNE LANGLOIS - TOWN 110 Dundas East 668-3410 i7DD DURHAM INFORMATION CENTRE WIDENING OF REGIONAL ROAD 26 (THICKSON ROAD) TO A FIVE·LANE URBAN STANDARD FROM CRAWFORTH STREET TO ROSSLAND ROAD FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE ABOVE DESCRIBED PROJECT. A PUBLIC INFORMATION CENTRE WILL BE HELD IN ORDER TO ACQUAINT THE·PUBLIC WITH THE DESIGN DETAILS. REGION OF DURHAM STAFF WILL ATTEND THE INFORMATION CENTRE IN ORDER TO ANSWER QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE PROJECT. ALL INTERESTED PERSONS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THE PUBLIC INFORMATION CENTRE WHICH WILL BE HELD ON: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1987 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. HEBRON CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH 407 CRAWFORTH STREET, WHITBY, ONTARIO PERSONS WISHING TO OBTAIN INFORMATION PRIOR TO THE HOLDING OF THE INFORMATION CENTRE CAN CONTACT MR. TONY PREVEDEL, P. ENG., ROAD DESIGN ENGINEER AT 668-7721. G. EMM WORKS COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN W.A. TWELVETREES, P. ENG. COMMISSIONER OF WORKS Whitby would welcome third ambulance car REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF DURHAM THE REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY 7D7mD»OF DUR HAM DURHAM PUBLIC NOTICE A NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Council of The Regional Municipality of Durham proposes to pass a by-law to stop up and close part of the highway known as Dtrham Regional Road No. 26 (Thickson Road) being certain lands acquired for the widening thereof which lands are located at the south east corner of Thickson Road North and Crawforth Street in the Town of Whitby, in the Regional Municipality of Durham. AND NOTICE IS ALSO HEREBY GIVEN that the Council of The Regional Municipality of Durham proposes by the aforesaid by-law to authorize the sale of a part of the stopped up and closed highway to the owner of the lands abutting same. The portion of the highway proposed to be stopped up and closed is located at the south east corner of Thickson Road North and Crawforth Street in the Town of Whitby, in the Regional Municipality of Durham and is shown as Parts 16 and 17 on a Plan of Reference deposited in the Land Registry-Office for the Land Titles Division of Durham (No. 40) at Whitby as Number 40R-10322. The proposed by-law and a copy of Plan 40H-10322 may be seen at the Clerk's Department of The Regional Municipality of Durham, 605 Rossland Road East, Whitby, Ontario. At its meeting to be held in the Council Chambers, 605 Rossland Road East, Whitby, Ontario on Wednesday the 7th day of October, 1987, the Council of The Regional Municipality of Durham will hear any person who claims that his land will be prejudicially affected by the by-law and who applies to be heard. DATED at Whitby, this 3rd day of September, 1987. C. W. LUNDY, Regional Clerk