Page 22, Whitby Free Press, Wednesday, Soptember 28, 1994 Fundinfr jvenforLstud Electronic 'heal wth' network plannedin region The Ontario gavernmont, through the Jobs Ontario capital prograni, is providing $63,000 for a feasibililty study ta, establish a telecommunications-baaed net- work for long-terni and community health care in Durhami Region. "fThis feasibility study will be the first stop towards establishing an electronic network that will link the full spectruni of health care organizatians, heiping them ta provide more responsive services and reduce costs," said Durham East MPP Gordon Milîs. "By taking a co-ordinated approach,' this system will provido a clearing house of information, matching clients ta, the apprapiate services available in the region." The Durhami Region Area Health Care Telecommunications Prajeet -will connect health services ta a world-wide network for long-terni and community cane. There will be network linkages among long-terni, chranic, acute and community-ibased agencies. The study will determine the feasibility of such a network, its costs, the hardware and software needed, confidentiality require- monts and the potential for creating a. viable, financially stable service over the long terni. "This project is a real teain effort between the Ontario government and ail projeet partners. 1Community-based health care praviders are -workIng together ta develop regional approaches for common concerns," said Mary Novak, chair of the project. "This study will provide valuable information -ta help us make effective and c-ordinated planning decisions." Project partners include Whitby Canerai Hospital, Durhami Region Home Cane Prograni (Regional Municipality of Durham), Oshawa General Hospital, Placement Co- ordination Service, Community Memorial Hospital in Part Perry, Memorial Hospital in Bowmanville, Victaria Order of Nurses in Durhami Regian, Durham College, the Ajax and Pickering General Hospital, Durham Region Community Care Association. "Both health care providers and the entire community will benefit from ,an information network" said Durham-York MPP Larry O'Connor, Parhiamentary Assistant ta the Mfinister of Health. 1 1It wilI stemi the paper flow, freeing up health car rvders ta spend more time wihptents and improving the quality af health cane." Symposium -to make womnen more aware. of heart di*sease 'The Wonien, Heart & Stroke Breakfast Symposium' will bo held in Whitby on Thursday, Nov. 3, 7:30to9 a.m. Local chapters of the Heart & Stroke Foundation are holding the symposium ta make the general pimblic, especially women aver age 45, aware of heart disease. Hast of the event is CFTO-TV anchor Christine Bentley. Keynote speaker will be Dr. Michael Freeman, senior resear- cher and cardiologist at St. Michael's Hospital. Aise speaking will be Corinne Hodgsan froin the corporate research department of the foun- dation. The foundation notes that heart disease is the number one cause of premature death in women as well as in mon -- but the odds appear ta ho shifting unfavaurably against women. The foundation notes that the risk factors, symptamns, diagnosis and treatnient may differ'bat- ween men and women, and that nat enough female-orientod research inta the differences is being conducted. «Wamen are under-diagnosed and under-treated, and because of this when it is finally detected, the situation is more severe and hence they have a decreased chance of successful recovery,» states the foundation. Tickets for the symposium, ta be held at Le Gala convention centre at 65 Sunray St., Whitby, are $25. Caîl 686-1521 ta purchase tick- 'lLifestyles' conference next week in Oshawa 'Choosing Healthy Lifestyles,' the third annual womon's heath issues conference organized by the nursing education committee of Oshawa General Hospital, in cooperation with the Durhami ]Region Health Department and the Victorian Order of Nurses, will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 5 at the Holiday Inn, Oshawa, froni 8 a.m. ta 4:30 p.m. .The one-day conference is designed ta heighten awareness of the major physical and mental health issues facing wamen and focus attention on the promotion ofperonal health and wellness. Te keynate address will feature Joseph Keilerstein, a chiropractar and naturüîLatihic doctar, wha will outline the connections between everyday notions of health, vitality, lifestyles and disease that will help participants understand and improve their weli being. A discussion on 'Healthy Relationships,' with Sue Johanson of Sex With Sue, will wrap up the canference as the final address. In this segment, participants will look at what constitutes healthy, loving relationships though a light-heatd look at the emotional and physical aspects of loving relationships. Other topics ta be highlighted throughout the day include cardiavascular disease in wamnen; safety tips for wamen; the effects of sun on skin aging and the develapment of skin cancer; massage t'horapy; and tips on how ta fix abad day. Registration fee if $73 which includes ail pragrani mateniais, refreshmenta and lunch. To register, send a choque or money order payable ta Nursing Division, Oshawa General Hospital. Registrations may be mailed ta Nursing Administration, Oshawa General Hospital, 24 Aima Street, Oshawa, Ontario, LMG 2B9. Registration is limited ta the first 150 participants and must be received by Sept. 30. For mare information contaact Donna Dunn, clinical nurse educatar, Oshawa General Hospital (905) 576-8711, ext. 3485 or pager 2226. "Durham's population has increased by 25 per cent in less than 10 years and 18 oxpected ta increase by another 35 per cent by the beginning of t he next century. This'rapid growth places greater demanda on existing health care resources," said Durham West MPP Jini Wiseman. "The Durhami Region Area Health Care Telecommunications Project will focus an linking the acute care systeni with community providers, which is essential for a more efficient long-terni care systeni." This funding cames froni the Ontario Network Infrastructure Prograni (ONIP), which is a $100-million jobsOntario capital initiative and is part of the Ontario government's tele- communications strategy. ONIP holps accelerate the development and use of information netwarks in order ta promote economic renewai. A key objective is ta help Ontarians lear-n how ta obtain and jse information to meet their needs. ONIP prejects are reviewed and endorsed by the Council for an . Ontario Information Infrastructure, an advisory group which represents bath providers and users of information and tolecommunications services. "We are committed ta helping cammunities throughout Ontaria build the information infrastructure so citical for future economic development in aur province," said Oshawa MPP Allan Pilkey. "This study is an excellent example of how communities and organizations determine exactly what their information technology needs are and how ta meet them." .ONIP funding contributes up ta 75 per cent ta a lumit of $75,000 of the costs of developing a feasibility study or business plan for a user-based telecommu ni cations network project and for up ta 50 per cent of network start-up costs., Pariamntay Rpor Amend criminal code, By Alex Shophord A lackadaisical attitude taward guns by the criminal justice system is causing neiighbourhoads ta live in fear. We need flot look any further than Oshawa's south end in the aftermath of Roger Pardy's murder at Gagnon Sports to, see this. Sanie pope are calling for an ail-out ban on ail handguns, and at first glance this may seeni appropriate. However, a study of homicide statistics, and opinions of some' law enforcers suggest that banning guns in the possession of people who legally own theni -- target shooters, hunters, collectors, etc. -- isn't going ta salve the violent crime probleni. The legal gun owners are the people who have gone through rigorous courses and have had their guns registeired. They are the Iaw-abiding citizens. Adniittedly there is sanie Iimited value in the investigative' aspect of police work in having aIl guns registered. But yau can't justify registration relative ta what it would cost ta get the guns registered. And really what difference does it make in the case of domestic violence, if a spouse is shot with a registered1 gun or unregistered one? The real probleni is the way aur criminal justice system treats people using guns -- registered or not -- in illegal acta. The criminal code cails for a one- ta 14-year consecutive sentence for the use of a firearni in an indictable ofence. This section of the code is rarely used because it is plea bargained away by the crown prosecutor in the majority of cases. Why does someone have ta "actually" commit an offence in the first place? Why isn't simple pssession of an illegal firearni an indictable offence? I have proposed ta Allan Rock, Minister of Justice, that the criminal code be aniended ta require a niandatory five-year-sentence for possession of an illegal firearni. This would enable aur policemen and women ta get on with cleaning up the venmin on aur streets carrying guns. Aiso, if we require gun owners ta pasa a fireannis safety course we can also ask for the presentation of their gun permit before letting theni buy bullets. If we want saler streets we have ta focùs on tightening up aur criminal justice systeni as well as enforcing the laws already on the books. A/ex Shepherd is MP for Durhamn riding which includes Whtby. north of Taunton Road. To reach his constituency office, cal) 72^1- 7570 (Oshawa). Broo'kfield at the gallery Brookfield will perfon at The Station Gallery on Sept. 30 andr Oct. 1. The tria -- Fred Brooks, Joy Brooks and Jeif Brackett -- per- form a range of music, froin folk Cost is $7. Each concert will be held froni 8 to il p.m. Tickets are available at the galiery, Henry and Victoria streets, south Whitby. Col or Your Worl4 _____________________Expires Oct. il1/94. 1.i aeo Srda~~ 1916 Dundas St. East, Whtby OFRE100 IE 435-0808 an & aippr au -"eGiaate t Fi ~A1 How you choose to pay tribute to a life lived or make an expression of remembrance is a personal choice. Your Municipal Cemetery serving the Town of Whitby and surrounding area. Located on the east side of Highway '12, north of Taunton Road. For information please cail: 905-655-3493 GKVESII E MUNI CI PAL CEM ET ERY] m 1 Isz 1