ORANGEVILE, ON - June 22, 2021 – During tonight’s Annual General Meeting, Headwaters Health Care Centre recognized the effect the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the hospital, celebrated the hospital’s achievements and recognized individuals who made a significant contribution to the hospital and community in the past year.
Hospital President and CEO, Kim Delahunt, praised the heroic efforts of staff, lauded important partnerships and thanked the community for their ongoing support. “While we have faced our share of unprecedented challenges over the past year, I am incredibly proud of the team at Headwaters and thank every one of them for helping to make us better each and every day. I am also thankful for our community. Through the Foundation, and in so many other ways, you have demonstrated such amazing support for what we do. You have reminded us time and time again this past year why what we do is so important,” she said.
Kim Delahunt also discussed important partnerships the hospital has within the community, including that with the Hills of Headwaters Collaborative Ontario Health Team and others which were instrumental in hospital efforts over the past year. A personal protective equipment hub was set up and is being managed locally, a vaccination and cold and flu clinic were set up as well as a Caregiver ID Project.
Special honours were bestowed during the meeting by Board Chair Lori Ker who presented the Dr. David Scott Award to Dr. Nicola Mercer, Medical Officer of Health and CEO, and Dr. Matthew Tenenbaum, Associate Medical Officer of Health and the entire team at Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDG Public Health).
Dr. Nicola Mercer added, “I wish to extend my deepest thanks to Headwaters Health Care Centre for this award which I accept on behalf of all members of the WDG Public Health Team. The award isn’t something we would have sought but the recognition means a great deal to us. The work of Public Health throughout the pandemic would not have been possible without incredible partners like Headwaters.”
The late Dr. David Scott’s son, Dr. Hugh Scott provided a video homage to his father and his contributions to the Orangeville and surrounding communities. “It is the essence of the award that matters…presenting this award every year creates an opportunity to speak again about why we have to stay involved. It provides a forum for discussing new ideas to improve our community’s health through positive leadership,” he said.
In addition to this award, those who attended the meeting heard the story of a hospital employee who is also a dialysis patient. Liz’s story was shared by her manager Laura Leveque and provided insight to the experience of patients during the pandemic. “I just kept coming in. The protocols changed. People were washing their hands more often and wearing masks, but the doors never closed. I never felt I was at risk,” said Liz.
A video was also shown comprised of hospital staff sharing their experiences of what it has been like working on the front lines of health care during the pandemic.
Recordings of the meeting will be available on the hospital’s website.
Headwaters’ 2020-21 Annual Report and Audited Financial statements are also available online.
A backgrounder about the Dr. David Scott Award and Recipients follows.
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About Headwaters Health Care Centre (HHCC)
HHCC, is an innovative, community centred medium-size hospital located in Orangeville, caring for the residents of Dufferin County-Caledon. Accredited with Exemplary Standing by Accreditation Canada, Headwaters offers acute and complex continuing care with 24/7 Emergency Department coverage as well as extensive outpatient services in its Ambulatory Care Centre. HHCC is also a proud partner in the Hills of Headwaters Collaborative Ontario Health Team. Visit
www.headwatershealth.ca or
www.hillsofheadwaterscollaborative.ca.
For further information or to arrange an interview please contact:
Jennifer Hamilton, MA, MBA Director, Communication & Stakeholder Relations, Headwaters Health Care Centre | Tel: 519-278-5085| Email:
jhamilton@headwatershealth.ca |
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BACKGROUNDER
Dr. David Scott Award Recipients
The Award is named after retired surgeon and life-long Orangeville resident Dr. David Scott, who came to Orangeville in 1962 as the town’s first specialist in general surgery. He dedicated his life to improving the health and wellness of the community. The Dr. David Scott Award is presented annually and recognizes individuals or groups who have gone above – and - beyond to improve overall health and wellness in Dufferin-Caledon and promote linkages between the hospital and the community. Dr. Scott passed away last year, and this award will continue in his memory.
Dr. Nicola Mercer, Medical Officer of Health and CEO, and Dr. Matthew Tenenbaum, Associate Medical Officer of Health and the entire team at Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health were honoured with the Dr. David Scott Award.
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDG Public Health) emulates the true essence of the Dr. David Scott Award. It is an organization whose team has made a positive impact on the health of the communities they serve.
Our working relationship has been strengthened significantly through the course of the pandemic. In the early days there was a lot of concern and fear in the community about the unknown.
WDG Public Health helped to quell those fears and provide the public and us, as health care providers, with clear and timely information based on facts and reliable data. WDG Public Health team members were right there with us in our work within the community, providing public health support and expertise for long term care and hospital outbreaks.
Most recently, they began a successful COVID-19 vaccination campaign. A silver lining of this whole experience with this pandemic has been the heightened awareness of public health and its very important role in health care.
Congratulations and thank you for all that you do to protect the health and wellness of our communities. You are true partners in care.
Photo caption:
2021 Dr. David Scott Award Winner
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health
(Left to Right)
Chris Beveridge – Director, Health Protection
Rita Isley – Director, Community Health and Chief Nursing Officer
Dr. Kyle Wilson – Director, Information Systems and Chief Privacy Officer
Dr. Nicola Mercer – Medical Officer of Health and CEO
David Kingma – Director, Administrative Services and Chief Administrative Officer
Dr. Matthew Tenenbaum – Associate Medical Officer of Health