Clarification on community health centre

We are writing to correct some errors in a Cape Breton Post Letter to the Editor entitled, “NSHA has it all wrong” (Feb. 7).

We would like to thank the writer, Mr. Tubrett, for expressing his passion for Buchanan Memorial Community Health Centre (BMCHC). His contribution in supporting that facility and the community of Neil’s Harbour is appreciated. There were, however, errors in his letter regarding laboratory service changes at BMCHC that are necessary to correct, to help avoid confusion in the community.

To be very clear, there will be no change in how patients access laboratory services. Blood collection services will continue to be available as they currently are. Physicians will continue to have access to the testing and results they need in appropriate time frames at BMCHC. Urgent test results will actually be available faster for physicians. This is not about closing laboratory services. This is about changing how this service will be delivered to ensure they are sustainable now and into the future.

Very recently, NSHA was informed that the one medical laboratory technologist (MLT) working at BMCHC would be relocating. This was a personal and professional decision that we respect and support.

It is difficult to maintain services delivered with very small numbers of staff and laboratories in many rural communities in Nova Scotia have experienced these challenges. In some cases, there have been unplanned service shutdowns. Compounding the issue is a national shortage of MLTs. Modernizing laboratory services across Nova Scotia by introducing point-of-care testing (POCT) is about providing patients with timely access to high quality, state-of-the-art, safe and appropriate care. These changes will ensure that these services are available and sustainable into the future.

POCT technology will be used by trained and competent nursing staff in the emergency department at BMCHC for urgent on-site testing. This innovative, modern technology can analyze specimens and deliver immediate results at or near the patient’s bedside. This provides a patient-centered approach to health care delivery. It is not a more expensive service delivery model. It is not a replacement for conventional laboratory testing, but rather a supplement to it. Highly complex laboratory testing will continue to done by trained and qualified personnel. And, as is the current situation, non-urgent testing will be sent to a larger laboratory.

This service delivery model was introduced to a rural site in Nova Scotia 10 years ago and has now been successfully implemented in a number of other locations across the province. Feedback from physicians and nursing staff at these sites demonstrates that this model provides better patient care and ensures sustainability of high quality, laboratory services.

Unfortunately, the events that led to the need for service changes at BMH evolved quickly and we regret any confusion which may have resulted in communicating these changes. We look forward to moving together as one team-respecting all input and keeping the best patient care at the forefront. Thank you. Dr. Samina Mansoor, Zone Medical Dept. Head, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine NSHA Eastern Zone Anita Parsons, Manager, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine NSHA Eastern Zone Shauna Thompson, Senior Director, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, NSHA

Dr. Tim Mailman, Senior Medical Director, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, NSHA