Challenges and successes one in the same for Almonte in 2005
Friday, December 2, 2005 -- Natalie Miller
Almonte Country Haven’s most substantial challenges of 2005 turned out to be the biggest success stories, says the long-term care home’s administrator.

Rick Gourlie points to the three-year accreditation the Almonte long-term care home received from the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation as a triumph.

“It was a great event,” says Rick.

“Our biggest success has to be our three-year accreditation.”

Accreditation served as an evaluation tool for Almonte and provided future direction, the administrator notes. “The challenge was co-ordinating everything,” says Rick, and ensuring “what we had in practice was what was reflected in the document.” The accreditation process had the home evaluating itself in five areas – leadership and partnership, environment, human resources, information management and long-term care (nursing practices). Each of the departments were involved in the data collection and Rick summarized the material in a report. “Through accreditation I was able to look at the entire operation of the home and how it all impacts on residents and resident care.”

The arrival of a new director of care, Sue Brunell-Jones, at the end of August turned out to be a highlight of the year, says Rick. “There’s fear when it comes to change. One of the challenges is the change.”

Sue replaced former director of care Pam Murphy who had a lengthy history in that role. Sue hails from Ottawa after spending the last four years in long-term care as clinical care co-ordinator for a 320-bed nursing home. Almonte’s 82-bed home and locale in a small community were also changes for her, says Rick.

But the change has been a welcome one. “A director of care position can make or break a care home and it’s atmosphere. No matter what change occurred it would be large.” It has been a success, says Rick.

“I think our care is getting tighter and our responses are getting better.” He says while Sue doesn’t have the history she is providing a fresh look at old systems. “The biggest plus is this DOC looks at every challenge as an opportunity.”