ALMONTE – The Almonte and Carleton Place hospitals hosted their respective Annual General Meetings last week.

At this week’s Annual General Meetings at Almonte General Hospital (AGH) and Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital (CPDMH), the successes of the past year were highlighted and celebrated. Of note was the advancement of the Mississippi River Health Alliance through collaboration and caring.

At both meetings, the recent accreditation survey results were applauded. Both hospitals, as well as Fairview Manor, achieved Accreditation with Exemplary Standing, recognizing them amongst the best hospitals and long-term care homes in Canada.

In Almonte, Board Chair Randy Larkin began his remarks by thanking all of the staff and volunteers for the exceptional work that they do each and every day that result in the very best patient and resident care at the AGH/FVM, and the Lanark County Paramedic Service for their dedicated services. He also praised the relationship with Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital under the Alliance. “This important work is something that I think will benefit our broader communities and position us well for the future. I look forward to the next steps and where this will lead.”

In Carleton Place, Board Chair Rob Clayton agreed. “We have continued to advance the Alliance between our hospital and the Almonte General Hospital, and our teams continue to work closer together to improve the care we provide.”

“Better Together describes our approach to working today and it also describes our approach to the future,” explained President and CEO Mary Wilson Trider. “One of the key elements of the shared strategic plan, and an important way to deliver on the huge potential of the Mississippi River Health Alliance, is the development of a clinical services plan that describes how the two hospitals will provide as much care as close to home as possible for the communities we serve. Six advisory panels, each chaired by a Board member and made up of staff and physicians, along with Patient and Family Advisory Committee members and community partners, have started this work. With this advice, the Boards will approve a plan that describes how service will be delivered in the short, medium and long term at AGH and CPDMH.”

At the AGM in Almonte, Cindy Hobbs was recognized for her wisdom, pragmatism and quiet leadership during her seven years on the Board. Michel Vermette, an Almonte resident, and Bruce Young, a Pakenham resident, were elected to the Board.

In Carleton Place, outgoing Chief of Staff Dr. Scot Higham was applauded for his “active, engaged and thoughtful contributions as a member of the Senior Team”. Dr. Jamie Fullerton was introduced as the new Chief of Staff. Finally, CPDMH Auxiliary President Marg Leblanc was commended for leading the volunteer team for the past four years.

At both meetings, President and CEO Mary Wilson Trider thanked the committed staff, physicians and volunteers, as well as community volunteers who sit on both Boards. She also thanked the Patient and Family Advisory committees, along with the Resident and Family Councils at Fairview Manor, for their valuable input.

At CPDMH, outgoing Chief of Staff Dr. Scott Higham (centre) with Board Chair Roby Clayton and President and CEO Mary Wilson Trider