In March 2007, at the recommendation of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, an Expert Panel was convened to give advice about maternity care services at Stevenson Memorial Hospital (SMH). On May 2, 2007, the Panel presented its report, A Future Direction: A Regional Collaborative Model For Maternity Care at Stevenson Memorial Hospital, to SMH and to the Community Advisory Committee – a committee made up of New Tecumseth residents, community – based health care providers, and local government officials.

The report (available at www.smhosp.on.ca ) made several recommendations for the re-establishment of maternity care services in the New Tecumseth area. The primary recommendation was that SMH and Southlake Regional Health Centre (Southlake) would work together to build a high quality Level 1 maternity care service in Alliston within a regional health care model. This means that SMH would provide services to women with healthy pregnancies and Southlake, as a Level 2 facility, would manage women with moderate to high-risk pregnancies.

In an effort to keep the community informed about the progress being made on the recommendations in the report, SMH and Southlake are pleased to provide the following update:

Lorrie Reynolds, RN, BScN, IBCLC, MHA (c), Director of Southlake’s Maternal Child Care Program recently joined SMH’s leadership team. Dividing her time between the two hospitals, Lorrie will lead a review of the maternal services at SMH to identify what is working well and where there are gaps or opportunities for improvement. Respected as a progressive leader and strong communicator, Lorrie has 20 years of health care experience and has successfully implemented and sustained best practice standards in maternal, paediatrics, and neonatal intensive care.

"Although I have only been at SMH a short time, I am very impressed by the number of dedicated people I have met who are eager to implement the recommendations of the Expert Panel. I look forward to working with them to provide the highest standards of care to expectant mothers in the community," states Lorrie Reynolds.

One of Lorrie’s immediate tasks is to oversee the recruitment of a full-time RN Clinical Coordinator to manage the day-to-day operations of maternal services at SMH. Interviews are currently under way and the goal is to have the position fi lled by the end of September.

The SMH Obstetrics Committee, in partnership with Southlake’s Chief of Staff, Dr. Nancy Merrow, has developed a comprehensive plan to recruit qualifi ed obstetricians to SMH who meet the practice requirements of both hospitals and the recommendations of the Expert Panel. Several applications have been received and interviews are currently underway. The goal is to recruit at least one obstetrician during 2007, who has the leadership skills, vision and energy to nurture and develop a vibrant and sustainable program.

On July 31, SMH received a report from the Alliston-based Good Birthing Group entitled Improving Our Birthing Unit. Currently being reviewed by the Obstetrics Committee at SMH, the report lists a number of recommendations to improve the esthetics and functionality of the maternal services unit.

Appointed on June 11 by the provincial government as supervisor of SMH, Mark Rochon, is pleased by the progress that is being made regarding the recommendations of the Expert Panel’s report.

"Implementing the Expert Panel Report and reopening the maternal services at Stevenson Memorial is a priority that is receiving the attention of teams at both hospitals. The community will benefi t from the combined expertise and experience of Southlake and Stevenson in the development of a successful maternal child program in Alliston," says Mark Rochon. "It is now crucial to fi nd qualifi ed obstetricians who will be dedicated to the community program and will work in the collaborative model to provide health care excellence to the New Tecumseth area."

For further information on Mark Rochon’s appointment, please visit www.health.gov.on.ca - News Media section.

"While it may take time to implement all of the recommendations for the rebuilding of our local maternal services, a well-designed plan with the right staff and support is necessary for the long term. It is encouraging to share with our community the progress that has been made to date," says Edward Takacs, President and CEO of Stevenson Memorial Hospital. "We appreciate the patience and understanding of the community and will continue to provide regular updates as further information becomes available".