The hospital is now reopened, as of the evening of Feb. 1.
An airborne asbestos threat at the Maple Creek Hospital caused its evacuation and the suspension of employees late last week. The facility was closed just after 5 p.m. on Feb. 25 because of concerns related to potentially loose asbestos. Patients were transfered or released and all staff were ordered to leave the building. The asbestos contamination was removed yesterday, and pending air quality results, officials are hopeful the facility will be reopened this week.
Beth Vachon, executive director of health …

By Sheri Monk
On Dec. 3, 2009, Jodi Stork welcomed a new member to her family – an insulin pump.

By Sheri Monk
On Feb. 8, CEO of Cypress Health Region Jim Hornell announced his resignation to accept a position in healthcare in Ontario. On Feb. 12, a deal for a new healthcare facility at Maple Creek offering increased services was announced after months of negotiations and temporary impasses. On Feb. 10, between the major announcements, a grief-struck woman with years of healthcare service experience granted The Badger an interview in an effort to illuminate what she believes must be done to save the system and ultimately, its patients.
When Brenda Andreas …

The following is a press release issued Feb. 12.
Agreement reached on new integrated health facility to be built in Maple Creek – New direction for healthcare delivery in the Southwest
Healthcare delivery in Southwest Saskatchewan is poised to take a new and improved direction as a result of a year and a half of intense discussions and negotiations and a commitment by the Saskatchewan government to support community and regional efforts to make improvements.
Representatives of the Southwest community, the Cypress Health Region and the Ministry of …

The CEO of Cypress Health Region has resigned.
The announcement was made Feb. 8 in Swift Current that Jim Hornell is moving to Brantford, Ontario to accept a position as CEO of the Brant Community Healthcare System.
Hornell’s last day will be sometime in mid-April.
Tyler Bragg, chair of the Cypress Health Region Board, delivered a glowing speech lamenting the loss of the CEO, who haas been with the region for nearly four years.
An interim CEO will be appointed while a permanent one is recruited. There are currently no candidates for the position.
Hornell said …

By Sheri Monk
A meeting held Feb. 3 may have brought the Integrated Healthcare Facility at Maple Creek closer to reality – or history – depending on the outcome of a meeting between representatives of the Ministry of Health, the hospital steering committee and Cypress Health Region.
Steering committee member Tom Flanagan confirmed the meeting will include Tyler Bragg, health region board chair, Dan Florizone, deputy minister of health and will focus on the specifics of the second needs assessment study.
It is unknown if a decision will be made on the size, …

By Sheri Monk
Last week, Alan Howard wrote letters to local newspaper in the Southwest, encouraging them to write letters to government to express concern over how healthcare in the region is administered.

By Sheri Monk
Across the country, throughout much of Saskatchewan and certainly in the Southwest, doctor shortages have become a regular fixture of conversation and news coverage.

By Sheri Monk
The lobby was full and a line up outside Maple Creek town hall as residents waited to for the public session of the Jan. 12 council meeting to begin.

By Sheri Monk
Jim Hornell, CEO of Cypress Health Region, granted The Badger an interview in response to last week’s article about a former hospital manager’s concerns with the system.
“I just want to say that I have no intention of getting into a point-by-point rebuttal of a disgruntled manager who has chosen to resign. Some of these issues and some of the points she raised highlight some issues that are quite common in healthcare across the country,” said Hornell. “I’m happy to try and make a comment or two on some …