Rose McFarlane (RN) makes a home visit with Letty Innes Extra Mural Program Celebrates 20 Years The Miramichi Extra Mural Program (EMP) celebrated 20 years of service to the community on Friday, October 29th. To mark the event, the Miramichi EMP held an open house for the community. "We are very excited about reaching this milestone in providing a comprehensive range of co-ordinated health care services to clients in their homes and community," said Marilyn Underhill, Director of the Miramichi EMP and Community Health Centres. She said services have evolved over the last 20 years to include a wide range of professional services. "We are fondly known by many as the hospital without walls and the hospital on wheels." The current staff of EMP In 1981, the New Brunswick government established the EMP in Woodstock to respond to a number of forces putting pressure on the health care system. The Miramichi unit was opened in October 1984 with a staff of six, followed by the opening of two satellite offices — Néguac in 1987 and Blackville in 1990. "The program opened under the direction of Mrs. Ann Henry with the support of the Miramichi and Hotel Dieu hospitals, the physicians and the community," said Underhill. In 1997, the EMP came under the direction of the Health Corporations now known as the Regional Health Authorities. The recent passing of Dr. Gordon Ferguson saddened the Extra Mural staff. Dr. Ferguson received the Order of Canada in 2001. The Order of Canada citation read, in part: "He is recognised for his groundbreaking work in home care. Dr. Ferguson spearheaded the efforts that led to the creation of the New Brunswick Extra Mural Hospital, a program to treat elderly people and chronically ill people in their own homes." The Extra Mural Program objectives include providing an alternative to hospital admission; facilitating earlier discharge from medical institutions; providing an alternative to/or postponement of admission to nursing homes; providing long-term continuous health care to chronic patients; providing long-term continuous health care; providing care at home for persons terminally ill; and providing assessment and rehabilitation to persons of a variety of ages and facilitating the co-ordination and provision of support services either directly or indirectly. The services of EMP can be categorised into professional and support services. The EMP provides service to clients in a variety of settings in the community. Many clients receive service in their own homes under the care of a physician. Many other clients receive the service of EMP professionals in schools, nursing homes, group homes and day-care. Community Home Care and Rehabilitation services have evolved to include many highly technical procedures previously provided only in a hospital setting. The professional staff of the EMP includes registered nurses, registered dieticians, respiratory therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech language pathologists and social workers. Their work is supported with the services of administrative clerical staff. The current management team for the Miramichi EMP Support services, primarily home making services, are provided on a limited, purchased service basis, when required. The majority of home support services are accessed through the LTC program in partnership with the Department of Family and Community Services. Miramichi EMP Facts * EMP offers a number of programs that have its own criteria for eligibility/admission. All clients must also meet the generic eligibility criteria for admission as outlined by the province. Programs include: Home Care Program - This is the hospital-at-home program. Clients are referred by physicians and admitted to EMP. This program includes acute care, palliative care, chronic care and wound care. Long Term Care Strategy – This program was originally called the "Single Entry Point (SEP)" and has been in place since 1993. This program is designed to assess the functional needs of clients and determine where those needs are best met (home, nursing home etc.) The goal of the Long Term Care strategy is to allow individuals to have their needs met with appropriate enhanced services at home and recommend appropriate placement, depending on their level of care. EMP is in partnership with Family and Community Service and Mental Health in the provision of this program. This is a volunteer program. Long Term Oxygen Program – This program was transferred to EMP in 1994 and provides oxygen to clients in their home. Clients must be over the age of 65, referred by a physician and meet clinical criteria to receive this service. Rehabilitation Service – The purpose of this program is to systematically guide the development of a co-ordinated regional system of community-based rehabilitation services. These services include occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and speech language pathology. Rehabilitation services are provided to both children and adults, acute and long-term. The goal is to prevent the onset of impairment or limit deterioration in function as a result of impairment. Early Language Service – The Early Language Service is a new service that will begin in January 2005. This is a promotion and prevention service aimed to heighten the awareness in the community of the needs and milestones in the speech and language development of the pre-school population. This service will promote early identification of those children who may have or be at risk for developing communication needs. * Presently 45 staff work for the Miramichi EMP. * The current EMP Regional Director is Marilyn Underhill. Past directors have included Ann Henry, Karen MacDonald, Catherine Munn, Cecilia Mutch and Annette LeBouthillier. Giv'er Atlantic Canada!