A move by Alberta Health Services to redefine access to mobile laboratory services in the province, isn't playing well for many residents at Sunnyside Manor in St. Paul, so much so in fact that they presented AHS with a petition denouncing what they see as a withdrawal of services.
The independent living facility for seniors has long received a weekly Thursday morning visit from a St. Therese Health Centre lab technician for the collection of blood samples as per doctor requisitions. Every one at the lodge who needed to have a blood test was able to have their blood samples collected on site as opposed to having to go to the hospital. That changed in March.
"Their thoughts were 'oh well, they're old people, what are they going to say? Old people don't like to make waves'," Sunnyside resident Cecile Bielech said last week. But, AHS may have misjudged them.
Bielech is disappointed with the AHS decision and while she believes the move may be about saving money, she questions how much sense it makes and believes it places undue hardship on residents. She collected about 100 residents' names on a petition objecting to the move and sent it to AHS.
"Especially at our age, it's an imposition to us. We're not too mobile, some have walkers. I was getting a blood test every week, now it's once a month so it's tolerable. But last winter, I didn't go out what with the cold and the bad roads," Bielech said. " It's demanding on old people and some don't have family to fight for them, or to drive them there."
If residents don't have their own way of getting to the hospital, they will need to make other arrangements. While the handivan is something they can certainly use, the $10 per trip fee there and back to the hospital can add up quickly for seniors on a limited income, Bielech said. Walking to the hospital, especially in the winter, raises even more concern for those with limited mobility.
But here's where things get a little confusing for everybody, especially Sunnyside residents. AHS will continue to send a lab tech over to Sunnyside Manor to collect blood samples as needed but only from those patients who have a Mobile Services Collection Requisition, courtesy of their doctor, identifying them as being specifically eligible to receive the service due to a physical inability to get over to the hospital. Everyone else will have to make the trek over to St. Therese Health Centre, walkers in tow if necessary.
Asked if there is confusion as to what the change actually means to residents, Wendy Corbiere, North Zone Director Laboratory Services, said while the service is changing, mobile collection will be available as always to those residents who qualify to receive it.
"I would agree there is a misunderstanding. We will continue to offer mobile collection to patients that are non-mobile, that's definite, if there is a medical need required for them. We are just implementing that process to make sure those that need service in this manner will continue to access it."
Based on information provided by Corbiere, it appears it comes down to resident's getting their doctor to complete the Mobile Services Collection Requisition on their behalf.
"There’s certain criteria on the form and it requires their physician to evaluate their need for the mobile collection," Corbiere explained.
"Examples of eligibility is a patient that was recently hospitalized or had surgery that temporarily restricts them from travelling outside, or they have a medical restriction and they are unable to attend appointments or any kind of other activities outside their home."
Sunnyside Manor manager Kerry Trottier said prior to the AHS policy change, the mobile lab test process has worked well and is concerned the change will prove to be a hardship for residents, especially in the winter.
"I think it's a good service that has been provided and was going well. The nurses would have all the (test) requisitions ready to go here but now the residents will have to find their way to hospital. For some of our residents it is a major issue. Especially in mid January, for example, it's quite a hardship."
She questions the sense in having some residents going to the hospital, even though a lab tech will continue to attend Sunnyside to take sample from those residents who qualify under the new AHS policy. She is also concerned about residents waiting for lab tests in emergency at the hospital and being exposed to unnecessary germs, especially during flu season.
"They are vulnerable and then they could bring it back here to 117 residents."
The change got the attention of Lac La Biche- St. Paul-Two Hills MLA Dave Hanson. In a member's statement delivered in the Alberta Legislature May 14, Hanson questioned the reasoning behind having "residents bundle up and go sit in the emergency ward at the hospital, exposing themselves to the virus of the day."
Hanson said the policy change particularly odd given that the service is still available to residents in the same manner it always has been at the extended care facility down the block.
"I wonder how many levels of management at AHS and how many meetings of the minds it took to come up with this cost-saving measure. I wonder if any thought was given at any time to eliminate a management position rather than cut this service to seniors, or is it just easier to hit the most vulnerable who don't have a voice?"
