PAGE.12, WEDNESDAY, DEÇEMBER 19, 1979, WHITB Y FREIE PRESS At' Vhitby's J.O. RuddyHo8P ital.. Only 3% lecof eerecies are lfife-fthreatening RVMPA' rT' my l']lAtjrim~ jLj ZJ.J Free Press Staff What constitutes a mnedical emergency? According, to John Kunet- sky, the adnismtrator of Whtby's Dr. Joseph 0. Ruddy General Hospital, only three per cent of the emergency cases hils facility receives are life-threatening a nd only six to ten per cent are urgentA. The remainder of -the cases that 'the emergency department receives could have been easily handled at the doctor's office'.- That is an interesting revelation when considering that the emergency depar- tment treated 13,157 cases is 1978 and in the first ten mon- ths of this year treated 8,632, 1For 1979 that works out tu an average of 216 cases a weekor 31a day Despite the dlaim that ap- proxinately 87 per cent of the emiergency cases treatec at Ruddy could be treated by the family physician Kunet- sky says that "We provide a basic, emergency unit, staf- fed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year." "'They are specially trained for einergencies," he says. "Any kind of injury could »be brought here," Kunetsky maintains in response :to past accusations that 'the hospital cannot handie most' emergencies. >Kunetsky admits, however, that the, hospital does fot have the facilities to give Iong-term care to major trauma cases. The major reason for this, he says, is the size of the hospital, the population it serves and the ministry of health's policy to centralize services to save money and conserve iresources. "It makes more sense", Kunetsky says to take major trauma -cases where the facilities'are. If a major.trauma case is brought to Ruddy, Kunetsky says it's their job to dis.tabilize and transfor. " However, since most major trauma cases are nioved by ambulance, thé attendants take the patient ,to the Oshawa General Hospital where facilities are available, he says. Kunetsky, is careful to BOARD THE WINNERS EXPRES, ONRAO 4 COUNTRY DAILY GIVEAWAyS WITH A GRAND PRIZE A TRIP TO THE BAHAMAS Pl BI C»Qo o § s E A doctor and two nurses emergency procedure MAKES THE DIFFERENCE WE OFFER TOP QUA LITY FILM PROCESSING AT COMPETITIVE PRICES - AND THAT'S VALUE! MZBEM. PHOTOGRAPHy 131 BROCK STREET'NORTH. WHITBY 668-6111 Mon - Wed 9 ain - 6 pin, Thurs, Fri, 9 amn-8pîn, Sat 1Oam -Sprn. demionstrate' can, performn certain fun- ctions, ",'Kunetsky says. These services include cardiac massage, difribulation and the ad-' ministration of basic, IV techniques. lKunetsky says that ahl the doctors associatecj with the hospital are on standy and that the general prac-- titioners take turns manning the departrnent. Ruddy has also introduced non-admitting doctors into the emergency department. to cover when needed. Kunetsky says that this programn is especially effec-. tive on weekends when the FlarPash*ton Our -pro- stylists know ail the Iatest and greates! in hair care and fashion. For individcuai stylin*g, con- suit us for your style. your look! LA CONTESSA BEAUTI LOUNGE 119 (p'een Sîreet 668-9262 STEVEN F. PELESHOK, B.A, LLUB. BARRISTER & SOLICITOR is pleased to announce the opening of his office for the practice of the busiest. ',It's hard to provide ser- vice on' a 24 hour basis;"I Kunetsky says adding, that there. is always a physician on cail and is usually at the hospital within five minutes of being called. "He can be here almost as soon as the patient is here", he says. Kunetsky says that "to run an emergency depar- tment, you must have an adequate back-up system. " The back-up system at Ruddy includes a blood bank operating room,> laboratory services and x-ray facilities and their staff is on 24 hour caIl. Kunetsky says that the staffing of the emergency department costs about $180,000. The chairman of the emergency services com- mittee -of Ruddy is Dr. Donald Shepley, a veteran of seven years, with the Hospital for Sick Children in, Toronto. Shepley. says, that the major problem his depar- tment faces is that people do not know how to use the emergency department of a hospital.' "We have encouraged people, that for routine things to, contact their famlly doctor, " he says. He also says; that some people are not willing to discuss their problems With their own physician and when a- serious problem arrives, they go to, the emergency department in- istead of their own physician. "They should feel free to, talk to, any doctor, " Shepley says. He also says that the emergency is imprope-Iy used by people because they do not have a family doctor. Evening &Saturday APPOtments Avallable GENERAL LAW Tel. (416) 668-3616 105 Dundas St.. W.* Whltby, Ont. L1W2M1l Return the attached coupon te: 97 McMaster Avenâe, Ajax LlS 2E6 0. a00 a0 If you are flot a member of CHOO Country Club, joini now NIAME Your Favourite Country Artist WDDR ESS 1 OSTAL CODE HONE 3 91RTHDAY PROUD TO BE PART 0F VOUR COMMUNITy point out thaï even Oshawa Ge 'neral Hospital transfers some critically injured patients to other hospitals in Toronto. When a patient is tran- sfered, he is always accom- panied by a doctor and a' nurse or, at the very least, Kunetsky says by a nurse. He. also says that, no patient is transfered until it is safe to do so. The nursing staff of the hospital rec eive- special' i n- house training and are capable of doing certain tasks traditionally assigfied toa doctor. "The.doctor mnay not be in the hospital, but the nurses GOOID COUNTRY MUSIC 1 1 119 ('*een Street 668-9202