Faculty of Medicine
Memorial University of Newfoundland
At the L.A. Miller Centre, family physicians from the medical school provide high-quality, low-technology care to about 150 patients.
"We're a group of six family doctors with more than 100 years of in-hospital service throughout the province between us," said Dr. Roger Butler, clinical chief of continuing care at the Miller Centre. Along with Dr. Paul Patey and Dr. Gary Tarrant, Dr. Butler is responsible for long-term care in the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) section of the centre. Dr. Carl Robbins provides care to the Alzheimer's Unit, Dr. Bill Eaton is responsible for long-term care outside of the DVA section, and Dr. Ean Parsons handles convalescent care.
Because of their affiliation with the medical school, this group of doctors not only provide patient care but teaches medical students and family medicine residents. "It's a great resource -- the patients here love having the learners, and the learners have time to spend with the patients," said Dr. Butler. "Overall I think it improves the quality of care. It gives us quality time with the patients -- when you teach something you not only demonstrate it but also take the time to do it extremely well."
Dr. Butler wants to see even more clinical skills teaching take place at the Miller Centre. To start with, he'd like to increase the number of family medicine residents working there from two to four.
As family medicine specialists, the doctors at the Miller Centre have expertise in dealing with families. "When you have an elderly loved one who comes into hospital, the acute care system can be very confusing with more than one doctor involved. When patients come to the Miller Centre they have one doctor and a standard practice is to have a family meeting to discuss ongoing issues." Dr. Butler would like to see family meetings become part of acute care as well, with the acute care doctors present if possible.
"As medical staff we have to try and be supportive to the families of our patients and make the environment as good as possible considering the scarce resources." The challenge at the Miller Centre, says Dr. Butler, is to make more space and undertake renovations to for improvements to such defects as the ratio of bathrooms to patients.
Under the re-organization of the health care system in the province, the long term care sector will be focused at the Miller Centre. Right now there are three programs: seniors care, continuing care, and rehabilitation. Rehabilitation has a large outpatient population and serves patients of all ages.
Dr. Butler says the six family medicine faculty members working at the Miller Centre have an excellent rapport with local specialists and physicians, and together with the capable nursing staff they provide comprehensive care with strong links to the community. "It's a win-win situation for the Health Care Corporation and the community -- plus we like what we are doing!"
Last updated 18 Jun 1997 by 