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The Peterborough Regional Health Centre has been providing the service locally once a month. It involves a multidisciplinary team that includes a nurse practitioner, a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist, and a pharmacist, among others, who provide comprehensive assessments and plans of care for frail seniors. "It's been very beneficial to our patients," in addressing their complex needs, president/CEO Brad Hilker told the hospital's board of directors last week.

"Recruitment is under way with the program to be up and running in the next few months," he said in his report. The new program is being made possible "through the generous support of the Central East Local Health Integration Network (LHIN). Changes to make CMH more senior friendly, and secure Hilker also reported a number of renovations will be carried out in the next two months to make the hospital environment "more senior friendly." The work, to be done with one-time funding provided by the LHIN, includes making an accessible washroom and installing better handrails.

Security cameras have been installed along with signage "to let everyone know" of their presence. "Policies and procedures are being developed based on protocols at other hospitals," Hilker stated.

Wait times and coverage vary widely between and even within provinces, with only one in six hospitals offering surgical abortions and access is most difficult for women living in rural communities - including First Nations reserves - who may have to travel long distances to get an abortion. Prince Edward Island does not provide any abortion services at all, although it does cover the cost of the procedure for provincial residents who obtain an abortion at a hospital in Moncton, N.B., where no referral is needed, or in Halifax, where women need to be referred by a P.E.I. doctor.

Philpott was not available for an interview Tuesday to elaborate on what she has in mind, and spokesman Patrick Gaebel was unable to add many details. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last year that all Liberal MPs would have to vote along pro-choice party lines, but the campaign platform and his ministerial mandate letter to Philpott did not mention anything about improving access to abortion services.

On Tuesday he said whether Switzer collects the entire amount is unknown at this point, because the LHIN recently learned that Switzer was hired at the Alzheimer Society but hasn't learned how much he'll be paid. According to Switzer's contract, if he lands a job during the 23 months that pays at least 75 per cent of his former pay, the LHIN will pay out 50 per cent of the balance owed. If he makes less than 75 per cent, the LHIN owes him a lump sum equivalent to the balance owed, less statutory deductions. "So the amount he's going to get in terms of severance isn't determined yet," said Girash, who described the 22-month provision as "generous." But he explained it was part of Switzer's original contract from 10 years ago. Last year, when the LHIN board was negotiating a new contract for Switzer, members really wanted to get rid of some costly provisions, particularly a 14 per cent performance bonus. "We wanted to eliminate that, which we were successful in doing," said Girash.

He said to get that bonus provision eliminated, the board felt it had to agree to continue with the 22-month severance clause. "It looks big but it was, I think, a good stewardship of what we were dealing with from 10 years ago and moving to make it better," said Girash. "The 22 months is really almost a safety net if the individual can't get anything else, but obviously he has." The board agreed to the one-time $16,150 payment in 2015 during negotiations in order to eliminate the 14 per cent bonus clause, he said. Switzer started working at the Alzheimer Society on Aug. 15. Attempts to reach him Tuesday - to ask what he makes - were not successful. He was replaced at the LHIN on an interim basis by the second in command, Ralph Ganter, who remains the acting CEO. The LHIN is a planning agency that co-ordinates health care in the Windsor/Essex, Chatham-Kent and Sarnia-Lambton region. It's responsible for almost 100 different agencies - including hospitals - doling out more than $1 billion annually in Ministry of Health funding. Girash wouldn't say what Ganter makes but indicated it's less than what Switzer made, and because Ganter's old job hasn't been filled, the actual cost of Switzer's termination amounts to the topup Ganter receives. Ganter made $201,920.69 in 2015 when he was senior director at the LHIN. Girash said the board isn't going to decide on a permanent CEO at this time because the LHIN is in the midst of planning for big changes expected when the Ontario government passes its Patients First legislation. Patients First would see LHINs take on big new roles, including co-ordinating primary care (family doctors) and home care.

It's very, very demanding and takes a lot of stafftime, a lot of board time," said Girash. "So it wouldn't be fair to lay on top of everyone a recruiting process." bcross@postmedia.com twitter.com/winstarcross © 2016 Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. Illustration: • Nick Brancaccio, Files / Former LHIN CEO Gary Switzer, right, sits on a panel with David Musyj, Dave Cooke and Janice Kaffer at a hospital town hall meeting in November 2015. Switzer was terminated in May. His severance of more than $500,000 is being described as "one hell of a golden parachute."