LITTLE CURRENT—The North East Community Care Access Centre’s (CCAC) mandate is to provide health services to people in their homes, allowing people to return home sooner following a hospital stay and to remain in their homes longer as they get older and face more health challenges. Their mission: “to deliver a seamless experience through the health system for people in our diverse communities, providing equitable access, individualized care coordination and quality health care” is going to be made a little easier on Manitoulin Island with the opening later this month of a satellite office based at the Little Current site of the Manitoulin Health Centre.
“We feel this will help to improve fulfillment of our core mission, to serve people in each of our communities with the health care they need,” said CCAC Chief Executive Officer Richard Joly during a recent meet and greet with local health providers held in the boardroom of the MHC. “We are really looking forward to seeing the office up and running in the next few days.”
“This is really very nice to see happening here on Manitoulin Island,” said local CCAC board member Petra Wall. “The CCAC has a lot of very caring and compassionate people working for it,” added Ms. Wall, herself a health care professional. “I am sure everyone is excited to be able to work from an office here on the Island.”
Board Chair Ron Farrell was joined by CCAC board members from across the North East CCAC region for a meeting in Little Current preceding the meet and greet, which was very well attended by the members despite the threat of a spring snowstorm. “It is wonderful to see so many people out,” said Mr. Farrell, who noted the meet and greet provided a great opportunity for people to mix and get to know each other in an informal setting.
“We cover such a huge geographical area,” said Mr. Joly, noting that moving onsite will help the organization’s staff “feel at home.” He pointed out that the CCAC is made up of 12 board members, with representation from 10 of the board members from places like Sault Ste. Marie, Parry Sound and Kapuskasing in attendance.
“Most of our meetings are in Sudbury, I admit, but we try to meet across the region,” said Mr. Farrell addressing those at the meet and greet. “I believe that this is the first time we are meeting here on Manitoulin Island. I am very happy you have come to come to join us for this little gathering.”
