Death of N.W.T. elder leads to review of health worker training

The N.W.T. Department of Health saysit doesn't know why health workers in Fort Resolution did not use a critical care hotline to help manage care for anelder who died, but it is investigating the case.

Doris Beckwent to the local health centre on May 8, complaining of shortness of breath and feeling unwell.A chest X-ray was doneon Monday, May 9and went unchecked for two days. Beckdied from sepsis due to pneumonia on May 12.

• Elder's death shows community health professionals didn't know enough about critical hotline

Territorial Health and Social ServicesAuthority CEO Sue Cullen said the review has just begun and it's too early to say if health workers in Fort Resolution received sufficient training.

In the meantime, Cullen said she's hopeful the amalgamation of six of the territory's eight health authorities on Aug.1 will improve consistency of health worker training.

"Each authority does their own training and orientation," Cullen said.

"As we move forward into a single integrated system, we will have more consistency about orientation and other procedures we implement across the Northwest Territories."

The Med-Response Call Centre could have connected nurses in Fort Resolution with a physician to review Beck's X-ray remotely.

The N.W.T. chief coroner has recommended the Department of Health review training practices for community health professionals on what services are provided to them through theMed-Response Call Centre.

Sent home with Tylenol

Doris Beck's daughter, Rebecca Beck, is also calling for the department to improve training of health workers. She said she would prefer a physician in each community, but where that's not possible, nurses should takerespiratory illnesses more seriously. She said her uncle also died after a delayed pneumonia diagnosis.

"I Googled my mom's symptoms and it looked like it was pneumonia. The nurse in Fort Resolution was like, 'No, no, it's not pneumonia,'" Rebecca Beck said.

"They kept sending her home."

Rebecca Beck said her mother initially sought care in Fort Providence, andnursessent her homewith an inhaler and Tylenol.

She saidtwo weeks later, her mother sought treatment in Fort Resolution, and again was sent home.

"When they see someone sick they should know right now [what is wrong with them], not just blame it on something else, give them Tylenol and send them home," she said.

Rebecca Beck, who lives in Fort Providence, said her mother was finally sent to Hay River after her son and herself repeatedly phonedthe Fort Resolution health centre and insistedher mother was deathly ill.

While the Department of Health looks into Doris Beck's care, it said the Med-Response Call Centre has helpedmanage about 300 cases each month across the territory.