Dr. John Biehn retires after serving Country Terrace residents for 25 years

‘On a daily basis, I saw that staff members were very dedicated to the care of the residents’

Dr. John Biehn, who served as physician to Country Terrace residents for 25 years, says one episode that stands out in his career is when his father was a resident at the Komoka long-term care home.

“I had the unique experience of seeing patient care from the standpoint of a concerned relative,” he tells The OMNIway.

“I don’t think you really realize how dedicated and skillful the staff are until you’re on the other end and having to deal with the anxieties of your relative’s health. That was a major event that solidified my interest and dedication to long-term care.”

Dr. Biehn recently retired from Country Terrace. His connection to the home began in the early 1990s when he was affiliated with the department of family medicine at Western University and was a team leader with one of the teaching units through his family-medicine practice.

By the time he became Country Terrace’s physician in 1992, he had acquired a lot of experience working with seniors and was involved with people living in long-term care homes in the area. Through his teaching unit, Dr. Biehn began working with Country Terrace.

Dr. Biehn says throughout his time with the home he was impressed by the high quality of care residents received.

“On a daily basis, I saw that staff members were very dedicated to the care of the residents, (and) they’re very knowledgeable,” he says.

During the course of 25 years working at Country Terrace, Dr. Biehn says he saw significant changes in the sector, but what he noticed most is the increase of complex care needs today’s residents have.
More residents today also have multiple diagnoses, such as dementia and diabetes.

“It’s very rare that they have just one (medical issue),” he says.

Dr. Biehn was recognized for his 25 years of service to Country Terrace residents during the home’s annual family barbecue on June 17.

Dr. Biehn says retiring from Country Terrace is the last phase of his retirement. He retired from his teaching practice in 1999. He continued his work with Country Terrace and continued to see patients living in long-term care homes in nearby London.

Dr. Biehn says in his retirement he’ll continue to sing in his church choir as well as with a local community choir. He also plans to play golf in the summer months.

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