Restigouche Hospital Centre: Transformations undertaken before Ombud’s investigation

Bathurst, Thursday, February 7, 2019 – Vitalité Health Network recognizes that the history of the Restigouche Hospital Centre (RHC) in Campbellton has been marked by several troubled periods, as disclosed in the Ombud’s latest report recently made public.  However, in December 2016, the Network undertakes a radical transformation of the RHC designed to bring its “asylum” culture to a close and make the facility a modern, tertiary-care setting delivering highly specialized high-quality services.

According to the President and CEO of Vitalité Health Network, Gilles Lanteigne, “From late 2016 onward, all levels of the Network, from the Board of Directors to the various components of the organization's administrative, clinical and medical leadership team have demonstrated unfailing commitment to the RHC’s transformation process. Of course, this process is a complex and long-term one that will require sustained effort over an extended period.

For example, Mr. Lanteigne cited the hiring two independent and highly respected experts; the process of hiring these experts began in fall 2016. “Their goal was to evaluate the situation at the RHC and make the necessary recommendations with respect to its structure and operations so that strategies and action plans could be developed that would improve the excellence, quality and safety of the care and services expected from a tertiary care setting,” he stated. 

Mr. Lanteigne pointed out that the process by which the two consultants developed their recommendations for the Network was both complex and exhaustive.  “A case analysis methodology was used based on in-depth interviews, a document review, and direct observation on the care units. The consultants heard from more than 180 people in general sessions and nearly 130 people in individual interviews.  Numerous patient clinical records were also analyzed.”

“Consultations were conducted with all internal levels of the organization, with external partners in the primary care sector, and with representatives of the Department of Health, Mental Health Tribunal, and Psychiatric Patient Advocate Services,” the CEO explained. 

As for the Network’s Board of Directors, it has confirmed its unwavering support. “As soon as we were made aware of the situation at the RHC, the entire Board unreservedly supported taking the steps needed to bring the archaic culture existing at the RHC, which in no way represented the Network’s mission and values, to a close,” stated Michelyne Paulin, Chairperson of the Board of Directors. 

According to Dr. France Desrosiers, Vice-President of Medical Services, Training and Research, although much work remains to be done, meaningful progress has been made.  “The Network has made numerous staffing changes, starting with the medical and administrative leadership positions.  This process has continued through the medical staff, health professional and support staff categories.  For example, the Network hired a new forensic psychiatrist in 2018, is awaiting the arrival of a second forensic psychiatrist in July 2019, and has signed an agreement with a third who is expected to arrive in fall 2020,” she indicated.

The roles and duties of several categories of employees have been redefined to restructure their work and implement a multidisciplinary care model.  Ten RHC nurses have also obtained psychiatric specialty certification from the Canadian Nurses Association.

Although challenges remain and a staff shortage is ongoing, the Network remains able to deliver safe services at the RHC. “Many people have been reintegrated into the community, crisis management (of code white events) has greatly improved, and frequent congestion in the Forensic Psychiatry Evaluation Unit is now a thing of the past.” Mr. Lanteigne explained.  

“The progress in implementing other important changes identified in the external experts’ reports – related to the Network’s management and to the RHC’s management, quality of medical and clinical practice, and programs – indicates that this transformation is indeed on the right track and in accordance to our values ” the Network’s CEO concluded.