Health care: Vitalité Health Network implements its action plan for the summer
Bathurst, Thursday, June 16, 2022 – The summer period is on our doorstep and Vitalité Health Network is implementing its action plan to ensure continuity of care for the public while permitting its health care workers to take some well deserved vacation.
The shortage of nursing and medical staff in the health care system is an issue that concerns all New Brunswickers. This situation complicates the task when it comes time to planning services during the vacation period. For this reason, the Network’s action plan includes initiative on several fronts. “Quality care for patients remains our top priority regardless of the time of year,” said Johanne Roy, Acting Vice-President of Talent Acquisition and Organizational Development. “The Network will be there for its patients, even in the summer,” she added.
Usual slow down of activities
As usual, the Network will slow down its activities during the summer. The temporary slow down measures have already started in some sectors and are expected to continue until the beginning of September. This may involve the reorganization of medical services across the Network’s various emergency departments, temporary closures of beds for a few days or a reduction of the number of operating rooms in surgical suites.
The Network could temporarily reduce or suspend some services in order to reassign staff to sectors with shortages and deemed priority. The number of appointments will be adjusted based on the resources available. Patients who already have an appointment booked during the summer may present as scheduled.
Arrival of students
The Network received hundreds of applications from students for summer jobs in various sectors. It plans to hire nearly 200 students as patient care attendants. The students come from nursing programs and are the next generation of health care workers. “It is very important to give them a warm welcome and integrate them into the work teams to provide quality care to patients,” said Ms. Roy. Many other applicants will also lend a hand to the support sectors.
New model of collaborative care
Our current care model is comprised mainly of registered nurses and licensed practical nurses, a workforce that is becoming increasingly rare. The Network has thus started to implement a new model of care known as “collaborative” care.
The Network plans to add a patient care attendant to teams. The patient care attendant will work in a group of three with a registered nurse and a licensed practical nurse. “Thanks to the quick deployment of this model, the Network hopes to partially fill the major shortage of nursing staff,” said Ms. Roy.
Thank you to our health care workers
The Network extends its heartfelt thanks to all teams on the ground who have to burn the candle at both ends to offset the current human resources shortage that is being experienced nation-wide. “We wish all our health care workers a wonderful summer and relaxing vacations,” noted Ms. Roy.
