Highlights of the 2020–2021 Annual General Meeting and Regular Public Meeting of the Board of Directors

Moncton, Tuesday, June 22, 2021 – The Board of Directors of Vitalité Health Network held its 2020–2021 Annual General Meeting (AGM) as well as a regular public meeting on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 in Moncton.

As part of the AGM, Michelyne Paulin, Chairperson of the Board of Directors, and Dr. France Desrosiers, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Network, provided a summary of the activities and achievements of the past year.

New Board of Directors

In her report, presented at the start of the AGM, Michelyne Paulin welcomed and extended her best wishes for success to the new Board of Directors. “Many challenges and issues will require your full contribution. I am confident that your expertise and professionalism will be put to good use and benefit all New Brunswickers,” she stated. She also thanked the outgoing members of the Board of Directors for being equal to the task during their extended five-year term. “Your tireless collaboration and hard work to provide excellent governance to Vitalité Health Network was appreciated by all. Thank you for everything. I really enjoyed getting to know you and tapping into your strengths to serve the interests of our communities,” she concluded.

Several appointments were confirmed at the Annual General Meeting, including those of Ms. Claire Savoie, as Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors, and Mr. Gilles Lanteigne, as Treasurer.

Highlights and Achievements in 2020−2021

Optimize public health and wellness

  • Bridge the gapp platform that provides access to online resources for mental health support
  • First walk-in mental health clinic in the province in Campbellton
  • Partnership between the Integrated Mobile Crisis Response Team and J Division of the RCMP in the province

Promote participation by patients and their loved ones in improving continuous and integrated care and services

  • Surgical Short stay model implemented in Moncton and Bathurst: shorter stay in hospital for certain types of surgical procedures
  • Opening of a heart function clinic in Edmundston and the Greater Moncton Health Centre (nurse practitioners)
  • Cataract surgeries offered in Grand Falls and replacement of hemodialysis equipment in Tracadie and Edmundston

Provide an attractive environment for recruitment and retention

  • Increase of recruiting activities for new employees and physicians
  • Creation of an attractive environment to be considered a choice employer and provide better alignment between the workforce available in our area and our staffing needs 

Adopt a proactive approach with our partners to better meet the public’s needs

  • Affiliation agreement with the Atlantic Cancer Research Institute (ACRI)

Optimize our buildings, equipment and technology

  • Opening of the new surgical suite at Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont UHC
  • Computerized patient appointment notification and reminder system 
  • Increased use of technology in delivery of services

Apply a learning approach in our continuous quality improvement organizational culture

  • Importance of scientific evidence and evidence-based data during a pandemic
  • Continuing the implementation of clinical learning units

The Network’s financial performance

For the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021, the Network reports total revenue of $741,194,520 and operating expenses of the same amount, which translates into a balanced operating result before adjustments.

After adjustments for the year-end adjustment for previous years, capital revenues for equipment purchasing, amortization of capital assets and accrued sick leave benefits, the Network's financial statements show a net accounting surplus of $91,592,026.

COVID-19 pandemic

The very first confirmed case of COVID-19 in New Brunswick was announced on March 11, 2020.  “More than a year later, it must not be forgotten that too many of our province’s people lost their lives due to this terrible virus, while others were sick and hospitalized. The Network pays tribute to these people and their families who saw their lives turned upside down by the pandemic,” stated Dr. Desrosiers.

The Chairperson of the Board of Directors highlighted the incredible work of the Network’s employees and physicians during the pandemic. “I know that they had to make many sacrifices both personally and professionally to get through the past year and brave the storm of COVID-19. They were key actors in the Network’s success in managing this crisis with courage, grace, resilience and flexibility,” she said. “I want to thank them for their enormous contributions and tell them that their work has not gone unnoticed. Let’s continue to work hard so we can overcome this pandemic together, while still taking care of ourselves and our families.”

The full version of the Network’s 2020–2021 Annual Report will be available online on Friday, July 9, 2021.

The next regular public meeting of the Board of Directors of the Network will be held on Tuesday, October 5, 2021, at 1:00 p.m., in Moncton.