Highlights of the Board of Directors’ regular public meeting
Moncton, Tuesday, March 15, 2022 – The Board of Directors of Vitalité Health Network held its regular public meeting on Tuesday, March 15, 2022 in Moncton.
Report from the President and CEO
In her report to the Board of Directors, Dr. France Desrosiers, President and CEO, updated the members on the major health care files handled in recent months, which were related to the Network’s strategic plan objectives.
She discussed the initiatives undertaken to improve the public’s health and wellness. “We have worked closely with our partners and all our clinical teams in recent months to improve access to various primary care services and have achieved impressive results.” The examples cited included the Network’s close partnership with Tele-Care 811 and the redirection of patients from emergency departments to community services.
COVID-19 pandemic
Dr. Desrosiers summarized the Network’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in recent months. “Through careful and responsible management of the pandemic’s fifth wave, we have emerged from this crisis with the sense that we did what needed to be done,” she explained.
The Network’s preparations and actions had been based on the fact that the virus would force a large number of health care workers to be removed from the workplace at some point. The rapid and efficient redeployment of resources had protected essential services and allowed the organization to handle the surge of inpatients with COVID-19.
The Network had shown flexibility as a health care system and had quickly adapted to the changing situation.
Experience of a First Nations’ senior in the health care system
As part of the Network’s patient- and family-centred care strategy, Anna Sewell, daughter of Gilbert Sewell, a deceased First Nations senior from Pabineau, had been invited to deliver a testimonial. She spoke about her father’s experience and possible ways of improving services for First Nations’ members.
Rino Lang, Director of Adult Mental Health and Addiction Services, explained the role of the First Nations Regional Access Coordinator and the efforts underway to better understand the First Nations’ cultural diversity and health care needs.
Financial results for 2021–2022
The Network presented its financial results for the first three quarters of the 2021–2022 fiscal year, i.e. from April 1 to December 31, 2021. It had ended this period with a $24 million operating deficit. Patient recoveries had dropped by $6.9 million, with this figure including a drop of $4.8 million from out-of-province patients. Pandemic-related costs had been calculated at $26.2 million.
The next regular public meeting as well as the annual general meeting of the Network’s Board of Directors was scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 21, 2022 in Bathurst.
