Highlights of the Board of Directors’ regular public meeting and 2015-2016 general annual meeting
Bathurst, June 28, 2016 – The Board of Directors of Vitalité Health Network held its regular public meeting and 2015-2016 general annual meeting on Tuesday, June 28, 2016 in Bathurst.
Clinical Services Plan
A Clinical Services Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors of Vitalité Health Network. This comprehensive plan, which is the result of nearly two years of work, reiterates the organization’s vision to implement a network of tiered services focused on primary health care, with great emphasis on ambulatory and community-based care as well as on home-based care and services. The plan contains optimization solutions supporting two major strategies designed to transform and modernize services, namely (1) the expansion of alternatives to hospitalization, and (2) the reduction of use of hospitalization and of length of stay.
The plan contains proposals regarding the organization of services for nearly 24 medical and surgical disciplines (e.g., cardiology, geriatrics, family practice, and anesthesia), as well as for diagnostic services (e.g., laboratories and medical imaging), education and research activities.
Primary health services, ambulatory care, and community care:
This plan, which integrates Phase 1 adopted by the Board of Directors last December, allows for the delivery of services in communities as close as possible to people, with emphasis on ambulatory care. It is also aimed at improving rehabilitation services and Extra-Mural Program services for several types of clients. As for hospitalization services, all regional hospitals should offer a fairly complete range of services, except for more specialized services.
Specialized services:
The Network intends to capitalize on the 2013-2018 Plan for Greater Equity in the Provision of Health Care Services (catch-up plan) and proposes the development of three new specialized services for the New Brunswick population: (1) a provincial centre for the treatment of rare diseases, (2) a centre of excellence for thoracic surgery, and (3) a provincial genetics program.
Recommendations to the Department of Health:
The Board of Directors is submitting five general recommendations to the Department of Health. These recommendations are part of the Network’s responsibilities in identifying health needs and priorities in the delivery of health services to the population it serves.
- Once the alternatives to hospitalization will be in place, with no complete closure of hospital and in a gradual manner as occupancy rates will permit and services will be developed, that the Department of Health give Vitalité Health Network the authority required to reduce the number of beds in the hospitals.
- That the Department of Health maintain the management and delivery of the Extra-Mural Program under the authority of Vitalité Health Network to ensure better quality and continuity in services to clients, at a lower unit cost.
- That the Department of Health set up a standing joint working committee to identify and plan any new provincial health program, in accordance with the commitment that this mandate should always be entrusted to Vitalité Health Network in the 2013-2018 Plan for Greater Equity in the Provision of Health Care Services.
- That the Department of Health incorporate services to seniors currently provided by the Department of Social Development, namely regarding accommodation services in nursing homes, evaluations for placement in nursing homes, and services related to activities of daily living.
- That the Department of Health set up a committee with representatives from the regional health authorities, specifically mandated to recommend the removal of regulatory, structural and legislative barriers that interfere with efficient resource utilization, with the aim of improving the quality of services to the population and reducing total costs for the departments concerned.
In short, the Clinical Services Plan adopted by the Board of Directors is designed to meet the population’s health needs more effectively. The purpose of the plan is to allow for transition from a hospital-based model of services to a model where primary health services will be delivered in the community or in the home. This will help to better face the increase in chronic illnesses and the rapid aging of the population while ensuring the viability of services.
2016-2019 Regional Health and Business Plan
As required under the Regional Health Authorities Act, the Board of Directors approved the 2016-2019 Regional Health and Business Plan (RHBP) of Vitalité Health Network. According to Network President and Chief Executive Officer Gilles Lanteigne, this plan is in line with the priorities of the province. “It includes a tripartite agreement between the regional health authorities and the Department of Health, a strategy map, and a scorecard for the health system with common objectives on a strategic level.” The 2016-2019 RHBP identifies nine strategic axes for the Network and presents a balanced budget of $673.8 million for the 2016-2017 fiscal year. The RHBP will be submitted to the Department of Health for approval.
Organization of food and environmental services
A proposal to maintain the management of food and environmental services under the responsibility of Vitalité Health Network was approved by the Board of Directors. It may be recalled that in its 2013-2014 health budget, the Government of New Brunswick had announced its intention to enter into a long-term agreement with a private sector enterprise for the management of food, environmental, and porter services within both regional health authorities. According to the analyses made by the Network and presented to the Board of Directors, retaining these services in house offers many benefits, including a favourable financial analysis showing additional savings of $3.4 million (over 10 years) than the project proposed by the private sector enterprise.
2015-2016 general annual meeting: a positive report on several levels
During the 2015-2016 general annual meeting, the Network President and Chief Executive Officer presented a positive report on the year ended in several areas. He namely outlined the efforts to change the health care delivery model. “The modernization and transformation of health care file was unquestionably the highlight of the year,” said Mr. Lanteigne. The President and Chief Executive Officer also outlined the implementation of the 2013-2018 Plan for Greater Equity in the Provision of Health Care Services (catch-up plan). “Although much work remains to be done, I’m pleased to see that significant progress has been made in several files in the past year,” he stated.
As regards initiatives to improve the health status of the population, the Network stressed the successful implementation of its new smoke-free environment policy that became effective January 1, 2016. The Network reported a general inpatient satisfaction rate of 97% and an acute bed occupancy rate by seniors waiting for placement in a long-term facility of 23.7% (compared to 25% the previous year). As for the Network’s financial situation at the end of the 2015-2016 fiscal year, revenues totalled $676.65 million and expenses $674.18 million, which translates into an operating surplus of $2.47 million before adjustments.
New Board of Directors
The terms of Board of Directors members ended at the 2015-2016 general annual meeting. Paul Couturier, Past Chairman, took the opportunity to thank all members for their professionalism, dedication and commitment to the Network’s good governance over the past four years. “You have contributed to building our organization,” he said. He added that even if the work of a board of directors often takes place away from the public eye, it is no less important. “We serve as guides for our organization. We support management so that Vitalité Health Network can develop and comply with all good governance, transparent administration, ethical and innovation rules in health care management. I know that over the past four years, you have given much of your time and have spared no efforts to discharge your responsibilities.”
The members of the new Board of Directors were sworn in at the end of the general annual meeting. The Board of Directors will be chaired by Michelyne Paulin.
