New organizational structure introduced to implement health care transformation and modernization

Bathurst, February 5, 2016 – Vitalité Health Network today announced the upcoming introduction of a new organizational structure consisting of six sectors of activity:

  • Clinical Services;
  • Community Services and Mental Health;
  • Outpatient and Professional Services;
  • Medical Services, Medical Training and Research;
  • Performance, Quality and Corporate Services;
  • Human Resources.

Each sector of activity will be led by a vice-president reporting directly to the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Network, Gilles Lanteigne.  The following vice-presidents have been appointed: Richard Losier, for Clinical Services; Jacques Duclos, for Community Services and Mental Health; Stéphane Legacy, for Outpatient and Professional Services; Gisèle Beaulieu, for Performance, Quality and Corporate Services; and Pierre Verret, for Human Resources.  A vice-president for Medical Services, Medical Training and Research will be appointed in the coming weeks.  The functions of the finance sector will be integrated into the Performance, Quality and Corporate Services sector.

According to Gilles Lanteigne, this initiative is designed to equip the Network with an organizational structure that will facilitate the implementation of its vision for the transformation and modernization of health care in New Brunswick.   The proposed structure will strengthen this vision, make the Network an even more integrated and cohesive organization, and ensure the delivery of better health care to our population. “Our first objective is to ensure that our health care services are safe and of high quality throughout our territory,” Mr. Lanteigne declared.

In addition to the President and Chief Executive Officer, the new structure will include six vice-presidents, i.e. the same number as currently.  The clinical component will be strengthened through the re-establishment of a Vice-President of Medical Services, Medical Training and Research position, which acknowledges the importance of engaging physicians in the management of the Network’s affairs.  For the Network as a whole, reconfiguring the organization under six sectors of activity will result in the elimination of approximately 31 positions from among managers (directors, assistant directors, and department managers) and administrative staff.  “Some of the positions in question are currently vacant, and we will rely on attrition and retirements to minimize the impact on our employees as much as possible,” Mr. Lanteigne explained.

The proposed structure re-establishes the right balance between the Network’s strategic management functions and daily operational management in the field.  Also under this structure, at least one vice-president will be physically present in each zone with the mandate to maintain and strengthen relations with local stakeholders, community partners, and foundations.  Community engagement thus takes on greater importance in the new structure.

The Network expects to generate savings in the order of $1.6 million for reinvestment in the shift toward primary health care services, with an emphasis on ambulatory and community care as well as on home care and services.  The implementation of the new organizational structure will begin on March 1, 2016, with full implementation expected to take several months.

Click here to view the organizational chart of the upcoming structure.