New Hospital Board Prepares for Turbulent Waters

The Annual General Meeting of the Middlesex Hospital Alliance (MHA) Board of Directors was held Tuesday, June 10, 2008.

Auditors from the firm BDO Dunwoody presented the audited financial statements for the Corporations of Four Counties Health Services (FCHS) and Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital (SMGH). The corporate deficit for Four Counties was $30,218, and Strathroy ended the year with a $1 million operating shortfall.

Yvonne Lambert, outgoing Board Chair, talked about the achievements of the Hospitals over the last two years. She pointed out the success of the collaborative effort between the FCHS Foundation and the Hospital in the recruitment of medical staff. "Years in the making, this venture culminated in the successful recruitment to the FCHS site of two general practitioners who not only provide community medical practice but also assist in staffing the Four Counties emergency department. Both of these new physicians have joined Drs. Parnell and Jones in having privileges at Strathroy, adding further to the closer collaboration between medical staffs of both sites," Lambert said.

Another recent achievement is the successful implementation of enhanced diagnostic services for the MHA, Lambert added, and she congratulated the collaborative effort between the SMGH and FCHS Foundations, which resulted in a joint ownership project for the CT scanner (housed at the SMGH site). "This is the first shared ownership asset for the Alliance and it has been a great success," Lambert said. "The operation of this CT scanner, since its installation in May 2007, has made a significant impact on the Wait Times for patients served by our two hospitals," Lambert explained. The MHA CT scan has the second lowest wait time in the SW LHIN at 12 days (based on February-April 08 Wait Time Strategy data). The provincial target is 28 days and the actual average is 48 days.

Lambert, whose two year term as Chair of the Board of Directors at Middlesex Hospital Alliance concluded yesterday, said: "I have truly enjoyed my time serving as the Board Chair of the Middlesex Hospital Alliance Board of Directors." And, she spoke strongly about the changes she sees occurring in health care delivery.

"In 1997, hospitals consumed 42% of the total healthcare spending by the Ministry in Ontario. By 2007, hospitals had shrunk to 37% of total expenditures. There is no question that acute institutional care will be shrinking - and changing - in the years to come. We have seen evidence of these changes at our own sites already. For example, The Four Counties site of the MHA sees approximately 35,000 outpatient visits per year and has about 600 inpatient stays. The SMGH site sees between 95,000 and 100,000 outpatient visits per year and about 3,000 inpatient stays. Change is inevitable. And hospitals must adapt to succeed. We are not interested in staying the same; our hospitals must move forward. The challenge is to move forward in the best way possible. If change is properly managed, we can achieve the objectives we all desire."

Lambert concluded by acknowledging that in the latter part of the last year and for the next little while, the MHA will be going through some "white water." "As your Board Chair, I have attempted to steer the team through these challenging times as best as I was able. I am confident that my successor, Ineke Haan, will be able to navigate forward with the Board to bring the current financial issues to a successful conclusion. It is important at times like this, to not focus only on the negative, but to acknowledge the strengths of the Corporations."

There was a brief meeting of the MHA Board following the annual General Meeting to confirm the new Officers for the Alliance. Ineke Haan is the incoming Board Chair. Ms. Haan brings to this role numerous years of experience in human resource planning, governance and strategic planning. Ralph Coe has assumed the position of Vice-Chair. Mr. Coe has just completed a term as Treasurer of the Middlesex Hospital Board of Directors, and has extensive experience in strategic planning, governance and program development.

Ed Veeke assumes the position of Treasurer of the MHA for 2008/09. Mr. Veeke is very familiar with the MHA, having previously served in Executive positions on the Board including Chair. Michael A. Mazza, President and CEO of the Middlesex Hospital Alliance will serve as Secretary.

In passing the gavel (representing the Chair's authority) to her successor, Haan, Lambert noted, "recent perceptions are that the Board of the MHA is in a defiant relationship with the South West LHIN. This is not accurate. Indeed, the discussions between the Board and the LHIN have been useful and the LHIN acknowledges many of the accomplishments of the MHA. The Board leadership understands the importance of reaching an amicable solution with the South West LHIN about the health services provided by the two hospitals to the residents of Middlesex, Lambton, Kent and Elgin Counties and the City of London."

"Like our Middlesex Hospital Alliance, the South West LHIN is made up of individuals who are concerned about healthcare, and like our Alliance, it is obligated by law to balance the budget for hospital institutions by 2010. I am confident that together we can find a solution," Lambert said.

Connecting with the Future of Care

New Hospital Board Prepares for Turbulent Waters